What More Can I Give

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“What More Can I Give”
Promotional artwork
Promotional artwork
Song by Michael Jackson featuring Various Artists
Recorded October 2001
Genre Pop
Length 3:36 (English version) (Official download)
5:10 (English version) (unreleased)
4:38 (Spanish version) (unreleased)
Writer Michael Jackson
Composer Michael Jackson , Rubén Blades (Spanish lyrics)
Producer Marc Schaffel

"What More Can I Give" (also "Todo Para Ti" in Spanish) was a charity single recorded by Michael Jackson and more than 35 others, with the goal of raising $50 million for numerous charities in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. A Spanish version was also recorded. Jackson was originally inspired to write the song after meeting with former South African president Nelson Mandela in 1999, and commented that the song was intended to "find solace in the wake of the attack on America and to create a sense of global unity in the face of mindless violence and mass murder."

The single was never released due to a conflict between Jackson and Sony Music. Sony believed the release would create a marketing conflict with Invincible, his then-new album. However, even months after Invincible's release, Sony still refused to release the single. This was one of several factors in Jackson's labelling Sony chief Tommy Mottola a "racist" who he believed had sabotaged the marketing of his new material, and thus announcing his withdrawal from Epic Records. While the song never saw proper retail release, a pay download was eventually made available via the now-defunct official site.

Sony, however, claimed that it was Jackson's own people that pulled the single from release because it was learned that the song's producer, Marc Schaffel, was a former director of gay pornography, and, thus, they did not want him to be associated with Michael Jackson or a charity-benefit single.

Some controversy emerged when it was revealed that one of the listed beneficiary charities, The HELP Organization, was founded by the Church of Scientology.[1]

On October 21, 2001, the song was performed at a 9/11 benefit concert called United We Stand: What More Can I Give?.

In October 2003, The making of the song was shown at the 2003 Radio City Music Awards, where Jackson was presented with a humanitarian award.

[edit] Artists involved

The following is a list of all the artists involved. The list includes which version of the song they appear on.[2]

Artist Appears on English version? Appears on Spanish version?
3LW Yes No
Aaron Carter Yes No
Alejandro Sanz No Yes
Anastacia Yes Yes
Beyoncé Knowles Yes No
Billy Gilman Yes No
Brian McKnight Yes Yes
Bryton Yes No
Carlos Santana Yes Yes
Celine Dion Yes Yes
Cristian Castro No Yes
Gloria Estefan Yes Yes
Hanson Yes No
Jon Secada Yes Yes
Joy Enriquez No Yes
Juan Gabriel No Yes
Julio Iglesias No Yes
Laura Pausini No Yes
Luis Miguel No Yes
Luther Vandross Yes Yes
Mariah Carey Yes Yes
Michael McCary from Boyz II Men Yes No
Michael Jackson Yes Yes
Mýa Yes Yes
'N Sync Yes Yes
Nick Carter Yes No
Olga Tañón No Yes
Reba McEntire Yes No
Ricky Martin Yes Yes
Rubén Blades No Yes
Shakira Yes Yes
Shawn Stockman from Boyz II Men Yes No
Thalía Yes Yes
Usher Yes No
Tom Petty Yes No
Ziggy Marley Yes No

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jacko Single Raising Funds for Scientology at Fox News.
  2. ^ Michael Jackson released Charity Single What More Can I Give Im Internet at Deine Michael Jackson FanCommunity.

[edit] External links

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