After so many requests, it finally felt right to make this one. “Smooth Operator” was released by Sade in 1984 and became one of the defining songs of the group’s early career. Built around its unmistakable saxophone, sophisticated groove, jazz-influenced production, and Sade Adu’s effortlessly controlled delivery, the song created a sound that remains instantly recognizable decades later. Now imagine that song through Michael Jackson’s voice. This has easily been one of the most requested covers since I started creating these alternate-timeline concepts. And the more I thought about it, the more interesting the combination became. Michael and Sade had completely different approaches to performance, but both understood how much emotion could come from restraint. Michael didn’t always need the explosive energy associated with records like “Beat It,” “Bad,” or “Smooth Criminal.” On songs such as “Human Nature,” “Liberian Girl,” and later “Butterflies,” his lighter vocals, breathy phrasing, delicate harmonies, and falsetto showed an entirely different side of his voice. That softer side is what makes “Smooth Operator” such an interesting fit. The idea isn’t to turn the song into a typical Michael Jackson production. Instead, imagine Michael stepping directly into Sade’s world—the iconic groove, saxophone, atmosphere, and sophisticated arrangement remain intact, while Michael’s unmistakable high tenor and expressive delivery completely change the character of the vocal. Since this was so highly requested, I knew I had to finally bring the idea to life. My dream is my wish—so here we go. What if Michael Jackson covered “Smooth Operator”? Two legendary artists. Two unmistakable sounds. One song from another timeline. Michael Jackson — “Smooth Operator” (Sade Cover) #MichaelJackson #Sade #SmoothOperator #MJ #Music - @producedbyseb