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What More Can I Give

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"What More Can I Give" is a song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released on the radio in late 2002 and as a digital single on October 27, 2003, featuring a supergroup, titled "The All-Stars".

Background[]

Under the title "Heal L.A.", the track was first written in 1992, following the Rodney King trial verdict and subsequent riots. Jackson revisited the track during the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I sessions, continuing to work on it throughout the HIStory World Tour. In October 1997, production for Jackson's tenth album, Invincible, causing work on the track to stop. In 1999, Jackson met South African president Nelson Mandela, and during the meeting, Mandela said "what more can I give?". The words eventually came into Jackson mind, and he was determined to finish the track.[1][2] He decided to re-write the track, renaming it to "What More Can I Give" and deciding to write about the victims of the Kosovo War (1998-1999). Upon compeleting the first version, Jackson intended to debut the track in his MJ & Friends concerts, though this didn't come to fruition. He also revealed in a interview with Daily Mirror that he was planning to release it as a charity single to aid the Kosovo War refugees, though this also didn't come into fruition.[3]

"What More Can I Give" was worked on between September 1999-2000 for Invincible, although it ultimately wasn't considered good enough to be included in the final cut.[4][5]

In September 2001, hours after the World Trade Center attacks, Jackson rewrote "What More Can I Give" again, this time to be more focused on said attacks. He brought multiple artists from around the world to record it, similarly to a project from two decades earlier, "We Are the World". "What More Can I Give" was recorded in the same month, in Los Angeles, with it being finished in October 2001. Additionally, a Spanish version titled "Todo Para Ti" was recorded, featuring both English and Latin artists.

Release[]

Radio leak[]

Sometime in late 2002, WKTU-FM, a New York radio station, played "What More Can I Give" for the first time on radio, playing it in heavy rotation. It was debuted without permission, and it is unknown how the radio got access to the song.

Release[]

What More Can I Give download website

What More Can I Give download website

On October 27, 2003, "What More Can I Give" was officially released, although only as a digital single in the lossy MP3 format. It was being sold through domains like whatmorecanigive.com & musicforgiving.com, It cost $2 per download, and the money was given to multiple charities. A physical release was planned; however, it was cancelled. The reason for the cancellation is unknown, although it is likely because of the feud between Jackson and Sony at the time.

Music video[]

A music video premiered at the 2003 Radio Music Awards, including all the artists recording the track.

Live performances[]

"What More Can I Give" was first performed live at the United We Stand: What More Can I Give benefit concert. The performances wasn't favorably recieved by music critics alike, with Jackson's appearance later being edited out of American Broadcasting Company's airing of the show, due to CBS demanding that he not perform on a network show before a special including him broadcasted on their channel the following month, though their executives tried to deny this claim.

Musicians featured[]

English version[]

  • Michael Jackson
  • Michael McCary
  • Mýa
  • *NSYNC
  • Nick Carter
  • Reba McEntire
  • Ricky Martin
  • Shakira
  • Shawn Stockman
  • Thalia
  • Tom Petty
  • Usher
  • Ziggy Marley

Spanish version[]

  • Alejandro Sanz
  • Cristian Castro
  • Joy Enriquez
  • Juan Gabriel
  • Julio Iglesias
  • Laura Pausini
  • Luis Miguel
  • Olga Tañón
  • Rubén Blades

Audio[]

Lyrics[]

[Verse 1]
How many people will have to die before we will take a stand?
How many children will have to cry before we do all we can?
If sending your love is all you can give
To help one live

How many times can we turn our heads
And pretend we cannot see
Healing the wounds of our broken earth
We are one global family
Just sending your prayers
Is something you'll feel
Helping one heal

[Chorus 1]
What have I got that I can give?
What have I got that I can give?
(Tell me)
What have I got that I can give?
(Hey-yeah, oh-oh)
To love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?

[Verse 2]
Lay down our fears and reach out and make a pact
Show him the love that is in our hearts let us bring salvation back
Just sending your love has the power to heal
So let's all give

[Chorus 2]
What have I got that I can give?
(Is not allowed to give just a little bit)
What have I got that I can give?
(Everyone should be a part of it)
To love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?

