Speechless (Michael Jackson song)

Last updated

"Speechless"
Speechless MJ Cover.jpg
Promotional single by Michael Jackson
from the album Invincible
ReleasedJune 21, 2001 (2001-06-21)
Recorded1999
Genre
Length3:18
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Michael Jackson
Producer(s) Michael Jackson
Audio
"Speechless" on YouTube

"Speechless" is a song by the American recording artist Michael Jackson, included on his tenth studio album, Invincible (2001). It was only released as a promotional single in South Korea. The singer was inspired to write the ballad after a water balloon fight with children in Germany. Jackson collaborated on the production with musicians such as Jeremy Lubbock, Brad Buxer, Novi Novoq, Stuart Bradley and Bruce Swedien. Andraé Crouch and his gospel choir provided backing vocals.

Contents

Executives at Jackson's record label, Epic Records, responded positively to the track when given a preview several months before Invincible's release. "Speechless" was issued as a promotional single. Music critics focused on the track's a cappellas, lyrics and music. A clip of Jackson singing "Speechless" was included in the 2009 documentary-concert film Michael Jackson's This Is It .

Writing and recording

Michael Jackson wrote "Speechless" after a water balloon fight with children in Germany. It took him 45 minutes. [1] In an interview with Vibe magazine, the musician commented, "I was so happy after the fight that I ran upstairs in their house and wrote 'Speechless'. Fun inspires me. I hate to say that, because it's such a romantic song." He added, "But it was the fight that did it. I was happy, and I wrote it in its entirety right there. I felt it would be good enough for the album. Out of the bliss comes magic, wonderment, and creativity." [2] [3] Jackson would consider "Speechless" to be one of his favorite songs on Invincible. [4]

"Speechless" was one of only two songs from Invincible to be written solely by Jackson (the second song being "The Lost Children"). [5] Jeremy Lubbock worked with the musician in arranging and conducting an orchestra. Instrumentalists on the track included Brad Buxer on keyboards, and Novi Novog and Thomas Tally on violas. The violinists consisted of Peter Kent, Gina Kronstadt, Robin Lorentz, Kirstin Fife and John Wittenberg. The track featured backing vocals from Andraé Crouch and his gospel choir, The Andraé Crouch Singers. "Speechless" was digitally edited by Buxer and Stuart Brawley, and was mixed by Bruce Swedien, [6] who later said, "Everything with Michael is a stand-out moment but an absolutely gorgeous piece of music called 'Speechless' was really an event. Michael sings the first eight bars a cappella. At the end, he closes it off a cappella – it was Michael's idea to add the a cappella parts." [7]

Composition

The lyrics to "Speechless" deal with being lost for words because of love. [8] The song opens with Jackson's singing a cappella: "Your love is magical, that's how I feel, but I have not the words here to explain", which Rick de Yampert of The Daytona Beach News-Journal felt the singer "[crooned] sweetly". [6] [9] The chorus includes the lines, "Speechless, speechless, that's how you make me feel. Though I'm with you, I am far away and nothing is for real." [6] A second a cappella verse bookends the track. [10]

"Speechless" is a ballad, [11] [12] and labeled it as "neo-gospel". [10] According to Musicnotes.com by Alfred Music Publishing. It adds that the track was performed in common time, with a tempo of 80 beats per minute. The song starts in the key of B♭ major and transitions to C major. After the bridge the song transitions to D Major as a choir starts singing, the last two choruses in E Major, ending with a solo a cappella ending by Jackson. The song's vocal range is from F3 to B4. [13]

Post-production and release

In June 2001, several months before the release of Invincible, "Speechless" was among several songs showcased from the album exclusively to executives of Jackson's music label, Epic Records (a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment). Other songs previewed included "Unbreakable", "The Lost Children", "Whatever Happens", "Break of Dawn", "Heaven Can Wait" and "Privacy", all of which featured on Invincible's track listing. [14] [15] Gossip blogger Roger Friedman of Fox News reported that the executives who listened to the previews liked what they heard. Epic Records' president, Dave Glew, said of the tracks, "It's wonderful and amazing. Michael is singing better than ever." He added, "The ballads! The ballads are beautiful, and they're all there." [16] "Speechless" was later released as a promotional single in 2001. A remixed version of "You Rock My World", featuring rapper Jay-Z, served as the single's B-side. [17] After Jackson's death, a clip of the entertainer singing "Speechless" was included in Michael Jackson's This Is It , a commercially successful documentary-concert film of the singer's rehearsals for his London concert series. [18]

