Hollywood Tonight

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"Hollywood Tonight"
File:Michael Jackson - Hollywood Tonight.jpg
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Michael
B-side "Behind the Mask" (Vinyl)
Released February 11, 2011
Format CD, 7", digital download
Recorded 1999-2008 (Michael Jackson's vocals)
2010 (additional music overdubs & mixing)
Genre R&B, funk rock, hip hop
Length 4:31
Label Epic
Writer(s) Michael Jackson, Brad Buxer, Teddy Riley (spoken bridge)
Producer(s) Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley, Theron "Neff-U" Feemster (co-producer)
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Hold My Hand"
(2010)		 "Hollywood Tonight"
(2011)		 "Behind the Mask"
(2011)
Michael track listing
"Hold My Hand"
(1)		 "Hollywood Tonight"
(2)		 "Keep Your Head Up"
(3)
Music video
"Hollywood Tonight" on YouTube
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"Hollywood Tonight" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson, included on his posthumous album, Michael. The song was released by Epic Records on February 11, 2011, as the second single from Michael. The spoken parts were performed by Jackson's nephew, Taryll Jackson and written by Teddy Riley. An accompanying music video was released on March 10, 2011. It features Algeria-born French dancer Sofia Boutella dressed in a Jackson-inspired outfit performing a routine with 60 dancers.

Background and release

The song was written by Michael Jackson during the time of the Invincible album. Michael pulled the track out of the archives in 2007 to work on the song with producer Theron "Neff-U" Feemster.[1] Jackson first put down a sketch of the lyrics in 1999, then he began working out the music with longtime friend and collaborator, Brad Buxer, who co-wrote the song. Over the next ten years, Jackson returned to the track numerous times. Jackson and Brad Buxer continued tinkering with it in Las Vegas in 2007. In October 2008, when Jackson lived in Los Angeles, he asked recording engineer Michael Prince to put the latest mix of the song on CD so he could listen to it and see what might be improved, but he never got around to working on it again.[2] Teddy Riley co-produced the song along with Theron "Neff-U" Feemster following Jackson's death. Riley also wrote a new bridge, performed by Taryll Jackson, that included different lyrics than those left by Jackson.[2]

On December 3, 2010, before the album Michael's release, the song premiered on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[3] The song was first released as a single to radio stations in Italy, on February 11, 2011,[4] and it was first listed on BBC Radio 2's playlist A one-day later.[5] In Poland, the song was released on February 14, 2011.[6] A later announcement from the official Jackson website stated that "Behind the Mask" would be released as a radio single in the United States, Canada, Japan and France, with "Hollywood Tonight" taking its place for the rest of the world.[7] Despite this, "Hollywood Tonight" was released to urban contemporary and adult contemporary radio stations in the US on April 5, 2011.[8]

Reception

The song received generally positive reviews from music critics. Teddy Riley, the producer said, "I was looking at just doing the next level of "Billie Jean" meets "Dangerous" or "Leave Me Alone." It's like one of those driving bass lines that you will remember." [9] Joe Vogel of The Huffington Post stated that the song was "definitely an album highlight. The song begins with a haunting Gothic church choir, before transforming into an energetic dance stomper", and "The track features Michael in a notably deeper voice, and concludes with military-style whistling".[10] Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly said the song "feels leaner and more urgent, crackling with Jackson’s trademark percussive shuffle and pop."[11] Dan Martin of NME called the album Michael "not as terrible as you may think", and "the worst thing you can say about "Hollywood Tonight" is that its catchy signature gets annoying after a while."[12] Jason Lipshutz, Gail Mitchell and Gary Graff from Billboard thought the song "sounds like Britney Spears' 'Lucky' crossed with Justin Timberlake's 'LoveStoned.'"[9] Neil McCormick of Daily Telegraph said, "it has the extraordinary confidence of a pop classic and presages an album that may well be Jackson's best work since his Eighties glory days." [1] Jim Farber of the Daily News praised "Hollywood Tonight" for exhibiting Jackson's "old verve."[13] Gerard McGarry of Shout! Music Magazine stated that "while this single doesn't quite touch on the greatness of classic Jackson tracks, it does recall that infectious disco groove that used to be his trademark. There's a strong 80's vibe to Hollywood Tonight - even the female dancer in the video looks like a young Brooke Shields, who Michael was linked to in the 80's."[14]

Negative review comes from Carl Cortez of Assignment X for the "throwback mix" on 7 inch single and music video, he said the mix is "a little sharper than the original, but again, the song really isn't all that good. Another previously unreleased B-side or even the original demo might have been more interesting."[15]

Chart performance

"Hollywood Tonight" was released as the second single from the album, Michael, in most territories. Due to the massive airplay on BBC Radio 2 in the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 38 on The UK Radio Airplay Chart on Week 7, 2011 (from February 13 to February 19, 2011), and peaked at number 35 on Week 8, 2011 (from February 20 to February 26, 2011).[16]

In the United States, the song debuted at number 89 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for the week ending April 16, 2011, marking Jackson's 52nd solo hit on this chart,[17] and peaked at number 60.[18] It debuted at number 36 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart for the week ending April 30, 2011,[19][20] and on June 11, 2011, it became Jackson's first number-one hit on the chart since his 1995 hit "Scream"[21][22] and his thirteenth overall as a solo artist.[23]

