MUSIC: 100 Miles From Memphis

Its not new for artists to venture away from their genres and test the waters in another's pond. Sheryl Crow has had many mutations in her career and explored everything from pop to rock to folk, which makes this morphing to blues less extraordinary. Regardless, it is a genre shift that suits her. Actually, it is a genre that sounds like she was flavoring all her previous works with all along.

Playing homage to the South's other big music draw - other than country and southern rock - Crow works her way through a series of soul-inspired tunes on her newest record, 100 Miles From Memphis. Stand-outs include the titular song and the emotional "Sideways". The song "Sign Your Name", featuring backing vocals by Tennessee-native Justin Timberlake, also makes a nice attempt to sound authentically "Memphis." A bonus track recording of the Jackson 5 song "I Want You Back", in tribute to Michael Jackson himself, will also have you tapping your toes, although the version is nearly identical to the original.

If only other artists could make the change to other genres of music this seamlessly.

Sergio del Limonar

MOVIE: This Is It

Fact: Michael Jackson is the King of Pop.

Say what you want about his personal life, financial or legal problems, and anything related to "Wacko Jacko," but the man's music is untouchable and no one can do it like he can.

Need proof? Head to the nearest theater immediately and see the behind-the-scenes documentary of Jackson's not-to-be final concert extravaganza, This Is It. Composed of rough shots from several rehearsal performances in London, the film documents the spectacle of the show and reveals the Michael Jackson few people got to see.

Soft-spoken but dogmatic, Jackson is clearly a perfectionist. Stopping numbers to tell the keyboardist to pause possibly a nanosecond more on a certain beat or changing the spacing of certain dancers all for the sake of his "vision." Most artists don't (or can't) put this much authenticity and effort into their final performances as Michael Jackson puts into his rehearsals.

Directed by Kenny Ortega, the man behind the High School Musical franchise as well as the film Newsies, the film allows the viewer to be a silent observer to something that came so close but never was. Ortega, a friend of Jackson's was the director of the actual concert, by the same name, that the film is based upon. It only seems fitting that he allow the word a chance to see that magic that only a handful got to experience firsthand.

Even at 50 years old, Jackson is dancing like his 20-something year old back-up dancers, and singing like he did on his first album in 1979, "Off the Wall." Ortega does a masterful job, with little narration, of bringing the performer in Jackson to life from behind the scenes and stage fog and flashing lights.

To fully appreciate Michael Jackson - the artist, the King of Pop - one needs to see This Is It.

Sergio del Limonar

YOUTUBE: PTY (Jabbawockeez)

In memoriam...

There never was a video made for Michael Jackson's Zonino-worthy song, "Pretty Young Thing (PYT)," so instead let's enjoy this dance sequence from the recent season of America's Best Dance Crew by the the contestants Jabbawockeez.

Sergio del Limónar