She's Out of My Life

"She's Out of My Life"
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Off the Wall
B-side	"Push Me Away" "Get on the Floor"
Released	April 19, 1980
Format	7" single
Recorded	1979
Genre	R&B, Ballad
Length	3:37
Label	Epic Records
Writer(s)	Tom Bahler
Producer	Quincy Jones
Michael Jackson singles chronology

"She's Out of My Life" is a song written by musical artist Tom Bahler. He wrote the song about Karen Carpenter, who broke up with Bahler after discovering he had fathered a child with another woman.[1] The song has been recorded by a variety of artists, including: Michael Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Ginuwine, 98 Degrees, Jon Lee, Barbara Mandrell, Willie Nelson, Josh Groban and Karel Gott (Czech Album: I Love You For Sentimental Reasons, performed in English).

The song became famous as the fourth single to be released by singer Michael Jackson from his successful Off the Wall album in 1979. It was the first time a solo artist had achieved four top ten hits from one album. Unlike the album's previous singles (which were all dance-oriented funk/disco songs), the "She's Out of My Life" song was an emotional ballad. Jackson's vocals on the record were considered by critics to be some of his best.

A poignant moment in the song occurs near the end when Jackson begins to break down in tears as he sings the word "life". Given the popular response to his emotional rendition, the song remained in Jackson's live set for many years. Although he had attempted to record the song's last few moments with emotional restraint, after numerous tries he continued to end the rendition the same - by breaking down in tears. Producer Quincy Jones subsequently let Jackson's tearful recording stand:

She's Out of My Life, I'd been carrying around for about three years—you can feel the pain in it, you know. And I held on to it and finally something said 'this is the right moment to give it to Michael'.

And when we recorded it with Michael, I know it was an experience he'd never even thought about to sing in a song, 'cause it's a very mature emotion. And he cried at the end of every take, you know. We recorded about—I don't know—8-11 takes, and every one at the end, he just cried, and I said 'hey - that's supposed to be, leave it on there.'

—Quincy Jones, Off the Wall 2001 Special Edition, Quincy Jones Interview 3

Jones wanted Jackson to record material with more mature themes and "feel the full range of his voice," so he brought the song to Jackson's attention, whereas he had originally intended to save the song for Frank Sinatra.[2]

Subsequently, the song peaked at #10 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] The single was even more successful in the UK and peaked at number 3 on the charts (the equivalent position reached by Off the Wall's debut single "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough"). A music video was also produced to promote the song, which showed Michael in a blue-green shirt, dark pants, and sitting on a barstool with a spotlight shining behind him.

UK single

1. "She's Out of My Life" – 3:38
2. "Push Me Away" (with The Jacksons)

U.S. single

1. "She's Out of My Life" – 3:38
2. "Get on the Floor" – 4:57

Personnel

• Written and composed by Tom Bahler
• Produced by Quincy Jones
• Lead vocal by Michael Jackson
• Bass: Louis Johnson
• Guitar: Larry Carlton
• Electric piano: Greg Phillinganes
• String arrangement by Johnny Mandel
• Concert master: Gerald Vinci

Covers

• Johnny Duncan and Janie Fricke recorded a duet version, and in 1980 their version reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
• Shirley Bassey covered this song, retitled "He's Out of My Life", on her album All by Myself in 1982.
• Willie Nelson covered this song on his album City of New Orleans in 1984.
• Elaine Paige performed a version, retitled "He's Out of My Life", on her 1991 album Love Can Do That, which was also later released on her 1997 compilation album, From a Distance.

• 98 Degrees covered this song as acapella on their 1998 album 98 Degrees and Rising.
• Ginuwine included a cover of "She's out of My Life" as the final track on his 1999 album 100% Ginuwine.
• S Club 7 performed the song on their S Club Party Live Tour in 2001.
• Josh Groban covered this song as a bonus track on his album Closer in 2003.
• Michael Pedicin Jr. covered this song in jazz mood on "City Song" album in 1987 by Optimism record.
• Asia's Soul Siren, Nina, recorded the song on her 2009 album, Renditions of the Soul.
• Patti LaBelle recorded the song (as "He's Out of My Life") for her 2005 album, Classic Moments.
• Scott Bruton performed the song on The X Factor (UK) during the Michael Jackson theme week in 2008.
• Joe McElderry performed the song on The X Factor (UK) during the Michael Jackson theme week in 2009.
• Comedian Eddie Murphy sang a few bars from "She's Out of My Life" while imitating Michael Jackson during his Delirious concert. After the mock tears, he closed it by saying "Tito, give me some tissue."

References

1. ^ "The Carpenters: The Untold Story" page 237 by Ray Coleman
2. ^ Special Commemorative Edition:Michael Jackson 1958-2009. TIME Magazine. July 2009. pp. 32. 
3. ^ Billboard.com - Search Results - She's out of My Life (Singles chart). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-08-15.
4. ^ "UK Singles Chart". The Official UK Charts Company. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/top40_singles.php. Retrieved 6 July 2009.