A never-before-heard single recorded by Michael Jackson prior to his death, entitled 'This Is It,' was released today. But some people may have actually heard the song before -- by another artist.
According to TMZ, Paul Anka co-wrote the song -- called 'I Never Heard' -- with Jackson back in the '80s, but then the 'Thriller' legend stole the tapes before Anka could finish the tune. Jackson eventually returned them, but Anka claims the late King of Pop kept a copy and used it as material to record 'This Is It.'
Anka gave the song to Safire, who released it in 1990. Listen to them both.
'This Is It'
'I Never Heard'
Safire even mentioned Jackson and the song on her MySpace the day after he died.
"Michael touched my heart & soul in so many different ways I feel blessed that I had the chance of recording an original song he wrote for me with Paul Anka titled "I Never Heard". Michael was someone who I admired and who's career I followed."
Sony execs admit that they didn't even know where the song came from. "I really have no idea what the origins of the song are," Rob Stringer told The New York Times.
Anka has been speaking to his lawyers about possible legal action, and says the people handling Michael Jackson's estate have already apologized for "ripping-off my song," offering "anything you want" to keep the conflict from escalating. Anka claims that the co-Special Administrator for Jackson's estate, John McClain, admitted that "Michael couldn't have written this song alone. It's not his style."
John Branca, the co-executor of Jackson's will, told TMZ, "We acknowledge that Michael and Paul wrote this song together."
I hope the song was obtained through the appropriate channels otherwise Sony just made a dead MJ look bad. I listened to both songs and by far MJ's is alot better. I've listened to it a couple of times and it does have a catchy rhythm and of course MJ sounds wonderful.
The song has no "hook". The background vocals (especially the "ooohs" during the verses) are not Michael's style at all (obviously added after his death so the not-so-talented-whatever-happened-to siblings could cash in and avoid slingin' hash at Mickey-D's). The mix is unbalanced with MJ's voice being too far front. It sounds unfinished. Booooooring tune, being released about 20 years too late.
Oh well, what do I know? It'll feed Jackson family hang-ons and their prospective lawyers for years to come....
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Even in death the controversies continue. The family and executors should be ashamed. There is no question as to the authentication of this song. In the rush for a movie and the subsequent release of the song of the same title the executors must have completed zero research or the profits versus the liabilities were to great to pass up. As far as Sony and those involved having no idea where the song came from? I don't buy that for a moment! Go get them Paul!
MJ probably crankin out songs.... laughin at us here believin he is dead.... heh.... aufully strange all of a sudden he has new material, a new songs hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm really coincidental don't ya think..... makes ya think ?
The song isn't new, you idiot, it was written and recorded a long time ago. It's new to the public, but it's been sitting around unreleased for a long time. Michael isn't "crankin out songs laughin at us here believin he's dead." So no, moron, the release of this song doesn't "make ya think" if you have any common sense.
There isn't any varifiable proof that MJ is dead. Could have staged,but hey thats my theory due to the fact there are so many things envolved in this case that don't jive. Even the police are dragging their tales investigating this and prosecuting. Too many official people putting a lid on evidence ect and not officially revealing to the public what they found. Even MJ's funeral was closed to the general public and no open casket and no pictures whatsoever of MJ in his casket.Doesn't that seem mighty strange. Lots of unanswered questions and it doesn't matter if anybody else believes it or not, i truely think something is just not right no matter how you look at it. Somebody out there is covering up something thats a fact.
Oooooh, you're right Brian. How could he steal a song if he's dead? Wait...how could he record it? How could he do the video? Gee...this is a real poser.
anka co-wrote this song. Why give MJ all the credit. Sue the estate Paul,after all the rights are half yours. Too bad we can't authenticate the date this recording was made.
