Breaking News (song)
"Breaking News" | |
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Promotional single by Michael Jackson | |
from the album Michael (2010 edition) | |
Released | November 8, 2010 |
Recorded |
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Genre | R&B |
Length | 4:14 |
Label | Epic |
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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"Breaking News" is a song credited to American recording artist Michael Jackson. The song is said to have been written by Jackson, Eddie Cascio and James Porte, produced by Teddy Riley, Cascio and Jackson, and was included on the 2010 edition of his first posthumous album, Michael. Along with "Monster" and "Keep Your Head Up", the song was allegedly recorded in the Porte/Cascios' basement in 2007. These tracks have been controversial since their release, with Jackson's fans and family members doubting their authenticity since release. As of August 2018, there is a pending court case as to whether a Jackson sound-alike named Jason Malachi was used for the lead vocal of the song.
The
Background
"Breaking News" is said to have been written by Jackson, Eddie Cascio and James Porte, and produced by Teddy Riley, Cascio and Jackson. The song was released by
Critical reception
"Breaking News" received mainly negative reviews from
Controversy over authenticity
The authenticity of "Breaking News", as with other songs allegedly written with Cascio and Porte (including "All I Need", "All Right", "Black Widow", "Burn Tonight", "Let Me Fall in Love", "Ready 2 Win", "Soldier Boy", "Stay" and "Water"), all leaked online, was questioned by Jackson's mother Katherine[13] as well as his sister La Toya,[14] and his nephews T.J., Taj, and Taryll,[15] in addition to many of his fans.[16][17] AFP reported that it was immediately clouded by questions over whether it was really the singer's voice.[18] Reuters reported that the song was "sparking a new round of controversy over whether the voice is really that of the dead 'Thriller' singer".[19] In a statement, Sony Music Group countered that it had "complete confidence in the results of our extensive research, as well as the accounts of those who were in the studio with Michael, that the vocals on the new album are his own."[20]
On November 11, 2010, the Estate of Michael Jackson issued a report, stating "six of Michael's former producers and engineers who had worked with Michael over the past 30 years—
On August 23, 2018, it was reported that Sony had admitted in court that the vocals on the three Cascio songs were not performed by Jackson and were instead recorded after his death by Malachi, apparently missing the first part of Sony's counsel sentence "[F]or purposes of the argument" which is used in court not to be an admission, but rather a statement of "even if the alleged action happened".[25] However, the next day, Zia Modabber of Sony Music's law firm, Katten Muchin Rosenman, recanted these reports, stating that "no one has conceded that Michael Jackson did not sing on the songs".[26]
On July 6, 2022, Jackson's estate and Sony Music removed the song, along with "Monster" and "Keep Your Head Up", from streaming services Spotify and Apple Music amid the allegations that the vocals are not Jackson's.[27]
Personnel
- Written: Michael Jackson, Eddie Cascio and James Porte
- Produced: Teddy Riley, Angelikson and Michael Jackson
- Background vocals: James Porte
- Mixed: Jean-Marie Horvat and Teddy Riley
- Violin: Mark Cargill, Kathleen Robertson, Susan Chatman, Pamela Gates, Lesa Terry, Marisa McCleod, Richard Adkins, Yvette Devereaux, Jennifer Choi and Nicole Garcia
- Viola: Karen Elaine, James "Jimbo" Ross, Cameron Patrick, Darrin McCann and Kaila Potts
- Cello: Miguel Martinez, Peggy Baldwin, Nancy Stein-Ross, Ernest Ehrhardt, Giovanna Moraga Clayton and Stepanie Fife
- Guitars: Joe Corcoran
- "Breaking News" reporter voice: Stuart Brawley
- String session: The Benjamin Wright Orchestra
- Drum programming: James Porte
- Voice talents: Stuart Brawley, Sandy Orkin, Stacey Michaels, Michael Lefevre and Lisa Orkin
- Keyboards: James Porte, Eddie Cascio and Stuart Brawley
- Programming: Teddy Riley
- Arranger and conductor: Benjamin Wright
- Bass: Kevin Brandon and Francis Lui Wu
- Bass: Stuart Brawley and James Porte
Other versions
- "Breaking News" (a cappella) – 3:28
- "Breaking News" (instrumental) – 4:25
- "Breaking News" (original demo) – 4:07
Chart performance
The song received instant airplay on numerous radio stations on the debut day, as 151 US stations sampled "Breaking News" that day on several formats, from
Chart (2010) | Peak position |
