Kiwi stars record Jackson tribute album

BY MATTHEW BACKHOUSE

A new Michael Jackson tribute album captures the raw emotions Kiwi musicians felt after the singer's death, its compiler says.

---

Stuff.co.nz will have full coverage of Michael Jackson's funeral from 5am Wednesday. Keep checking back for updated news and photos.

---

Moonlight, Good Times and Boogie, featuring Michael Jackson covers performed by New Zealand indie musicians, has been released as a free download from the Cheese on Toast website.

The album includes tracks from London-based Connan Mockasin, San Francisco artist Uni and her Ukelele, and former Mint Chicks bassist Michael Logie, who records as F in Math.

Cheese on Toast founder Andrew Tidball said the entire album was recorded in the week following Jackson's death.

"What I wanted to achieve was quite an immediate response," he said. "Part of its charm is that people were still in shock."

The album was a celebration of Jackson's considerable contributions to pop music, he said.

"To me, Michael Jackson transcends fandom. He's just part of popular culture."

The idea came about when Mr Tidball requested written tributes to Jackson for his website.

"It just struck me as I was doing that, that hey, I'm talking to a whole lot of musicians, why don't I ask them if they want to knock some covers together?"

The album was made available for free download because Mr Tidball did not want to cash in on Jackson's death. "I think that's abhorrent."

Although some of the contributing musicians were known for their keen sense of irony, their covers were heartfelt, Mr Tidball said.

"There may be a sense of humour attached, but only from a place of love, and I think all good humour comes from that. But I don't think anybody is being vindictive."

Some musicians Mr Tidball approached declined to provide a written tribute or song.

"It surprised me that some people were really quite negative, and I was I bit disappointed. For whatever he might have been, I still think he was a huge musical force."

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

The contributing musicians did surprisingly well despite having only a week to learn and record a Michael Jackson cover, Mr Tidball said.

"I'm really impressed by the quality of some of those tracks."

F in Math's Michael Logie, who contributed a cover of Heal the World, learned of Jackson's death while on tour with New Zealand bands Clap Clap Riot and Motocade.

"We were a bit shocked by it all," he said.

All three acts decided to cover Jackson's songs on the day of his passing, with Mr Logie debuting his half-finished cover that night.

"I put that together in the van pretty much, just on my laptop ... I played it for the rest of the tour."

Upon returning to Auckland two days after Jackson's death, Mr Logie rushed to complete his cover.

"If I'd had more time, I would've made mine better!"

Jackson's death was disappointing because Mr Logie had been a fan as a child.

"When you hear one of his songs you're like, 'Oh, awesome, this is great music'."

KIWI MUSOS PAY TRIBUTE

Written tributes on the Cheese on Toast website attest to Jackson's influence on New Zealand musicians.

The Mint Chicks' Ruban Nielson said his band loved Jackson dearly, adding that his brother Kody was a member of a Jackson covers band called Neverland.

Cut Off Your Hands' Nick Johnson said Jackson played an important part in his musical upbringing, while folk artist Steve Abel described him as "a tragic figure set free".

The Checks' Jacob Moore said Jackson would be celebrated for helping others in need and giving everything to his performances. "Michael Jackson is one of those people who will be remembered forever," he said.

Former C4 presenter Camilla Martin said she was transfixed when she saw Jackson perform live when she was 12: "A superstar of that calibre is hard to equate with death."

Ryan McPhun of the Ruby Suns described Jackson as "one of the few artists that I never got sick of", while Paul McLaney said he was "an artist that spoke to everyone".

* Download the album here.

- © Fairfax NZ News