"This Is It is" a posthumous two-disc soundtrack album by Michael Jackson, released on October 26, 2009, by MJJ Music. It was designed to accompany the concert film of the same name, which documented Jackson's rehearsals for his planned comeback concerts at the O2 Arena in London. The album features a mix of previously released tracks and six unreleased recordings, including the title track "This Is It."
The album debuted at number one in fourteen countries and was certified gold, platinum, or double-platinum in several regions. It became one of the best-selling albums of 2009, with global sales reaching around 5 million copies by March 2010. The title track earned a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Michael Jackson passed away on June 25, 2009, from cardiac arrest, shortly before his planned series of concerts. Following his death, Sony Music announced the release of This Is It as a soundtrack for the film documenting the concert preparations. The album includes tracks from Jackson's extensive catalog, arranged in the order they would have appeared in the concert.
The first disc consists of 16 tracks, with most being classic hits from Jackson's previous albums, while the second disc includes demos and unreleased versions. Among these is "This Is It," a song originally written in 1983 and later completed by Jackson's brothers after his death. The second disc also features demo versions of songs like "She's Out of My Life" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," alongside a spoken word piece titled "Planet Earth."
This Is It serves as both a celebration of Jackson's musical legacy and a poignant reminder of his impact on pop culture, resonating with fans around the world.
