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Hold My Hand (Michael Jackson and Akon song)

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = Hold My Hand

| cover = Hold_My_Hand.JPG

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Michael Jackson and Akon

| album = Michael

| released = November 15, 2010

| recorded = 2007 (basic tracks)
2010 (additional overdubs & mixing)

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:32

| label = Epic

| writer =

* Aliaune Thiam

* Giorgio Tuinfort

* Claude Kelly

| producer =

* Akon

* Giorgio Tuinfort

* Michael Jackson (co-producer)

| chronology = Michael Jackson

| prev_title = Mind Is the Magic

| prev_year = 2010

| next_title = Hollywood Tonight

| next_year = 2011

| misc =

}}

"'Hold My Hand'" is a duet performed by American singer-songwriters Michael Jackson and Akon, from Jackson's first posthumous album 'Michael' (2010). The song was originally recorded by Akon and Jackson in 2007. The song was an international top 10 hit in nations such as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Background



Co-writer Claude Kelly told HitQuarters that "Hold My Hand" was originally written with Whitney Houston in mind. Akon and Kelly had been in the studio working on songs for Houston's 'I Look to You' album and while on his own Kelly completed the song from a track Akon had left. After hearing the song later, Akon said that he loved it and wanted to keep it for himself, so he wanted to record his own version of it. Shortly afterwards Akon went to Las Vegas to work on what would have been Michael Jackson's next album. While there, Jackson heard the song and loved it, and decided he wanted to contribute to it. When Kelly was asked what he thought it was about the song that struck a chord with both Akon and Jackson, he said that it was the song's theme of friendship and togetherness. "Hold My Hand" was recorded by Jackson and Akon in 2007. Akon finished the rest of his vocals for the song in 2010, a few days before the release. A handwritten note from Jackson belonging to his estate indicated his desire that Hold My Hand be the first single on his next project. However, in its unfinished state, the song leaked out in 2008. This would be the last new song leaked during Jackson's lifetime. Due to the leak, the song was subsequently pulled from Akon's track listing for his 2008 album, 'Freedom'. Akon regretted the decision after Jackson died the next year and decided to finish the song in his honor.

Akon commented, The world was not ready to hear Hold My Hand when it leaked a couple years ago. We were devastated about it. But its time has definitely come; now in its final state, it has become an incredible, beautiful, anthemic song. I'm so proud to have had the chance to work with Michael, one of my all time idols. Before the official release of the song, Akon stated on Twitter that the final version would have more of Jackson's vocals. The song was released globally on Monday, November 15, 2010, at 12:01am EST. It was available to stream from Jackson's official website. Jackson's nephew, Taj Jackson, posted a message saying that his uncle was proud of the song. "I'll never forget that smile he had on his face as the song played through the speakers [in his room] at the Palms Hotel in Vegas." The song is the second collaboration between the two artists and the second consecutive duet single release for Jackson, following "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008". That song proved a commercial success and charted within the top 20 in several countries.

Music video



On Monday, November 22, 2010, the filming for the official video began in Tustin, California, a main filming location being the airship hangars at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin. There was a casting call posted up on Jackson's official website, saying that they were "looking for his fans of all ages who want to be a part of this iconic event." On December 4, 2010, a 30-second teaser of the video was released on Michael Jackson's official YouTube channel and the official website. It featured clips from Jackson's 'Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour' DVD and clips of fans dancing. The video debuted at midnight December 9, 2010 on worldwide websites, including MichaelJackson.com. The video showed Jackson in concert (from Dangerous World Tour in Bucharest and HIStory World Tour in Munich), Akon singing and children dancing in the dress of Jackson, as well as sentimental scenes of children, families, and elderly people holding hands and a woman weeping. The video was directed by Mark Pellington.

Critical reception



The song received mostly positive reviews in contrast to the negative reviews of the previous promotional single "Breaking News." Ashante Infantry, entertainment reporter for the 'Toronto Star', called it a "catchy, well-meaning addition to Jackson's catalog." She also wrote, "Buoyed by strings and a backing chorus, the singer applies his angelic tenor to soaring phrasing that models the uplifting purport of the tunes love and unity lyrics in the spirit of 1995s "You Are Not Alone", Jacksons last No. 1 hit." 'Huffington Post' commentator Joe Vogel praised it as "a simple, but powerful song that embodies so much of what fans loved about Michael Jackson. Like U2s "One" it is a love song that expands outward making the personal something more profound and universal", and added that "With its catchy chorus and majestic crescendo it has all the makings of a big hit." Vogel also noted the first line of the song, "This life don't last forever," was a "poignant reminder of the transience of life." MTV's Gil Kaufman stated that "the uplifting 'Hold My Hand' is one of Jackson's classic love ballads, a heart-stirring call to unity," and that it ended with "a majestic feel." 'Newsday' music critic Glenn Gamboa said that the tune "finds Jackson in fine voice." He also remarked, "Now this is more like it."[http://www.newsday.com/columnists/other-columnists/hold-my-hand-featuring-jackson-and-akon-released-1.2464436 'Hold My Hand,' featuring Jackson and Akon, released] Gerrick D. Kennedy of the 'Los Angeles Times' music blog wrote that the "mid-tempo uplifting track is classic M.J."

