HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — The wait is over for Michael Jackson fans.
The late singer’s "Hold My Hand" music video, featuring R&B star Akon, has premiered. It opens with a crowd of people standing outside a building and proclaiming, "I love you, Michael."
Mark Pellington shot "Hold My Hand" in California by using real Jackson fans as its cast. In the video, Pellington tells the story of the song through a collage of images of both Jackson and Akon as well as people representing the King of Pop’s legacy.
"The video is a tribute to all that Michael stands for — life, in all its permutations…love, and its power…. A video of memory, healing and joy," explained Pellington.
"Hold My Hand" is the debut single off Michael, the first posthumous album of original material from Jackson, set for a Dec. 14 release on Epic Records.
The new music is just one of many Jackson projects on the way, including Cirque du Soleil’s forthcoming show, Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour, beginning in October 2011.
Jackson died on June 25, 2009 at age 50.
