Paul Anka’s “This Is It” battle with Michael Jackson’s record company came to a swift conclusion this week. Paul Anka will get 50% of “This Is It” profits.
As soon as he heard the new posthumously released single, he knew something was familiar about it. Well, that’s because he co-wrote it with Jackson back in the early 80s, although they never released it. Instead it was recorded and released by an artist named Safire in Puerto Rico under the title “I Never Heard.”
He immediately contacted the record company to inform them that he had a hand in the project, and was unaware that they planned to use it. Now a deal has been struck, and Anka seems pretty pleased with the outcome. He said:
“They realized it’s a mistake. They realized it’s my song, they realized it’s my production of his vocal in my studio, and I’m getting 50 percent, actually, of the whole project, which is fair.”
“This Is It” has been hotly anticipated, and is being released to accompany the upcoming movie of the same title. The buzz behind the single was massive as it hit the Internet Sunday night. Fans couldn’t wait to get a hold of the new music from the late Michael Jackson.
I suppose this short controversy was a slightly embarrassing event for the record company who had been hyping up the song’s release in conjunction with the footage of his last rehearsal. I really hope the profits from the movie and the song go to his children. It would be tragic to learn that the people behind both projects are simply trying to milk the singer for everything he’s worth—even after death (although nothing would shock me at this point).
Check out the video for Paul Anka’s “This Is It,” co-written and sung by Michael Jackson.
Photos: www.wenn.com/HRC