"Chicago" (originally titled "She Was Lovin' Me") is a previously unreleased song produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the second track from the second and final posthumous album, Xscape. The demo was released on the deluxe edition of the album.
Background[]
In 1999, Cory Rooney, who by the was the Senior Vice President of Sony Music, as well as Tommy Mottola and other people from Epic Records and Sony, were invited by Jackson to the studio in Los Angeles for a listening session. He'd present to them "Break of Dawn", which the executives were thrilled about. Mottola suggested Rooney, who was also a record producer, to perhaps craft a song for Michael.[1]
As soon as he got back from from Los Angeles, Rooney immediately got to work, writing music for what would become "She Was Lovin' Me" and later recorded a rough, scratch demo at Sony's studio. When presenting it to Mottola, he was so impressed he decided to send it to Jackson, even if in such rough stages. Initially, Rooney wasn't as keen on the idea, feeling he might've "blown his opportunity". However, Jackson was instead ready to record it.[1]
Jackson and Rooney decided to move to The Hit Factory studio in New York, living there from March to mid-April 1999. The place not only served as the recording studio, but had several suites as well. They spent this time working on "She Was Lovin' Me".[2] According to Rooney, Jackson loved the song as it is and no further changes to any melodies had to be changed. In fact, Jackson insisted on making his version sound as close to Rooney's demo.[1]
| “ | Rewind it. Rewind it. I like the way you phrase that. Hold on. Let me do that again. I wanna make sure I get the timing like you got it. | ” |
–Jackson to Rooney[1] | ||
Jackson with Rooney
The day after having recorded vocals for "She Was Lovin' Me", Jackson felt sick and didn't show up at the studio. As he notified Rooney about his absence, Jackson had also sent him gifts in order to express his apologies.[1]
Jackson returned to the studio a few days later, this time with his singing coach, Seth Riggs. Then, he'd record the gritty, chorus parts. Riggs and Rooney recorded ad-libs as well, which Jackson was very satisfied with. Later on, Jackson arranged a meeting between Rooney and musician Brad Buxer, who polished up the vocal production.[1]
After finishing the "She Was Lovin' Me" recording sessions, Jackson moved on to working with Rodney Jerkins (known as "Darkchild"). As Jackson wasn't as satisfied with Jerkins' work at first, Rooney paused the production for his song, and instead focus on pointing Darkchild in the direction Jackson was aiming for. However, due to this, the producer never finished work on "She Was Lovin' Me". Thus, the recording never made it on Invincible.[1][3]
Afterwards, Mottola and Jackson fell out, leading to rumors that Rooney was Sony's "spy". However, this turned out to be untrue. Him and Jackson stayed friends.[1]
Rooney and Jackson talked for the last time in late 2008. They discussed possibly finishing "She Was Lovin' Me" for Jackson's late 2000s project. They never concluded their collaboration however, as Jackson passed away less than a year later.
| “ | In that final conversation we talked about using ‘She Was Loving Me’ for his next project,” Rooney reveals. “He was talking about getting in a position where he was going to start lining up new songs and things like that. He said, ‘This record is so good, we gotta figure out something good to do with it.’ | ” |
–Cory Rooney for Damien Shields, Michael Jackson: Songs & Stories From The Vault[1] | ||
In 2010, Rooney and Jackson's nephew, Taryll reworked "She Was Lovin' Me" into a hard rock track. According to the producer, he liked this version more than the original one he made with Jackson.[1] This version was made with the posthumous Michael album in mind, although the final mix was never made, having the recording stay in the vault instead. Additionally, Rooney decided not to be involved in the project due to the speculations surrounding the authenticity of vocals on it. In 2013, Taryll's mix of "She Was Lovin' Me" had leaked online.
It was reworked once again in 2013 for Xscape, this time with whole new production by Timbaland. This version was retitled to "Chicago", possibly for the sake of the tracklist not being repetitive: "Love Never Felt So Good", "She Was Lovin' Me", "Loving You". The Sony Xperia Lounge edition of Xscape also featured a remix of the track by Papercha$ser as the ninth, bonus track.