Plans to be performed on This Is It

"Speechless" was considered to be performed on the cancelled This Is It concerts that planned to run from July 2009 to March 2010. However, this song was ultimately off the final set list. Later members of band shared set lists for the shows. "Speechless" was marked as an additional material. That set list was dated May 22, 2009.[ citation needed ]

Critical reception

Craig Seymour of The Buffalo News felt that the song was the only one from the album in which Jackson successfully revisited his past. The journalist said the song was reminiscent of the 1995 chart-topper "You Are Not Alone", as it sounded to him like a track that could have been written by R. Kelly, who penned the number one hit. [19] Writing for the Chicago Sun-Times , Jim DeRogatis described "Speechless" as a "beautifully minimal, heartfelt romantic ballad". [20] Music journalist Roger Catlin stated that the song leaned toward "neo-gospel". [10] The New York Post said that "Speechless" was "lullaby-like" and the best song on Invincible, and Jon Pareles of The New York Times praised Jackson's "long lines and creamy overdubbed choruses [sailing] weightlessly" in the ballad, that the journalist felt it was a love song to God. [21] [22]

Pop music critic Robert Hilburn described "Speechless", and another song from Invincible ("Butterflies"), as being "as woefully generic as their titles". [8] Ben Rayner of the Toronto Star contested that the a cappellas in "Speechless" were enough to make a person wish that Jackson actually was unable to make a sound. [23] Michigan Daily writer Dustin J. Seibert wrote that the song was a "shining [example] of what happens when The Gloved One gets beside himself and writes smarmy crap that should be reserved for a CD changer somewhere in a preschool". [24] The Fort Worth Star-Telegram said that "Speechless" was one of the weaker tracks from Invincible. [25] Elliot Sylvester of The Independent felt that the song was "pure Jackson – almost to a formulaic fault". [26] The Dallas Morning News ' Thor Christensen said that "Speechless" was "produced by Mr. Jackson in bombastic style à la Celine Dion". He added that as the track ended with an emotional Jackson, it drew a parallel with the singer's 1972 ode to a rat, "Ben". [27]

Vaughn Watson of The Providence Journal hailed "Speechless" as Invincible's "best song, and one of Jackson's finest of any album". He added that with the song, the musician acknowledged the pain that accompanies isolation. [28] In a review of Invincible, The Wichita Eagle stated that "Speechless", "Don't Walk Away" and "Cry" were among the "sincere ballads" in which Jackson was exemplary. [29] Ada Anderson of The Ball State Daily News expressed the view that "Speechless" would become a popular song, and writers for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel stated that the ballad would take time to get used to. [30] [31] The Dayton Daily News' Ron Rollins described the track as a "pretty love song". [32] Music critic Kevin C. Johnson thought that "Speechless" was "one of [Jackson's] typical, whispery ballads that swells as it moves along". [33] A journalist for The Olympian stated that the song was "gorgeous". [34]

Track listing

  1. "Speechless" – 3:18
  2. "You Rock My World" (Track Masters Mix) (featuring Jay-Z) – 3:28

Personnel

Thriller – Live cast version

"Speechless – A Tribute to Michael Jackson"
Speechless - A Tribute to Michael Jackson (cover art).jpg
Single by Thriller – Live cast
ReleasedJune 21, 2010 (2010-06-21)
Recorded2010
Genre Pop
Length4:25
Label Motivation
Songwriter(s) Michael Jackson
Producer(s) Dave Loughran

On June 21, 2010, six performers in the West End of London show Thriller – Live released "Speechless" as a single with the official name "Speechless – A Tribute to Michael Jackson" to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Jackson's death. All proceeds from the recording were donated to the charity War Child. [35]

Personnel

Track listing

  1. "Speechless – A Tribute to Michael Jackson" (single version) – 4:25 [37]

