A milestone performance that took almost six months to create, Michael Jackson took the stage in hologram form at tonight’s Billboard Music Awards for a rendition of “Slave To The Rhythm.”
Joined by 16 dancers and a live band, the computerized version of MJ gave a live offering of a track from the King of Pop’s latest release, Xscape. In an ode to the time in which the song was recorded, the hologram was dressed in a gold jacket and red pants as the stage gave a nod to Jackson’s Dangerous album artwork. The Xscape track was chosen for the performance for its dance-worthy (duh) appeal.
SEE ALSO: Digital Cover: The Making of Michael Jackson’s ‘Xscape’ Album
“At the time we made the decision,” Jackson’s lawyer John Branca said told Billboard. “‘Slave to the Rhythm’ felt like a song was something people could dance to, a potential club song. We talked to Jamie King, who directed the Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil shows and we all felt the song was very likeable.”
Jackson’s Xscape is competing with The Black Keys’ newest release Turn Blue, for the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 this week.
Watch Michael Jackson be reincarnated on the 2014 Billboard Awards in the video above.