Loving You

Album: Xscape (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This bass-heavy song about unrequited love was originally written and produced by Michael Jackson during the 1987 Bad sessions. It never made the album cut but was reworked by Timbaland and Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon for his 2014 posthumous set Xscape. Timbaland admitted to Billboard magazine that the first version they came up with was terrible. "I was like, 'I don't think Mike would like this. We got to go back. We got to simplify it,'" he said.

    Their second attempt, which Timbaland said felt like "Boyz II Men meets today" went better and the producer is convinced that he heard Jackson's voice saying, "That's it, Tim."

    "I'd look around, and nobody be in the room," he said. "I never shared this story, even with my co-producer, Jerome. He like, 'You all right?' I'm like, 'Nah, I'm cool, man. I'm just ...' And I'm sitting and I'm like, 'Yo, I just heard something. I know I ain't crazy. I know what I heard.' So it's like his spirit resonated through me to give me the OK."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Bob Dylan Lyric Quiz

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

The End Of The Rock Era

The End Of The Rock EraSong Writing

There are no more rock stars - the last one died in 1994.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

00s Music Quiz 1

00s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.

The Girl in That Song

The Girl in That SongFact or Fiction

Billie Jean, Delilah, Sara, Laura and Sharona - do you know who the girls in the songs really are?

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.