Chicago (Michael Jackson song)

"Chicago"
Promotional single by Michael Jackson
from the album Xscape
ReleasedMay 5, 2014 (2014-05-05)
Recorded1999
StudioThe Hit Factory (New York City)
Genre
Length
  • 4:05
  • 4:43 (original)
Label
SongwriterCory Rooney
Producers
Michael Jackson promotional singles chronology
"I'm So Blue"
(2012)		 "Chicago"
(2014)		 "Loving You"
(2014)
Licensed audio
"Chicago" on YouTube

"Chicago" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson. The song was originally written by Cory Rooney under the title "She Was Lovin' Me". Jackson recorded the track at the Hit Factory recording studio in New York City during the Invincible album sessions between late March and mid-April 1999.[2]

The track was ultimately not selected for Invincible and remained unreleased and unheard by the public for 15 years. Following Jackson's death, Rooney collaborated with his nephew, Taryll Jackson, on a new production in 2010.[3]

In 2014, the track was reworked yet again, this time by producer Timbaland. The Timbaland version of the track was ultimately included on Jackson's second posthumous album, Xscape, under the title "Chicago". Nine months before Xscape was officially released, Timbaland said that "Chicago" was going to be the project's lead single, however, "Love Never Felt So Good" went on to be the lead single instead.[4]

On June 6, 2026, the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time at number 30, and peaked at 26 the following week. This was largely due to the release of the biopic Michael renewing interest in Jackson's catalogue, in addition to the song being featured in the viral animation video "Birds for Some Reason". Jackson became the first artist to have a new Hot 100 entry in each decade since the 1970s.[5][6][7]

Release

The song was released on May 5, 2014, on Sony Entertainment Network as a promotional single for promoting Xscape.[8]

The song's "Papercha$er" remix was made available for select Sony customers through Xperia Lounge and Music Unlimited as a bonus track on the standard edition of the Xscape album.[9]

Composition

The track was produced by Timbaland and features a deep-bass groove and elements of contemporary funk. Jackson narrates a story about meeting a woman in Chicago. It features a mix of smooth and anguished vocals, highlighting the woman's conflicting statement of being without a man yet having a family, with the urgent refrain of a lyric "lie to you, lie to me".[10]

Charts

2014 weekly chart performance for "Chicago"
Chart (2014) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[11]127
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12]53
South Korea (Gaon)[13] 103
South Korea International (Gaon)[14] 7
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15]50
2026 weekly chart performance for "Chicago"
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16]75
Brazil Hot 100 (Billboard)[17]73
Canada Hot 100 (Billboard)[18]38
France (SNEP)[19] 200
Germany (GfK)[20]66
Global 200 (Billboard)[21]18
Greece International (IFPI)[22] 41
Lithuania (AGATA)[23] 54
Norway (IFPI Norge)[24] 52
Portugal (AFP)[25] 119
Romania (Billboard)[26] 18
Slovakia Singles Digital (ČNS IFPI)[27]89
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[28] 68
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[29]41
United Arab Emirates (IFPI)[30] 15
UK Audio Streaming (Official Charts)[31]40
US Billboard Hot 100[32]26
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[33]9

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[34] Gold 45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[35] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[36] Platinum 600,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[37] Gold 1,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Levy, Joe (May 13, 2014). "Michael Jackson's 'Xscape': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  2. ↑ Shields, Damien (2018). Michael Jackson: Songs & Stories from the Vault. USA: Modegy LLC. p. 32. ISBN 978-0986199172.
  3. ↑ Shields, Damien (August 29, 2013). "EXCLUSIVE: Michael Jackson's 'She Was Loving Me' (also known as 'Chicago')". damienshields.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  4. ↑ "New Michael Jackson music to be produced by Timbaland". The Guardian. August 28, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Michael Jackson - Chart History".
  6. ↑ Trust, Gary (June 1, 2026). "Michael Jackson's Deep Cut 'Chicago' Debuts on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  7. ↑ 2014 Pop Song Reaches New Billboard Hot 100 Peak 12 Years Later - Men's Journal
  8. ↑ "Michael Jackson / Chicago – Music Unlimited". Sony Entertainment. May 5, 2014. Archived from the original on May 5, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Michael Jackson's XSCAPE available now for select Sony customers through Xperia Lounge and Music Unlimited". Sony Smartphones. May 13, 2014. Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  10. ↑ Grow, Kory (May 5, 2014). "Hear Michael Jackson Freaking Out Over A Lying Lover in 'Chicago'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 17, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Michael Jackson – Chicago" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Michael Jackson – Chicago" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Gaon Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Gaon International Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Michael Jackson – Chicago" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Brasil Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Top Singles (Semaine du 5 juin 2026)" (in French). Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 22/2026" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on June 10, 2026. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  23. ↑ "2026 24-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. June 12, 2026. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Singel 2026 uke 24". IFPI Norge. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Top 200 Singles Semana 23 de 2026" (PDF) (in European Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. p. 10. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Romania Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  27. ↑ "ČNS IFPI – SK Singles Digital – Top 100 – 24. týden 2026" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 22, 2026". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Michael Jackson – Chicago". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  30. ↑ "The Official MENA Chart | Weekly Chart – Week 24, 2026 – 05/06 to 11/06/2026". The Official MENA Chart (Select year 2026, week 24 and UAE chart to view peak.). June 17, 2026. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Official Audio Streaming Chart on 12/6/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Michael Jackson – Chicago". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  35. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Michael Jackson – Chicago". Radioscope. Retrieved July 17, 2026. Type Chicago in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  36. ↑ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Chicago". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 21, 2026. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Chicago Michael Jackson in the "Search:" field.
  37. ↑ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 18/2026" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
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