Depending on if there was a contractrual agreement in effect between Michael Jackson and Paul Anka at the time they co-wrote this song, regarding this song, or any material they wrote in collaboration while under contract, the terms of the contract, including any epirations dates thereof, need to be reviewed by the parties attorneys. Another question might also be, what rights to this song did Paul Anka relinquish when he "gave" the song to Saffire about 19 years ago. If they co-wrote this song, Michael should have just as much right to sing it as Paul Anka, or anyone he "gave" the song to. From here, Mr. Anka, you just make yourself look like another outs stretched palm, waiting for Michael to put money in it.
who cares the sh!t sounds good and very ear catching people always finding a fault damn they wrote the song together so its both lets give both of them a thumbs up and let the damn stuff go.....
I don't believe Michael would steal the tapes. It's just another writer/person/ competitor or somebody who is trying to "trash" his integrity. Read "In the Studio with Michael Jackson" written by Bruce Swedien, Michael's lifetime recording engineer. In Bruce's words, " Michael Jackson is the most professional and the most accoplished artist I have ever worked with! And I have worked with the best the music industry has to offer." ( pages 5 and 6). I picked this book up in Barnes and Noble and it was worth the 25 dollars I paid for it. As far as sharing the profits with Paul Anka, that's too bad for Michael's kids. The people who selected this song should have researched it better.
And nobody would have believed that MJ would stab Paul McCartney in the back and buy all the rights to almost every Beatles song, but he did. So it's completely plausible that he could also have stolen the tapes. I'm sorry, but ever since the first unnecessary cosmetic surgery, MJ has since been a real douchebag.
See, the thing is, is that no one knows MJ's intentions for this song because he isn't here to explain. Maybe he planned a collabo, or something of that nature. These companies are rushing all these things out trying to make as much money off of the death as possible, even if it means they don't do research.
Since MJ isn't here to defend himself, there really is no reason to call this "theft" because he didn't release it, the company did...that is why they are doing what they can to squash it before it goes too far.
Comments
(29)Add a comment
Monday 12 October
By Twitter -- Entertainment2u
Not close enough...sheesh!
Take today's MusicMonday poll. What do you think of the new song by Michael Jackson, "This Is It" ?? Vote here: http://bit.ly/19va73
Reply
Monday 12 October
By alison
i like the song very much. but how can paul anka sue if he and michael jackson co wrote the song? doesnt it belong to both of them?
Tuesday 13 October
By America1
I hope the song was obtained through the appropriate channels otherwise Sony just made a dead MJ look bad. I listened to both songs and by far MJ's is alot better. I've listened to it a couple of times and it does have a catchy rhythm and of course MJ sounds wonderful.
Tuesday 13 October
By MATT NYC
The song has no "hook". The background vocals (especially the "ooohs" during the verses) are not Michael's style at all (obviously added after his death so the not-so-talented-whatever-happened-to siblings could cash in and avoid slingin' hash at Mickey-D's). The mix is unbalanced with MJ's voice being too far front. It sounds unfinished. Booooooring tune, being released about 20 years too late.
Oh well, what do I know? It'll feed Jackson family hang-ons and their prospective lawyers for years to come....
Tuesday 13 October
By woyumenle1
It's difficult to find our true love,because we don't have many chances to meet our soul mates in real life.
So onlione dating is more and more popular ..
Such as ___We a lt hy C h at . C o m___ .It is the most serious and largest dating club for our singles seeking the Millionaires , sexy beauties and even hot celebs with more than 4,200,000 members..Maybe you singles should check it out.aaaa
Monday 12 October
By Q. Jones
Even in death the controversies continue. The family and executors should be ashamed. There is no question as to the authentication of this song. In the rush for a movie and the subsequent release of the song of the same title the executors must have completed zero research or the profits versus the liabilities were to great to pass up. As far as Sony and those involved having no idea where the song came from? I don't buy that for a moment! Go get them Paul!
Reply
Monday 12 October
By homecareking
MJ probably crankin out songs.... laughin at us here believin he is dead.... heh.... aufully strange all of a sudden he has new material, a new songs hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm really coincidental don't ya think..... makes ya think ?
