'New' Michael Jackson song written in 1983
'New' Michael Jackson song written in 1983
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By inthenews. |  |
Tuesday, 13, Oct 2009 11:44
By Lewis Bazley.
A song credited as being a new release by the late Michael Jackson was written in 1983 with veteran singer Paul Anka, it has emerged.
A track called This Is It was released on Jackson's official website on Monday morning, and billed as a new song to accompany the upcoming documentary of the same name.
But after Anka, 68, was informed of the similarities between This Is It and a track originally called I Never Heard - co-written by Jackson and Anka - the Jackson estate moved to clarify the song's origins.
"The song was picked because the lyrics were appropriate because of the name Michael gave his tour," said a statement from the Thriller star's family.
"We are thrilled to present this song in Michael's voice for the first time and that Michael's fans have responded in unprecedented numbers."
The track was originally written by Jackson and Anka in 1983 for possible inclusion on the latter's duets album Walk A Fine Line, and was later recorded in 1991 by Puerto Rican artist Safire.
Anka had told gossip website TMZ.com that Jackson "stole the tapes" from his recording studio but has since said he is satisfied with the handling of the matter and the promise of 50 per cent of the song's profits.
"[The Jackson estate] did the right thing," he told the Associated Press news agency,
"I don't think that anybody tried to do the wrong thing - it was an honest mistake."
This Is It will be played on the closing credits of the documentary of the same name, assembled by High School Musical director Kenny Ortega from hours of footage of rehearsals for Jackson's planned comeback concerts at London's O2 Arena.