"If You Don't Love Me" is an unreleased song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson intended for the Dangerous album. On July 7, 2002, the recording leaked online. Another more complete version was leaked on December 5, 2007.
Background[]
"If You Don't Love Me" was made with Bill Bottrell and recorded in 1989 for Dangerous.[1] Although it ultimately wasn't in the final release, it was reconsidered in 2001 for the Dangerous: Special Edition reissue alongside other tracks in the form of Dangerous: Bonus Cuts. However, since the bonus cuts idea was scrapped, it again stayed unreleased.
During the production of 2010's posthumous Michael album, Bottrell made a new mix of "If You Don't Love Me", adding "small fixes", and according to him it "did improve the overall experience. Nothing dramatic though."[2][3] He mentioned it was considered for inclusion on the album, but once again, didn't make the cut.[4]
Bottrell returned in 2014 to make another mix of "If You Don't Love Me" for the posthumous album, Xscape. Sadly, he never heard back and the track didn't make the cut for the fourth and final time.
“ | I did a final mix on "If You Don't Love Me" for Xscape but never heard back. It's a mix that maintains everything about the rough one. | ” |
–Bill Bottrell, X, September 30, 2024[5] |
Audio[]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Lookin' over my photographs
I saw a picture of you an' me
Lovin' made deep
I had to write you just to tell you that
And to find out, if you really now missin' me, 'cause
[Pre-Chorus]
If you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
If you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
If you don't need me
Just like I need you
If you don't love me
If you don't love me
[Chorus]
And if you don't love me
If you don't love me
And if you don't love me
If you don't love me
And if you don't love me
If you don't love me
What will I do girl?
'Cause I'm in love with you
[Verse 2]
I told the doctor that I'm broken-hearted
And my temperature has risen to a hundred and three
Why don't you write me back and save me girl?
Tell me what I wanna hear, like you're missin' me, but
[Pre-Chorus]
If you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
If you don't need me
(If you don't need me)
If you don't want me
The way I want you
If you don't love me
If you don't love me
[Chorus]
And if you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
And if you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
And if you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
'Cause I'm in love with you
You!
[Bridge]
Oh pretty baby, I've been missing you
From such a long, long time ago
You changed your number and I couldn't call you
So I couldn't tell you so
I had to write you just to tell you that
I'm even kissin' on your photograph
[Chorus]
If you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
And if you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
And if you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
Oooh-ooh
Baby baby baby!
If you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
And if you don't want me
(If you don't love me)
Give it to me
(If you don't love me)
Oooh-ooh
Baby baby baby
If you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
And if you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
And I don't love you
(If you don't love me)
If you don't need me
(If you don't love me)
Give it to me
Give it!
If you don't want me
Baby tell me baby
If you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
If you don't want me
Love me
(If you don't love me)
I really wanna have it
(If you don't love me)
I'm beggin' like mad!
[Break]
I dunno what I'm gonna do
All I know is
Baby baby baby baby!
[Chorus]
If you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
If you don't love me
(If you don't want me)
And if you don't want me
(If you don't love me)
And if you don't need me
(If you don't love me)
I am beggin' like mad!
(If you don't love me)
I am beggin' like mad!
(If you don't love me)
Give it to me baby!
(If you don't want me)
And if you don't want me
(If you don't love me)
If you don't need me
(If you don't love me)
Give it to me baby!
(If you don't love me)
If you don't want me
(If you don't love me)
And if you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
Aow!
If you don't love me
(If you don't love me)
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Bottrell mentioned he doesn't support leaks of the 1989 version of "If You Don't Love Me", as it was unfinished "in significant ways including vocals."[2]
- Bryan Loren is often misattributed as the song's co-writer and co-producer, although Loren confirmed this is completely false.[6]
References[]
- ↑ https://books.google.pl/books?id=9fR8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA444&lpg=PA444&dq=Jackson+wrote+and+recorded+“Turning+Me+Off”+during+the+Hayvenhurst+sessions+in+early+1986.+He+worked&source=bl&ots=4YJ8RykQDv&sig=ACfU3U2sR_ud9A6t-hgohcD5i_sVc2L8ZQ&hl=pl&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjHpZi865D_AhUvAxAIHaUNAIgQ6AF6BAg-EAI#v=onepage&q=Jackson%20wrote%20and%20recorded%20“Turning%20Me%20Off”%20during%20the%20Hayvenhurst%20sessions%20in%20early%201986.%20He%20worked&f=false
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://x.com/BillBottrell/status/1740206872731451549
- ↑ https://x.com/BillBottrell/status/1740913037375382016
- ↑ https://x.com/BillBottrell/status/1740296859368014015
- ↑ https://x.com/BillBottrell/status/1840627360548495713
- ↑ https://www.themjcast.com/episode-079-bryan-loren-special/