Gasebalwe Seretse
4 November 2009
A few months after the demise of one of the greatest entertainers the world has ever produced, Michael Jackson, an upcoming Botswana artist, Howard Thari, has released an album namely I Am A Botswana (MJ tribute) in honour of the deceased superstar.
The album opens with the track, MJ tribute dedicated to the memory of Michael Jackson or MJ as he was known to legions of his fans. The song will certainly win fans for the youthful Mochudi-born artist who mostly sings ballads.
One of the interesting things about MJ tribute is that it mentions some of the hit songs by the controversial artist with the catch phrase being that he (Michael Jackson) was bad' (possibly borrowed from his hit song, I'm Bad.
The track is one of the most outstanding songs in the album, which is scheduled for official release next month and there is no doubt that it has an international feel to it.
A South African rapper only known to Showbiz as Black is featured in the track and he did a splendid job.
According Howard Thari's profile, as a youngster, his interest in music was ignited by the legendary king of pop.
At the tender age of 10, he began performing at parties and talent shows. As he gained confidence on stage, he started performing as a Michael Jackson impersonator and he won second prize in the best dance category in the KTV talent show in 2002.
He also performed at the annual Maitisong Festival in the same year. The artist was in Mafikeng recording his debut album when Jackson died. Soon after the death of his hero, Professor Alexander, his executive producer proposed to MJ Birthday Tribute organisers to listen to MJ tribute, which impressed them enough for them to invite Thari to perform at a show that took place on August 20 in New York, USA.
In other related Jackson news, major cinemas in Botswana are currently showing a documentary film This Is It, featuring the superstar in his final moments as he was rehearsing for the doomed London shows. The documentary is being shown for two weeks only.
Jackson was regarded as one of the leading artists of all time although he was dogged by controversy throughout his career including the allegations that he bleached his skin in order to look like a white person. Other controversies were his questionable relationships with young boys that led to a court case. He was later acquitted on all counts.
His death in June, caused by cardiac arrest was also controversial in that it is treated as homicide and his physician is reportedly under investigation.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 Mmegi/The Reporter. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
