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We all agree that Michael Jackson is known for his enduring dance moves and infectious dance-pop songs, but one of his most poignant ballads, She’s Out of My Life, has a special place in his discography. This heartfelt song, produced by Quincy Jones, highlights Jackson’s emotional depth and vulnerability.

Written by veteran songwriter Tom Bahler, the song was released as the fourth single from Jackson’s 1979 album Off the Wall. Though the album gave the world, many upbeat songs, it also produced a breakup song (She’s Out of My Life) that made Jackson cry every time he tried to sing it.

Michael Jackson in a still from Smooth Criminal (Image via YouTube)

Jackson was moved by this real contemplation of lost love, and he gave the depressing lyrics his whole being. Now, we can all agree that a wide range of performers, including Patti Labelle, Josh Groban,...

Although it will take place as a physical event, the organisers are also preparing the Czech festival in hybrid form, after the original edition was disrupted by the pandemic. After this year’s edition of the largest film gathering in the Czech capital, planned for late March, had to be shut down, the physical 27th edition of the Prague International Film Festival – Febiofest is now set to start on 18 September. While the organisers have voiced a number of concerns about the current situation, as new cases of coronavirus have been increasing rapidly, the pared-down line-up short on international guests that had originally been announced (see the news) will kick off with the avant-premiere of the documentary Karel (see the news), about internationally recognised Czech crooner Karel Gott, who passed away last year. The film was directed by Olga Malířová Špátová. Five titles will be vying for the top prize...

Shooting on the doc wrapped several days before the Czech pop legend’s demise earlier this month. Revered Czech pop legend Karel Gott, whose popularity knew no geographical or linguistic bounds, and who had fans of every generation, thus earning him the nickname the “Frank Sinatra of the East”, died on 1 October this year. He recorded 293 albums and almost 1,000 songs during his career, which spanned six decades and saw him win the national music accolade, the Golden Nightingale, a total of 42 times. The singer was no stranger to cinema, appearing on the screen as early as 1964, and he even played one of the most memorable cameos in domestic cinema, appearing in Věra Chytilová’s The Inheritance of Fuckoffguysgoodday (1992). Gott was the subject of the documentary Phenomenon Gott, directed by Olga Malířová Špátová in 2009, on the occasion of his 70th birthday, a film that was commissioned...