I Just Can’t Stop Lovin’ You
I Just Can’t Stop Lovin’ You

“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” is the first of five consecutive number-one Billboard singles released from Michael Jackson’s 1987 ‘Bad’ album.

“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” was written and composed by Michael Jackson and co-produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson.

The song was initially intended to be a duet – first with Barbra Streisand, then with Whitney Houston; though ultimately became a duet with Siedah Garrett (co-writer of ‘Man In The Mirror’).

The original CD release of ‘Bad’ features a 36-second spoken word intro by Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson: “I was in a bed when I was doing that. I was laying under covers and everything. I did that whole rap in the dark. I say, ‘A lot of people misunderstand me, that’s because they don’t know me at all.’ And I guess that’s true. People believe a lot of crazy stories they read. And some are true, some not.”

Michael Jackson: “Several people have asked me if I had anybody in mind when I wrote “Can’t Stop Loving You.” And I say that I didn’t, really. I was thinking of somebody while I was singing it, but not while I was writing it.”

For the first time in his career, Michael recorded separate French and Spanish-language versions of the song “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”: “Todo Mi Amor Eres Tu” and “Je Ne Veux Pas la Fin de Nous”.

BONUS: Singer/Songwriter Sheryl Crow toured with Michael Jackson as a backing vocalist during the ‘Bad’ World Tour, and performed the song “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” as a duet with Michael.

Sheryl Crow: “He had something that was not definable to me. Whenever he stepped out and sang, whenever he made that connection with people – the molecules changed in the room. That was what he could do. You know, there are people that go out and you could be ‘wowed’ by their technique, but he changed the molecules.”

“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” was released as a 7” promo single on July 20th, 1987 on Epic Records. It was the 1st single to be released from the ‘Bad’ album. The original CD release of the ‘Bad’ album features a 36-second spoken word intro by Michael Jackson at the start of “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”. The ‘B’ side of the 7” promo single is also “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (4:08).

“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” was released as a 7” single on July 20th, 1987 on Epic Records. The ‘B’ side of the 7” single is “Baby Be Mine” (4:14).

“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” was released as a promo CD single in the United States on July 20th, 1987 on Epic Records. The promo CD single contains the song: “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (4:10).

“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” was released as a 3″ mini-CD single on July 20th, 1987 on Epic Records. The mini-CD single contains the songs “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (4:12), and “Baby Be Mine” (4:14).

“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” was released as a CD single on July 20th, 1987 on Epic Records. The original CD release of the ‘Bad’ album features a 36-second spoken word intro by Michael Jackson at the start of “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”. The CD single includes the songs “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (4:10) and “Baby Be Mine” (4:14).

“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” was re-released as a 7″ single on June 5th, 2012 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ‘Bad’ album. The 7″ reissued single includes the original 1987 version of “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (4:17), featuring a 36-second spoken word intro by Michael Jackson, and the song “Baby Be Mine” (4:14) on the ‘B’-side.

“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” was re-released as a Wal-Mart-exclusive CD single on June 5th, 2012 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ‘Bad’ album. The CD single includes the original 1987 version of “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (4:17), featuring a 36-second spoken word intro by Michael Jackson, and the song “Don’t Be Messin’ Round – Demo” (4:25).

Written and Composed by Michael Jackson

I just want to lay next to you for awhile

You look so beautiful tonight

Your eyes are so lovely

Your mouth is so sweet

A lot of people misunderstand me

That’s because they don’t know me at all

I just want to touch you

And hold you

I need you

God I need you

I love you so much

[Michael]

Each time the wind blows

I hear your voice so

I call your name…

Whispers at morning

Our love is dawning

Heaven’s glad you came

You know how I feel

This thing can’t go wrong

I’m so proud to say I love you

Your love’s got me high

I long to get by

This time is forever

Love is the answer

[Siedah]

I hear your voice now

You are my choice now

The love you bring

Heaven’s in my heart

At your call

I hear harps,

And angels sing

You know how I feel

This thing can’t go wrong

I can’t live my life without you

[Michael]

I just can’t hold on

[Siedah]

I feel we belong

[Michael]

My life ain’t worth living

If I can’t be with you

[Both]

I just can’t stop loving you

I just can’t stop loving you

And if I stop…

Then tell me just what will I do

[Siedah]

’Cause I just can’t stop loving you

[Michael]

At night when the stars shine

I pray in you I’ll find

A love so true…

[Siedah]

When morning awakes me

Will you come and take me

I’ll wait for you

[Michael]

You know how I feel

I won’t stop until

I hear your voice saying “I do”

[Siedah]

“I do”

This thing can’t go wrong

[Michael]

This feeling’s so strong

[Siedah]

Well, my life ain’t worth living

[Both]

If I can’t be with you

I just can’t stop loving you

I just can’t stop loving you

And if I stop…

Then tell me, just what will I do

[Michael]

I just can’t stop loving you

[Siedah]

We can change all the world tomorrow

[Michael]

We can sing songs of yesterday

[Siedah]

I can say, hey…farewell to sorrow

[Michael]

This is my life and I,

[Both]

Want to see you for always

I just can’t stop loving you

[Siedah]

No, baby

[Michael]

Oh!

[Both]

I just can’t stop loving you

[Siedah]

If I can’t stop!

[Both]

And if I stop…

[Siedah]

No

[Michael]

Oh! Oh! Oh…Oh…

[Siedah]

What will I do? Uh…Ooh…

(Then tell me, just what will I do)

[Both]

I just can’t stop loving you

[Michael]

Hee! Hee! Hee! Know I do girl!

[Both]

I just can’t stop loving you

[Michael]

You know I do

And if I stop…

[Both]

Then tell me, just what will I do

©1987 Mijac Music. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

CREDITS:

“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” - written and composed by Michael Jackson.

Vocal duet by Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett.

Nathan East: Bass.

N’dugu Chancler: Drums.

Dann Huff: Guitar.

Paulinho Da Costa: Percussion.

John Barnes: Piano.

Christopher Currell: Synclavier.

David Paich, Greg Phillinganes: Synthesizers.

Steve Porcaro: Synthesizer programming.

Rhythm arrangement by Quincy Jones.

Synthesizer arrangement by David Paich and Quincy Jones.

Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson and John Barnes.

©1987 Mijac Music