[Bridge]
Say the words
I'll lay me down for you
Just call my name
I am your friend
See, then why do they keep teaching us
Such hate and cruelty?
We should give over and over again

[Chorus 3]
What have I got that I can give?
(We should give over and over again!)
What have I got that I can give?
(Oh my God, oh my God)
(Oh my Lord)
See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?

What have I got that I can give?
Ah
What have I got that I can give?
(Give you, give to you)
See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?

What have I got that I can give?
(What more can I give?)
What have I got that I can give?
(I wanna give to you, give it to you)
See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give
(they think I'm wasting my time now)

What have I got that I can give?
(To give it to you)
Ah
(we wanna give to you!)
What have I got that I can give?
To hold and conceal you
(Oh, no, yeah, yeah, yeah)
To love and to heal you
What more can I give?
(Give me, give me one time more)

What have I got that I can give?
(What I got, what have I got)
(Say your prayers)
What have I got that I can give?
(Show the world how much you really care)
To love and to teach you
(To love you, teach you)
To hold and to need you
(To hold you, to need you)
(What more?)
What more can I give?

What have I got that I can give?
(What can I give? Tell me what can I give you)
What have I got that I can give?
To hold and conceal you
To love and to heal you
What more can I give?

[Verse 1]
How many children will have to cry before we begin to make a stand?
How many lovers will have to die before we do what we can
If sending your love, is all you can give
To help one live
How many times can we turn our heads
And pretend we cannot see
Healing the wounds of our broken earth
We are one global family
Just sending your prayers
Is something you'll feel
Helping one heal

[Chorus]
What have I got that I can give?
What have I got that I can give?
What have I got that I can give?
To love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?

[Verse 2]
Brother to brother
Lay down our fears and reach out and make a pact
Show him the love that is in our hearts let us bring salvation back
Just sending your love has the power to heal
So let's all give
Ohh-ohh

[Chorus]
What have I got that I can give?
What have I got that I can give?
To love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?

[Verse 3]
Say the words
I'll lay me down for you
Just call my name
I am your friend
See, then why do they keep teaching us
Such hate and cruelty?
We should give over and over again

[Chorus]
What have I got that I can give?
(We should give over and over again!)
What have I got that I can give?
(Oh my god, oh my god)
See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?
(They said, wasting your time, oh)
What have I got that I can give?
(So much love, so much love)
What have I got that I can give?
(Give you, give you)
See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?
("Wasting the time", oh)
What have I got that I can give?
(To give you, give you)
What have I got that I can give?
(I wanna give to you, give it to you)
See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give
(They think I'm wasting my time now)
What have I got that I can give?
What have I got that I can give?
(Oh!)
To hold and conceal you
To love and to heal you
What more can I give?

Gallery[]

Gallery link "Look deep within yourself, and you'll find something amazing."
To view the What More Can I Give gallery, click here.


Trivia[]

  • Michael Prince mentioned during the 52nd episode of the MJCast, that he has a full recording of Beyoncé singing the track by herself.[6]
  • "What More Can I Give" is one of the very few song released by Jackson to have been re-recorded in a language other than English, the other one being "I Just Can't Stop Loving You".

References[]

  1. ↑ McEntire, Gilman Join Michael Jackson Recording - CMT News
  2. ↑ MTV: Country beat: Alan Jackson, Lonestar, Hal Ketchum ...
  3. ↑ Michael Jackson: For the Record
  4. ↑ Time - People: Oct. 8, 2001
  5. ↑ Jagger Exits Charity Show as Jacko Takes Over - Fox News (October 13, 2001)
  6. ↑ Episode 052: Michael Prince Special - The MJCast

Navbox[]

