"Hollywood Tonight" is a previously unreleased song performed by Michael Jackson released as the second track on Jackson's first posthumous album Michael. It was released as a single on February 11, 2011, serving as the second single from the album.
Background[]
The song was first written and recorded in 1999 during the Invincible sessions. The song was co-written with Brad Buxer, who also helped produce the song. This version sampled "I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)" by Hall & Oates. The song didn't make the cut and wouldn't be picked up again until nearly a decade later.
In 2007, Jackson pulled "Hollywood Tonight" out of the vault and started reworking it with Brad and Neff-U while in Las Vegas. A year later, Michael Prince was asked by the King of Pop to get the most recent mix of the song on a CD so he can listen to it later and see what can be improved, however Michael never got to do it.[1] Alongside other, thirty four titles, it became a contender for Jackson's never-finished eleventh studio album.
In Summer of 2010, the song would once again be tampered with, this time with intentions to include it on the posthumous Michael album. During the production, while Michael Prince was doing changes to the track, he decided the song didn't have a good sounding kick nor snare, and put the "Billie Jean" drums over "Hollywood Tonight". Thus what would become the "Throwback Mix" came into fruition.[2] Ultimately, it didn't make it on the album and was replaced by another mix, but eventually got used for the single release and the music video.
After Prince showcased his mix of "Hollywood Tonight" to Teddy Riley, the producer went on to make his own mix, featuring completely new production.[2] In the finished version, a loud beatboxing can be heard throughout the song, Michael's vocals are heavily autotuned and the bridge Jackson originally wrote for "Hollywood Tonight" is replaced by a spoken verse done by Michael's nephew, Taryll Jackson.
Music video[]
Music video for the song was released on March 10, 2011, nearly a month after the single's release. It was shot in front of the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, California, where Jackson previously filmed "You Are Not Alone". The clip features Sofia Boutella, who auditioned to be a dancer for the This Is It tour. She can been seen auditioning during a scene in Michael Jackson's This Is It. The video is also filled with many Jackson related easter eggs and references.
Audio[]
The original demo from 1999 leaked in HQ on March 5, 2014. Neff-U's early mix (often referred to as "Rock Mix") leaked a few months after.
The demo produced by Buxer features Michael coming up with ideas and mumbling some of the lyrics. This demo would go on to be re-used for the Michael album rework and it is unknown why the producers didn't decide to work with a later version instead. Additionally, this version also features the infamous "because she's only fifteen" lyric, which was removed from the released incarnation of "Hollywood Tonight".
The production for Neff-U's demo features elements from both the original demo and such that would later appear in the final version. Additionally, as the aforementioned title "Rock Mix" suggests, it also includes elements of rock, replacing the bridge with a guitar solo.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Lipstick in hand, Tahitian tanned in her painted-on jeans
She dreams of fame, she changed her name
To one that fits the movie screen
She's headed for the big time, that means
[Chorus]
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
It's true that you may never ever have that chance again
That chance again, babe
[Verse 2]
Westbound Greyhound to Tinseltown to pursue her movie star dreams
And she's giving hot tricks to men just to get in
She was taught that that's not clean
She's headed for the big time, that means
[Chorus]
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
It's true that you may never ever have that chance again
That chance again, babe
[Verse 3: Taryll Jackson & Michael Jackson]
She gave up her life to follow her dreams (Again, babe)
Left behind everything for the movie scene
Nothing more, she could want, she was determined to follow her plan
She wanted Hollywood, she wanted it bad
Now that she got her dream, she became a star
It all looked so good, but only good from afar
Imprisoned in every paparazzi's camera, every guy wished they could
Now, it's back to reality for Ms. Hollywood
Lipstick in hand, Tahitian tanned in her painted-on jeans
She dreams of fame, she changed her name
To one that fits the movie screen
She's headed for the big time, that means
[Chorus]
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
It's true that you may never ever have that chance again
That chance again, babe
You know it, baby
[Outro]
Westbound Greyhound to Tinseltown
To pursue her movie star dreams (That chance again, babe)
She's Hollywood, she's Hollywood
Westbound Greyhound to Tinseltown
To pursue her movie star dreams (That chance again, babe)
She's Hollywood, she's Hollywood
You know it, baby
Westbound Greyhound to Tinseltown
To pursue her movie star dreams (Again, babe)
She's Hollywood, she's Hollywood
Westbound Greyhound to Tinseltown
To pursue her movie star dreams (Again, babe)
She's Hollywood, she's Hollywood
She's Hollywood, she's Hollywood
Hollywood, she's Hollywood
Hollywood, she's Hollywood
She's Hollywood, she's Hollywood
[Verse 1]
Lipstick in hand, Tahitian tanned in her painted on jeans
She dreams of fame, she changed her name
To one that fits the movie screen
She's headed for the big time, that means
[Chorus]
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
It's true that you may never ever have that chance again
That chance again, babe
[Verse 2]
Westbound Greyhound to Tinseltown to pursue her movie star dreams
And she's giving hot tricks to men just to get in
She was taught that that's not clean
Because she's only fifteen
[Chorus]
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
It's true that you may never ever have that chance again
That chance again, babe
You know it, baby (Aaow!)
That chance again, babe
[Bridge]
Bridge. You can keep the looped drum going here
Aaaaaah, oooooooh
Oooooh, oh, baby
Aaaaaah, aaaaaah, aaaaaah
Oooooh
[Verse 3]
Lipstick in hand, deh-deh-deh
Dun-dun-do-do-duh-doh
Do-deh, dun-do-do-deh-doh-deh-deh
Deh-dah-dah-dah-deh
She's headed for the big time, that means
[Chorus]
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
She's going Hollywood, she's going Hollywood tonight
It's true that you may never ever have that chance again
That chance again, babe
You know it, baby (Aaow!)
That chance again, babe (Hoo!)
[Bridge]
She doesn't even have a ticket
She doesn't even have a way back
She's lost and she's alone
There's no place for her to go
She is young and she is cold
Just like her father told her so
Gallery[]
Physical copies[]
![CD back cover[3]](/wiki/File:Hollywoodbackcover.jpg "Hollywoodbackcover.jpg (178 KB)")
![CD[3]](/wiki/File:Hollywoodcd.jpg "Hollywoodcd.jpg (93 KB)")
Other[]
Trivia[]
Note
- Shorthand for "Hollywood Tonight", that Michael used to refer to the song, was "Hollywood", as written on one of the notes below featured in the Michael album documentary. It's often wrongly assumed "Hollywood" is another, completely unrelated unreleased track, although this is untrue.
- After showcasing "Hollywood Tonight" to Riley, Michael Prince was told by the producer "Finally, something I know is Michael". This is most definitely referring to Teddy's concerns regarding the authenticity of the vocals on "Breaking News", "Keep Your Head Up" and "Monster", three of Eddie Cascio's controversial songs featured on the Michael album.[2]