Butterflies

Sources : My personal research, Wikipedia, Michael Jackson: For The Record by Chris Cadman & Craig Halstead, Twitter account of Damien Shields and the amazing archives of the MJCast.

ERA

1998-2004 : Invincible/Number Ones/The Ultimate Collection era

RECORDING DATE

The song was recorded in 2001 for his tenth studio album, Invincible, which was released the same year. The song was written by Andre Harris and Marsha Ambrosius, who is one half of the London bred neo-soul act Floetry and was produced by Jackson and Harris.Jackson first met Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart, who is also a member of Floetry, through John McClain, who was DreamWorks’s senior urban executive and Jackson’s manager. Stewart said she was surprised that Jackson invited her and Ambrosius to a studio and asked for their input on the recording of the track. She recalled in an interview with LAUNCH magazine, “It was incredible because he asked, he continually asked, ‘Marsh, what’s the next harmony? Girls, does this sound right? What do you think? Is this what you were looking for? He was so open”.

The song was only released in the United States to radio airplay.

STUDIO(S)

Los Angeles (California)

SONGWRITER(S)

Andre Harris & Marsha Ambrosius

PRODUCER(S)

Michael Jackson & Andre Harris

RELEASE DATE :

October 30, 2001 (Invincible)

November 27, 2001 (single)

LABEL
Sony Music

LENGTH

4:40

ALTERNATE VERSIONS RECORDED BY MJ (covers and remixes by other artists are not included)

Michael Jackson – Butterflies (Track Masters Remix)
A1. “Butterflies” (Master Mix) (featuring Eve) – 3:47
A2. “Butterflies” (Michael a cappella) – 2:13
B1. “Butterflies” (Eve a cappella) (featuring Eve) – 3:47
B2. “Butterflies” (Master Mix Instrumental) – 3:47

MUSICIANS

Written and composed by Andre Harris and Marsha Ambrosius
Produced by Michael Jackson and Andre Harris
Lead vocal by Michael Jackson
Background vocals by Michael Jackson and Marsha Ambrosius
All musical instruments performed by Andre Harris
Horns by Norman Jeff Bradshaw and Matt Cappy
Recorded by Andre Harris and Bruce Swedien
Assistant engineering by Vidal Davis
Mixed by Bruce Swedien

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

14

SHORT FILM (filmed by MJ during his lifetime)

No short film

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

Never performed on a TV show

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

Never performed in concerts