Paul McCartney Teams Up With Michael Jackson In New Music Video
With the Oct. 2 reissue of Pipes of Peace, a solo LP by Paul McCartney, comes a contemporary remix of a popular track he wrote with Michael Jackson back in 1983. The newly reworked version of “Say Say Say,” features previously unheard alternate vocals laid down by Jackson during the original recording sessions, blended seamlessly with the singer’s remixed original vocals, Rolling Stone reported.
The 2015 version of “Say Say Say” also features remixed and never-before-heard vocals by Paul McCartney and appears on the bonus disc of the Pipes of Peace reissue, which was released last Friday along with a deluxe edition of his solo LP Tug of War, which was originally released in 1982.
According to the article, both are the latest volumes to join the Paul McCartney Archive Collection, which features McCartney classics from his solo career and his time with Wings, all personally supervised by the artist himself.
Performance artist Ryan Huffington, who also worked with Sia on the critically acclaimed video “Chandelier,” directed the film, which premiered on Facebook first and is shot entirely in black and white. Newsweek reported that Paul McCartney worked with DJ John “Jellybean” Benitez to create the instrumental remix, which is almost twice as long as the original cut. While working on the massive reissue compilation, McCartney heard a remix of “Say Say Say” that featured instrumentals by Benitez.
“McCartney remembered that he had two previously unused lead vocals by himself and the late King of Pop tucked away, and he had an idea.”
The storyline follows a young man who appears to be traveling through various different moments in time throughout an urban neighborhood setting, which includes a jaunt through a bodega and a series of streets and alleyways, ending in an energy-infused dance off that brings several outrageous moves to the table that are befitting of any tribute to Jackson’s skill.
Speaking of the King of Pop, hearing Michael’s unmistakable falsetto in a newly released pop song is both eerily poignant and exciting. It’s also obvious from watching the video that Jackson’s dance moves have continued to have a profound effect on the young artists of today – an encouraging sign for lifelong fans.
This is not the first time Jackson has been musically resurrected since his untimely death in June of 2009. Later that same year came the release of This Is It, a movie compilation of interviews, rehearsals, and backstage footage of Michael as he got ready to perform in sold-out shows in London that tragically never happened. Then, in 2014 fans got to witness the release of his posthumous album Xscape.
“Say Say Say” is also not the first time Michael Jackson teamed up with Paul McCartney. According to the former Beatle’s official website, he was even a bit starstruck when Michael first reached out.
“He (Michael) rang me up, and I didn’t believe it was him, so I said, ‘Who’s this?’ He said, ‘Michael.’ ‘Are you sure… Michael who?!.’ Anyway, we had a joke about that kind of thing, and he said, ‘Yeah, I’d like to come over and write with you,’ so I said great. So he came over to England and we just sat down. I thought, well, it’s not easy to just sit down with anyone you don’t know and just write, start songwriting because you’ve got to get the chemistry right. But I thought, it is Michael – you know, I’ll just try! If it doesn’t work, we’ll just throw it away…”
Obviously, it worked. In the original video for “Say Say Say,” McCartney and Jackson play a pair of traveling con artists in the Old West and its premiere was a sold-out event in many countries worldwide. The single was an instant radio hit and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks in a row. The pair also recorded the popular song “The Girl Is Mine” which was released on McCartney’s 1978 album London Town and on Jackson’s 1980 release, titled Off the Wall.
[Photos (top to bottom): YouTube Screen Grab / Jim Dyson / George Rose / Stringer / Getty Images]
