Hip-Hop Media TrainingNe-Yo, Melanie Fiona, Swizz Beatz To Celebrate Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’ For Pepsi/Billboard Concert
Ne-Yo, Melanie Fiona and Swizz Beatz join the talent lineup for Pepsi/Billboard's Summer Beats Concert Series. They will perform in New York Wednesday, August 29, during a tribute to Michael Jackson's Bad album which will celebrate its 25th anniversary on August 31.
The concert which will be broadcast from Pepsi's Twitter page livestream will allow viewers to influence elements of the show. When Nicki Minaj performed her Summer Beats date on August 14, fans helped shape her set list.
During the Bad celebration, Ne-Yo will sing Jackson's "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" as well as songs from his forthcoming album, R.E.D.
The "Let Go" singer and songwriter said he's up to the challenge of covering Jackson's music. "Anyone who has seen me perform before knows Michael Jackson has been an inspiration for me, so there's no pressure from me there," he told Yahoo! Music. "But whenever you perform someone's else's music you always want to do it justice, especially with someone as iconic as Michael Jackson. All I can do is bring the respect I have for him and his music to the stage and perform with the passion and love I perform my own music."
Ne-Yo, who was 7-years-old in June 1987 when Jackson's "Bad" song was released, said he remembers being completely in awe of Jackson's classic work. "I was mesmerized from the sound to the visual," he said. "I couldn't stop dancing and singing." He was equally drawn to the "Bad" video, adding, "The leather jacket, the subway, the dance sequence, it was rock and roll with soul."
The Summer Beats Concert Series is a partnership between Pepsi and Billboard. "The Summer Beats Concert Series truly brings Pepsi's 'Live for Now' mindset to life by offering fans the ability to interact with and impact a live concert event," said Javier Farfan, Senior Director of Cultural Branding at PepsiCo. "This component supports our overall Twitter program by inserting spontaneity and social media engagement into the concert experience and changing the way fans enjoy music."
Pepsi's "Live for Now" also includes one billion special edition Michael Jackson Bad 25 Pepsi cans available in more than 20 countries.
"We're thrilled to be working with Pepsi to build on the compelling content and exciting experiences that Billboard brings fans throughout the summer," said Tommy Page, Publisher, Billboard.
