Speechless (Michael Jackson song)
| "Speechless" | ||||||||||
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Promotional single cover
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| Promotional single by Michael Jackson from the album Invincible | ||||||||||
| Released | June 21, 2001 | |||||||||
| Format | CD | |||||||||
| Recorded | 2000 – 2001 | |||||||||
| Genre | Neo-gospel | |||||||||
| Length | 3:18 | |||||||||
| Label | Epic | |||||||||
| Writer(s) | Michael Jackson | |||||||||
| Producer(s) | Michael Jackson | |||||||||
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| "Speechless – A Tribute to Michael Jackson" | |
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| Single by Thriller – Live cast | |
| Released | June 21, 2010 |
| Format | Digital Download |
| Recorded | 2010 |
| Genre | Pop |
| Length | 4:25 |
| Label | Motivation Records |
| Producer(s) | Dave Loughran |
"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.
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, receiving mixed reviews from music critics. Commentary 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.
Michael Jackson wrote "Speechless" after a water balloon fight with children in Germany. It took him 45 minutes. 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." Jackson would consider "Speechless" to be one of his favorite songs on Invincible.
"Speechless" was one of only two songs from Invincible to be written solely by Jackson (the second song being "The Lost Children"). 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, 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."
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