Customer Reviews

Immortal (Deluxe Version)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

UPDATE: check the first comment to this review for a link to my review of the show itself! Just saw it twice!

When I first heard this Cirque soundtrack was going to remix, and in some cases, mash-up, some of the most iconic songs ever recorded, I was worried. But I listen to Michael's original tracks all the time, so I don't feel shortchanged by this reworking of his untouchable classics. If anything, I've really taken to this energized Cirque-ified remix. It's like a concentrated dose of Michael as interpreted through Soleil's prism. Somehow they've managed to retain Michael's essence, yet add their own flair to it, that somehow makes Michael stretch beyond his usual larger than life; which is interesting, considering he's no longer here. Although Michael's presence is clearly missing, his spirit is ever-present, via his own alternate vocal recordings of these impressive songs. It's almost as if he's graduated from Peter Pan to Wizard of Oz! Sizzling with omnipotence and infusing his rhythm and dance from the ethereal beyond.

I downloaded my copy directly from Michael's website, because you get all the tracks from the Deluxe CD, including the 5 tracks that are missing from the download here at Amazon. I love this remix of Michael's classics. Think of this soundtrack as a re-imagined Best Of CD; if you want to stay true to the classics, maybe consider The Essential Michael Jackson CD. Personally, I enjoy having both. If you're open minded enough to embrace Michael continuing to push the envelope through those entrusted to carry forth his legacy, then this CD, and the Cirque show itself, is something you're sure to enjoy. It's all good to me, because I enjoy spending time with Michael.

The Show

Michael was in talks with Cirque while he was alive, and it's nice to see his dream has finally been realized; even if different from what he would have imagined were he here to add his Midas-touch from his sequined glove. My hubby and I will be seeing the show at the Staples Center, which should be special, given that's where MJ sang his last notes here on this Earth. I've been a Cirque fan for years and seen most all of their shows, and I've been a Michael fan my entire life, so I already know I'm going to love this show. And hearing this soundtrack only clinches the deal!

Standout Tracks

Michael's iconic hits need no introduction. So rather than give a play-by-play of each track, I'll let the music speak for itself. You can listen to short samples of each song here on Amazon, or check my first comment to this review for a link to where you can listen to 7 complete tracks for free before buying. Briefly, a few of my favorites are:

You Are Not Alone - MJ sings Spanish halfway through
I'll Be There - MJ at 10yrs with piano Only... Stunning
Immortal MegaMix - I DARE you to sit still!
Dancing Machine - automatic systematic, dynamite and super bad!
Childhood - has always been a favorite; and I love this Immortal version.
Planet Earth/Earth Song - this rendition weaves together this iconic song with a poem by Michael

Oh, who am I kidding? It's MJ; they're ALL Great!

Bottom Line: I've got my MJ "E"-ticket and I'm strapped in for the ride, wherever it goes; from childhood to beyond! Jermaine said it best, "It's time to celebrate Michael's life." Which is easy to do, because Michael's music instantly lifts-off and makes my spirit soar. This soundtrack and Michael's vocals are absolutely stunning. No, Michael didn't have a hand in remixing his iconic songs, but his spirit IS here, through and through; like a true Immortal. So buckle-up and get ready for a fun ride.

MJ Forever!
;oD

It sounds good on paper...
This is the soundtrack album to a Cirque du Soleil show. But it is not perceived as such, because Sony did nothing to eliminate this confusion.
Actually they must be happy about this misunderstanding, because the album sells more due to this induced confusion.
It shoud have been rightly marketed as "CIRQUE du SOLEIL" production. Kevin Antunes revisits the Immortal Michael Jackson".
This way, people would decide to buy it or not.
In my case, I bought it and didn't like it.
I am happy about what I have already got: the originals.

As a longtime MJ fan & collector, I decided to keep my expectations low with regards to this 'Immortal' set. This is because on the surface, it looked like yet ANOTHER compilation of songs we've had for many years. After importing both 'Immortal' CDs onto my iPod, I was must say this set is a pleasant suprise. The remastering and cleaver way they combined different songs added new life to the old hits, and new special audio effects here & there were VERY nice (except for that damn elephant at the beginning of 'Ben'!!). In closing, the DELUXE Edition of 'Immortal' is a project that MJ might've been proud of. The cover art, packaging, crisp new remastering, sequencing, and combination of many hits (solo MJ, Jackson 5, and The Jacksons) results in a truly special addition to any REAL Michael Jackson Collection.

This is a fantastic album.

I am a huge Michael Jackson fan and i completely love this Album.

Thank you to the people who made this album possible. You defiantly captured Micheal's spirit in this CD.

A must have for any Michael fan.

Rest in peace Michael.

