The creation ofInvincible was expensive and laborious, featuring the work of ten record producers and over 100 musicians. Jackson started the multi-genre production in 1997 and did not finish until eight weeks before the album's release. With reported expenses of close to $30 million, it remainsthe most expensive album ever made. The lead single, "You Rock My World", was Jackson's final hit single during his career, as it reached number 10 on the USBillboard Hot 100. It was nominated forBest Male Pop Vocal Performance at the2002 Grammy Awards.
Invincible debuted at number 1 on the USBillboard 200 chart and sold 363,000 copies in its first week. It also reached number 1 in thirteen other countries worldwide. Besides "You Rock My World", "Cry" was also released as a single, and "Speechless" and "Butterflies" were released aspromotional singles. The album received average reviews and became Jackson's most critically derided album. Retrospective reviews of the album have been more positive, being praised for its musicality and production in particular.
In July 2002, following Sony's decision to abruptly end promotion forInvincible, Jackson openly condemned the CEO ofSony Music,Tommy Mottola. Jackson refused to tour to support the album, adding to the growing rift between him and Sony Music. Despite this,Invincible was certifieddouble Platinum in the US and global sales for the album reached over 8 million. In 2009, the year of Jackson's death,Invincible was voted by online readers ofBillboard as the best album of the 2000s.
Jackson began recording new material in October 1997, and finished with "You Are My Life" being recorded only eight weeks before the album's release in October 2001 – the most extensive recording of Jackson's career.[2] The tracks withRodney Jerkins were recorded at the Hit Factory in Miami, Florida.[3] Jackson had shown interest in including a rapper on at least one song, and had said that he did not want a "known rapper".[2] Jackson's spokesperson suggested a New Jersey rapper named Fats; after Jackson heard the finished product of the song, the two agreed to record another song together for the album.[2]
Invincible was dedicated to the fifteen-year-old Afro-Norwegian boyBenjamin "Benny" Hermansen who was stabbed to death by a group ofneo-Nazis inOslo, Norway, in January 2001.[8] The reason for this tribute was partly due to the fact that another Oslo youth, Omer Bhatti, Jackson's friend, was also a good friend of Hermansen.[8] The dedication in the album reads, "Michael Jackson gives 'special thanks': This album is dedicated to Benjamin 'Benny' Hermansen. May we continue to remember not to judge a man by the color of his skin, but the content of his character. Benjamin ... we love you ... may you rest in peace."[8] The album is also dedicated to Nicholette Sottile and Jackson's parents,Joseph andKatherine Jackson.[8]
Invincible is anR&B,[9] pop[1] andsoul[10] record. The album's full length lasts over 77 minutes and contains 16 songs – fourteen of which were written (or co-written) by Jackson. It was noted that the album shifts between aggressive songs and ballads.[11]Invincible opens with "Unbreakable"; the last line in the first verse recites the lyrics, "With all that I've been through/I'm still around".[12] In a 2002 interview with the magazineVibe, Jackson commented on his inspiration for writing "Speechless", saying:
"You'll be surprised. I was with these kids in Germany, and we had a big water-balloon fight – I'm serious – and I was so happy after the fight that I ran upstairs in their house and wrote "Speechless". Fun inspires me. I hate to say that because it's such a romantic song. But it was the fight that did it. I was happy, and I wrote it in it's [sic] entirety right there. I felt it would be good enough for the album. Out of the bliss comes magic, wonderment, and creativity."[13]
"Privacy", a reflection on Jackson's own personal experiences, is about media invasions and tabloid inaccuracies.[12] "The Lost Children" is about imperiled children.[12] Jackson sings in athird person in "Whatever Happens". The song's lyrics, described byRolling Stone magazine as having a "jagged intensity", narrate the story of two people involved in an unnamed threatening situation.[12]Invincible features four ballads: "You Are My Life", "Butterflies", "Don't Walk Away" and "Cry".[12] "Cry", similar to Jackson's "Man in the Mirror", is about healing the world together.[1] The lyrics to "Butterflies" and "Break of Dawn" were viewed as "glaringly banal" and it was implied that they could have been written by anyone.[11] "Threatened" was viewed as being both a storyteller[12] and a "Thriller redux".[11] The song "You Are My Life" is about Jackson's two children at the time, Prince andParis.[14] The song features Jackson singing, "You are the sun, you make me shine, more like the stars."[11]
