By Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.



Michael Jackson has spent the past two nights at Los Angeles' Conway Studios overseeing recording of a single to benefit victims of the recent hurricanes, Billboard.com has learned. Although the song was originally titled "From the Bottom of My Heart," Jackson spokesperson Raymone Bain says the artist will unveil a new name for the track in the coming days.

Bain says that since early this month, Jackson "was in London tweaking the music as well as putting the finishing touches on it before sending it out to various artists" who he wanted to contribute. However, Jackson wound up rewriting the song, and as such, "he didn't need as many artists as he originally had planned for" when it came time to record.

Since a number of the acts were planning on being in Los Angeles this week for BET's 25th anniversary celebration, "he thought it was a good time to do the vocals," Bain says. Although she declined to name specific contributors, sources confirm Ciara, Snoop Dogg and Shirley Caesar have been on hand at Conway.

"There are others who have to lay vocals well," Bain says. "[Jackson] plans on getting together with them for the chorus. We still have two to three more steps before the song will be ready for release."
ord.

s'too late now. may as well have just donated a wad of cash and been done with it.




CPT edit
[Edited 10/27/05 13:00pm]

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I agree

once again this type of crap keeps getting column space
in the papers while charity releases by Prince and some
others are hushed to the sidelines or not talked about
at all.

i don't mind so much this time since the $ will go to
charity (lets hope someone makes sure it DOES).

just find it strange that even a charity single like
SST which is a nice radiofriendly, short tune doesnt
get more attention. no matter if it's Prince damnit,
the money will go to people who need it and that and
that alone should justify pushing those songs.

not just the Prince single, i couldn't care less if
it were his or anyone else's. it's just sad that an
artist like michael gets all the attention for the
wrong reasons and usually fails to deliver in the
end anyway.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

co-sign. Probably cost more money and time to make it as it is going to make in the long run.

and that's not even factoring in if its going to be good or not for the public to buy.

IstenSzek said:

I absolutely agree. We've heard more ABOUT the song's coming to be than it actually being released and doing good for the people. THAT's the story I wanna hear...It's out and it's helping people. And yes this NON-STORY is taking up much media time vs. Music that's already out there (regardless of who it is) benefitting. How about an actual article detailing everyone who has something out there for charity. There aren't that many...and Prince was one of the first to do it.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I agree 100%. It doesn't interest me in the least at this point.

more money for charities!!!


but mj...tell the truth, you had to redo the song cause you couldnt fine enough folks to do it man...

I wonder if the next 2-3 steps translates to 2 -3 more news items on the subject.

This Katrina single is so two or three hurricanes ago...
[Edited 10/28/05 12:47pm]

Its about time. I plan on buying it because it is for charity and Id love to hear what it sounds like.

I may buy it if it's good. As for charity, I already gave.

The point is that it was always about MJ, not about charity. Business as usual at the Michael Jackson Institute Of Hype And Bullshit.

shygirl said:

I love the way u said that.

dreamfactory313 said:

Thank you.

JackieBlue said:

Down here we're on Wilma already!

sosgemini said:

I wonder if that's true? If this record sees the light of day and someone is helped by it, great...but WTH took so long?

shygirl said:

Damn you are to the point. major co-sign!

If it brings in $$$ for hurricane relief then thats great.
The Red Cross had to borrow $$$ from the banks.
$$$ is still needed.
If MJ & his hype machine can channel some $$$ to help
then let him use it for his own self-promotion.
In the end it really doesn't matter what means he uses
to get $$$ to help as long as he gets some $$$ to those in need.
Peoples lives have been destroyed - it seems kinda petty to complain
about MJ when he seems to be trying to help.
Maybe he isn't doing the greatest job at it
but he is trying in his own warped way.