Michael Jackson Pens Charity Song

Michael Jackson has composed a song for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. According to his spokeswoman, the pop star -- who co-wrote "We Are the World," which raised more than $60 million for African famine relief in 1985 -- was motivated by the images of those suffering in Katrina's wake.

Jackson plans to record the single in upcoming weeks after he recruits other top artists to join him on the track, which he is calling "From the Bottom of My Heart." "We Are the World," produced by Quincy Jones, featured more than three dozen artists, including such heavyweights as Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Kenny Rogers and Paul Simon.

"It pains me to watch the human suffering taking place in the Gulf region of my country," Jackson said in a statement. "My heart and prayers go out to every individual who has had to endure the pain and suffering caused by this tragedy."

According to his spokeswoman, Jackson, who turned forty-seven on August 29th, has been in the Middle Eastern country of Bahrain since being acquitted on child molestation charges in June, and he will return to the U.S. to work on the single.

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

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