Chicago (Michael Jackson song)

"Chicago" is a song by American singer and recording artist Michael Jackson. The song was originally written by Cory Rooney under the title "She Was Loving Me". Jackson recorded the track at the Hit Factory recording studio in New York City during the Invincible album sessions between late March and mid-April 1999.[2]

"Chicago"
Promotional single by Michael Jackson
from the album Xscape
ReleasedMay 5, 2014 (2014-05-05)
Recorded
  • 1999 (original)
  • 2013–2014 (reworked)
Genre
Length
  • 4:43 (original version)
  • 4:05 (Timbaland version)
  • 4:47 (Taryll Jackson version)
  • 4:19 (Papercha$er remix)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Michael Jackson promotional singles chronology
"I'm So Blue"
(2012)
"Chicago"
(2014)
"Loving You"
(2014)
Licensed audio
"Chicago" on YouTube

The track was ultimately not selected for Invincible and remained unreleased and unheard by the public for 15 years. Following Jackson's death, Rooney collaborated with his nephew, Taryll Jackson, on a new production in 2010.[3]

In 2014, the track was reworked yet again, this time by producer Timbaland. The Timbaland version of the track was ultimately included on Jackson's second posthumous album, Xscape, under the title "Chicago". Nine months before Xscape was officially released, Timbaland sparked rumours that "Chicago" was going to be the project's lead single.[4] However, that wouldn't end up being the case, with "Love Never Felt So Good" going on to be the lead single instead.

Release

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The song was released on May 5, 2014, on Sony Entertainment Network as a promotional single for promoting Xscape.[5]

The song's "Papercha$er" remix was made available for select Sony customers through Xperia Lounge and Music Unlimited as a bonus track on the standard edition of the Xscape album.[6]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Chicago"
Chart (2014) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[7] 127
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 53
South Korea (Gaon)[9] 103
South Korea International Songs (Gaon)[10] 7
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] 50

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[12] Silver 200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Levy, Joe (May 13, 2014). "Michael Jackson's 'Xscape': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  2. ^ Shields, Damien (2018). Michael Jackson: Songs & Stories from the Vault. USA: Modegy LLC. p. 32. ISBN 978-0986199172.
  3. ^ Shields, Damien (August 29, 2013). "EXCLUSIVE: Michael Jackson's 'She Was Loving Me' (also known as 'Chicago')". damienshields.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  4. ^ "New Michael Jackson music to be produced by Timbaland". The Guardian. August 28, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  5. ^ "Michael Jackson / Chicago – Music Unlimited". Sony Entertainment. May 5, 2014. Archived from the original on May 5, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  6. ^ "Michael Jackson's XSCAPE available now for select Sony customers through Xperia Lounge and Music Unlimited". Sony Smartphones. May 13, 2014. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  7. ^ "Michael Jackson – Chicago" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  8. ^ "Michael Jackson – Chicago" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  9. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  10. ^ "Gaon International Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  11. ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  12. ^ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Chicago". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 11, 2024.