The album spawned two official singles ("You Rock My World" and "Cry") and three promotional singles ("Speechless", "Butterflies" and "Unbreakable"), although all were given limited releases. "You Rock My World" was only released toradio airplay in the United States, consequently only peaking at number ten on theBillboard Hot 100. Internationally, where it was released as a commercial single, it reached number one in France, number two in Norway, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, number three in Italy, number four in Australia, and five in Sweden and Switzerland.[15] The second single, "Cry", was not released in the United States. It was only moderately successful, with the song's most successful territories being Spain, Denmark, France, and Belgium, charting at number six, sixteen, thirty and thirty-one.[16]
"Butterflies" was released in the United States only to radio airplay. It reached number 14 on theBillboard Hot 100 and peaked at number two for five weeks on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Chart.[17] A three-track commercial single of the song was scheduled for release on January 15, 2002, but its release was canceled.[18] A remix of the song byTrack Masters was released promotionally which features singerEve.[19] Jackson had reportedly wanted "Unbreakable" to be the album's first single, but it was ultimately only issued promotionally.[20][21] The song peaked at number 62 on theRomanian Top 100 chart.[22] "Heaven Can Wait" charted at number 72 on theBillboard R&B/Hip-Hop Chart due to radio airplay without an official release; the song did not chart internationally.[17]
It was reported that the album had a budget of twenty five million dollars set aside for promotion.[6][23] Despite this, however, due to the conflicts between Jackson and his record label, little was done to promote the album.[24] Unlike with Jackson's post-Thriller studio albums, there was no world tour to promote the album; a tour was planned, but canceled due to conflicts between Jackson and Sony, and theSeptember 11 attacks (the latter of which had also motivated many other artists to cancel their then-upcoming concerts in late 2001 and early 2002.)[25][26] There was, however, a special30th Anniversary Celebration at Madison Square Garden in early September 2001 to mark Jackson's 30th year as a solo artist. Jackson performed "You Rock My World" and marked his first appearance onstage alongside his brothers sincethe Jacksons'Victory Tour in 1984.[27] The show also featured performances byBritney Spears,Mýa,Usher,Whitney Houston,Tamia,Backstreet Boys,'N Sync,98 Degrees, andSlash, among other artists.[28] The show aired onCBS in November 2001 as a two-hour television special and was watched by 45 million viewers according to Nielsen.[29]
The album's promotion was met with trouble due to internal conflicts withSony Music Entertainment and Jackson, largely based on his ownership stake within the company and the contract Jackson had originally signed with the label back in 1991. The issue stemmed back during the production ofInvincible when Jackson learned that the rights to the masters of his past releases, which were supposed to revert to him after 1999, would be retained by Sony until the end of the decade. When Jackson consulted the lawyer who had negotiated his contract, he learned that the same lawyer was also working for Sony, revealing aconflict of interest of which Jackson was never aware. Not wanting to sign away his ownership to Sony Music Entertainment, Jackson elected to instead leave the company shortly after the album's release.[30] After the announcement, Sony moved to cancel all promotional and marketing efforts forInvincible; this included stopping the release of a 9/11 charity single that Jackson had recorded.
In July 2002, Jackson publicly alleged that the CEO ofSony Music,Tommy Mottola, was a "devil" and a racist who used hisAfrican American artists only for personal gain.[6][31] He accused Sony and therecord industry of racism, deliberately not promoting or actively working against promotion of his album.[32] Sony disputed claims that they had failed to promoteInvincible with sufficient energy, maintaining that Jackson refused to tour in the United States.[33]
Invincible received mixed reviews from professional critics. AtMetacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received a mixed score of 51 based on 19 reviews.[34]
Mark Beaumont ofNME called it "a relevant and rejuvenated comeback album made overlong",[36] whileBlender also found it "long-winded".[40] Reviewing forThe Village Voice,Robert Christgau said that despite being overlooked, Jackson's "skills seem undiminished [and...] he's doing new stuff with them—his funk is steelier and his ballads are airier, both to disquieting effect." He described the album's first three tracks as being the "Rodney Jerkins of the year".[39] Nikki Tranter ofPopMatters said that it is both innovative and meaningful because exceptional songs such as "The Lost Children" and "Whatever Happens" more than make up for overly sentimental songs like "Heaven Can Wait" and "You Are My Life".[41]Q magazine said that it is an aurally interesting, albeit inconsistent, album.[37]