Notes

  1. ↑ Reiter, Amy (January 29, 2002). "Jacko inspired by balloon battle". Salon.com . Archived from the original on October 2, 2002. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  2. ↑ Good, Karen R. (March 2002). Black skin, white mask. Vibe . Retrieved March 14, 2010.
  3. ↑ Jones, p. 283
  4. ↑ Michael Jackson's interview with Getmusic.com. Youtube. October 26, 2001
  5. ↑ Taraborrelli, p. 612
  6. 1 2 3 Liner notes of Invincible by Michael Jackson
  7. ↑ Grant, p. 296
  8. 1 2 Hilburn, Robert (October 28, 2001). "Michael Jackson's 'Invincible'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  9. ↑ de Yampert, Rick (November 13, 2001). "Jackson trying to be new kid on the block" . The Daytona Beach News-Journal . Retrieved April 19, 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 Catlin, Roger (October 31, 2001). "'Invincible': new material, echoes of past". The Hartford Courant . Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  11. ↑ Beaumont, Mark (October 30, 2001). "Michael Jackson : Invincible". NME . Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  12. ↑ Reid, Shaheem (October 26, 2001). "Michael Jackson Revisits Old Self, Rails At Press, Tries Bounce On Invincible". MTV. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Speechless – Michael Jackson Digital Sheet Music (Digital Download)". MusicNotes.com. Alfred Publishing Co. Inc.
  14. ↑ Vineyard, Jennifer (June 14, 2001). "Michael Jackson Previews 15 Invincible Tracks". MTV. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  15. ↑ Turner, Megan (June 19, 2001). "Action Jackson – will the King of Pop reign again?". New York Post . Archived from the original (Payment required to access full article.) on March 7, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  16. ↑ Friedman, Roger (June 15, 2001). "Michael Jackson Presents the 'Invincible' Album, Record Execs Go Crazy". Fox News. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  17. ↑ Packaging of the "Speechless" promotional single by Michael Jackson
  18. ↑ Ditzian, Eric (October 28, 2009). "Inside 'Michael Jackson's This Is It' From The New York Premiere". MTV. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  19. ↑ Seymour, Craig (October 26, 2001). "Same old Jacko" . The Buffalo News . Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  20. ↑ DeRogatis, Jim (October 29, 2001). "Whiny dancer" . Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Hands down, not out". New York Post. October 30, 2001. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  22. ↑ Pareles, Jon (October 28, 2001). "Music; To Regain Glory, The New Michael Imitates the Old". The New York Times . Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  23. ↑ Rayner, Ben (October 30, 2001). "Invincible incredibly insipid ; New album is not the come-back Jackson has been hoping for". Toronto Star . Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  24. ↑ Seibert, Dustin J. (October 30, 2001). "CD review: Jacko moonwalks toward old form". Michigan Daily . Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  25. ↑ "The thriller is gone Jackson's latest shows how far he's fallen" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . November 2, 2001. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  26. ↑ Sylvester, Elliot (January 14, 2002). "Invincible shows that Jacko is not". The Independent . Archived from the original on January 15, 2005. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  27. ↑ Christensen, Thor (November 4, 2001). "Off the wall, out of touch Michael Jackson leans too much on the past for his comeback album" . The Dallas Morning News . Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  28. ↑ Watson, Vaughn (November 11, 2001). "Spears and Jackson: Mostly stuck in old grooves" . The Providence Journal . Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  29. ↑ "Still the king" . The Wichita Eagle . November 11, 2001. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  30. ↑ Anderson, Ada (November 1, 2001). "CD Review: Pop king's new album average" . The Ball State Daily News . Retrieved April 22, 2010.[ dead link ]
  31. ↑ Roache, Dwight (November 30, 2001). "The Jackson legend". South Florida Sun-Sentinel . Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  32. ↑ Rollins, Ron (November 2, 2001). "Recordings on review" . Dayton Daily News . Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  33. ↑ Johnson, Kevin C. (November 2, 2001). "Jackson's 'Invincible' isn't 'bad', just 'old'" . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  34. ↑ "Ross Raihala sound affects" . The Olympian . November 9, 2001. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  35. ↑ "Thriller Live marks Jackson death with memorial and single | The Official London Theatre Guide". Officiallondontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
  36. ↑ "Speechless – A tribute to Michael Jackson". Speechlessmjtribute.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
  37. ↑ "Speechless (A Tribute to Michael Jackson) – Single by Thriller Live Cast – Download Speechless (A Tribute to Michael Jackson) – Single on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. June 21, 2010. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2011.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andraé Crouch</span> American gospel singer, songwriter, and choir leader (1942-2015)

Andraé Edward Crouch was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and pastor. Referred to as "the father of modern gospel music" by contemporary Christian and gospel music professionals, Crouch was known for his compositions "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power", "My Tribute " and "Soon and Very Soon". He collaborated on some of his recordings with famous and popular artists such as Stevie Wonder, El DeBarge, Philip Bailey, Chaka Khan, and Sheila E., as well as the vocal group Take 6, and many popular artists covered his material, including Bob Dylan, Barbara Mandrell, Paul Simon, Elvis Presley and Little Richard. In the 1980s and 1990s, he was known as the "go-to" producer for superstars who sought a gospel choir sound in their recordings; he appeared on a number of recordings, including Michael Jackson's "Man In the Mirror", Madonna's "Like a Prayer", and "The Power", a duet between Elton John and Little Richard. Crouch was noted for his talent of incorporating contemporary secular music styles into the gospel music he grew up with. His efforts in this area helped pave the way for early American contemporary Christian music during the 1960s and 1970s.