L.O.V.E

I loved every bit of this disc because it gives you all of MJ's music from the beginning to the end. It mixes the music so you get to hear a few songs in one and it's mixed in a really cool way the flows well. MJ woulda been proud.

If you're reading this, please go to youtube right now. Look up all these unreleased songs by MJ RIGHT NOW!!

"Cheater" "Got the Hots" "Sunset Driver" "Do you know where your children are"
"In the Back" "She Got It" "Beautiful" "I Want to Stay" "Fall Again" "Blue Gangster" "Scared of the Moon" "There Must Be More to Life Than This" "You Can't Win" "Work that Body" "Trouble" "Slave to the Rhythm" "Slapstick" "Serious Effect" "Niteline" "Love Never Felt So Good" "If You Don't Love Me" "Hot Street" "Get It" "For All Time" "The Way You Love Me (original)" "Someone Put Your Hand Out" "On The Line" "We've Had Enough" "We Are Here To Change The World" "One More Chance" "Carousel" "Someone in the Dark" "Street Walker" "Fly Away" "Xscape"

Simply put, I don't want to hear remixes from some contemporary producer DESTROYING Jackson's masterpieces!! What is the point here? The way Jackson's legacy has been handled since his death is an insult and it just makes me furious. If this were Elvis or 2pac you would see countless material emerge from everywhere but Michael? We get 2 crappy albums from Sony that don't come anywhere near what they have in the vaults! Go look up those unreleased tracks on youtube and then tell me they're not holding back quality material and giving us crap. Where are those tracks mastered!!!?! Where are the Victory, Bad, and History tours on DVD?!!! Stop giving us this crap that can easily be out done by a fan burning his own CDR mix cd!! I'm so mad right now!

Unlike the Beatles, Michael Jackson's body of work lends itself to the kind of glitzy mash-up soundtrack Cirque du Soleil requires -- which is a roundabout way of saying the soundtrack to their 2011 production "Immortal" feels a little sounder than the Beatles' LOVE.
Of course, LOVE is by far a more ambitious work, creating new songs out of old samples, whereas Immortal is unabashed Vegas glitz, songs truncated or elongated to the demands of the stage, audio drops of music videos or interviews triple underscoring already apparent sentiment.
The producer Kevin Antunes never recontextualizes the original recordings; he favors hits-on-parade medleys, letting the hooks -- the melodies, the rhythms -- sink in before moving on to the next snippet.
Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that roughly half of the album is devoted to music made after "Bad": after he parted ways with Quincy Jones, Jackson flitted between attempts to reconcile with hip-hop and old-fashioned showbiz.
Here, the latter overwhelms, bending all the disco and dance to its sensibility, and if it is frankly unnecessary as an album -- why listen to this when there are plenty of hits available? -- it's an effective soundtrack for a lavish, expensive dance production. S. T. Erlewine

This CD was very disapointing. Can't hear any benefit to remixing the music in this manner. It just destroyed the feel for the songs. Also I was shocked at the low quality sound.

I seriously don't understand the negative reviews by people who call themselves fans. This is a good album and I say that as someone who doesn't like remixes much. But these are not the type of remixes those kill off the soul of the original music. These are actually much better remixes than you will find either on Blood on the Dance Floor (although the non-remix part of that album is a work of a genius, but I don't listen to the remix part much) or Thriller 25. And some of the mixes make the songs sound better. Such as the mix of Dancing Machine - the arrangement of the original was a bit dated but with this new mix it could be a club hit in 2011 again. Or "I'll be there" - OMG that voice!

Actually on all songs Michael's voice is brought foreward and it highlights what a great singer he actually was - besides being a great dancer and songwriter.

People need to realize that this is a soundtrack album to a Cirque du Soleil show and it should be perceived as such.

I'm pretty saddened to see Michael's own fans attacking every new release since his death. No, I'm not approving everything the Estate does automatically. In fact I thought the "Michael" album was poorly produced and Sony need to get their act together in the future in that area. But this is a good and fun album which will make you want to dance - even if you are not a hardcore fan.

I wonder how these fans think Michael's legacy will survive if they attack and sabotage everything the Estate does just out of partizanship or because of the conspiracy theories they have in their minds about Sony or the Estate or whatever. A Cirque show is something I'm sure Michael would have approved of since he loved Cirque. Actually he would be proud of it. I'm also sure he wouldn't mind these remixes since he didn't mind MUCH poorer remixes on Thriller 25.

Fans need to accept that things will never be again like they were while Michael was alive. His albums will never be like that again. He was a genius and he cannot be replaced. But don't get let this fact get in the way of being able to enjoy an overal good album like this one.

First I wasn't sure whether I should buy the CD or not. But after I watched Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil I decided to buy it. I'm glad I did. It's a nice pep up of the original MJ songs. Just love it.