"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" is a 1987 duet ballad by American singers Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett, and was released as the first single on July 20, 1987, by Epic Records from his seventh album, Bad. The song was written by Jackson, and co-produced by Jackson and Quincy Jones. The presence of Garrett on the track was a last-minute decision by Jackson and Jones, after Jackson's first two choices for the duet both decided against participating. Garrett, a protégé of Jones's who co-wrote another song on Bad, "Man in the Mirror", did not know that she would be singing the song until the day of the recording session. It became her first hit since Dennis Edwards' 1984 song "Don't Look Any Further". Garrett remains known primarily for her work with Jackson to this day.
"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" | ||||
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Single by Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett | ||||
from the album Bad | ||||
Released | July 20, 1987 | |||
Recorded | May 1987[1] | |||
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Songwriter(s) | Michael Jackson | |||
Producer(s) |
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Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" |
"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, R&B Singles and Adult Contemporary charts, making it the first in a string of 5 number-one singles from Bad. It was Jackson's second number-one song on the Adult Contemporary chart after "The Girl Is Mine" with Paul McCartney.[2] "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" was released without an accompanying music video. Jackson and Garrett later recorded "Todo Mi Amor Eres Tú" (loosely translated to "All My Love Is You"), a Spanish-language version of the song, with lyrics translated by Rubén Blades, and "Je Ne Veux Pas La Fin De Nous" (loosely translated to "I Don't Want The End Of Us"), a French-language version, with translation by Christine "Coco" Decroix. All three versions are featured on the 2012 reissue album Bad 25. The original English-language version was re-released as a single in 2012, as part of the Bad 25 release.
Background, writing and recording
editFor the duet ballad "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," Michael Jackson wanted to share vocals with Barbra Streisand or Whitney Houston. Streisand passed on the invitation because she had concerns about their large age difference (16 years), and thought the song's lyrics would be unbelievable for her and Jackson to sing together. [3] Houston’s label, Arista Records, thought that, if she performed on the song, it might detract from the promotion of her sophomore album, Whitney. Ultimately, a different singer duetted with Jackson on “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You:” Siedah Garrett. Interestingly, Garrett co-wrote another one of Jackson’s ballads called “Man in the Mirror” and performed backing vocals on it.[4] Garrett had previously duetted on former Temptations member Dennis Edwards' "Don't Look Any Further." Garrett first came to the attention of producer Quincy Jones after auditioning for and winning a spot in the group Deco. She later signed as a recording artist with Jones' Warner Bros.-distributed Qwest Records.[4] The singer was constantly sent song demos including one for "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", though she didn't know that the demo was a song written and sung by Jackson. While reporting for a recording session, Garrett thought that she was summoned to do overdubs for a song she'd co-written titled "Man in the Mirror." Instead she was surprised to learn that she'd been chosen to sing a duet with Jackson.[4]
The original album version of the song opened with Jackson cooing a spoken part backed by a longer version of the synth intro. According to Jackson, he recorded that part of the song while lying in bed. The intro went, in part, "I just want to lay next to you for a while. You look so beautiful tonight... A lot of people misunderstand me. That's because they don't know me at all. I just want to touch you and hold you..."[5] This intro was mixed out on the 7" single, on future releases of Bad and on most compilation albums. An alternate version of the single, featuring the original mastered album version mix with the spoken word intro for "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" backed by the album outtake "Don't Be Messin' 'Round", was released in select Walmart stores in 2012 to mark the release of Bad 25.
Sheet music for "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" sets the key of C major (C Mixolydian) with a tempo of 100 beats per minute.[6] To some, it was reminiscent of Jackson's Motown classic "Got to Be There."[4]
Critical reception
editRichard Cromelin from the Los Angeles Times was negative with the song, and particularly the spoken word opening, writing: "The soliloquy is meant to be revealing, tender and vulnerable, but with his quivering timbre and the haunting music behind, it comes off a little creepy, like Norman Bates gearing up for "Psycho IV'."[5] Davitt Sigerson from Rolling Stone wrote a review about the song, commenting:
"Churls may bemoan 'I Just Can't Stop Loving You,' Jackson's duet with the often indistinguishable Siedah Garrett, as a second unworthy entry. Without descending to musical McCarthyism and questioning the honor of anyone who can fault a record with both finger snaps and timpani, it need only be asked, Who, having heard the song at least twice, can fail to remember that chorus?"[7]
Chart performance
edit"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" was the lead single from Jackson's much-anticipated Bad album. The single debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart at #37, the week of August 8, 1987. The single was the highest debuting single of 1987, and quickly traveled to the top quarter of the Hot 100, advancing to #16 in its second week, and soaring to #1 in its seventh week on the tally, the week of September 19, 1987.
Despite the success, the duet had a relatively short chart run and fell out of the top 40 just five weeks after topping the chart, spending a total of 11 weeks in the top 40, out of a total of 14 weeks on the Hot 100. This was perhaps due to the quick release of the album title track as the second single (it debuted on the Hot 100 at #40 in the same week that "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" hit number one). Billboard ranked it as #43 on the year-end Hot 100 chart for 1987.