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US Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles[31]
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1 |
See also
- List of unreleased songs recorded by Michael Jackson
- Death of Michael Jackson
- List of works published posthumously
References
- ^ "New Michael Jackson Song "Breaking News"". Michael Jackson Official Website. Archived from the original on November 10, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ a b "Breaking News - Michael Jackson". AOL Radio Blog. November 8, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
- ^ Wilkening, Matthew (November 5, 2010). "Michael Jackson, 'Michael' -- 2010 New Album Preview". AOL Radio Blog. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ Vick, Megan (November 5, 2010). "Michael Jackson 'Breaking News' Teaser Video Premieres". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil. "New Michael Jackson Album, Michael, Due Next Month". MTV. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "New Michael Jackson Song 'Breaking' At Radio". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
- ^ "New Michael Jackson Song Embraced By Radio". Billboard. November 9, 2010. Archived from the original on November 12, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
- ^ Infantry, Ashante (November 8, 2010). "Review: Michael Jackson's new single is bad news". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
- ^ Sterdan, Darryl. "Review: New MJ tunes bad news". Quebecor Media. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "New Michael Jackson song prompts more controversy". The Christian Science Monitor. November 8, 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
- ^ Adams, Cameron. "First review of new Michael Jackson single Breaking News". Herald Sun. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
- ^ Vogel, Joe (December 6, 2010). "Is Michael Really Michael? A Review of the King of Pop's New Album". Huffington Post. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
- ^ "Michael Jackson News - Yahoo! Music". New.music.yahoo.com. November 3, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ^ "La Toya Jackson: That's Not Michael's Voice on 'Breaking News'". TMZ.com. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ^ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (November 8, 2010). "Controversial Michael Jackson single debuts". Seattle Times. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ^ "Fans, Family Say Michael Jackson Isn't Singing On Controversial New Single "Breaking News"". All Headline News. Retrieved November 9, 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "New Song: Michael Jackson, 'Breaking News'". MTV. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ^ "Michael Jackson single goes online, but is it him?". Agence France-Presse. November 8, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2010 – via Google News.
- ^ Serjeant, Jill (November 9, 2010). "New Michael Jackson single prompts more controversy". Reuters. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
- ^ "Michael Jackson 'Breaking News' Song Debuts Online, Stirs Controversy". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ^ Shields, Damien (September 3, 2013). "Producer Teddy Riley Says He Was "Set Up" & Apologises For Involvement In Controversial MJ Album". damienshields.com. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ Sisario, Ben (November 11, 2010). "'Breaking News': Lawyer Says It's Michael Jackson's Voice". New York Times Arts Beat. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- TMZ.com. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
- TMZ.com. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
- ^ "Sony Admits To Releasing Fake Michael Jackson Songs: Report". Vibe. August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (August 24, 2018). "Sony Music Has Not Conceded That Vocals on Michael Jackson Album Are Fake". Variety. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ "Michael Jackson songs removed from streaming services to 'move beyond' fake vocals controversy". USA Today.
- ^ a b "Weekly Chart Notes: Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson". Billboard.
- ^ Christman, Ed (November 16, 2010). "Why Michael Jackson's New Album Could Debut Stronger Than 'This Is It'". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 31, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
- ^ Trust, Gary (November 18, 2010). "Weekly Chart Notes: 'Glee,' Black Eyed Peas, Susan Boyle". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History: Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2014.