Reply
Monday 12 October
By Christina
The song isn't new, you idiot, it was written and recorded a long time ago. It's new to the public, but it's been sitting around unreleased for a long time. Michael isn't "crankin out songs laughin at us here believin he's dead." So no, moron, the release of this song doesn't "make ya think" if you have any common sense.
Monday 12 October
By tianya10002
ffffffffffffffdddddddddddddddddddd
Reply
Monday 12 October
By brian
how can he steal songs, i thought he was dead. i thought the media made that clear for the entire summer.
Reply
Monday 12 October
By homecareking
There isn't any varifiable proof that MJ is dead. Could have staged,but hey thats my theory due to the fact there are so many things envolved in this case that don't jive. Even the police are dragging their tales investigating this and prosecuting. Too many official people putting a lid on evidence ect and not officially revealing to the public what they found. Even MJ's funeral was closed to the general public and no open casket and no pictures whatsoever of MJ in his casket.Doesn't that seem mighty strange. Lots of unanswered questions and it doesn't matter if anybody else believes it or not, i truely think something is just not right no matter how you look at it. Somebody out there is covering up something thats a fact.
Tuesday 13 October
By Uncle richie
Oooooh, you're right Brian. How could he steal a song if he's dead? Wait...how could he record it? How could he do the video? Gee...this is a real poser.
Monday 12 October
By LibbyJ
Play them in tandem...they sound pretty good together! LOL!
Reply
Monday 12 October
By homecareking
anka co-wrote this song. Why give MJ all the credit. Sue the estate Paul,after all the rights are half yours. Too bad we can't authenticate the date this recording was made.
Reply
Monday 12 October
By Sweetpea
Depending on if there was a contractrual agreement in effect between Michael Jackson and Paul Anka at the time they co-wrote this song, regarding this song, or any material they wrote in collaboration while under contract, the terms of the contract, including any epirations dates thereof, need to be reviewed by the parties attorneys. Another question might also be, what rights to this song did Paul Anka relinquish when he "gave" the song to Saffire about 19 years ago. If they co-wrote this song, Michael should have just as much right to sing it as Paul Anka, or anyone he "gave" the song to. From here, Mr. Anka, you just make yourself look like another outs stretched palm, waiting for Michael to put money in it.
Reply
Monday 12 October
By Tye
who cares the sh!t sounds good and very ear catching people always finding a fault damn they wrote the song together so its both lets give both of them a thumbs up and let the damn stuff go.....
Reply
Monday 12 October
By Judith
I don't believe Michael would steal the tapes. It's just another writer/person/ competitor or somebody who is trying to "trash" his integrity. Read "In the Studio with Michael Jackson" written by Bruce Swedien, Michael's lifetime recording engineer. In Bruce's words, " Michael Jackson is the most professional and the most accoplished artist I have ever worked with! And I have worked with the best the music industry has to offer." ( pages 5 and 6). I picked this book up in Barnes and Noble and it was worth the 25 dollars I paid for it. As far as sharing the profits with Paul Anka, that's too bad for Michael's kids. The people who selected this song should have researched it better.
Reply
Tuesday 13 October
By Olivia
And nobody would have believed that MJ would stab Paul McCartney in the back and buy all the rights to almost every Beatles song, but he did. So it's completely plausible that he could also have stolen the tapes. I'm sorry, but ever since the first unnecessary cosmetic surgery, MJ has since been a real douchebag.
Monday 12 October
By Tye
CAN'T U READ BETWEEN THE LINES THATS WHY THE SONG WAS NEVER RELEASED HELLOOO....
Reply
Tuesday 13 October
By Lorena
See, the thing is, is that no one knows MJ's intentions for this song because he isn't here to explain. Maybe he planned a collabo, or something of that nature. These companies are rushing all these things out trying to make as much money off of the death as possible, even if it means they don't do research.
Since MJ isn't here to defend himself, there really is no reason to call this "theft" because he didn't release it, the company did...that is why they are doing what they can to squash it before it goes too far.
Reply