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I Never Heard (This Is It)

By: Michael Jackson and Paul Anka

At a glance

  • Album: This Is It
  • Released: October 12th, 2009
  • Recorded: 1980
  • Length: 3:36
  • Greg Phillinganes: Piano
  • Paul Anka: Piano
  • Paul Jackson, Jr.: Guitar
  • Raphael Padilla: Percussion
  • Lead vocals by Michael Jackson
  • Alvin Chea: Bass Vocals
  • Background vocals: The Jacksons
  • String arrangement: Clare Fischer
  • Vocal & track arrangements: Mervyn Warren
  • Recording Engineer: Jon Nettlesbey
  • Mixed by: Allen Sides
  • Mastered by: Alan Yoshida
  • Produced by: Michael Jackson, John McClain and Mervyn Warren

Credits

  • Greg Phillinganes: Piano
  • Paul Anka: Piano
  • Paul Jackson, Jr.: Guitar
  • Raphael Padilla: Percussion
  • Lead vocals by Michael Jackson
  • Alvin Chea: Bass Vocals
  • Background vocals: The Jacksons
  • String arrangement: Clare Fischer
  • Vocal & track arrangements: Mervyn Warren
  • Recording Engineer: Jon Nettlesbey
  • Mixed by: Allen Sides
  • Mastered by: Alan Yoshida
  • Produced by: Michael Jackson, John McClain and Mervyn Warren

A brief history

“I Never Heard,” more commonly known as “This Is It” was written and recorded during a session in 1980 between Michael and Paul Anka. It came to light in 2009 after his death. The songs lyrics prominently featured “This is it,” which happened to be the name of the concerts Michael was due to perform in London, prior to his death. It was thought initially to be a new song and was released under this title.

However upon hearing it, Anka notified Michael Estate and Sony Music of the history. It was originally titled “I Never Heard” and was intended to be a duet with Anka on his album “Walk a Fine Line.” A duet version of the song was featured on Anka’s 2013 Duets album.

Music video

Director Spike Lee created a music video for the song, which was the first after Michael’s passing. It contained footage of Michael as a child, clips of him throughout his career, and footage of tributes from his fans around the world.

Listen on Spotify

One, Two, Three, Four

This is it, here I stand
I’m the light of the world, I feel grand
Got this love I can feel
And I know yes for sure it is real

And it feels as though I’ve seen your face a thousand times
And you said you really know me too yourself
And I know that you have got addicted with your eyes
But you say you gonna live it for yourself

Oh

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on baby just understand

This is it, I can say
I’m the light of the world, run away
We can feel, this is real
Every time I’m in love, that I feel

And I feel as though I’ve known you since a thousand years
And you tell me that you’ve seen my face before
And you said to me you don’t want me hanging round
Many times wanna do it here before

Oh yeah

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on baby just understand

This is it, I can feel
I’m the light of the world, this is real
Feel my song, we can say
And I tell you feel that way

And I feel as though I’ve known you for a thousand years
And you said you want some of this yourself
And you said you want to go with me all the while
And I know that it’s really true myself

Oh yeah

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on please baby understand

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on baby please understand

Oh yeah

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan

Lyrics

One, Two, Three, Four

This is it, here I stand
I’m the light of the world, I feel grand
Got this love I can feel
And I know yes for sure it is real

And it feels as though I’ve seen your face a thousand times
And you said you really know me too yourself
And I know that you have got addicted with your eyes
But you say you gonna live it for yourself

Oh

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on baby just understand

This is it, I can say
I’m the light of the world, run away
We can feel, this is real
Every time I’m in love, that I feel

And I feel as though I’ve known you since a thousand years
And you tell me that you’ve seen my face before
And you said to me you don’t want me hanging round
Many times wanna do it here before

Oh yeah

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on baby just understand

This is it, I can feel
I’m the light of the world, this is real
Feel my song, we can say
And I tell you feel that way

And I feel as though I’ve known you for a thousand years
And you said you want some of this yourself
And you said you want to go with me all the while
And I know that it’s really true myself

Oh yeah

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on please baby understand

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on baby please understand

Oh yeah

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan

The Michael Jackson World Network

The Michael Jackson World Network

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