Slave to the Rhythm (Michael Jackson song)

"Slave to the Rhythm"
"Slave to the Rhythm"
Promotional single by Michael Jackson
from the album Xscape
Released	May 9, 2014
Recorded	1991 (original); 2013–2014 (reworked);
Genre	R&B; synth-pop; electropop; new jack swing;
Length	4:15 (album version); 4:35 (original version);
Label	MJJ; Epic;
Songwriter(s)	L.A. Reid; Babyface; Daryl Simmons; Kevin Roberson;
Producer(s)	L.A. Reid; Babyface; Timbaland (album version); Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon (album version);
Michael Jackson promotional singles chronology
Music video
	"Slave to the Rhythm" on YouTube

"Slave to the Rhythm" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson. The song is the fifth track of Jackson's second posthumous album Xscape. The song appeared on several notable music charts due to digital downloads and streaming. Sony Mobile used a snippet of "Slave to the Rhythm" in their advertising campaign for the Xperia Z2 mobile phone. It was performed live at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards with a "Pepper's ghost" of Michael Jackson. Due to streaming of the performance at the Billboard Music Awards, "Slave to the Rhythm" debuted at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Jackson a posthumous 50th entry on the Billboard Hot 100.^[1]

Background and leak

The song was written and recorded in 1991, with L.A. Reid and Babyface during sessions for the Dangerous album,^[2] but didn't make the final cut. In 2010, a version of the song remixed by Tricky Stewart was leaked. This remix remains unreleased officially, but a snippet was played on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in the weeks before the release of Xscape.^{[citation needed]} In 2013, another version of the song leaked featuring Jackson's vocals in a duet with Canadian artist Justin Bieber. In response to criticism over this remix, the Michael Jackson Estate had not authorized release of this recording, and has since made attempts to remove the song from as many sites and YouTube channels as possible.^[3]

Release

In February 2014, Sony and Jackson's estate announced a partnership with Sony Mobile that saw the release of an ad incorporating a new version of the track "Slave to the Rhythm", which had been confirmed as one of the album tracks.^[4] The re-tooled version was produced by Timbaland and J-Roc.^[5] The commercial advertisement was for the Sony Xperia Z2 mobile phone;^[6] both Xperia Z2 and M2 came with a copy of "Slave to the Rhythm", while users could download the rest of the album.^[7] The original version can be found on the deluxe edition of the Xscape album. In 2014, a version of the song remixed by Audien was released.^[8]

Live performance

On May 18, 2014, a Pepper's ghost (incorrectly referred to as a hologram^[9]) illusion of Michael Jackson performed "Slave to the Rhythm", for the 2014 Billboard Music Awards. The selection of the song "Slave to the Rhythm" for the performance was made in late 2013.^[10]

The Talauega brothers, Rich and Tone, were brought on right after New Year's Day, and they started to draw up dance moves for Jackson and for the other dancers in the film. The brothers' involvement with Jackson dates back to the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards; they also were backup dancers for the HIStory World Tour in 1997. Jamie King was brought in to direct the video, which was produced by Pulse Evolution and Tricycle Logic.^[11]

A day after the coverage, the live performance of "Slave to the Rhythm" was uploaded to Jackson's official YouTube channel.^[12]

Charts

Chart performance for "Slave to the Rhythm"
Chart (2014)	Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[13]	91
France (SNEP)^[14]	119
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[15]	48
South Korea International Songs (Gaon)^[16]	4
UK Singles (OCC)^[17]	98
US Billboard Hot 100^[18]	45
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[19]	12

References

^ Trust, Gary; Caulfield, Keith. "Michael Jackson's Billie Jean Returns To Hot 100; Legend Lands 50th Hit". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
^ "New Michael Jackson Album 'Xscape' – L A Reid-Interview (Today, NBC)". YouTube. May 14, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
^ Mackinley, Page (August 20, 2013). "Justin Bieber, Michael Jackson Duet: Estate Releases Statement". Inquisitr. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
^ Opam, Kwame (March 31, 2014). "New Michael Jackson album 'XSCAPE' will be released May 13th". The Verge. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
^ "New Michael Jackson Album 'Xscape' to Be Released in May". Billboard. March 31, 2014. Archived from the original on April 1, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
^ "The estate of Michael Jackson enters partnership with Sony Mobile". michaeljackson.com. Sony Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
^ "Michael Jackson's new album XSCAPE will be free for 2014 Xperia owners". Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
^ "Slave to the Rhythm (Audien Remix Radio Edit)". YouTube. August 2, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
^ Giardina, Carolyn (May 21, 2014). "Why Billboard Music Awards' Michael Jackson Can't Be Called a 'Hologram'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
^ Gallo, Phil (May 18, 2014). "Michael Jackson Hologram Rocks Billboard Music Awards: Go Behind the Scenes". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
^ Gallo, Phil (May 18, 2014). "Michael Jackson Hologram at Billboard Music Awards: How It Came Together (Video)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
^ "Michael Jackson – Slave To The Rhythm". YouTube. May 19, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
^ "Michael Jackson – Slave to the Rhythm" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
^ "Michael Jackson – Slave to the Rhythm" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
^ "Gaon Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2014.

