A holographic version of the King of Pop performed at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night sending the web into a frenzy with over 1.5 million YouTube views in just one day. Check it out below.
More than 5 months of planning and production went into the 4-minute performance which comprised of a 5-piece band and 16 dancers. MJ’s hologram performed “Slave to the Rhythm”, a song he had recorded back in 1991 which was released recently on his posthumous album “Xscape”.
Celebrity holograms are not a new phenomenon. In 2012, a holographic version of the legendary rapper Tupac Shakur performed alongside Snoop Dogg and Dr.Dre at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
Roxanne Palmer of IB Times created this graphic explaining how the technology works.
In 2008, Celine Dion teamed up with a holographic Elvis Presley for a duet of “If I Can Dream” on American Idol.
While holographic technology has made posthumous performances a reality, social media is abuzz with debate on wether this is creepy, cool or downright disrespectful? There’s also a school of thought that says new talent should be given a chance to perform rather than using technology to (virtually) bring back the dead. What’s your take on all this? Share your views in the comments section below. Also don’t miss this animated rap video of Steve Jobs rising from the dead to launch the iPhone 5 and the top 20 most popular Michael Jackson songs of all time.