"Slave to the Rhythm" (also known as "Slave 2 the Rhythm") is a previously unreleased song performed by Michael Jackson released as the fifth track on Jackson's second and final posthumous album, Xscape. Its original version was released on the deluxe edition of the LP. On July 28, 2014, an EDM/Electro House remix of "Slave to the Rhythm" by Audien was also released as a digital single.
Background[]
The song was written by L.A. Reid and Babyface and recorded by Jackson in 1991 for the Dangerous album, but failed to make it through the final cut. During the Invincible album sessions, Rodney Jerkins (known as "Darkchild") was presented to "Slave to the Rhythm", but the two didn't work with it or even consider doing so.[1]
In 2010, "Slave to the Rhythm" was remixed by Tricky Stewart for the Michael albun, although it stayed unreleased. This remix would leak in December as well, alongside "Do You Know Where Your Children Are".
Three years later, Stewart would arrange DJ Max Methods to tamper with the track, this time as a duet with Justin Bieber. The production for this version seems to directly take inspiration from Stewart's mix from a few years prior, featuring a similar synthesizer arrangement.
- "I work with Tricky Stewart. He signed me to his label Red Zone Ent, and had me re-produce the record. He also had Justin [Bieber] record new vocals. [...]"
- — Methods for Damien Shields, August 20, 2013[1]
In previous years, Bieber expressed his admiration for Jackson. and even worked with Darkchild, who stood behind the singer's "Billie Jean"-esque hit song "Maria".[2] Additionally, other time the producer himself stated that a duet between the King of Pop and Justin is something he could've arranged if Michael had not passed away.[3]
On August 16, 2013, the duet had leaked online, gathering lots of negative opinions from Jackson's fans, having some even protest its release. On the same day, Bieber would post on X, stating his excitement for "what is to come".[4][5]
In the following day, Max Methods would post on the platform as well, expressing his disappointment in the recording leaking before getting finished.[6][7] Soon enough, @MJonlineteam (the then-online team of the Michael Jackson Estate) would issue a statement regarding the leak through TwitLonger.[8]
- "For those who have been asking about the recently posted recording of “Slave 2 The Rhythm” by Michael and Justin Bieber, this recording was not authorized. We can assure you that the Estate is quite upset about the leak and is doing everything in its power to get the song removed from as many sites and YouTube channels as possible."
- — MJ OnlineTeam on TwitLonger, August 19, 2013[9]
Despite of the claims that the recording wouldn't see a release, a new rework would be soon created by Timbaland and released on the posthumous Xscape album in May of the following year. This time however, Jackson was singing solo, leaving Bieber out of the track. The 1991 demo of "Slave to the Rhythm" would be released on the deluxe version, including vocals that didn't make it on the final version.
Live performance[]
On May 18, 2014, Jackson performed "Slave to the Rhythm" at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards, in the form of a Pepper's ghost illusion. The set stage and the backup dancers were also a result of the Pepper's ghost illusion.
Preparations for the performance began in late 2013. Brothers, Rich and Tone Talauega, who were backup dancers for the HIStory World Tour, in 1997, were responsible for the choreography of the performance. It was directed by Jamie King, who is also the director and writer of Michael Jackson: One, which is the second, Michael Jackson based production by Cirque du Soleil. The video was produced by Pulse Evolution and Tricycle Logic.
The live performance currently serves as the official semi-music video for "Slave to the Rhythm".
Audio[]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
She dances in the sheets at night
She dances to his needs
She dances 'til he feels just right
Until he falls asleep
She dances at the crack of dawn
And quickly cooks his food
She can't be late, can't take too long
The kids must get to school
[Chorus]
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
A rhythm of love, a rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
A rhythm of love, a rhythm of love
[Verse 2]
She dances for the man at work
Who works her overtime
She can't be rude as she says
"Sir, I must be home tonight"
She dances to the kitchen stove
Dinner is served by nine
He says his food's an hour late
She must be out her mind
[Chorus]
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
A rhythm of love, a rhythm of love (Oh)
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
A rhythm of love, a rhythm of love
[Bridge]
She works so hard just to make a way
For a man to just don't appreciate
And though he takes her love in vain
Still, she could not stop, couldn't break his chains
[Verse 3]
She danced the night that they fell out
She swore she'd dance no more
But dance, she did, he did not quit
As she ran out the door
She danced through the night in fear of her life
She danced to a beat of her own
She let out a cry and swallowed the pride
She knew she was needed back home, home
[Chorus]
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
A rhythm of love, a rhythm of love (Love, love, love)
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
[Outro]
You got to have pride (A rhythm of love)
To give it, want it, do it, baby (A rhythm of love)
[Intro]
Hoo! (Max Methods)
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Hoh! Hoh!
