"Chicago" (originally titled "She Was Lovin' Me") is a previously unreleased song performed by Michael Jackson released as the second track on Jackson's second and final posthumous album, Xscape. Its demo was released on the deluxe edition of the LP.
Background[]
In early 1999, Cory Rooney, who at the time was the Senior Vice President of Sony Music, as well as Tommy Mottola and other people of Epic Records and Sony would be 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 would suggest 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 Tommy Mottola, he was so impressed he decided to send it to Michael, even if in such rough stages. Initially, Cory wouldn't be 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 into the Hit Factory building in New York, living there from March and mid-April 1999. The place not only served as the recording studio, but had several suites as well. The two would spend this time on working at "She Was Lovin' Me". According to Roney, Michael loved the song as it is and no further changes to any melodies or such details had to be changed. In fact, Jackson insisted on making his version sound as close to Cory'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. | ” |
Michael Jackson with Cory Rooney
The day after having recorded vocals for the song, Jackson felt sick and wouldn't show up in studio. As he notified Rooney about his absence, Michael had also sent the producer gifts in order to express his apologies.[1]
Jackson would return 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 would record ad-libs as well, which Michael was very satisfied with. Later on, Jackson arranged a meeting between Cory and Brad Buxer, who would polish up the vocal production.[1]
After finishing "She Was Lovin' Me" recording sessions, Jackson would move on to working with Rodney Jerkins (known as "Darkchild"). As Michael wouldn't be as satisfied with Rodney's work at first, Rooney would pause the production for his song, and instead focus on pointing Darkchild in the direction the King of Pop 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][2]
Afterwards, Tommy Mottola and Michael Jackson had fell out, leading to rumors that Cory Rooney was Sony's "spy". However, this turned out to be untrue. Him and the singer stayed friends.[1]
Rooney and Jackson talked for the last time in late 2008. They'd discuss possibly finishing "She Was Lovin' Me" for Michael's next album. The two would never conclude their collaboration however, as Jackson would pass 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 completely 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 Michael.[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 Jackson's mix of "She Was Lovin' Me" had leaked online.
The song was reworked once again in 2013-2014 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 done 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.