Michael Jackson's Sonic 3

[ShinobiMan]

Just this morning I stumbled across some very interesting information that I thought I'd pass along for those who didn't know. Apparently, the music in Sonic 3 was originally supposed to be composed by Michael Jackson. When the Jackson scandal of '93 was made public, Sega wanted nothing to do with him and removed his music from the game.

Or at least thats what they wanted you to believe.

Here is a nice little video that pretty much explains the whole thing. It makes comparisons to Michael Jackson songs from around that time and the music that still remains in Sonic 3.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbVM-l2Oku4

It was when I learned about the replacement songs for some of the levels in the PC version of Sonic 3 that I realized it was all true. Apprently all of the music Jackson contributed to the Genesis release was redone on the PC version. This is evident in the Carnival Zone (Which bares a striking resemblance to Jackson's "Jam"), Icecap Zone (Which is basically a sped up version of Jackson's "Who Is It".) and the end credits ("Stranger In Moscow").

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwA9E-OTkbk

If anyone has something to say about all this, please do. I find it very interesting.

[Coldguy]

Yup they pulled him from the project after the first child thing went down. However his team is credited for making the musical score. Also the fact that Micheal Jackson was in a sonic game to begin with is just down right creppy.

[Daft Punk]

interesting....

[megasdkirby]

Interesting find.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Wasn't there a thread about this made a year ago or so?

[djbeatmongrel]

You know he's fast He's fast, you know it...

[mailman187666]

I never knew about that, at the time it was made though, it probably wouldn't have been as creepy as it would be now.

[Gapporin]

Very interesting, but not surprising considering the amount of Sega games that Michael Jackson has been in (Moonwalker, I'm Sorry, Space Channel 5, probably even more).

[ThoughtBomb]

Get ready folks, the next big playable character in the next Smash Bros. game: MICHAEL JACKSON! His Final Smash will be similar to the Moonwalker games where he yells "HOOOO!" Everyone dances to Smooth Criminal. Then gets knocked offscreen.

[fpbrush]

Ahh.. I actually never heard about this. Interesting if true!

[fairyland]

I'm just wondering how he managed to make it into the Space Channel 5 games. Those was well after the early 90s scandals, and I think was during a couple, like that hanging his baby out of the window thing. His name was tarnished so much I don't see how he got into any game, but there he is. I don't think his being in SC5 got any attention at all at the time and no one seemed to care. I know I was rather surprised to see him and I did not expect it at all and at the time I thought he should not have been in there.

[Jorpho]

Wasn't there a thread about this made a year ago or so?

Two years.
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83850

/thread

[emceelokey]

I'm just wondering how he managed to make it into the Space Channel 5 games. Those was well after the early 90s scandals, and I think was during a couple, like that hanging his baby out of the window thing. His name was tarnished so much I don't see how he got into any game, but there he is. I don't think his being in SC5 got any attention at all at the time and no one seemed to care. I know I was rather surprised to see him and I did not expect it at all and at the time I thought he should not have been in there.

And Ready to Rumble which debuted on the DC as well. Odd.

[Nebagram]

Old news, but still interesting- new theories are coming up all the time (apparently Knuckles's theme is closely related to two MJ songs, can't remember which ones though).

[Deadpixels]

Saw that vid a few years back, but I still find it very interesting. Listening to many of those tracks, particularly Carnival Night Zone and Ice Cap Zone, make it plain as day that Sonic 3's tunes were programmed, if not completely inspired by, Michael Jackson's work.

Great tunes by the way.

[ssjlance]

Well, regardless of the man's personal life, he can write music. And I have always loved the soundtrack to Sonic 3, and thinking about it, I can hear a Michael Jackson kind of sound on a lot of the tracks (particularly the Carnival Zone).

[emceelokey]

I heard there was supposed to be a Neverland Zone in Sonic 3.

[rbudrick]

I heard there was supposed to be a Neverland Zone in Sonic 3.

Hey did you hear the one about Sonic and MacCauley Cul....never mind...too easy.

-Rob

[Cryomancer]

I'm just wondering how he managed to make it into the Space Channel 5 games. Those was well after the early 90s scandals, and I think was during a couple, like that hanging his baby out of the window thing. His name was tarnished so much I don't see how he got into any game, but there he is. I don't think his being in SC5 got any attention at all at the time and no one seemed to care. I know I was rather surprised to see him and I did not expect it at all and at the time I thought he should not have been in there.

Because that's Space Michael, who is really the real one. He left earth in late 80s, and was replaced by the alien lifeform we now know as Michael Jackson.

[98redM6]

He made "Thriller".