[Verse 1]
She dances in these sheets at night
She dances to his needs
She dances 'til he feels just right
Until he falls asleep
She dances at the crack of dawn
And quickly cooks his food
She can't be late, can't take too long
The kids must get to school
[Chorus]
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
[Verse 2]
She dances for the man at work
Who works her overtime
She can't be rude as she says
"Sir, I must be home tonight"
She dances to the kitchen stove
Dinner is served by nine
He says his food's an hour late
She must be outta her mind
[Chorus]
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm (A slave to the rhythm, oh no)
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of (Oh no, oh no)
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm (She's a slave to the rhythm)
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love (The rhythm of love)
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm (A slave to the rhythm)
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of (Oh no, oh no)
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of (A slave to the rhythm)
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love (Of love, of love)
[Bridge]
She works so hard, just to make her way
For a man who just won't appreciate
And though she takes, her love in vain
Though she could not stop, couldn't break his chains
[Verse 3]
She danced the night that they fell out
She swore she'd dance no more
But dance she did, he did not quit
As she ran out the door
She danced through the night in fear of her life
She danced to a beat of her own (Her own)
She let out a cry and swallowed her pride
She knew she was needed back home, home
[Chorus]
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
[Intro]
Hoo!
Hoo! Chop! Chop! Chop!
Hoo!
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Hoh! Hoh!
[Verse 1]
She dances in the sheets at nights
She dances to his needs
She dances 'til he feels just right
Until he falls asleep
She dances at the crack of dawn
And quickly cooks his food
She can't be late, can't take too long
The kids must get to school
[Chorus]
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
[Verse 2]
She dances for the man at work
Who works her overtime
She can't be rude as she says
"Sir, I must be home tonight"
She dances to the kitchen stove
Dinner is served by nine
He says his food's an hour late
She must be out her mind
[Chorus]
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
[Bridge]
She works so hard, just to make a way
For a man who just don't appreciate
And though he takes her love in vain
Still she could not stop, couldn't break his chains
[Verse 3]
She danced the night that they fell out
She swore she'd dance no more
But dance she did, he did not quit
As she ran out the door
She danced through the night in fear of her life
She danced to a beat of her own
She let out a cry and swallowed her pride
She knew she was needed back home, home
[Chorus]
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
[Intro]
Hoo!
Hoo! Chop! Chop! Chop!
Hoo!
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Hoh! Hoh!
[Verse 1]
She dances in his sheets at night
She dances to his needs
She dances 'til he feels just right
Until he falls asleep
She dances at the crack of dawn
And quickly cooks his food
She can't be late, can't take too long
The kids must get to school
[Chorus]
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
[Verse 2]
She dances for the man at work
Who works her overtime
She can't be rude as she says
Sir, "I must be home tonight"
She dances to the kitchen stove
Dinner is served by nine
He says his food's an hour late
She must be outta her mind
[Chorus]
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
[Bridge]
She works so hard just to make her way
For the man who just don't appreciate
And though he takes her love in vain
Still, she could not stop, couldn't break his chains
[Verse 3]
She danced the night that they fell out
She swore she'd dance no more
But dance, she did, she dare'd not quit
As she ran out the door
She danced through the night in fear of her life
She danced to a beat of her own
She let out a cry and swallowed her pride
She knew she was needed back home, home
[Chorus]
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm of
'Cause she's a slave to the rhythm
A slave to the rhythm of
The rhythm of love, the rhythm of love
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- The song debuted at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Jackson a posthumous 50th entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Few days prior to his collaboration with the King of Pop having leaked, reports came out, stating Justin Bieber had planned to buy the Neverland Ranch.[10]
- Although the 2010 remix remains unreleased officially, but a snippet was played on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in the weeks before the release of Xscape.[11]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.damienshields.com/michael-jacksons-slave-to-the-rhythm-remixed-as-a-duet-with-justin-bieber/
- ↑ https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/06/justin-bieber-says-new-song-about-paternity-accuser-is-his-billie-jean
- ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/music/justin-bieber-271-1276158
- ↑ https://x.com/justinbieber/status/368399568406204416?s=20
- ↑ https://x.com/justinbieber/status/368400209065156610?s=20
- ↑ https://twitter.com/maxmethods/status/368550773753257984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E368550773753257984%7Ctwgr%5Ed251b3897ac432a992ee1e2182935388d763e47e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.damienshields.com%2Fmichael-jacksons-slave-to-the-rhythm-remixed-as-a-duet-with-justin-bieber%2F
- ↑ https://twitter.com/maxmethods/status/368551099155742720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E368551099155742720%7Ctwgr%5Ed251b3897ac432a992ee1e2182935388d763e47e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.damienshields.com%2Fmichael-jacksons-slave-to-the-rhythm-remixed-as-a-duet-with-justin-bieber%2F
- ↑ https://x.com/MJonlineteam/status/369539940662521856?s=20
- ↑ https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1rm0d7u
- ↑ https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/justin-bieber-wants-buy-michael-2150556
- ↑ https://youtu.be/abdN1EX0UNM?si=2YM_W1b53otj36eF