By Steve Gorman
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop star Michael Jackson officially returned to the
airwaves on Friday, as Epic Records released the first single off his
much-anticipated comeback album ''Invincible'' to radio stations around the
world.
The new song, ``You Rock My World,'' an upbeat dance tune whose lyrics were
co-written by Jackson, was distributed exclusively to radio stations by
satellite at 6 a.m. EDT, officials at the Sony-owned label said.
Release of the single came a couple of days earlier than planned after the
song was ``leaked'' by a pair of New York City stations that obtained a
bootleg copy of the track and played it repeatedly last Saturday, an Epic
official said
Rodney Jerkins, the prolific songwriter-producer who co-produced
``You Rock My World'' and six other songs on the 15-track album, described
the song as ``classic Michael Jackson'' in the mold of his hit
``Off the Wall'' and ``Thriller'' albums.
``It's like Michael back to the melodies,'' Jerkins told Reuters.
``It makes you want to dance. It's a feel-good song.''
The song, just over four minutes in length, is an ode to love but was not
written with anyone particular in mind, said Jerkins, who composed the music.
Jackson shares credits for the lyrics with three other writers, he said.
Jerkins, whose producing credits include hits by Britney Spears and Whitney
Houston, said Jackson seemed inspired when he recorded the single.
Most of the song was produced at the former personal studio of soul legend
Marvin Gaye, where Jackson once recorded with the Jackson 5, Jerkins said.
The studio is now owned by DreamWorks Record executive John McClain.
``I've never heard Michael sing so incredibly well,'' Jerkins said.
``It was just something about him being in that studio, but he just went crazy
and let go in that studio.''
``Invincible,'' the first disc of all-new studio material from Jackson in
six years, is slated for release overseas Oct. 29 and in North America on
Oct. 30.
How the album is received could determine whether the eccentric singer can
regain his claim to the title ``The King of Pop.''
Jerkins said that news reports that the album reportedly cost a record
$30 million to make ``sounds about right.''
In related news, organizers of an all-star, two-concert spectacular headlined
by Jackson at New York City's Madison Square Garden in September said the pop
supergroup 'N Sync (news - web sites) will not perform with Jackson and his
brothers as originally planned due to a scheduling conflict.
--
※ Origin: 交大機械工廠 ◆ From: 179.c210-85-181.ethome.net.tw
--