David Browne ofEntertainment Weekly, felt thatInvincible is Jackson's "first album sinceOff the Wall that offers virtually no new twists" and stated that the album "feels like an anthology of his less-than-greatest hits".[11] James Hunter ofRolling Stone critiqued that the album's later ballads made the record too long.[12] Hunter also commented that Jackson and Riley made "Whatever Happens" "something really handsome and smart", allowing listeners "to concentrate on the track's momentous rhythms" such as "Santana's passionate interjections and Lubbock's wonderfully arranged symphonic sweeps".[12] In a negative review forThe New York Times,Jon Pareles suggested that the album is somewhat impersonal and humorless, as Jackson rehashes ideas from his past songs and is "so busy trying to dazzle listeners that he forgets to have any fun."[42]
Invincible received oneGrammy Award nomination at the 2002 ceremony. The album's song "You Rock My World" was nominated forBest Pop Vocal Performance – Male, but lost toJames Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight".[43] Due to the album's release in October 2001, it was not eligible for any other nomination from the 2002 Grammy Awards.[44]
In retrospective reviews,Invincible has gained more positive reviews and the track "Heartbreaker" has been cited as an early development ofdubstep.[46][47]AllMusic editorStephen Thomas Erlewine commented that it has a "spark" and "sound[s] better than anything Jackson has done sinceDangerous."[1] Erlewine noted that while the album had good material it was "not enough to makeInvincible the comeback Jackson needed – he really would have had to have an album that sounded free instead of constrained for that to work – but it does offer a reminder that he can really craft good pop."[1] Writing forPopDose, Mike Heyliger wrote "Invincible isn't the piece of shit most claim it to be. A leaner structure to the album and more sympathetic production would have resulted in a classic. But when measured against the radio junk that passes for pop-R&B these days,Invincible is stronger than ever."[48] In December 2009, readers ofBillboard votedInvincible the best album of the 2000s.[49][50] In 2025,Screen Rant called it "ahead of its time" and a feat of musicality and production.[51]
Jackson later admitted to have been very proud ofInvincible: "It is tough because you’re competing against yourself.Invincible is just as good or better thanThriller, in my true, humble opinion. It has more to offer."[52] Producer Jerkins also give his thoughts about the album: "There's stuff we didn't put on the album that I wish was on the album. My first batch [of beats] is what I really wanted him to do. I was trying to really go vintage, old school Mike. And that's what a lot of my first stuff was, that I was presenting to him. He kept 'Rock My World'. But he wanted to go more futuristic. So I would find myself at like junkyards, and we'd be out hitting stuff, to create our sound.I thinkInvincible needs to be re-released. Because something happened at the record company [Sony] that caused them not to promote it no more after we done [sic] put our heart and soul in it. He had about five singles on the album. But it came down to who can stop who [sic]. And he was caught up in that mess."[53]
In a retrospective review forThe Rolling Stone Album Guide, Pareles said thatInvincible showed Jackson had lost his suave quality to "grim calculation".[45]
Invincible was Jackson's first studio album sinceHIStory six years earlier.[54] It debuted at number one on theBillboard 200, with first-week sales of 363,000 units, ousting rapperDMX's album,The Great Depression from the position.[54][55] It was Jackson's fifthBillboard 200 number-one,[54] and his fourth solo album to chart at number one in its first week; however, it sold less thanHIStory in its opening week, which sold 391,000 units.[54] In its second week, afterBritney Spears replacedInvincible withBritney as its number-one album,[56] the former slipped to number three, selling 202,000 copies with a 45% drop.[57]Invincible also charted at number one on theBillboard R&B/Hip Hop Albums Chart for four weeks.[58] After eight weeks of release, in December 2001,Invincible was certified gold by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the sales of five hundred thousand units.[59] In the same month, the album was certified platinum for the sale of one million units.[59] On January 25, 2002, it was certified two times platinum for the sales of two million units.[59] In the United States, it was the 45th best-selling album of 2001 selling over 1.56 million units.[60] As of 2009,Invincible had sold 2.4 million copies in the United States.[61]