Audio[]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
I met her on my way to Chicago
Where she was all alone and so was I
So I asked her for her name
She smiled and looked at me
I was surprised to see
That a woman like that was really into me
[Chorus]
She said she didn’t have no man
Raised the kids the very best she can (She was lovin' me)
She told me she was all alone
Said, "I don't," she didn't have no phone (She was wantin' me)
She said just to give her a page
Fifty nine was the code she gave (She was lovin' me)
She'd lied to you, lied to me
'Cause she was lovin' me, lovin' me, yeah
[Verse 2]
I never would've thought she was livin' like that
Her words seemed so sincere
When I held her near, she would tell me how she feels
It felt so real to me
This girl, she had to be
An angel sent from heaven just for me
[Chorus]
She said she didn’t have no man
Raised the kids the very best she can (Look, she's lovin' me)
She told me she was all alone
Said, "I don't," she didn't have no phone (She was lovin' me)
She said just to give her a page
Fifty nine was the code she gave
She'd lied to you, lied to me
'Cause she was lovin' me, lovin' me, yeah (Look who's lovin' me)
[Chorus]
She tried to live a double life
Lovin' me while she was still your wife (She was wantin' me)
She thought that lovin' me was cool
With you at work and the kids at school (She was lovin' me)
She said that it would never end
Or tried to keep me any way she can (She was wantin' me)
She'd lied to you, lied to me
'Cause she got a family, family, yeah
[Post-Chorus]
Whoa, no
Alright
Oh (I’m in love, love)
[Verse 3]
I didn't know she was already spoken for
'Cause I'm not that kind of man
Swear that I would've never looked her way
Now I feel so much shame
And all things have to change
You should know that I'm holdin' her to blame
[Chorus]
She said she didn’t have no man
Raised the kids the very best she can (Holdin' her to blame)
She told me she was all alone
Said, "I don't," she didn't have no phone (Holdin' her to blame)
She said just to give her a page
Fifty nine was the code she gave (Holdin' her to blame)
She'd lied to you, lied to me
'Cause she was lovin' me, lovin' me, yeah (Holdin' her to blame)
[Chorus]
She tried to live a double life
Loving me while she was still your wife (Holdin' her to blame)
She thought that loving me was cool
With you at work and the kids at school (Holdin' her to blame)
She said that it would never end
Or tried to keep me any way she can (Holdin' her to blame)
She'd lied to you, lied to me
'Cause she got a family, family, yeah
[Chorus]
She said she didn’t have no man
Raised the kids the very best she can (Look, she's lovin' me)
She told me she was all alone
Said, "I don't," she didn't have no phone (She was lovin' me)
She said just to give her a page
Fifty nine was the code she gave (She's with me)
She'd lied to you, lied to me
'Cause she was lovin' me, lovin' me, yeah (Look who's lovin' me)
[Chorus]
She tried to live a double life
Lovin' me while she was still your wife (She was wantin' me)
She thought that lovin' me was cool
With you at work and the kids at school (She was lovin' me)
She said that it would never end
Or tried to keep me any way she can (She was wantin' me)
She'd lied to you, lied to me
'Cause she got a family, family, yeah
[Verse 1]
I met her on my way to Chicago
Where she was all alone
And so was I so I asked her for her name
She smiled and looked at me
I was surprised to see
That a woman like that was really into me
[Chorus 1]
She said she didn’t have no man
Raised the kids the very best she can
(she was lovin' me)
She told me she was all alone
Said at home she didn’t have no phone
(she was wantin' me)
She said just to give her a page
Fifty nine was the code she gave
(she was lovin' me)
She'd lie to you, lie to me
'Cause she was lovin' me, lovin' me, yeah
[Verse 2]
I never would have thought
She was livin' like that
Her words seemed so sincere
And when I held her near
She would tell me how she feels
It felt so real to me
This girl she had to be
An angel sent from Heaven just for me
[Chorus 2]
She said she didn’t have no man
Raised the kids the very best she can
(she's lovin' me)
She told me she was all alone
Said at home she didn’t have no phone
(look who's lovin' me)
She said just to give her a page
Fifty nine was the code she gave
(she's lovin' me)
She'd lie to you, lie to me
'Cause she was lovin' me, lovin' me yeah
(look who's lovin' me)
She tried to live a double life
Lovin' me while she was still your wife
(she's wantin' me)
She thought that lovin' me was cool
With you at work and the kids at school
(she was lovin' me)
She said that it would never end
Tried to keep me any way she can
(she was wantin' me)
She'd lie to you, lie to me
'Cause she had a family, family, yeah
[Post-Chorus]
Whoa, no
Alright
Oh (I’m in love, love)
[Verse 3]
I didn’t know she was already spoken for
‘Cause I’m not that kind of man
I swear that I would've never looked her way
Now I feel so much shame
And all things have to change
You should know that
I’m holdin' her to blame
[Chorus 2]
She said she didn’t have no man
Raised the kids the very best she can
(holdin' her to blame)
She told me she was all alone
Said at home she didn’t have no phone
(holdin' her to blame)
She said just to give her a page
Fifty nine was the code she gave
(Holding her to blame)
She'd lie to you, lie to me
'Cause she was lovin' me, lovin' me, yeah
(holdin' her to blame)
She tried to live a double life
Lovin' me while she was still your wife
(holding her to blame)
She thought that lovin' me was cool
With you at work and the kids at school
She said that it would never end
Tried to keep me any way she can
She'd lie to you, lie to me
'Cause she had a family, family, yeah
Family, family, yeah
[Verse 1]
I met her on my way to Chicago
Where she was all alone
And so was I, so I asked her for her name
She smiled and looked at me
I was surprised to see
That a woman like that was really into me
[Chorus]
She said she didn’t have no man
Raised the kids the very best she can (She was lovin' me)
She told me she was all alone
Said at home she didn’t have no phone (She was wantin' me)
She said just to give her a page
Fifty nine was the code she gave (She was lovin' me)
She'd lie to you, lie to me
'Cause she was lovin' me, lovin' me, yeah
[Verse 2]
I never would have thought she was livin' like that
Her words seemed so sincere
And when I held her near
She would tell me how she feels
It felt so real to me
This girl she had to be
An angel sent from Heaven just for me
[Chorus]
She said she didn’t have no man
Raised the kids the very best she can (She's lovin' me)
She told me she was all alone
Said at home she didn’t have no phone (Look who's lovin' me)
She said just to give her a page
Fifty nine was the code she gave
She said just to give her a page
Fifty nine was the code she gave (Holdin' her to blame)
She'd lie to you, lie to me
'Cause she was lovin' me, lovin' me, yeah (Holdin' her to blame)
She tried to live a double life
Lovin' me but she was still your wife (Holdin' her to blame)
She thought that lovin' me was cool
With you at work and the kids at school
She said that it would never end
Tried to keep me any way she can
She'd lie to you, lie to me
'Cause she got a family, family, yeah
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- The song picked up on popularity in 2022 on TikTok, as many videos started being made under the audio alongside "Heaven Can Wait".
- The instrumental to the demo is actually mono, rather than stereo. The "original versions" featured on Xscape suffered from a lot of mixing issues, with "Chicago" being one of those versions.