Music video

Jackson's official website announced a music video for "Hollywood Tonight". While expected originally to be released at the end of February, it was later pushed back to March 10, 2011. A 19-second sneak preview of the video was made available on Jackson's official Facebook page.[24] On March 10, as expected the full video[25] was released with a new mix called "Throwback Mix" featuring alternate demo vocals without autotune and sampling the beat of "Billie Jean".[26]

The video was directed by Wayne Isham,[27] who previously directed the video for Jackson's 1995 number-one hit "You Are Not Alone".[28] It was shot in front of the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, California.[29]

The lead dancer in the video is Sofia Boutella,[27] who wears an outfit inspired by Jackson's stage costumes. More than 60 dancers performed a Jackson-inspired routine as seen in a video posted by TMZ. The video revolves around a young woman arriving in Hollywood, vying to become a known dancer.[28] It also includes images of Jackson from the music videos for "Black or White", "Billie Jean", "Jam", "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and "In the Closet."[14]

Michael Jackson: The Experience

"Hollywood Tonight" is a playable song in the PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS and iOS versions of Michael Jackson: The Experience.

Track listing

Korean CD Maxi Single (S10988C)[30] / EU Digital EP [31]
No. Title Length
1. "Hollywood Tonight" (Throwback Mix) 3:46
2. "Hollywood Tonight" (DJ Chuckie Radio Edit) 3:54
3. "Hollywood Tonight" (DJ Chuckie Remix) 6:02
4. "Hollywood Tonight" (Radio Edit) 3:46
Total length:
 16:48
EU 7" Single (34-788083 / 88697880837)[32]
No. Title Length
1. "Hollywood Tonight" (Throwback Mix) 3:46
2. "Behind the Mask" (Radio Edit) 3:36
Total length:
 7:22
EU CD Single Epic 88697902982 (Sony)/ EAN 0886979029828 [33][34]
No. Title Length
2. "Hollywood Tonight" (Throwback Mix) 3:48
3. "Hollywood Tonight" (DJ Chuckie Remix) 5:58
Total length:
 6:06

Official versions

  • Album Version 4:31
  • Radio Edit 3:46
  • Throwback Mix 3:46
  • Throwback Instrumental 3:59
  • Throwback Instrumental - No Beatbox 4:00
  • DJ Chuckie Remix 6:01
  • DJ Chuckie Radio Edit 3:53
  • DJ Chuckie Remix - No Talk 6:01
  • DJ Chuckie Dub 5:00
  • Jody Den Broeder Extended Vocal 6:53
  • Jody Den Broeder Dub 6:53
  • Jody Den Broeder Radio Edit 3:51
  • Yiannis Walk Of Fame Mix 7:11
  • Yiannis Walk Of Fame Dub 7:07

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip 50 Wallonia)[35] 5
Belgium (Ultratip 50 Flanders)[35] 16
German Singles Chart[36] 55
Polish Dance Chart (ZPAV)[37] 19
UK Singles Chart[38] 152
UK Radio Airplay Chart 35
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[18] 60
US Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs[18] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2011) Position
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[39] 30
Preceded by
"Original Sin" by INXS Featuring Rob Thomas & Introducing DJ Yaleidys
 Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
June 11, 2011		 Succeeded by
"Fade" by Kristine W

Release history

Country Date Format
Italy April 8, 2011[40] Digital Single
February 11, 2011[4] Radio airplay, digital download
United Kingdom CD single (promo), Radio airplay
April 10, 2011[31] Digital Single
April 16, 2011[32] 7" Single
April 26, 2011[41] CD single
Poland[6] February 14, 2011 Radio airplay, digital download
Spain[42] March 8, 2011
China[43][44] March 22, 2011
Sweden[45] March 10, 2011
Korea[46]
Korea[30] March 31, 2011 CD single
United States[8][47] April 5, 2011 Urban airplay
Germany April 8, 2011[48][49] Digital Single
April 15, 2011[50] CD single

Personnel

  • Written and composed by Michael Jackson and Brad Buxer
  • Spoken bridge written by Teddy Riley
  • Produced by Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson
  • Co-produced by Theron "Neff-U" Feemster and Brad Buxer
  • Arrangement by Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley and Theron "Neff-U" Feemster
  • Mixed by Jean-Marie Horvat, Teddy Riley and Scott Elgin
  • Mix Engineers: John Hanes assisted by Tim Roberts, Jean Marie Horvat, Teddy Riley, Scott Elgin
  • Programming and Finisher: Teddy Riley
  • Additional Background Vocals: Mischke
  • Vocals recorded by Michael Durham Prince and Mischke
  • Spoken Bridge Written by Teddy Riley and Labyron Walton
  • Spoken Bridge by Taryll Jackson
  • Whistling: Danny Ray McDonald Jr. and Michael Durham Prince
  • Beat Box by Michael Jackson
  • Engineered by Scott Elgin, James Murray, Michael Durham Prince and Jon Nettlesbey
  • Assistant Engineer: Quentinn Gilkey
  • Keyboard: Theron "Neff-U" Feemster and Edward Brown
  • Guitar: Erick Donell Walls and Eric Jackson
  • Guitar Engineer: Cristian Delano
  • Horns: The Regiment
  • Drum Programming by Brad Buxer and Theron "Neff-U" Feemster

See also

References

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  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links

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