Invincible (Michael Jackson album)
Michael Jackson's final studio album, released in 2001.
Invincible, the tenth and final studio album from Michael Jackson, came out on October 30, 2001, through Epic Records. It blends R&B, pop, and soul, and its lyrics touch on romance, feeling cut off from others, and the media's harsh scrutiny. This was the last album Jackson put out while he was alive; he died in 2009.
Putting the album together was a costly, drawn-out process. Ten producers and over one hundred musicians worked on it. Jackson began recording in 1997, but the final track wasn't finished until just eight weeks before the release date. The reported cost came to nearly $30 million, making it the most expensive album ever made. The first single, "You Rock My World," became Jackson's last major hit, peaking at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2002.
When it debuted, Invincible hit number one on the Billboard 200, selling 363,000 copies in its first week. It also topped the charts in thirteen other countries. Alongside "You Rock My World," the single "Cry" was released, and "Speechless" and "Butterflies" came out as promotional singles. Critics initially gave it average to negative reviews, making it Jackson's most panned album. Over time, though, retrospective opinions have been kinder, especially praising its musicality and production.
In July 2002, after Sony stopped promoting Invincible without warning, Jackson publicly criticized Sony Music's CEO, Tommy Mottola. Jackson also refused to tour behind the album, which deepened his conflict with the label. The album went double platinum in the United States and has sold more than eight million copies worldwide. Following Jackson's death in 2009, readers of Billboard voted it the best album of the 2000s.
Production
Before Invincible, Jackson hadn't put out new material since the 1997 remix album Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix; his last studio album before that was HIStory (1995). Many saw Invincible as a comeback. Recording started in October 1997, and the song "You Are My Life" was recorded just eight weeks before the album dropped—making this the longest recording period of Jackson's career. Most of the final tracks were written in the last year of production; only "You Rock My World," "Privacy," "Break of Dawn," "Speechless," and "Cry" came from earlier sessions.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Michael Jackson
- Released
- 30 October 2001
- Recorded
- October 1997 – September 2001
- Genre
- R&B
- pop
- soul
- Length
- 77:01
- Label
- Epic; MJJ
- Producer
- Michael Jackson
- Rodney Jerkins
- Teddy Riley
- Dr. Freeze
- Andre Harris
- Babyface
- R. Kelly
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Invincible was the result of an expensive and laborious production process, featuring ten record producers and over 100 musicians. Jackson began recording in October 1997 and finished only eight weeks before the album's release, making it the most extensive recording of his career. The album reportedly cost $30 million, making it the most expensive album ever made. It features appearances from Carlos Santana, the Notorious B.I.G. (posthumous), Fats, and Slash.
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 363,000 copies and reached number one in 13 other countries. The lead single, "You Rock My World," was Jackson's final hit single, reaching number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100 and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Promotion was hampered by conflicts between Jackson and Sony Music Entertainment, and Jackson refused to tour to support the album. In July 2002, Jackson openly condemned Sony Music CEO Tommy Mottola after Sony abruptly ended promotion for Invincible.
Invincible initially received average to negative reviews, becoming Jackson's most critically derided album. However, retrospective reviews have viewed it more positively, with praise for its musicality and production. The album was certified double platinum in the US and has sold over eight million copies. In 2009, following Jackson's death, it was voted by online readers of Billboard as the best album of the 2000s.
Reader's Guide
Invincible holds significance as Michael Jackson's final studio album and the most expensive album ever made, with reported expenses of close to $30 million. Its creation involved over 100 musicians and ten producers, reflecting Jackson's meticulous approach. The album's legacy is complex: initially met with average to negative reviews, it has been reassessed more favorably over time, with critics praising its musicality and production. The album's commercial performance was strong, debuting at number one in the US and 13 other countries, and it produced Jackson's last hit single, "You Rock My World." The album's promotion was marred by Jackson's public rift with Sony Music CEO Tommy Mottola, which contributed to the lack of a supporting tour. Despite these challenges, Invincible achieved double platinum certification in the US and sold over eight million copies worldwide. Its posthumous recognition, including being voted the best album of the 2000s by Billboard readers, underscores its enduring appeal. The album also includes a dedication to Benjamin Hermansen, a fifteen-year-old Afro-Norwegian boy killed by neo-Nazis in Oslo, reflecting Jackson's social consciousness.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unbreakable (featuring The Notorious B.I.G.) | Michael Jackson, Christopher Wallace, Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, Nora Payne, Robert Smith | 6:25 |
| 2 | Heartbreaker (featuring Fats) | Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels, Mischke, Norman Gregg | 5:10 |
| 3 | Invincible (featuring Fats) | Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels, Mischke, Gregg | 4:45 |
| 4 | Break of Dawn | Jackson, Elliot Straite, Jerkins, Edward Riley | 5:32 |
| 5 | Heaven Can Wait | Jackson, Riley, Andreao Heard, Nate Smith, Teron Beal, Eritza Laues, Kenny Quiller | 4:49 |
| 6 | You Rock My World | Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels, Payne | 5:39 |
| 7 | Butterflies | Andre Harris, Marsha Ambrosius | 4:40 |
| 8 | Speechless | Jackson | 3:18 |
| 9 | 2000 Watts | Jackson, Riley, Tyrese Gibson, JaRon Henson | 4:24 |
| 10 | You Are My Life | Jackson, Kenneth Edmonds, Carole Sager, John McClain | 4:33 |
| 11 | Privacy | Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels, Bernard Belle, David Campbell | 5:05 |
| 12 | Don't Walk Away | Jackson, Riley, Richard Stites, Reed Vertelney | 4:25 |
| 13 | Cry | Robert Kelly | 5:01 |
| 14 | The Lost Children | Jackson | 4:00 |
| 15 | Whatever Happens | Jackson, Riley, Geoffrey Williams, Gil Cang, Jasmine Quay | 4:56 |
| 16 | Threatened | Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels | 4:19 |
| Total length | 77:01 | ||
Track listing from the source article.
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