The late Michael Jackson’s film, “This is It,” gives music lovers the chance to focus on the artist away from the controversies that hounded his personal life.

Indeed, Michael was preparing not only to give a concert befitting a comeback for someone of his stature, but one that could very well have been the musical extravaganza to beat.

A pastiche of behind-the-scenes footage of rehearsal for the show of the same title that would have been held in London’s O2 Arena, gives legs to the claim and eventually became “This is It,” the movie.

Below are just some of the things that the audience could have experienced in the concert that will never be:

1)     An updated version of “The Way You Make Me Feel.” One of Jackson’s number one tunes from the ‘80s, he had planned to present its updated version in a tempo that he described as “dragging yourself out of bed.” It also would have featured a dramatic backdrop of dancers’s silhouette against the panorama of a cosmopolitan, with obvious emphasis on the appreciation of shape and form.

2)     A tribute to his heydays with the Jackson 5, including the songs “I’ll Be There” and “I Want You Back.” During rehearsals, Michael talked about an “inner ear” that guided him into achieving the feel he wants for his songs. He also inadvertently revealed how he perfects his phrasing by literally grabbing every syllable from air, as if the words to his lyrics are floating around and just waiting for him to channel it to the world.

3)     A final message to people to take care of the planet through the song, “The Earth Song.” A renowned humanitarian, Jackson even reshot a new video for the song in which a child sleeps with the world okay, only to wake up to a violated Mother Nature.

4)     Michael Jackson on a ‘cherrypicker’ contraption while he sings “Beat It.” Kenny Ortega, the concert’s director, considers this part of the show as momentous because it would have been more than a decade since Jackson was seen on one.

5)     A larger than life presentation of “They Don’t Care About Us” featuring a video of hundreds of dancers masquerading as soldiers. One of Jackson’s most political song, it also would have been interspersed with a snippet from a speech given by the late Martin Luther King, Jr.

6)     A spontaneous ending to “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.” Michael had planned to ad lib at the end of the song, which, even during rehearsals, mesmerized those who witnessed its “toned down” version. He apologized for holding back because he was conserving his voice but even so, the magic was palpable.

7)      A new video for “Thriller” in which Jackson references some scenes in “Harry Potter.” The dance steps remain the same, but the visuals will have been more stunning than before as it featured new ghouls and monsters.

8)     Dazzling pyrotechnics that had to be auditioned as opposed to just being tested. Yes, that’s right, ‘auditioned.’

9)     A costume wired with real lights which he would have worn while singing “Billie Jean.”

10)   The premier of a new song titled “This Is It.” Although some music critics have panned the recorded version as no heavy weight, especially by Jackson's standards, it still would have made history if only because it would have broken the self-imposed hiatus Michael has had in the last 10 years.

According to a Sony BMG Music Entertainment press release, “This Is It” was unveiled to the world last Oct. 12 on www.MichaelJackson.com. The song features backing vocals by Michael’s brothers, The Jacksons.

The double CD from which the song come, feature two versions of it, Michael’s greatest hits and a recently discovered spoken word poem from the singer titled “Planet Earth.”

The “This Is It” CD also includes a 36-page, commemorative booklet featuring photos of Michael from his last rehearsal.