Even though Ne-Yo is only on his third album, he has already established a theme that runs through all of his work. Each album has to have at least one song that pays homage to his musical icon, Michael Jackson.

“Anybody who has been following Ne-Yo from the start knows that I’m a huge, huge Michael Jackson fan.”

The MJ tribute on Ne-Yo’s upcoming album Year of the Gentleman, which is due to drop in August, is a club-thumping number called “Nobody.” While “Closer,” Ne-Yo’s current hit, is about a dancefloor hookup between two strangers, “Nobody” presents a different scenario. Here’s how Ne-Yo describes it:

“Say she didn’t give you anything, but instead she just started dancing, and it was the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen. It’s like she’s untouchable, like it would be a sin to touch her or dance with her, with what’s going on with her right now.”

When Ne-Yo played the track for the King of Pop, with whom he’s currently working, he got a positive response.

“He told me that he likes the way I do Michael Jackson. I asked him what he meant by that, and he said, ‘When you do that, it doesn’t feel like you’re trying to copy me or trying to be me. It feels like you’re complimenting me.’ And that’s what I’m doing. It means the world [to me] that he liked it.”

Source: MTV

In an interview to PEOPLE, designer Christian Audigier (Ed Hardy) said that he is planning to launch a new fashion line together with Michael Jackson this fall. He said that the two have teamed up to collaborate on this project:

“It’s the merging of the King of Pop with the king of fashion. Something explosive is going to happen.”

Fraser Ross, the owner of Kitson, a trend fashion shop on Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles (USA) which is also represented on the web, has already agreed to carry the line exclusively:

“Michael Jackson is an international pop icon who has had a huge following throughout his career. I think people will think it’s hip to wear his line. Through all his ups and downs people still love him. He still has a huge fan base.”

Source: People, MJFC-USA

On Sunday, Oscar winner Stan Winston, who was famous for his special effects (’Jurassic Park’, ‘Aliens’, ‘Terminator’, ‘Edward Scissorhands’), died at the age of only 62. He died at his home in Malibu surrounded by family after a seven-year struggle with multiple myeloma (a form of cancer).

Working with the very best directors, such as Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, and Tim Burton, in a career spanning four decades, Winston created some of the most memorable visual effects in cinematic history and was a pioneer in merging real-world effects with computer imaging. He also worked with Michael Jackson as director and co-producer on the movie ‘Ghosts’.

Stan Winston is survived by his wife, Karen, a son, daughter, brother, and four grandchildren.

Source: Associated Press

Earlier this year, Rolling Stone Magazine named Chris Brown the “Best New Michael Jackson“, so it made sense that Brown told them a story about the King of Pop when he stopped by for lunch last week:

“He’s one of the most difficult guys to get to do anything. I’ve done the World Music Awards [with him], and he’s called me for my birthday - he did it the superstar way and had his security [call] for him and say ‘Yeah, I got Michael on the phone.’

“[Jackson] was telling me ‘Happy Birthday’ and I was like ‘Thank you, we need to do a record.’ He’s like, ‘Oh, definitely. Will.i.am was telling me about it, so we need to do it.’ It didn’t actually happen how we wanted it, but hopefully in the future it’ll work out.”

Source: Rolling Stone

The party “Michael Jackson and the Jacksons: A Celebration” was held at the Durrant House Hotel in Devon today. The event was meant to welcome members of the Jackson family in the UK - with several of them being in attendance (Tito, Taj, TJ). During the party, Michael made a brief surprise live phone call.

You can listen to the phone call in the YouTube video here.

Below follows a transcript of what Michael said in his phone call. However, some parts were not understandable due to the phone connection and noise in the background:

Hi guys,

I am here in Las Vegas. (not understandable) …running around today having fun. It is very sunny and warm. It is very warm here.

And I am going to be doing some studio work today. (not understandable) … and it is gonna be soon. Sooner than they think. I will tell you that much - it’s gonna be sooner than they think. (not understandable)…

I love you more. I love you more.

And God bless you.

I love you.

Source: MJJParty.Com, MJFC-USA

On July 2, 2008, Sotheby’s in London (UK) is going to auction a painting by famous American artist Andy Warhol (1928-87) which is featuring Michael Jackson. Warhol was a central figure in the pop art movement.

The painting sized 76.2 by 66cm was executed in 1984.

Click Here for more details.

However, if you consider bidding for this painting and to hang it into your living room…the estimated price is a whooping amount of 250,000—350,000 GBP (about 490,000-684,000 US$). That’s quite some money…

Source: Sotheby’s, MJFC-USA

MSNBC are conducting a poll asking whether you would be interested to see Michael Jackson perform in a show in Las Vegas (USA):

Would you pay to see Michael Jackson in concert in Las Vegas?

- Absolutely! I love Michael and would pay top dollar.

- If tickets weren’t too expensive, yes.

- I might. I’m curious to see how weird he is in real life.

- Not a chance.

Click Here to cast your vote and make your voice heard!

Source: MSNBC, MJFC-USA

Appearing on the BET network TV show 106 & Park in New York (USA) earlier this week, Michael`s younger sister Janet was also asked what she thinks about rumours of Michael doing a show in Las Vegas. Janet responded that she has no idea if he will go ahead with the show but was extending an offer to be his opening act:

“I’ve heard that (story) for a while, but I don’t know.

I would love to (open up for him).”

Source: World Entertainment News Network, MJFC-USA

THE Jacksons phoned double act Signature before the finals of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent to wish them luck.

Suleman Mirza and Madhu Singh revealed on GMTV today that the phone call came out of the blue.

“I couldn’t believe it. It happened about an hour or two before the show. I got a call from the security manager saying, ‘Hi, I’m here with the Jackson family - Michael’s mother and the two brothers are here - I think it ’s Jackie and Tito - they’re sitting down, they wish you all the best and they’ll be voting for you.’

And then I got a call back on Sunday saying that apparently Michael’s aware of our act and he’s a big fan and he’ll be contacting us soon. I don’t know if that’s quite true, but we’ll see what happens.”

Source: GMTV, Coventry Telegraph

MOONWALKING Suleman Mirza almost danced himself to victory in the finals of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.

Suleman, 29, of Eton Road, Ilford, and partner Madhu Singh, who perform together as duo ‘Signature’, dazzled fans with their spectacular mix of Michael Jackson and Bhangra dance styles on the national TV talent show.

They were a hit with the judges and viewers, and finished second in the nail-biting finals on Saturday night - narrowly missing out on the top spot to teen dancer George Sampson.

The winner will pocket £100,000 and get to perform at the Royal Variety Performace. Judges Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden said the talent was so great, it was too tough to call a winner.

Suleman, who labelled George a worthy winner and said he and Madhu were big fans of his themselves, told the Recorder he had been dancing like his idol since he was a child and longed to be an entertainer.

By day he’s a trainee solicitor, while Madhu works for Carphone Warehouse, but the pair wowed the judges and audiences alike with their comedy routine.

Their performance in the final was a bigger scale version of their fist audition, in which Suleman takes to the stage with his Michael Jackson moves and Madhu comes on with a broom sweeping the floor.

The audience erupted in cheers once again when Madhu dropped his broom and the two began dancing together in Michael Jackson’s style, mixed with Bhangra dancing.

Click Here to see their Final Performance.

Source: Ilford Recorder