Invincible left the Billboard 200 in June 2002 after charting there for 28 weeks.[62] Shortly after the release of the album, in a poll conducted byBillboard magazine, "an overwhelming majority" of people—79% of 5,195 voters—were not surprised byInvincible entering theBillboard 200 at number one.[63]Billboard also reported that 44% agreed with the statement, proclaiming that Jackson was "still the King of Pop". Another 35% said they were not surprised by the album's ranking, but doubtedInvincible would hold on for a second week at the top of the chart.[63] Only 12% of people who responded to the poll said they were surprised by the album's charting debut because of Jackson's career over the past six years and another 9% were taken aback by the album's success, in light of the negativity that preceded the album's release.[63]
Invincible reached number one in 14 countries worldwide,[54] including the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.[54][64] It also charted within the top ten in several countries, including Austria, Japan, Italy, New Zealand, and Spain.[64]
Invincible was certified platinum by theBritish Phonographic Industry, for the sales of over 300,000 units in the United Kingdom.[65] The album was certified platinum by theInternational Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) for the sales of 40,000 units in Switzerland. The IFPI also certified the album gold in Austria for the sales of 15,000 units.Australian Recording Industry Association certifiedInvincible two times platinum for the sales of 140,000 units in Australia.Invincible was the eleventh best-selling album of 2001 according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry with 5.4 million copies.[66] According to different sources the album sold 8 million,[67][68] or 10 million copies worldwide.[69][70]
FollowingJackson's death on June 25, 2009, his music experienced a surge in popularity.[71]Invincible charted at number twelve on theBillboard Digital Albums Chart on July 11, 2009.[72] Having not charted on the chart prior to its peak position, the album was listed as the ninth biggest jump on that chart that week.[72] It also charted within the top ten, peaking at number nine, onBillboard's Catalog Albums Chart on the issue date of July 18.[73] On the week of July 19, 2009,Invincible charted at number eighteen in Italy.[74]Invincible peaked at number sixty-four on the European Albums Chart on the charts issue date of July 25.[75] The album also charted at number 29 in Mexico in July,[76] and 84 on the Swiss Albums Chart on July 19, 2009.[77]
"Break of Dawn", "2000 Watts" and "Threatened" were excluded from the original release in China.[78] In the Chinese edition of thebox setThe Collection released in 2013, all 16 tracks are included.[79]
Recorded byBruce Swedien(tracks 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 14, 15), Teddy Riley(5, 9, 12, 15), Rodney Jerkins(6, 11), Stuart Brawley(1–3, 6, 8, 14, 16), Brad Gilderman(4, 6, 11, 13), Dexter Simmons(4, 6), George Mayers(4, 5, 9, 12, 15), Jean-Marie Horvat(6, 11), Brad Buxer(8, 14), Mike Ging(4, 13),Paul Boutin(10), Andre Harris(7),Humberto Gatica(4, 13)
Assistant engineers: Rob Herrera, Craig Durrance, Kevin Scott, Steve Robillard, Franny Graham, Richard Thomas Ash, Chris Carroll, Dave Ashton, Christine Tramontano,Vidal Davis(track 7)
Rap recorded by Bob Brown(tracks 2, 3)
Strings recorded by Tommy Vicari(track 10)
Assisted by Steve Genewick
Production coordinator: Ivy Skoff
Mixed by Bruce Swedien(tracks 1–3, 5–9, 12, 14–16), Teddy Riley(4, 5, 9, 12, 15), Rodney Jerkins(1–3, 6, 11, 16), Michael Jackson(13),Mick Guzauski(13), Stuart Brawley(1–3, 16), George Mayers(4, 5, 9, 12, 15), Jean-Marie Horvat(11), Jon Gass(10), Humberto Gatica(4)
Assisted by Kb and EQ(track 10)
Mastered by Bernie Grundman
Digital editing by Stuart Brawley(tracks 1–4, 6, 8, 14, 16), Brad Buxer(8, 14), Rob Herrera,Harvey Mason, Jr.(4, 6, 11), Alex Greggs(2), Fabian Marasciullo(2), Paul Cruz(11), Paul Foley(1), George Mayers(5, 9, 12, 15)
Additional digital editing and engineering by Michael Prince
Art direction: Nancy Donald, David Coleman, Adam Owett
^"Michael Jackson : 'Invincible'".NME. September 12, 2005.Archived from the original on August 6, 2018. RetrievedSeptember 16, 2018.On first listen, 'Invincible' is a good R&B record, but certainly not pioneering
^"Michael Jackson Special To Re-Air, With Britney This Time".MTV. Archived fromthe original on August 30, 2023. RetrievedJune 19, 2024.According to Nielsen Media Research estimates, an estimated 45 million people watched all or part of the special, making "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration" one of the highest-rated musical specials in television history.
^"Michael Jackson's best selling studio albums".The Telegraph. June 26, 2009. RetrievedJune 19, 2024.Jackson's tenth and last studio album, which enjoyed a lacklustre critical reception, still managed to sell more than 10 million copies worldwide
