Hold My Hand (with Akon)

A duet with Akon, this 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."

Akon told MTV News that it was an incredible privilege to work with the King of Pop. He said: "Just to be in the same room [with him], I felt everything I wanted to accomplish in life has been achieved. That aura... that's how incredible that aura is. We about to shake the world up, man. You know how you be with somebody and you can't even explain [the feeling]? I used to sit and think, 'How does somebody sell so many records and dominate a whole business genre to a point [where] nobody can't be a part of that without associating with you?' The way he thinks - some artists think regional, some think national, I was thinking international. He thinks planets. It's on another level."

Claude Kelly wrote this. His previous writing credits included the track "Forgive Me" for Leona Lewis, but this song was his big breakthrough. Kelly told Billboard magazine that it was a total surprise for him to hear Jackson's voice on the track. The New York singer/songwriter explained "I wrote the song and gave it to Akon with the intention of it going to maybe Whitney Houston, but Akon said he wanted to cut it himself. I thought, 'It doesn't get any bigger than this'. A few months after, Akon plays the song for me and all of a sudden I hear Michael Jackson's voice. I was literally shaking by the time the song was over."