The Late King of Pop’s New Hit, Isn’t It.

Michael Jackson’s, new hit “This Is It” isn’t as new as you think, nor is it as original if you ask singer Paul Anka, the co-writer behind the late pop star’s newest single. It turns out that the two collaborated on what was then titled “I Never Heard” for Jackson back in 1983. The song was ultimately orphaned, only to be revived seven years later for Puerto Rican singer Sa-fire.

Anka claims that Jackson, around the time of Thriller, presumably feeling “Invincible,” took the liberties of “borrowing” the tape without Anka’s permission and making a copy for himself before returning it. Anka said that “they (Jackson’s estate) have a major, major problem on their hands if this isn’t fixed,” and so far, it looks as if the threat’s being taken seriously; Anka’s currently looking at half of the royalties earned from what’s bound to be a major hit for Jackson’s ever loyal fan base.

Whatever the fate of this “I Never Heard,” one can only hope that Anka’s eventual litigation or settlement deters the departed pop-star, through label Sony’s Frankenstein-esque efforts, from involuntarily coming down with a case of “Tupac Syndrome.” For those unfamiliar, symptoms include posthumously releasing box-sets worth of previously unreleased material no one ever knew to exist.

Give Anka his due credit, and with it, let’s also open up the floor for anyone else who wants to fess up to penning a B-side for Jackson. Any tight-lipped producers out there want to make a claim and get their last few drops from the teat of the King of Pop’s fading cash cow?

Speak now, or forever abdicate in peace.

From the RSS Feeds: Original URL: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/joonbug/frequency/miami/~3/WnSvxCSwTG8/CZXK7c4RDXt - on - Frequency New York