Another Jackson 5 thriller

It was music composer and singer Adnan Sami’s biggest project — an album that was supposed to mark the comeback of the group comprising Michael Jackson and his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy (who formed the band The Jackson 5 which later became The Jacksons). After the demise of Michael, it looked like a stillborn project and the Jackson family wasn’t showing any inclination to go ahead with the proposed international album.

Adnan, naturally, had given up hope. But a couple of days back he got a call from the Jackson family asking him to start working on the project again as they wanted Michael’s wish to be fulfilled. Jackson’s sister Janet, who couldn’t be a part of the original project, will lend her voice to the portions that were supposed to be sung by Michael. 

“It is a moment of joy as well as sadness. Joy because my project is taking off, sadness because I was hoping to work with the one and only Michael Jackson and learn from him. It was a devastating loss for me. The family was thinking of scrapping the project since Michael can’t be a part of it but they now want to complete all projects Michael wanted to do — and this was one of them. So we begin again,” Adnan told DNA.

He adds: “Janet Jackson’s inclusion becomes a big USP as she will bring her unique style. The Jackson family will start working on the album from next year.”

Word is that Michael’s elder brother Jermaine, who was in Mumbai recently to shoot a song with Adnan, is behind the project’s revival. The Jacksons want to reunite and Janet’s inclusion means they don’t have to change the band’s name. “She is part of the family and automatically fits into Jackson 5,” points out Adnan. 

The project is expected to have a mix of Motown music, something that the Jacksons specialised in, besides Indian and world music elements.