Discography
Studio albums
Got to Be There • Ben • Music & Me • Forever, Michael • Off the Wall • Thriller • Bad • Dangerous • HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I • Invincible
Other albums
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial • Farewell My Summer Love • Decade • Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix • The Ultimate Collection • Thriller 25 • Michael • Bad 25 • Xscape • Scream • Thriller 40
Singles
"Got to Be There" • "Rockin' Robin" • "I Wanna Be Where You Are" • "Ain't No Sunshine" • "Ben" • "With a Child's Heart" • "Music and Me" • "We're Almost There" • "Just a Little Bit of You" • "You Can't Win" • "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" • "Rock with You" • "Off the Wall" • "She's Out of My Life" • "Girlfriend" • "One Day in Your Life" • "The Girl Is Mine" • "Billie Jean" • "Beat It" • "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" • "Human Nature" • "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" • "Thriller" • "Happy" • "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" • "Bad" • "The Way You Make Me Feel" • "Man in the Mirror" • "Dirty Diana" • "Another Part of Me" • "Smooth Criminal" • "Leave Me Alone" • "Liberian Girl" • "Black or White" • "Remember the Time" • "In the Closet" • "Jam" • "Who Is It" • "Heal the World" • "Give In to Me" • "Will You Be There" • "Gone Too Soon" • "Scream/Childhood" • "You Are Not Alone" • "Earth Song" • "They Don't Care About Us" • "Stranger in Moscow" • "Blood on the Dance Floor" • "HIStory/Ghosts" • "Smile" • "You Rock My World" • "Butterflies" • "Cry" • "What More Can I Give" • "One More Chance" • "The Girl Is Mine 2008" • "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" • "Hold My Hand" • "Mind Is the Magic" • "Hollywood Tonight" • "Behind the Mask" • "(I Like) The Way You Love Me" • "Love Never Felt So Good" • "A Place with No Name" • "Blood on the Dance Floor X Dangerous (The White Panda Mash-Up)"
Promotional singles
"Someone in the Dark" • "Speed Demon" • "Someone Put Your Hand Out" • "This Time Around" • "Is It Scary" • "Speechless" • "Unbreakable" • "Cheater" • "This Is It"
Non-single songs
"Girl Don't Take Your Love from Me" • "In Our Small Way" • "Wings of My Love" • "Maria (You Were the Only One)" • "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" • "You've Got a Friend" • "Greatest Show on Earth" • "People Make the World go Round" • "We've Got a Good Thing Going" • "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" • "My Girl" • "What Goes Around Comes Around" • "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" • "You Can Cry on My Shoulder" • "Up Again" • "All the Things You Are" • "Too Young" • "Doggin' Around" • "Euphoria" • "Morning Glow" • "Johnny Raven" • "Take Me Back" • "Cinderella Stay Awhile" • "We've Got Forever" • "You Are There" • "Dapper Dan" • "Dear Michael" • "I'll Come Home to You" • "Workin' Day and Night" • "Get on the Floor" • "I Can't Help It" • "It's the Falling in Love" • "Burn This Disco Out" • "Someone in the Dark" • "Baby Be Mine" • "The Lady in My Life" • "Just Good Friends" • "Why You Wanna Trip on Me" • "She Drives Me Wild" • "Can't Let Her Get Away" • "Keep the Faith" • "Dangerous" • "D.S." • "Money" • "Come Together" • "Tabloid Junkie" • "2 Bad" • "Little Susie / Pie Jesu" • "On the Line" • "Morphine" • "Superfly Sister" • "Carousel" • "Streetwalker" • "Fly Away" • "Heartbreaker" • "Invincible" • "Break of Dawn" • "Heaven Can Wait" • "2000 Watts" • "You Are My Life" • "Privacy" • "Don't Walk Away" • "The Lost Children" • "Whatever Happens" • "Threatened" • "Shout" • "Sunset Driver" • "Scared of the Moon" • "We Are Here to Change the World" • "Monkey Business" • "Fall Again" • "In the Back" • "Beautiful Girl" • "We've Had Enough" • "For All Time" • "Got the Hots" • "Best of Joy" • "(I Can't Make It) Another Day" • "Much Too Soon" • "Don't Be Messin' 'Round" • "I'm So Blue" • "Abortion Papers" • "Free" • "Price of Fame" • "Al Capone" • "Chicago" • "Loving You" • "Slave to the Rhythm" • "Do You Know Where Your Children Are" • "Blue Gangsta" • "Xscape" • "Starlight" • "Who Do You Know" • "The Toy" • "What a Lovely Way to Go" • "She's Trouble"
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