<i>HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I</i> 1995 album by Michael Jackson

HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I is a double album containing the first non-Motown greatest hits album and ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released on June 20, 1995. It was Jackson's fifth album released through Epic Records, and the first on his label MJJ Productions. It comprises two discs: HIStory Begins, a greatest hits compilation, and HIStory Continues, comprising new material written and produced by Jackson and collaborators. The album includes appearances by Janet Jackson, Shaquille O'Neal, Slash, and the Notorious B.I.G. The genres span R&B, pop, and hip hop with elements of hard rock and funk rock. The themes include environmental awareness, isolation, greed, suicide, injustice, and Jackson's conflicts with the media.

<i>Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix</i> 1997 remix album by Michael Jackson

Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix is a remix album by the American singer Michael Jackson. It was released on May 20, 1997, by Epic Records, and is the second album also released by MJJ Productions, Jackson's own record label. The album comprises eight remixes of songs from Jackson's ninth studio album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995), and five new songs. Jackson was involved primarily with the production of the new material; the remixes were produced by other artists. Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix incorporates R&B, pop, industrial, hip hop, house, funk and new jack swing. It concerns themes such as drug addiction, sex, relationships, and paranoia.

<i>Invincible</i> (Michael Jackson album) 2001 studio album by Michael Jackson

Invincible is the tenth and final studio album by the American singer Michael Jackson, released on October 30, 2001, by Epic Records. It was Jackson's last album before his death in 2009. It features appearances from Carlos Santana, the Notorious B.I.G., and Slash. It incorporates R&B, pop and soul, and similarly to Jackson's previous material, the album explores themes such as love, romance, isolation, media criticism, and social issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loleatta Holloway</span> American singer (1946–2011)

Loleatta Holloway was an American singer known for disco songs such as "Hit and Run" and "Love Sensation". In December 2016, Billboard named her the 95th-most successful dance artist of all time. According to the Independent, Holloway is the most sampled female singer in popular music, used in house and dance tracks such as the 1989 Black Box single "Ride on Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Man in the Mirror</span> 1988 single by Michael Jackson

"Man in the Mirror" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. It was written by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett and produced by Jackson and Quincy Jones. It was released in January 1988, as the fourth single from Jackson's seventh solo album, Bad (1987).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blood on the Dance Floor (song)</span> 1997 single by Michael Jackson

"Blood on the Dance Floor" is a song by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the first single from the remix album Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997). Jackson and Teddy Riley created the track in time for the 1991 release of Dangerous. However, it did not appear on that record and was worked on further for its commercial release in 1997. One interpretation of the song describes a predatory woman named Susie who seduces Jackson before plotting to stab him with a knife. The composition explores a variety of genres ranging from funk to new jack swing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Rock My World</span> 2001 single by Michael Jackson

"You Rock My World" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson from his tenth and final studio album, Invincible (2001). It was released as the lead single from the album on August 22, 2001, by Epic Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butterflies (Michael Jackson song)</span> 2001 promotional single by Michael Jackson

"Butterflies" is a song by American singer and songwriter Michael Jackson. It was written and composed by Andre Harris and Marsha Ambrosius, and produced by Jackson and Harris. The track appears on Jackson's tenth studio album, Invincible (2001). The song also appeared in The Ultimate Collection (2004). "Butterflies" is a midtempo ballad. The single received generally positive reviews from music critics; some music reviewers described the song as being one of the best songs on Invincible while others felt that it was a "decent track".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stranger in Moscow</span> 1996 single by Michael Jackson

"Stranger in Moscow" is a song by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson from his ninth studio album, HIStory (1995). The song was released as the sixth and final single worldwide on November 4, 1996 by Epic Records. It was not released in the United States until much later on July 7, 1997. The track was written in September 1993, while on the Dangerous World Tour stop in Moscow. An early version of the track's chord structure appears in the video game Sonic the Hedgehog 3; according to conflicting accounts, Jackson and his team composed music for the game before leaving the project or choosing to stay uncredited for their work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cry (Michael Jackson song)</span> 2001 single by Michael Jackson

