Michael Jackson and Friends - What More Can I Give

Written by Michael, and originally inspired by Nelson Mandela, a song he had planned to premier at his 'Michael & Friends - What More Can I Give' concerts in June 1999, staged in the South Korean capital, Seoul, and in Munich, Germany.

"In an earlier conversation I had this year with President Mandela," said Michael in 1999, "we discussed the concept of giving, and the words 'what more can I give' kept coming into my mind... we all have to do what we can, to help end the needless suffering in the world."

It was re-written by Michael, following the '9/11' terrorists attacks in America on 11th Septmeber 2001 - recorded as a charity single with a host of stars, including Beyoncé Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Luis Miguel, Tom Petty, Carlos Santana, Usher and Luther Vandross.

It was completed on 19th October 2001, premiered two days later at the 'United We Stand - What More Can I Give' concert at Washington DC's RFK Stadium, in front of 46,000 people. The concert was edited and aired on ABC TV on 1st November.

"I'm not one to sit back and say, 'Oh, I feel bad for what happened to them'," said Michael. "I want the whole world to sing, to bring us together as a world, because a song is a mantra, something you repeat over and over. And we need peace, we need giving, we need love, we need unity."

A promo short film premiered at the Radio Music Awards in 2003.

A Spanish language version, entitled Todo Para Ti, was also recorded - featured contributions from Michael, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Ricky Martin and Jon Secada.

Serious disagreements between Michael and Sony Music meant both charity singles went unreleased - however, 200 promo copies were distributed to the artists involved and music industry representatives involved with the project.

It was made available as a download single in October 2003 - no other official release.


What More Can I Give - Lyrics

Celine: How many people will have to die before we will take a
stand?

Billy Gillman: How many children will have to cry, before we do
all we can?

Reba McEntire: If sending your love is all you can give

Nick Carter: To help one live

Ricky Martin: How many times can we turn our heads
And pretend we cannot see

Mariah: Healing the wounds of our broken earth
We are one global family
Just sending your prayers

Beyonce: Is something you'll feel
Helping one heal

Chorus:
MJ: What have I got that I can give?

All: (What have I got that I can give?
(Tell me)

MJ: What have I got that I can give?

Justin: (Yeah, yeah, uh, uh)

?ll: To love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?

Now let's rather lay down our fears and reach out and make a
pact

Gloria Estefan: Show him the love that is in our hearts let us
bring salvation
back

Luther Vandross: Just sending your love has the power to heal

Usher: So let's all give
Chorus:

All: What have I got that I can give?

Luther Vandross: (Is not allowed to give just a little bit)

All: What have I got that I can give?

Luther Vandross: (Everyone should be a part of it)

All: To love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?


MJ: Say the words
I'll lay me down for you

Celine: Just call my name
I am your friend

MJ: See, then why do they keep teaching us
Such hate and cruelty?
We should give over and over again

All: What have I got that I can give?

MJ: (We should give over and over again!)

All: What have I got that I can give?

MJ: (Oh my god, oh my god)

Boyz II Men: (Oh my Lord)

All: See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?


All: What have I got that I can give?

Mariah: Aahh...

All: What have I got that I can give?

MJ: (give you, give to you)

All: See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?


All: What have I got that I can give?

Celine: (What More Can I give?)

All:What have I got that I can give?

MJ: (I wanna give to you, give it to you)

All: See, to love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give

MJ: (they think I'm crazy but I'm not!)

2nd Chorus:

All: What have I got that I can give?

MJ: (To give it to you)

Mariah: Aahh..

?J: (we wanna give to you!)

All: What have I got that I can give?

To hold and conceal you
(Oh, no, yeah, yeah, yeah)

All: To love and to heal you
What more can I give?
(Give me, give me one time more)
What have I got that I can give?

Gloria Estefan: (What I got, what have I got)
(Say your prayers)
What have I got that I can give?
(Show the world how much you really care)
To love and to teach you

Celine: (To love you, teach you)
To hold and to need you

Celine: (To hold you, to need you)
(What more?)
What more can I give?

All: What have I got that I can give?

3LW: (What can I give? Tell me what can I give you)

All: What have I got that I can give?

To hold and conceal you
To love and to heal you
What more can I give?