"Blue Gangsta" | |
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Song by Michael Jackson | |
from the album Xscape | |
Released | May 9, 2014 |
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"Blue Gangsta" on YouTube |
"Blue Gangsta" is a song by American singer and recording artist Michael Jackson. The song is the 7th track of Jackson's second posthumous album Xscape . The song was originally written, composed and produced by Jackson with additional music by Dr. Freeze during the Invincible album recording sessions in 1998–1999, and was re-tooled by Timbaland and Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon during the Xscape recording sessions in 2013–2014.
The song was originally recorded between 1998 and 1999 for the Invincible album but failed to make the final cut. [1] Dr. Freeze re-tooled the song without changing the original music to fit night clubs but this version was not featured on the Xscape album. [2] In late 2010, a year after Jackson's passing, the full version of "Blue Gangsta" was leaked onto the internet. The original version of "Blue Gangsta" included on Xscape is an earlier version; engineer Michael Prince felt the decision to include this version didn't align with Jackson's vision for the song. [1]
Opening with a movie score-like wash of strings and the urgent refrain, "What cha gonna do/You ain't no friend of mine/Look what you put me through/Now that I'm the blue gangsta," the Timbaland-produced tune features a spare, skittering beat and Jackson singing over the multi-tracked chorus. [3] Brazilian tribute artist and impersonator Rodrigo Teaser revealed in a podcast that LaVelle Smith Jr. (Jackson's long-time personal friend, choreographer and dancer), who had worked with Teaser, told him that the song would be the last part of a gangster-themed trilogy to be presented in live performances; the two previous parts being "Smooth Criminal" and "Dangerous". [4]
The music video was published on 14 May 2014 on Jackson's official YouTube channel. Inspired by the short film for Jackson's short video for "Smooth Criminal", dancers from Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour celebrated the release of Xscape with a music video choreographed to this single. A shortened edit of the 2010 leaked version was used to celebrate the original version of this song. [5]
Jon Blistein from Rolling Stone said that "The harrowing, hard-hitting 'Blue Gangsta' features a fiery vocal performance from Jackson, as well as updated production from Timbaland, who gives the track his signature futuristic spin, complete with snap-back snares, eerie low-end synths, blaring horns and striking strings." [6]
Gil Kaufman from MTV said that "If 'Thriller' gave you the chills, wait til you get a shot of Michael Jackson's 'Blue Gangsta'. The song, which is available exclusively now at michaeljackson.mtv.com will appear on the upcoming posthumous King of Pop album, Xscape, and it is a classic slice of cinematic MJ pop magic."[ citation needed ]
Chart (2014) | Peak position |
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Netherlands (Single Top 100) [7] | 77 |
US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles ( Billboard ) [8] | 8 |