Negative reviews however came from 'Yahoo! Music', where commentator Chris Willman argued that the single stole elements from the Hootie & the Blowfish song of the same name, and 'Minneapolis City Pages' where commentator Ray Cummings said "there's no way to reasonably avoid being disappointed and dispirited by its thinness." Michael Roffman from 'Consequence of Sound' called the track "highly irritating" and "incredibly repetitive", where "Akon belts out the same thing again and again in an equally monotonous pitch", adding that "as a lead single it was tepid and incredibly campy."'Boston Herald' critic Jed Gottlieb described the song as "an average, Auto-Tuned Akon croon" without "the snap, crackle and pop of a finished King of Pop product." Gottlieb also wrote, "Jackson is grumbling from his grave." Jason Lipshutz from Billboard said, it "isn't a classic Jackson single," but Michael Jackson's "diehards should delight in hearing a stylish pop production that doesn't dwell on the singer's troubled life."

Commercial performance



The song debuted at number 53 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart the week of November 27, 2010. It also became Michael Jackson's 48th hit on 'Billboard' Hot 100, and debuted at number 84. It debuted on the Adult R&B chart at number 16 as the chart's highest start in 2010 the same week. The song is Jackson's first top 40 hit on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 since 2002's "Butterflies". The song debuted at number 24 on the Billboard Jazz Songs Chart on the week of January 15, 2011, as Jackson's first single on this chart, it peaked at number 16. According to SoundScan, the song has sold 304,000 copies by the middle of January 2011.

Track listing



All tracks written by Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort, and Claude Kelly; produced by Akon and Tuinfort, with co-production by Jackson.

Personnel



Credits lifted from the liner notes of 'Michael'.

'Technical'

*Kory Aaron vocal recording

*Eelco Bakker vocal recording

*Serban Ghenea mixing engineer

*Franck van der Heijden arranger

*Michael Jackson co-producer

*Claude Kelly writer

*Wessel Oltheten mixing engineerm recording engineer

*Matt Paul vocal recording

*Justin Pintar vocal recording

*Miguel Scott vocal recording

*Akon finisher, producer, programming, writer

*Giorgio Tuinfort finisher, producer, programming, writer

*Ryan Wiese vocal recording

*Mack Woodward vocal recording

'Performers and musicians'

*Dennis Krijnen orechestra

*Arlia de Ruiter violin

*Pauline Terlouw violin

*Erica Korthals-Altes violin

*Vera Laporeva violin

*Sarah Koch violin

*Linda Dumessie violin

*Dennis Koenders violin

*Seija Teeuwen violin

*David Peijnenborgh violin

*Wim Kok violin

*Elizabeth Liefkes Cats violin

*Feyona van Iersel violin

*Vera van der Brie violin

*Erik Jan Kromhout violin

*Giorgio Tuinfort grand piano

*Mieke Honingh alt violin

*Isabella Petersen alt violin

*Iris Schut alt violin

*Rani Kumar alt violin

*Arjen de Graaf alt violin

*Emile Visser celli

*Maarten Jansen celli

*Michiel Weidner celli

*Jascha Albracht celli

*Erik Winkelman contrabas

*Pierre Buizer horns

*Iris Oltheten horns

*Alan Austin choir

*Anthony Brice choir

*Antoria Caston choir

*Richard Dale choir

*Eric Echols choir

*Charlene Gillead choir

*Valencia Green choir

*Cynthia Jones choir

*Iris McGhee choir

*Felicia Peavy choir

*Michelle Roberts choir

*Gina Taylor choir

*Dana Widener choir

*Terance Wilson choir

*Sandra Wright choir

*Leo Wheat, Jr. choir

Charts



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



Certifications



Release history



See also



* List of unreleased Michael Jackson material

* Death of Michael Jackson

* List of works published posthumously

References



Category:2010 songs

Category:2010 singles

Category:2010s ballads

Category:Michael Jackson songs

Category:Akon songs

Category:Songs written by Akon

Category:Songs written by Claude Kelly

Category:Song recordings produced by Michael Jackson

Category:Song recordings produced by Akon

Category:Songs released posthumously

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Contemporary R&B ballads

Category:Malemale vocal duets

Category:Songs written by Giorgio Tuinfort

Category:Music videos directed by Mark Pellington

Category:Epic Records singles

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