the buzz log
Buzz Multiplex: This Is It
This, indeed, is it. The Buzz Multiplex has been cleared of all wide releases, as Michael Jackson's posthumous concert film continues to gain momentum. The massive online attention supports predictions that "Michael Jackson's This Is It" will be the "highest-grossing music documentary" to date and may even have Oscar potential.
The Wednesday premiere drew in more than $20 million around the world, and the film title continues to be entrenched in the top 700 searches on Yahoo!.
While some observers think Halloween might dampen box-office numbers, holiday celebrants will be paying their tribute to the late singer in many ways: "michael jackson costumes" have topped October costume searches on Yahoo!. That's not all: Expect weekend parties to pass out "michael jackson pumpkin pattern" for carving, play "michael jackson games," and practice the "michael jackson moonwalk."
Below, the online preparations that have been underway for a Jackson tribute:
Top 10 Michael Jackson Searches of the Week, as ranked by Yahoo! searches
- Michael Jackson This Is It
- Michael Jackson Videos
- Michael Jackson Songs
- Michael Jackson Thriller
- Michael Jackson This Is It Song
- Jackson 5
- Michael Jackson Lyrics
- Michael Jackson Thriller Video
- Michael Jackson Billie Jean
- Michael Jackson Beat It
Filed under: Movies, Music, Holidays, Celebrities, Halloween, Dead Celebrities, Michael Jackson
New Michael Jackson Song: Controversy Rocks the Web
You've heard of "This Is It," the documentary of Michael Jackson's concert-tour rehearsal that opens soon. Now hear "This is it" the song, billed as never-before-heard and vintage MJ. But is it? Some critics are saying, sort of. And one music legend is saying, definitely not. Let us explain.
The back story as far as we know is this: As reported by the New York Times, the origins of the recording are a bit cloudy. The King of Pop recorded the tune to piano accompaniment that could have been made any time between the albums "Off the Wall" in 1979 and "Dangerous" in 1991. Sony "discovered" it and added in a full orchestral tracks along with vocal back-up from family members to ready it for release.
The ballad, as music critic Ann Powers points out, doesn't sound new as much as it sounds familiar. Another song, "I never heard," co-written by Jackson and Paul Anka back in 1991 for the Latin singer Sa-Fire, sounds an awful lot like "This is it." As Powers puts it, "Jackson's version could be an older demo or a later reworking of the song."
Coulda, woulda, shoulda. From the mouth of Paul Anka, the release is nothing more than a rip-off. According to TMZ, the co-writer claims Michael Jackson stole the tapes from Anka's studio years ago, then simply recorded the song himself and renamed it. Even though Jackson eventually returned the tapes, Anka still says that the song is not MJ's to claim. So far, no response from Sony.
One thing's for sure: With more than 100 songs in the MJ archives, this is just the first of many releases. And probably, not the last controversy, either.
Listen to the two songs and decide for yourself if they sound alike.
Filed under: Michael Jackson
Costume Watch: Halloween's "Thriller" Night
Like clockwork, costume searches on Yahoo! are accelerating, as people prep for the biggest holiday masquerade of the year. And this All Soul's Eve, they're paying homage to Michael Jackson.
Year after year, Star Wars and Disney have dominated dress-up themes, but phenomenal lookups for "michael jackson costumes" have bypassed these standbys. Among the late singer's distinctive looks, the most sought-after is the red leather jacket and jeans (designed to make Jackson look more "virile") from his 1999 "Thriller" video.
Other leading Jackson costumes: the "Bad" boy look in buckles and skintight black, the "Smooth Criminal" white zoot suit and fedora, and the sequins and shiny socks of "Billie Jean." Essential ingredient to all looks: sequined white glove.
As for other alternate identities and themes, expect glittery vampires or werewolves à la "Twilight," evildoer Cobra Commander of "G.I. Joe" (this year's Joker), and pirates. Below, expect these characters to come knocking on your door.
Top Halloween Costume Characters on Yahoo!
- Michael Jackson Costume
- Tinkerbell Costume
- Batman Costume
- Minnie Mouse Costume
- Wonder Woman Costume
- Hannah Montana Costume
- Harry Potter Costumes
- Snow White Costume
- Catwoman Costume
- Yo Gabba Gabba Costume
Filed under: Holidays, Costumes, Halloween, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson's Birthday Bash
Michael Jackson will be buried in Los Angeles. But on Saturday, the King of Pop will be celebrated in Brooklyn.
The free fest on the day Jacko would have turned 51 moved from a neighborhood block party to a major happening in Prospect Park as estimates of the crowd swelled to 10,000. The party will be put on by director Spike Lee. The filmmaker told The Root he was hit hard by the singer's death: The two were born a year apart and collaborated on a music video, "They Don't Care About Us." Spike Lee even admits he wanted his afro to be as round as Michael's from the "Jackson 5" days.
The party promises the music of Michael Jackson and a declaration of August 29 as "Michael Jackson Day." And what New York event would be complete without a prayer by the Rev. Al Sharpton?
As the date approaches, buzz is building. Searches on "michael jackson birthday" hit a high note, along with lookups on "michael jackson tribute," and "michael jackson news."
Brooklyn's bash may be the biggest, but there are lots of other ways to toast MJ on his big day. Santa Cruz, California, will be holding a Thriller dance-along. Madonna reportedly will have a surprise to honor Jackson during her performance on his birthday. Even Bangalore plans to salute the legendary singer with a "music carnival."
So grab one glove, brush up on your Moonwalk, and don't forget to sing "Happy Birthday."
Filed under: Michael Jackson
Keep on Moonwalking
Michael Jackson was as controversial as he was talented. Of all his contributions to pop culture, his Moonwalk may be the most memorable.
When Jackson died several weeks ago, lookups on the King of Pop, his songs, and his videos all soared to the top of the Search charts. Searches on MJ's signature dance also posted some impressive moves. Now a website has pledged to never let the moonwalk end.
Called "Eternal Moonwalk," the site features clips of countless men, women, animals, and cars (yes cars) doing MJ's reverse stride. Bleeding from one video into another, the site seems to go on forever. Not all the dances are as killer as the creator's, but all show off a love of MJ's work.
Like to show off your own moves? You can submit your own Moonwalk now. It doesn't even have to be of you -- it can be of your kid, your dog, or even your Chevy (just as long as it's going backwards).
Filed under: Michael Jackson
top movers
| Rank | Subject | 1-Day Move |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nidal Malik Hasan | Breakout! |
| 2 | Fort Hood Shooting | Breakout! |
| 3 | Tyrannosaurus Rex | Breakout! |
| 4 | Fort Hood | 43518% |
| 5 | Tropical Storm Ida | 4377% |
| 6 | Willie Aames | 3325% |
| 7 | Shannon Dedrick | 3299% |
| 8 | Gretchen Rossi | 2702% |
| 9 | Epic Mickey | 2583% |
| 10 | Lee Harvey Oswald | 1907% |
top leaders
| Rank | Subject | Move | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danica Patrick | +194 | 207 |
| 2 | Fort Hood | +185 | 185 |
| 3 | Angelina Jolie | +114 | 164 |
| 4 | Rihanna | +39 | 157 |
| 5 | New York Yankees | +54 | 154 |
| 6 | Alicia Keys | +139 | 153 |
| 7 | +1 | 153 | |
| 8 | NFL | +6 | 138 |
what's the buzz?
A subject's buzz score is the percentage of Yahoo! users searching for that subject on a given day, multiplied by a constant to make the number easier to read. Weekly leaders are the subjects with the greatest average buzz score for a given week.
For more detailed information, visit our FAQ.