Michael Jackson's nephew Taj Jackson said that his uncle was proud of the song. "I'll never forget that smile he had on his face as the song played through the speakers in his room at the Palms Hotel in Vegas."
This was the first single released from the posthumous Michael album and it led to some questioning whether Jackson would have been happy about people completing work on his songs without his final approval. However, Akon insisted to MTV News this song was complete before the singer died. He said: "I'm definitely excited about our single, because that was finished, complete, and I'm happy with the outcome. And I know [Jackson] was [happy] cause we were there finishing the song together, so I'm really happy about what we accomplished on that record 'Hold My Hand.'"
Akon continued: "It was a song I was previously working on that I eventually let [Jackson] hear, and when he heard it, he fell in love with it. We clicked instantly when it came to it. That was the main concept: let's figure out something we can leave behind [and] 20,000 years later it can still be relevant."
Akon continued: "It was a song I was previously working on that I eventually let [Jackson] hear, and when he heard it, he fell in love with it. We clicked instantly when it came to it. That was the main concept: let's figure out something we can leave behind [and] 20,000 years later it can still be relevant."
'Hold My Hand' is a duet performed by Michael and Senegalese-American singer-songwriter Akon, from Michael's first posthumous album 'MICHAEL.' The song was originally recorded by Michael and Akon, in 2008, and was an international top 20 hit in countries such as Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The song was scheduled to have been the first single from Akon's 2008 album 'Freedom,' but was pulled from the track listing due to a leak of the track in its unfinished state.
Co-writer Claude Kelly told HitQuarters that "Hold My Hand" was originally written with Whitney Houston in mind. Akon and Kelly had been in the studio working on songs for Houston's I Look to You album and while on his own Kelly completed the song from a track Akon had left. After hearing the song later, Akon said that he loved it and wanted to keep it for himself, so he wanted to record his own version of it. Shortly afterwards Akon went to Las Vegas to work on what would have been Michael Jackson's next album. While there Jackson heard the song and loved it, and decided he wanted to contribute to it. When Kelly was asked what he thought it was about the song that struck a chord with both Akon and Jackson, he said that it was the song's theme of friendship and togetherness. "Hold My Hand" was recorded by Jackson and Akon in 2008. Akon finished the rest of his vocals for the song in 2010, a few days before the release. A handwritten note from Jackson belonging to his Estate indicated his desire that "Hold My Hand" be the first single on his next project. However, in its unfinished state, the song leaked out in 2008. This would be the last new song leaked during Jackson's lifetime. Due to the leak, the song was subsequently pulled from Akon's track listing for his 2008 album, Freedom.
"Hold My Hand" is duet with Akon, that was released as the first single from Michael Jackson's first posthumous album of original material, Michael. A handwritten note from Jackson belonging to his Estate indicated his desire that this song should be the first single on his next project. Though an unfinished version of the song leaked out in 2008, Akon went on to complete a new and final production. He commented: "The world was not ready to hear 'Hold My Hand' when it leaked a couple years ago. We were devastated about it. But its time has definitely come; now in its final state, it has become an incredible, beautiful, anthemic song. I'm so proud to have had the chance to work with Michael, one of my all time idols."