Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” Originally Recorded By Puerto Rican Freestyle Artist Sa-Fire In 1991
13 October 2009, 10:43 AM. By Cindy Casares
Even though, “This Is It,” is being promoted as a new Michael Jackson single released from beyond the grave, the truth about the song is that it was co-written by Michael and Paul Anka, (the singer, not the dog,), in 1983 for Anka. Jackson and Anka had a falling out, though. Jackson split with the recordings of him singing the song, and Anka gave the song to Puerto Rico-born, New York freestyle artist Sa-Fire, under the title, “I Never Heard.” She recorded it in 1991. In fact, THIS is it:
But none of this was going to be mentioned to the public until Paul Anka threatened Jackson’s estate for proper credit and his share of the royalties. Jackson’s estate quickly settled, giving Anka his rightful fifty per cent. Anka told TMZ, “They realize it’s a mistake, they realize it’s my song, they realize it’s my production of his vocal in my studio and I am getting 50 percent of the whole project, actually, which is fair.”
Sa-Fire is still trying to make music happen, apparently. She’s got an official MySpace page and we wonder if this incident will be a boost to her career.
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Horrible horrible song!!!! Then AND now! Goodness gracious!
For the record, I think freestyle was the darkest period in American pop music history.
Holy shit, NO WAY!!! Don’t say that! I L-O-V-E freestyle. This shit however is not “freestyle”; it’s SHIT!
Lisa Lisa and Stevie B??? Cmon!!!! Best ever!!!
I would be willing to guess there’s an age gap between those who find freestyle acceptable music and those who don’t.
You and I are very close in age if not the same age. I think maybe it’s the difference of where we grew up. San Jose, CA is the “mecca” for Freestyle music.
True that. I’m almost 30 and almost a little too young to love freestyle but it was the shit here in Dallas. I know it was the same in the bay, SF and NY. I’m thinking the Rio Grande Valley….not so much.
Valerie, how old are you?
freestyle = something more like poetry.
not really music.
Cindy, I’m 33. (sorry, won’t let me reply to our thread we had going)