The track spent three weeks at number one on Billboard's Adult Contemporary singles chart, becoming the second and last Michael Jackson single to top that chart.
In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at the top of the UK Singles Chart on August 9, 1987—for the week ending date August 15, 1987—and remained at the top for two consecutive weeks until it was dethroned by "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" became Britain's 30th best-selling song of 1987.
In his autobiography, Moonwalk, Jackson stated the song was not written with someone in mind, but that he had been thinking of someone when singing the song live.
Live performances
editJackson performed the song on his Bad world tour (1987–1989) with backing singer Sheryl Crow, and on his Dangerous World Tour (1992–1993) with Siedah Garrett. He also performed the song at the Royal Concert in Brunei in July 1996 with Marva Hicks. Live versions of the song are available on the DVDs Live at Wembley July 16, 1988 and Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour. The song would always abruptly stop starting from the Bad tour's 2nd leg to transition to She's Out of My Life.
Jackson would have performed it on This Is It with Judith Hill, but the concert series was canceled due to his sudden death. However, this is a featured song in the movie Michael Jackson's This Is It. As a tribute to Jackson, Hill recorded and released a "sequel" to the song, entitled "I Will Always Be Missing You".
Releases
edit- CD promo
- "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (7" version) – 4:12
- US 7" single
- "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (with spoken intro) – 4:17
- "Baby Be Mine" – 4:20
- US 12" special edition single
- "Todo Mi Amor Eres Tu" – 4:06
- "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (7" version) – 4:12
- US 3" CD single
- "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (7" version) – 4:12
- "Baby Be Mine" – 4:20
Mixes
edit- Album version / Original album mix* – 4:25
- 7" version – 4:12 *This version replaced the original version on the later releases of Bad
- "Todo mi amor eres tú" Spanish version – 4:06 (which means "You Are All My Love")
- "Je ne veux pas la fin de nous" French version – 4:06 (which means "I Don't Want the End of Us")
- Live version from Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour
- Live version from Live at Wembley July 16, 1988, included in the deluxe edition of Bad 25 – 4:25
- Live version from Yokohama Stadium, included on the Wembley DVD
- "You Are Not Alone"/"I Just Can't Stop Loving You," remix included on Immortal – 6:08
Personnel
edit- Michael Jackson – lead and backing vocals
- Siedah Garrett – lead and backing vocals, shaker
- John Barnes – piano, vocal arrangements
- David Paich – synthesizer
- Steve Porcaro – synthesizer programming
- Christopher Currell – Synclavier
- Dann Huff – guitar
- Nathan East – bass
- N'dugu Chancler – drums
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion
2012 reissue
edit"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" | ||||
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Single by Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett | ||||
from the album Bad 25 | ||||
B-side |
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Released | June 1, 2012 | |||
Recorded | May 1987 | |||
Length | 4:25 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett singles chronology | ||||
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On June 5, 2012, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Jackson's Bad album (on which "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" appears), the single was re-released to Walmart stores in the United States, but was denied a digital release.[8] The single included the original 1987 edit of "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", which included the spoken word intro that was removed from current versions of the Bad album, as well as "Don't Be Messin' 'Round", an untouched demo that was recorded for the album in 1986. On Billboard's Hot Singles Sales Chart, which ranks the best-selling physical singles of the week, "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" debuted at no. 1 with 5,000 copies sold. This gave Jackson his first no. 1 single on a Billboard chart since 2003, when "One More Chance" spent three weeks atop the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles Sales Chart.[9][10] The vinyl single was released in USA on June 26, 2012.[11]
Track listing
edit- CD single (88725414922)[8]
- "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (album version) – 4:25
- "Don't Be Messin' 'Round" (demo) – 4:19
- 7" single[12]
- "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (with spoken intro) – 4:17
- "Baby Be Mine" – 4:20
Release history
editCountry | Date | Format |
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Germany | June 1, 2012[13] | CD single |
France | June 4, 2012[14] | |
United States | June 5, 2012 | |
Japan | June 6, 2012[15] | |
Austria | June 8, 2012[16] | |
United Kingdom | June 12, 2012[17] |
Covers
edit- In 1988, American pianist David Benoit included a version of the song on his album, Every Step of the Way.
- In 2001, Gloria Estefan & James Ingram performed the song in Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special.
- Contemporary jazz guitarist Chuck Loeb presented his rendition from his 1987 album "My Shining Hour."[18]
- In 2009, the top 8 finalists of Latin American Idol performed the Spanish version "Todo mi amor eres tú", directed by Jon Secada as a tribute to Michael Jackson.[19]
- In 2012, Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) and Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith) performed the song in the Glee Michael Jackson tribute episode.[20]
- In 2012, Italian jazz trumpeter Enrico Rava released a version on his tribute album Rava on the Dance Floor.
