Akon and Michael Jackson's rumoured collaboration will not be appearing as a track on Akon's new album.

Akon told Take 40 exclusively that despite reports the track 'Hold My Hand' would feature on his album, it has now been canned from the final cut.

"The track 'Hold My Hand' was leaked on the internet and it spoiled a lot of things we had planned for the record," Akon said. "Collectively we felt that, with a collaboration like that, and his (Michael Jackson's) first time coming back after a long time, it needed to be done properly. We decided we need to invest in the future and figure out another way to come, even if we have to come with a new record."

The first single from Akon's next album 'Freedom' is called 'I'm So Paid' - coming to a radio near you soon!

COURTESY OF OUR UK CORRESPONDENT:

Website Source:
http://www.take40.com/new...ckson-duet

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So I guess when Akon says Michael's first time coming back needs to be done properly means what a lot of MJ fans thought is TRUE...Wasn't NO way in hell Michael was gonna make his comeback after all he went through, be some duet with a guy who won't matter in 5 years.

Oh well - glad we got the leak. Better the leak and a "proper" Michael comeback.
Then, that song being, "Michael's comeback."

No surprise here. I'm sure the feedback on the leak let them know they better come up with something better.

JackieBlue said:

the feedback was actually positive

bboy87 said:

From die-hards yes, but then a recorded fart from MJ would get love as well.

JackieBlue said:

Nah, I was checking music blogs and people actually liked the song

diehards weren't exactly too fond of HMH

bboy87 said:

I dont like Akons "radio-friendly junk"
I just hope Michael takes the right direction,
I hope he doesn try so hard to be in with the new stuff

bboy87 said:

Yeah, the most critical were the MJ diehards. Most casual listeners seemed to like it, and looked forward to hearing the finished version.

Still, I'm not surprised it got pulled in the end. MJ can be mighty difficult when things don't go his way.

I don't have a problem with the song, I just wish Akon wasn't singing on it.

JackieBlue said:

Wrong. The feedback from the general public was positive. The feedback from die hard Mj fans was positive towards Mj's voice, not the track itself and definitely not towards Akon.
[Edited 11/6/08 0:26am]

marnifrances said:

Yeah most people raved about his voice. General consensus was though that the song itself was not so hot, mainly because Akon was on it and Akon was on it too much.

Timmy84 said:

Timmy84 said:

Yep, and as fans got over the initial shock of hearing new MJ vocals, they quickly started saying the song sucked.

Am I the only one who thinks the song wasn't that bad? Considering the sorry state of today's music,I think it was decent,if not spectacular.Don't know why they chose to can it.

I must know very different people and frequent very different sites outside the Org because while it wasn't horrible, I don't know many who thought that was a good song especially for Michael to connected too but then it doesn't really matter.
[Edited 11/7/08 5:25am]

I feel bad for the songwriter.Remember that article that was posted on this site,where he said that he was "literally shaking" when he heard Michael's voice on the song.This must be a huge disappointment for him,but I'm sure the song will end up on someone else's album.

SoulAlive said:

I quite liked the song, it had a nice feel to it. That being said, it was extremely generic and nowhere near strong enough to be an MJ song, let alone his first single after such a long absence.

Annika said:

Yeah,it's a mediocre song for Michael,but it would have been a great track for Akon (whose music is whack anyway...lol)....I'm thinking it would have been a decent lead-off single for the Akon album.Michael could have released a stronger first single for his album.I guess what I'm trying to say is..the song should not have been totally abandoned.I've heard worse.

...
[Edited 11/10/08 3:34am]