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Clinark - Tribute to Michael Jackson, A Legend and a Warrior

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Clinark - Tribute to Michael Jackson, A Legend and a Warrior

Clinark - Tribute to Michael Jackson, A Legend and a Warrior

By Angus Taylor on Thursday, December 9, 2010 - Comment

A poignant set straight from the heart.

Sampler

The death of Michael Jackson in June last year coincided with the inclusion of Tarrus Riley’s previously released cover of the American singer's Human Nature on his third album 'Contagious'. But Tarrus wasn't the only reggae artist moved by the end of the self titled “King Of Pop”.

Clinark Bermudian singer Clinark has just dropped his own 18 piece tribute, distributed by East London’s Nurture Projects Music. Like Riley junior, Clinark was planning to pay homage with a song before the tragic event, yet instead his project snowballed into a full blown long-player. Recorded at London’s Stingray studios and featuring the legendary rhythm section Mafia & Fluxy, It includes both one-drop and dancehall renditions of smashes such as Heal The World and more obscure tracks like Heartbreak Hotel - delivered in a convincing yet distinctive take on Michael’s voice.

What is interesting about Clinark's interpretations is the way later material - stripped of the panoply of vocal tics that, according to popular myth, so irritated Quincy Jones - reveals the quality of Jackson’s songwriting as never before. And in starting with the protest song They Don't Care About Us, Clinark encourages us to consider the superstar as a voice of the Black Diaspora rather than the eccentric figure popularized by media reports in his latter years. There’s also a duet with British singer Adele Harley (who seems to be popping up everywhere these days) on a remix of I’ll Be There, released as a single in 2009 after Michael’s death.

As with 'Contagious', if you think “smooth soul” and “pop” are dirty words this album may not do much for you. But as a tribute taken in its intended spirit, this is a surprisingly poignant set whose best moments leave even Tarrus' rendition behind.