"Cry" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson that appears on his tenth studio album, Invincible (2001). The song was written by R&B singer-songwriter R. Kelly, who had previously written Jackson's 1995 single "You Are Not Alone". "Cry" was produced by Jackson and Kelly. It was released on December 5, 2001, under Epic Records as the third single from Invincible, and is Jackson's final single from a studio album. "Cry" is an R&B ballad with lyrics that highlight problems with the planet. The lyrics also urge people to unite to make the world a better place. Thus the track recalls previous Jackson songs that promote peace and environmentalism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What More Can I Give</span> 2002 song by Michael Jackson

"What More Can I Give" is a song written by American singer Michael Jackson and recorded in 2001 by Jackson and a supergroup of singers following the September 11 attacks. The inspiration for the song had initially come to Jackson after a meeting with the President of South Africa Nelson Mandela in the late 1990s. The initial Mandela–inspired version of the song was to be performed by Jackson in concert, and Jackson said it would be issued as a charity single for the refugees of the Kosovo War, which ended in 1999, but these plans were not carried out.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Jackson</span> American singer (1958–2009)

Michael Joseph Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Known as the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. During his four-decade career, his contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture. Jackson influenced artists across many music genres. Through stage and video performances, he popularized complicated street dance moves such as the moonwalk, which he named, as well as the robot.

"D.S." is a song by Michael Jackson, released on his 1995 album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It is a rock song that conveys themes such as bitterness, mistrust and corruption within law enforcement. It was written, composed and produced by Jackson and includes an instrumental accompaniment and guitar solo by Slash.

"Speechless" is a song by the American singer Lady Gaga from her extended play (EP), The Fame Monster (2009). The song was written by Gaga to convince her father to undergo open-heart surgery for his malfunctioning aortic valve and remind her younger fans to appreciate their parents. "Speechless" is about Gaga's fear of death. A rock power ballad, the song has elements of 1970s rock, blues rock, glam rock and country music.

"Heaven Can Wait" is a song recorded by Michael Jackson, originally released on his 2001 studio album Invincible. The song was written by Jackson, Teddy Riley, Andreao "Fanatic" Heard, Nate Smith, Teron Beal, Eritza Laues and Kenny Quiller.

<i>Michael</i> (Michael Jackson album) 2010 compilation album by Michael Jackson

Michael is the first posthumous album by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. It was released on December 10, 2010, by Epic Records and Sony Music Entertainment. Michael is the first release of all-new Michael Jackson material since Invincible in 2001 and the seventh overall release since Jackson's death in 2009. The album was produced by Theron "Neff-U" Feemster, John McClain, Giorgio Tuinfort, Teddy Riley, and Brad Buxer, among others, and features guest performances by Akon and Lenny Kravitz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollywood Tonight</span> 2011 single by Michael Jackson

"Hollywood Tonight" is a song by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, included on his posthumous album, Michael. The song was released by Epic Records on February 11, 2011, as the second single from Michael. The spoken parts were performed by Jackson's nephew, Taryll Jackson and written by Teddy Riley. An accompanying music video was released on March 10, 2011. It features Algerian dancer Sofia Boutella dressed in a Jackson-inspired outfit performing a routine with 60 dancers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(I Like) The Way You Love Me</span> 2011 single by Michael Jackson

"(I Like) The Way You Love Me" is a song by American singer and recording artist Michael Jackson included on his posthumous album Michael, which was released in South Korea as a digital single on January 18, 2011, and released in Italian radio stations on July 8, 2011. The song previously appeared on The Ultimate Collection (2004) with the title "The Way You Love Me" as an unreleased track, with that version also appearing on the French edition of the compilation King of Pop. Shortly before Jackson's death, the song was re-arranged and more vocals were added. A clip of the song was remixed and released on the 2-disc deluxe edition of the Immortal album on November 21, 2011.

<i>Xscape</i> (album) 2014 compilation album by Michael Jackson

Xscape is the second posthumous album by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. It was released on May 9, 2014, by Epic Records, MJJ Music and Sony Music Entertainment. Xscape is the tenth release by Sony and/or Motown since Jackson's death in 2009. L.A. Reid, chairman of Epic Records, curated and served as executive producer for the album, enlisting Timbaland to lead a team of record producers, including Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon, Rodney Jerkins, Stargate, and John McClain, to remix and contemporize the eight selected tracks. The album was #1 in its first week of release in worldwide sales.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.