- In 2013, Toby Love covered the Spanish version of the song in bachata as the second single from his album Amor Total. His version reached number one on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart and in the Dominican Republic.[21][22] Love's cover led to Rubén Blades receiving the ASCAP Latin Award on the Tropical category in 2014.[23]
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada)[59] | Gold | 40,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[61] | Silver | 464,000[60] |
United States (RIAA)[62] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
edit- ^ Michael Goldberg; David Handelman (24 September 1987). "Is Michael Jackson For Real?". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 324.
- ^ Behind The Music | 'I Just Can't Stop Loving You' by Michael Jackson | the detail., 11 April 2020, retrieved 2023-07-07
- ^ a b c d Hogan, Ed. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You | Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
- ^ a b Cromelin, Richard (August 31, 1987). "Michael Jackson has a good thing in 'Bad'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
- ^ "I Just Can't Stop Loving You". Musicnotes. 28 September 2015.
- ^ Sigerson, Davitt (2001). "Album Reviews: "Bad"". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Archived from the original on 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
- ^ a b "Michael Jackson - I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Sony Music Entertainment Germany GmbH". Archived from the original on 2012-08-14. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
- ^ "Weekly Chart Notes: Carly Rae Jepsen, Michael Jackson, Eric Church". Billboard.com. 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- ^ "Alan Jackson Scores Top Debut on Billboard 200, Adele's Back at No. 1". Billboard.com. 2012-06-13. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
- ^ "I Just Can't Stop Loving You (VINYL): Michael Jackson: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
- ^ "I Just Can't Stop Loving You / Baby Be Mine: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
- ^ "I Just Can't Stop Loving You: Michael Jackson: Amazon.de: Musik". Amazon.de. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ^ "I Just Can'T Stop Loving You: Michael Jackson: Amazon.fr: Musique". Amazon.fr. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ^ "I Just Can'T Stop Loving You: Michael Jackson: HMV Japan". hmv.co.jp. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ^ "I Just Can'T Stop Loving You: Michael Jackson: Amazon.at: Musique". Amazon.at. Archived from the original on 2013-01-14. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
- ^ "I Just Can't Stop Loving You: Michael Jackson: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ^ "My Shining Hour overview". Allmusic.
- ^ Video on YouTube
- ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-03-30.[dead YouTube link]
- ^ "Tropical Songs - Week of April 13, 2013". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
- ^ "Latin Hits". Monitor Latino. RadioNotas. Archived from the original on 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
- ^ "22nd Annual El Premio ASCAP 2014". ASCAP Latin Awards. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- ^ Craig Halstead, Chris Cadman (2003). Authors On Line Ltd (ed.). Jacksons Number Ones. Authors On Line. p. 66. ISBN 978-0755200986.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "Michael Jackson - I Just Can't Stop Loving You". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Michael Jackson - I Just Can't Stop Loving You". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Discos más populares de Latinoamérica". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish): 58. May 6, 1988. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1987-10-03. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
- ^ "I just can't stop loving you in Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Michael Jackson". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 113. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ^ a b "Michael Jackson – I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "MAHASZ – Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége". mahasz.hu. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
- ^ "I just can't stop loving you in Irish Chart". IRMA. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2013. Only one result when searching "I just can't stop loving you"
- ^ "キャント・ストップ・ラヴィング・ユー マイケル・ジャクソンのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE". Oricon Style. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- ^ a b c d e "Michael Jackson awards on Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ^ "Hot 100 JAPAN Charts|publisher=Billboard JAPAN". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Michael Jackson" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Michael Jackson – I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Michael Jackson – I Just Can't Stop Loving You". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Michael Jackson - I Just Can't Stop Loving You". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ John Samson. "I just can't stop loving you in South African Chart". Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ^ "Spanish Physical Singles Chart". Spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
- ^ "swedishcharts.com - Michael Jackson - I Just Can't Stop Loving You". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Michael Jackson – I Just Can't Stop Loving You". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "1987 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive - 15th August 1987". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ "Michael Jackson". Gghunt.utasites.cloud. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Michael Jackson – I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
- ^ "Australian Music Report No 701 – 28 December 1987 > National Top 100 Singles for 1987". Australian Music Report. Retrieved 11 December 2019 – via Imgur.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-07-30. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- ^ "TOP SELLERS 1987" (PDF). Music & Media. March 12, 1988. p. 25. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ "END OF YEAR CHARTS 1987". Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Singles". Record Mirror. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 23 January 1988. p. 36.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1987/Top 100 Songs of 1987". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "1987 Year-end Charts - Top Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard. December 31, 1987. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Hot Crossover Singles". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987. p. Y-27. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "UK Singles Chart". The Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on March 14, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Michael Jackson – I Just Can't Stop Loving You". Music Canada.
- ^ Copsey, Rob (27 August 2018). "Michael Jackson Top 60 songs on the official chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – I Just Can't Stop Loving You". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- ^ "American single certifications – Michael Jackson – I Just Can't Stop Loving You". Recording Industry Association of America.