A day after Michael Jackson’s estate released his final song, “This Is It,” the internet went wild with accusations that the song was stolen from another artist.
(LISTEN: New Michael Jackson Song “This Is It”)
Today, the Jackson Estate has admitted that the song is actually a re-working (or at least a re-titled version) of “I Never Heard,” a song that Jackson created with Paul Anka in 1983.
Anka, a Canadian pop singer who topped the charts as a teen idol in the ’50s and ’60s, is widely known as a skilled songwriter, having penned a number of well-known hits such as “Put Your Head on my Shoulder,” Puppy Love” and the Frank Sinatra standard, “My Way.”
Stereogum reports that the Jackson estate is prepared to divide the song’s royalties with Anka, 50/50. The current version of the song credits Jackson as the sole songwriter, but that is set to be corrected.
With Anka’s permission, a version of “I Never Heard” was released by a singer named Safire in 1991, ArtsBeat reports.
BELOW: A Medley of Paul Anka performing some of his most popular hits.
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LISTEN: Michael Jackson’s Last Song, “This Is It.”
Irene Njeri says...
10.13.09 7:08 pm
You Know what Michael might not write new songs, but history tells a story. We all one day will die and become history. May be Michael jackson will live forever in the Guinness book of records and on Hall of Fame as his name is there. Don’t take him for granted because he has died physically. We his fans love MJ dearly and will always love him forever more. His body decomposes but his soul is in a better place. He endured tribulations, but God loved him more. Even in death Michael Jackson conducts lots of love from his fans. We love the guy. We will all decompose one day ask yourself, when all is done and you decompose where will you be with your hatred? Michael rested gossip and lies against him, but his music we ares till buying and will live forever more bless his heart. Michael Jackson would never steal someone’s tapes. That is the biggest posthumous lie. For all the world how many people ever complained that michael Jackson copied them? Never ever, he has always been the pioneer, he always designed his own unique things and music all his life. Even in his most latest CDs he gave credit to all those he worked with.
robbie says...
10.15.09 5:59 am
Was this a set-up for publicity all along?
HOW could Sony and the estate not have known about the provenance of the song - particularly as the estate’s executor, John Branca, represented both MJ and Paul Anka at that time and ‘facilitated’ the return of the ’stolen’ tapes to Paul Anka.
More to the point - WHY are SONY not releasing tracks that fans have been clamouring for for over 20 years - the BAD TOUR Wembley stadium concert for example - we only have teaser snippets to listen to like at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvdGMrv8PLM
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdvg9AqWxzU