Jackson resurrected for charity effort

The We Are The World effort for Haiti is clear-sighted. Egos put to one side, pulling together for the common good. Not losing sight of the victims. Not forgetting what it's all about.

It's all about Michael Jackson:

The singer who passed away in June last year will not only be featured on the hook but also make a cameo on its accompanying music video. The late King of Pop will appear posthumously in a split-screen with his sister Janet Jackson joining him. The idea of putting him in the project comes from Michael's mother Katherine Jackson and Janet herself.

Thank god they thought of that - after all, otherwise the focus of the exercise might have been the people in that country with the earthquake, instead of being just another adjunct of the Michael Jackson Industry.

"To have Michael's presence singing his part is the best gift we could ever get," Lionel told Access Hollywood. "His original image and him seeing his part."

Really, Lionel? A bit of tatty old footage is "the best gift" you could get? You don't think, what with how this is meant to be a charity fundraiser for people who have lost everything a better gift might have been if the Jackson family had said "here, we'll sign Billie Jean over to UNICEF for as long as the copyright lasts"? Or, you know, something that didn't reduce the dead and injured into a sideshow?

On Michael's duet with Janet, he said, "It was all put together with fabulous choreography. It's magical."

If Jacko actually dances, that would be magical.

There are some things that should not be done, even if they are possible. I mean, I can't think of any way in which they could have made We Are The World II any more tawdry.

It's filmed in 3-D

It turns out they're more imaginative than I am.

[Again, thanks to Michael M]