[1] Trust, Gary; Caulfield, Keith. "Michael Jackson's Billie Jean Returns To Hot 100; Legend Lands 50th Hit". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.

[2] "New Michael Jackson Album 'Xscape' – L A Reid-Interview (Today, NBC)". YouTube. May 14, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2024.

[3] Mackinley, Page (August 20, 2013). "Justin Bieber, Michael Jackson Duet: Estate Releases Statement". Inquisitr. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2014.

[4] Opam, Kwame (March 31, 2014). "New Michael Jackson album 'XSCAPE' will be released May 13th". The Verge. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2014.

[bbnews1-5] "New Michael Jackson Album 'Xscape' to Be Released in May". Billboard. March 31, 2014. Archived from the original on April 1, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.

[6] "The estate of Michael Jackson enters partnership with Sony Mobile". michaeljackson.com. Sony Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2014.

[7] "Michael Jackson's new album XSCAPE will be free for 2014 Xperia owners". Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014.

[8] "Slave to the Rhythm (Audien Remix Radio Edit)". YouTube. August 2, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2019.

[9] Giardina, Carolyn (May 21, 2014). "Why Billboard Music Awards' Michael Jackson Can't Be Called a 'Hologram'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.

[BBh-10] Gallo, Phil (May 18, 2014). "Michael Jackson Hologram Rocks Billboard Music Awards: Go Behind the Scenes". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2014.

[11] Gallo, Phil (May 18, 2014). "Michael Jackson Hologram at Billboard Music Awards: How It Came Together (Video)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.

[12] "Michael Jackson – Slave To The Rhythm". YouTube. May 19, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.

[sc_Canada_Michael_Jackson-13] "Michael Jackson Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2014.

[sc_France_Michael_Jackson-14] "Michael Jackson – Slave to the Rhythm" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 28, 2014.

[sc_Dutch100_Michael_Jackson-15] "Michael Jackson – Slave to the Rhythm" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 21, 2014.

[southkorea-16] "Gaon Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.

[sc_UK_-17] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2014.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Michael_Jackson-18] "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2014.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_Michael_Jackson-19] "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2014.

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v t e Michael Jackson songs
Singles Songs Unreleased songs
1970s	"Got to Be There" "Ain't No Sunshine" "I Wanna Be Where You Are" "Rockin' Robin" "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" "You've Got a Friend" "Ben" "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" "My Girl" "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" "We've Got a Good Thing Going" "With a Child's Heart" "Morning Glow" "All the Things You Are" "Happy" "Too Young" "Music and Me" "We're Almost There" "Just a Little Bit of You" "You Can't Win" "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" "Rock with You" "Working Day and Night" "It's the Falling in Love"
1980s	"Off the Wall" "Girlfriend" "She's Out of My Life" "One Day in Your Life" "The Girl Is Mine" "Billie Jean" "Beat It" "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" "Human Nature" "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" "Thriller" "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" "Lonely Teardrops" "That's What Love Is Made Of" "Farewell My Summer Love" "Girl You're So Together" "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" "Bad" "The Way You Make Me Feel" "Speed Demon" "Liberian Girl" "Just Good Friends" "Another Part of Me" "Man in the Mirror" "Dirty Diana" "Smooth Criminal" "Leave Me Alone" "Twenty-Five Miles"
1990s	"Black or White" "Jam" "In the Closet" "Remember the Time" "Heal the World" "Who Is It" "Give In to Me" "Will You Be There" "Gone Too Soon" "Dangerous" "Come Together" "Scream" "Childhood" "They Don't Care About Us" "Stranger in Moscow" "This Time Around" "Earth Song" "D.S." "You Are Not Alone" "Tabloid Junkie" "HIStory" "Smile" "Mind Is the Magic" "Blood on the Dance Floor" "Ghosts" "Is It Scary" "On the Line"
2000s	"Speechless" "You Rock My World" "Heaven Can Wait" "Butterflies" "Cry" "One More Chance" "Cheater" "(I Like) The Way You Love Me" "Fall Again" "This Is It"
2010s	"Hold My Hand" "Hollywood Tonight" "(I Can't Make It) Another Day" "Behind the Mask" "Don't Be Messin' 'Round" "I'm So Blue" "Price of Fame" "Love Never Felt So Good" "Chicago" "Loving You" "A Place with No Name" "Slave to the Rhythm" "Do You Know Where Your Children Are" "Blue Gangsta"
2020s	"She's Trouble"
Other	"We Are the World" "What More Can I Give" "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" "Blood on the Dance Floor x Dangerous" "Diamonds Are Invincible"
Featured	"A Brand New Day" "Ease on Down the Road" "Who's Right, Who's Wrong" "Night Time Lover" "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" "State of Independence" "Muscles" "Say Say Say" "Somebody's Watching Me" "Don't Stand Another Chance" "Centipede" "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)" "Eaten Alive" "Get It" "2300 Jackson Street" "Do the Bartman" "Whatzupwitu" "Why" "I Need You" "We Be Ballin'" "Girls, Girls, Girls" "All in Your Name" "There Must Be More to Life Than This" "Low" "Don't Matter to Me"
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