Hollywood Tonight
Encyclopedia
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." 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". Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly
said the song "feels leaner and more urgent, crackling with Jackson’s trademark percussive shuffle and pop." 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." Jason Lipshutz, Gail Mitchell and Gary Graff from Billboard
thought the song "sounds like Britney Spears
' 'Lucky' crossed with Justin Timberlake
's 'LoveStoned
.'" 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." Jim Farber of the Daily News praised "Hollywood Tonight" for exhibiting Jackson's "old verve." 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."
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."
, 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).
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, and peaked at number 60. It debuted at number 36 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart for the week ending April 30, 2011, and on June 11, 2011, it became Jackson's first number-one hit on the chart since his 1995 hit "Scream"
and his eighth overall as a solo artist.
page. On March 10, as expected the full video was released with a new mix called "Throwback Mix" featuring alternate demo vocals without autotune and sampling the beat of "Billie Jean
".
The director of "Hollywood Tonight" is Wayne Isham
. Isham directed Jackson's 1995 number-one hit "You Are Not Alone
". Shot at the sidewalk and street at the front of the Pantages Theatre
in Hollywood, California
.
Led by Algerian-born dancer Sofia Boutella
, her outfit was based on Jackson himself. 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. The video included Jackson images and video clips throughout, including Jam, Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough
, In The Closet
, Black or White and Billie Jean
.
Billie Jean
"Billie Jean" is a dance-pop/R&B song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was written, composed, and co-produced by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones from the singer's sixth album, Thriller . Originally disliked by Jones, the track was almost removed from the album after he and...
" meets "Dangerous
Dangerous (Michael Jackson song)
"Dangerous" is an R&B-pop song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. The song appeared on Jackson's solo studio album of the same name, released in November 1991. Written and composed by Jackson, Bill Bottrell and Teddy Riley, the song was planned as the tenth single from the album...
" or "Leave Me Alone." It's like one of those driving bass lines that you will remember." Joe Vogel of The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
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". Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
said the song "feels leaner and more urgent, crackling with Jackson’s trademark percussive shuffle and pop." Dan Martin of NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
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." Jason Lipshutz, Gail Mitchell and Gary Graff from Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
thought the song "sounds like Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
' 'Lucky' crossed with Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
's 'LoveStoned
LoveStoned
"LoveStoned" is a song by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake from his second studio album, FutureSex/LoveSounds . It was released on June 14, 2007, by Jive Records as the fourth single from the album...
.'" 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." Jim Farber of the Daily News praised "Hollywood Tonight" for exhibiting Jackson's "old verve." 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."
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."
Chart performance
"Hollywood Tonight" was released as the second single from the album, MichaelMichael (album)
Michael is a posthumous album of previously unreleased tracks by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released from December 10, 2010 - January 14, 2011 by Epic Records and Sony Music Entertainment and features guest performances by Akon, 50 Cent, Lenny Kravitz and Dave Grohl...
, in most territories. Due to the massive airplay on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
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).
In the United States, the song debuted at number 89 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart for the week ending April 16, 2011, marking Jackson's 52nd solo hit on this chart, and peaked at number 60. It debuted at number 36 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart for the week ending April 30, 2011, and on June 11, 2011, it became Jackson's first number-one hit on the chart since his 1995 hit "Scream"
Scream/Childhood
"Scream"/"Childhood" is the lead single from Michael Jackson's ninth studio album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I where "Scream" is the first song and "Childhood" is the tenth song on the second disc of the album HIStory Continues. The A-side, "Scream", is a duet with his younger sister...
and his eighth overall as a solo artist.
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 FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page. On March 10, as expected the full video was released with a new mix called "Throwback Mix" featuring alternate demo vocals without autotune and sampling the beat of "Billie Jean
Billie Jean
"Billie Jean" is a dance-pop/R&B song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was written, composed, and co-produced by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones from the singer's sixth album, Thriller . Originally disliked by Jones, the track was almost removed from the album after he and...
".
The director of "Hollywood Tonight" is Wayne Isham
Wayne Isham
Wayne Isham is an American music video director who has directed music videos of many popular artists; such as Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Roxette, Mötley Crüe, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Whitesnake, David Cook, Simple Plan, Avenged Sevenfold, Pantera, *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys,...
. Isham directed Jackson's 1995 number-one hit "You Are Not Alone
You Are Not Alone
"You Are Not Alone", released on the 10th of August 1995, is the second single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory. The R&B ballad's composition has been attributed R. Kelly in response to difficult times in his personal life. He then forwarded a bare demo tape to Jackson, who liked the song and...
". Shot at the sidewalk and street at the front of the Pantages Theatre
Pantages Theatre (Hollywood)
The Pantages Theatre, formerly known as RKO Pantages Theatre, is located at Hollywood and Vine , Hollywood, California, USA. Designed by architect B. Marcus Priteca, it was the last theater built by the vaudeville impresario Alexander Pantages...
in Hollywood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Led by Algerian-born dancer Sofia Boutella
Sofia Boutella
Sofia Boutella, is an Algerian born French dancer, mainly hip-hop and street dance, known as the Nile Girl from Nike Women advertising.-Biography:...
, her outfit was based on Jackson himself. 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. The video included Jackson images and video clips throughout, including Jam, Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" is a single by American recording artist Michael Jackson. Released under Epic Records on July 28, 1979, the song is the first single from Jackson's fifth studio album, entitled Off the Wall. Written by Jackson, it is in the key of B major and in common time...
, In The Closet
In the Closet
"In the Closet" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson from his 1991 Dangerous album. The song became that album's second number one R&B single and its third top ten pop single, hitting number six on the Billboard Hot 100....
, Black or White and Billie Jean
Billie Jean
"Billie Jean" is a dance-pop/R&B song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was written, composed, and co-produced by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones from the singer's sixth album, Thriller . Originally disliked by Jones, the track was almost removed from the album after he and...
.
Track listing
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) | 5 |
| Belgium (Ultratip 50 Flanders) | 16 |
| German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
55 |
| Polish Dance Chart (ZPAV Polish Music Charts The Polish Music Charts are two official album charts and seven singles charts in Poland, provided by ZPAV, the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . The first, the Top 100, is a monthly chart based on data received from the album companies... ) |
19 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
152 |
| UK Radio Airplay Chart | 35 |
| US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
60 |
| US Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs | 1 |
Release history
| Country | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
April 8, 2011 | Digital Single |
| February 11, 2011 | Radio airplay, digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
|
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
CD single CD single A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s... (promo), Radio airplay |
|
| April 10, 2011 | Digital Single | |
| April 16, 2011 | 7" Single | |
| April 26, 2011 | CD single | |
| Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... |
February 14, 2011 | Radio airplay, digital download |
| Spain Spain Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... |
March 8, 2011 | |
| China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |
March 22, 2011 | |
| Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
March 10, 2011 | |
| Korea Korea Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the... |
||
| Korea | March 31, 2011 | CD single |
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
April 5, 2011 | urban airplay |
| Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
April 8, 2011 | Digital Single |
| April 15, 2011 | CD single |
Personnel
- Written and composed by Michael Jackson and Brad Buxer
- Spoken bridge written by Teddy Riley
- Produced by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley
- 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
- List of unreleased Michael Jackson material
- Death of Michael JacksonDeath of Michael JacksonOn June 25, 2009, American singer Michael Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication after he suffered a respiratory arrest at his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood in Los Angeles. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, said he found Jackson in his room, not breathing, but with a faint pulse,...
- List of works published posthumously