I wouldn't say that per say. He focused on the composition first, the lyrics came last. It's a natural working process.
With Michael it was always “melody first” if I remember it correctly.
This reminds me of Brad Sundberg's comment in one of his 7 Songs 7 Stories interviews, talking about Michael writing his lyrics at the last moment:
There’s actually no evidence Cheater 2001 ft. Fats exists- no copyright entry, and no one on the Darkchild team has recalled working on the track. It’s most likely just a fan title.
Yeah, I haven't seen anything that says it's real.
I thought that was an unofficial site?It was listed on the official Darkchild website
it was his real website. A copy of his site from 2004 is available via wayback machine:
Was the site hacked at some point, or why do you think so?
I can't remember if it's supposed to be Cheater or Chicago 1945.
That site has "Chicago 145" listed, so who even knows.
Neither one- Rodney recalled MJ playing STTR but stated they never worked on the track. He didn’t recall working on C1945 and Cheater.
Dream Girl? Never heard of that title. Can you explain the track?
This reminds me of Brad Sundberg's comment in one of his 7 Songs 7 Stories interviews, talking about Michael writing his lyrics at the last moment:
"But that was every song ... Michael didn't write the lead vocal until two minutes before he was gonna sing it ..."
I might have watched this interview once. Or twice!
to summarize what Bill has written on X about "Cheater" so far:
Q: Did you do another song other than State Of Shock on the Victory album?
Bill Bottrell: There was another group of sessions. Signs point to "Cheater".
I didn't say Cheater was considered for Victory.
It was a song done at Soundcastle (maybe) at the end of or after Victory sessions. I could look it up but not now.
I don't know for sure. I hear "Cheater" for the first time a month ago. I heard Greg. I remember one song done at Soundcastle with Greg and MJ. I remember John McClain there, I remember doing claps in my usual way.
I can hear my console, my studio, my mixing style in '85.
I can hear all that in the recording of Cheater.
I have no other song to place in those sessions.
I could be wrong.
But credits on unreleased songs are notoriously wrong also.
Photo: Paul Erikson at Soundcastle. I will guess "Cheater" sessions.
Maybe the only photo of MJ in the room with BB.
I heard Cheater again yesterday. Credits and dates on various sites do not match what I was thinking.
Sites say outtake from Westake/Quincy sessions for Bad.
I can not hear that. At all.
Somebody should reach out to Greg
'85 is what I'm thinking. Soundcastle. Michael, Greg, I hear Paul Jackson Jr. on guitar, I hear my console and the glass entry room on "cheater" BG vocals and claps, I hear my mix.
or they were doing the demo for watw in early 1985.
A song being on a "to do" list doesn't neccessarily mean it ain't finished at all. "Little Susie" for example was according to Damien lyrics and melodywise the same as the late 70s demo.
Agree with 1984. Around the Thriller video. Could be "Alright Now".
It surely is interesting, mate.
The infant stage of angry voice.
You are not alone. I think the exact same thing. I always pictured him looking like this on those tracks as well but abortion papers vocals really blew my mind being from 84That photo of Mike with JB and BB is wild to me. Is that the Thriller jacket he's wearing to?
These new recording dates for the Bad sessions are so interesting to me, when I hear Mike's voice on songs like Cheater and Streetwalker, I picture him looking like this
His voice on them tracks in particular just feels prime Bad era (86-87), not Victory era. It's crazy how much new information we're still discovering
Maybe there are more songs like AP in the vault that are completely unknown to us.
