Background and development
"Butterflies" was recorded by Michael Jackson in 2001 for his tenth studio album,Invincible,which was released the same year. [1] The song was written by Andre Harris and Marsha Ambrosius,who is one half of the London bred neo-soul act Floetry, [2] and was produced by Jackson and Harris. [1] Harris commented on the single:"He's showing you,I'm still the Michael Jackson that did 'Billie Jean' and 'Rock with You' because 'Butterflies' really falls along those lines." [3]
Jackson first met Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart,who is also a member of Floetry,through John McClain,who is DreamWorks's senior urban executive and Jackson's manager. [2] Stewart said she was surprised that Jackson invited her and Ambrosius to a studio and asked for their input on the recording of the track. [2] She recalled in an interview with Launch magazine,"It was incredible because he asked,he continually asked,'Marsh,what's the next harmony? Girls,does this sound right? What do you think? Is this what you were looking for?' He was so open". [2] Ambrosius recalled:"To begin with,I was kinda shook. Because you don't realize how you're going to feel until you're put in that situation. I had the tears in my eyes and got kinda nervous. But as I got into it,I realized it was work,it was a job. I had to vocally conduct a legend." [2]
Unlike "You Rock My World" and "Cry",a music video was not made to promote the song. [4] A three-track commercial single of the song was scheduled for release on January 15,2002,but its release was canceled. [5] A remix of the song by Track Masters was released promotionally which features singer Eve. [6]
Critical response
The track received generally positive reviews from music critics. Ken Barnes of USA Today described the song as being a "hopelessly sappy ballad oozing with fuzzy sentiments. I'd say it's more like caterpillars." [15] Frank Kogan of The Village Voice ,citing the lyrics,"I would give you anything baby,just make my dreams come true/Oh baby you give me butterflies" wrote "so,would he give her,like,caterpillars in exchange? birds?" and added that what grabs his attention about a song like "Butterflies" is not the "melody but the weirdly ringing wrench-against-faucet clang on the backbeat." [16] Christie Leo of the New Straits Times gave the track a more positive review,calling the song a "luxuriant" ballad. [8] Pop music critic Robert Hilburn,writing for the Los Angeles Times,described "Butterflies",and another song from Invincible ("Speechless"),as being "as woefully generic as their titles". [17] A journalist of the same publication felt that track was about romantic "jitters". [18] Darryl Frierson of University Wire felt that songs like "Butterflies" can set the "mood for any romantic interlude". [19] Joel Rubinoff of The Record said that "Butterflies" was one of the "only good songs" from Invincible, [20] while a writer for The Atlanta Journal cited the song as being a "decent track". [21]
A writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution viewed "Butterflies" as being "laid-back". [3] Mark Anthony Neal of PopMatters wrote in his music review for Jackson's 2002 album,entitled Love Songs,that in song's such as "Butterflies",it shows the "essence" of Jackson's "genius has been in the boy's uncanny ability to perform,even the mundane,outside of the box." [22] Elliot Sylvester of The Independent felt that ballads on Invincible such as "Speechless" and "Butterflies" are "almost to a formulaic fault." [23] Chicago Tribune rock music critic Greg Kot said that Jackson is not "convincing as the vulnerable ladies' man on drippy ballads" such as "Butterflies". [24] Stephen Thomas Erlewine,a writer for AllMusic,commented that Invincible was "highlighted" by "lovely ballads" such as "Break of Dawn" and "Butterflies". [11] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly wrote in his review for Invincible that,"The ballads are a squishy bunch with glaringly banal lyrics,pleasantries like 'Butterflies' and 'Break of Dawn' that could emanate from just about" anyone. [25] A journalist for The Philadelphia Inquirer called the track "gorgeous" [26] and Bomani Jones of Salon.com called "Butterflies" a "sparkling" track. [27] Ben Rayer of the Toronto Star wrote that Jackson "fares best" on "Butterflies". [13]
Catherine Halaby of the Yale Daily News said that songs on the album like "Heaven Can Wait","Butterflies",and "You Are My Life" "fulfill the quota for sugary ballads". [28] Jon Pareles,writing for The New York Times ,said that tracks on Invincible like "Butterflies" and "Don't Walk Away" are "melting love ballads". [9] Pareles noted in his review for the album that songs on it are recurring themes present on Jackson's albums,such as love ballads,as well as tracks pertaining to making the world a better place. [9] Tim Perzyk of the Duke Chronicle wrote,"By the time 'Butterflies' spins on track seven,it's unclear why Michael didn't record a collaborative boxed set with Mariah Carey,whose 'Heartbreaker','Breakdown' and 'Butterfly' would fit quite nicely" into Jackson's Invincible album. [29] Pop music critic Craid Seymour of the Buffalo News wrote that "another winning tune" on the album is the "dreamy 'Butterflies',which flows along at a groovy midtempo pace." [7] Kevin C. Johnson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch described "Butterflies" as being about the "feeling that special someone gives him." [30] Music critics writing for the South Florida Sun Sentinel said that the track shows the "shy,loving,gentle side" of Jackson. [31]
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