What More Can I Give

What More Can I Give (Spanish version: Todo Para Ti) is a track composed by Michael Jackson and recorded in 2001 by Jackson alongside a collective of prominent artists following the events of September 11. The song’s original concept was inspired by a late 1990s encounter between Jackson and South African President Nelson Mandela. Initially, it was planned as a charitable release to aid refugees from the Kosovo War, but this project was ultimately never realized.

Following the September 11 attacks, producer Marc Schaffel proposed revising the song. Jackson collaborated with numerous artists such as Mariah Carey, Reba McEntire, Anastacia, Nick Carter, 3LW, Beyoncé, NSYNC, Celine Dion, Shawn Stockman and Michael McCary from Boyz II Men, Brian McKnight, Luther Vandross, and Usher to record the updated version. The Spanish-language rendition, titled "Todo Para Ti," featured lyrics penned by Panamanian musician Rubén Blades and was produced by Grammy winner K. C. Porter to create a distinctive sound.

The single aimed to generate $50 million through digital sales and donations to support those affected by the September 11 tragedy; however, it never saw a full commercial release. Sources indicate its cancellation was linked to Michael Jackson’s public conflict with Sony Music executives.

The song first aired on radio in late 2002 when New York’s WKTU-FM broadcast it without authorization. It was briefly available for digital download starting October 27, 2003, but was pulled from distribution on November 17—the same day as the raid on Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Proceeds from this limited release were directed to children’s charities.

The cover art for the single was created by artist Romero Britto and features a vibrant awareness ribbon design. Alongside Jackson, Britto produced 250 signed and numbered collector’s editions of the artwork.

Jackson appeared in the music video produced by Schaffel. This track is recognized as one of his final completed songs and videos approved for public release, as well as one of the rare songs he performed in Spanish.

Background and writing

Michael Jackson initiated work on this song—originally titled "Heal L.A."—with Brad Buxer following the 1992 Rodney King verdict and subsequent riots. Development took place during the production phase of the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album (1995) and its accompanying world tour (1996–1997). Progress halted in late 1997 when Jackson began work on his tenth studio album Invincible (2001), though finishing the track remained important to him. A key inspiration came from a 1999 meeting with South African President Nelson Mandela, where their conversation about generosity led to the phrase "what more can I give." Jackson intended to debut the song during his MJ & Friends concerts held in Munich and Seoul in June 1999; however, it was neither performed nor released at that time.

Jackson had also planned to issue "What More Can I Give" as a charity single to support refugees displaced by the Kosovo War (1998–1999). Deeply moved by wartime imagery and driven by concern for affected children, he sought to use the song as aid. Despite these intentions, it did not become a single nor appear on Invincible.

In 2001, two sold-out concerts took place in New York City celebrating Jackson’s three decades as a solo artist. These shows featured appearances by performers such as Usher, Whitney Houston, Gloria Estefan, along with Jackson and his brothers (The Jacksons). Mere hours after the conclusion of the second concert, the September 11 attacks occurred, resulting in nearly 3,000 fatalities. In response to this tragedy, Jackson revised "What More Can I Give," transforming it into an anthem focused on global peace, generosity, love, and unity.

Recording

In 2001, "What More Can I Give" was recorded by a diverse group of pop performers. The initiative garnered a significant global reaction and included artists such as Anastacia, Beyoncé, Nick Carter, Aaron Carter, NSYNC, and Carlos Santana. Sessions were conducted in Los Angeles, California, among other sites reachable by Michael Jackson's private jet and a mobile recording studio managed by Marc Schaffel, who oversaw the worldwide coordination of the recordings. This star-studded charity project followed Jackson's previous humanitarian single, "We Are the World", which successfully raised millions to combat famine in Africa. The recording process concluded in October 2001.

In addition to the English rendition, a Spanish-language version entitled "Todo Para Ti" was created. This version featured some of the English contributors as well as Latin music icons such as Alejandro Sanz, Juan Gabriel, and Cristian Castro, who appeared exclusively on the Spanish track. The title means "Everything for You." Initially, producer and songwriter K. C. Porter translated the title literally but revised it after Michael Jackson found the original wording awkward.

The All Stars

Artist	English version	Spanish version
3LW	Yes	No
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Template:Sortname	No	Yes
Anastacia	Yes	Yes
Beyoncé	Yes	No
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Template:Sortname	Yes	Yes
Template:Sortname	Yes	Yes
Template:Sortname	No	Yes
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Template:Sortname	Yes	Yes
Hanson	Yes	No
Template:Sortname	Yes	Yes
Template:Sortname	No	Yes
Template:Sortname	No	Yes
Template:Sortname	No	Yes
Template:Sortname	Yes	No
Template:Sortname	No	Yes
Template:Sortname	No	Yes
Template:Sortname	Yes	Yes
Template:Sortname	Yes	Yes
Template:Sortname	Yes	Yes
Template:Sortname	Yes	No
Mýa	Yes	Yes
NSYNC	Yes	No
Template:Sortname	Yes	No
Template:Sortname	No	Yes
Template:Sortname	Yes	No
Template:Sortname	Yes	Yes
Template:Sortname	No	Yes
Shakira	" Yes ""	" Yes "
Template:Sortname	" Yes ""	" No "
Thalía	" Yes ""	" Yes "
Template:Sortname	" Yes ""	" No "
Usher (entertainer)	" Yes ""	" No "
Template:Sortname	" Yes ""	" No "

Live performance

The song "What More Can I Give" was showcased live during the 9/11 benefit event titled United We Stand: What More Can I Give, which took place at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C., on October 21, 2001. This extensive eight-hour concert attracted a full house of 54,000 attendees and featured a wide array of artists. Michael Jackson first performed "Man in the Mirror" before joining Rod Stewart, Al Green, James Brown, Sean Combs, Pink, and others to conclude the event with a collective rendition of "What More Can I Give."

Joe D'Angelo from MTV observed that among the performers, only Jackson and Billy Gilman appeared fully comfortable with the lyrics, while the group performance was described as somewhat "disjointed and uneven." In a similar vein, Jon Pareles of The New York Times criticized the ensemble as chaotic, pointing out missed cues and subpar audio quality.

Subsequently, Jackson's segment was edited out from ABC's broadcast after his representatives informed the network that CBS had requested his absence from competing broadcasts prior to airing a Jackson special the following month. While CBS denied demanding his removal, they acknowledged that including Jackson’s performance could have postponed their own special to prevent scheduling conflicts.

The single "What More Can I Give" was conceived as a charitable effort to aid those impacted by the September 11 attacks. Jackson’s goal was to raise $50 million through this initiative. His spokesperson announced an imminent release of the recording, with expectations it would be available in retail outlets within weeks.

Airplay

Approximately one year after its recording, "What More Can I Give" received its initial radio exposure on New York’s WKTU-FM without formal authorization. Program Director Frankie Blue characterized the track as "a gift to the world," highlighting its philanthropic mission. This unapproved broadcast sparked considerable listener interest, prompting numerous calls to WKTU-FM about how to obtain the song. Although neither Michael Jackson nor producer Schaffel participated in this unauthorized airing, over 200 promotional copies had been distributed to contributing artists and their representatives. Schaffel expressed concerns that this unsanctioned airplay might undermine the song’s charitable objectives.

Release as a digital single

On October 27, 2003, "What More Can I Give" was officially launched as a digital download via whatmorecanigive.com and musicforgiving.com at a price of $2 per download. A portion of the revenue generated was designated for children's charities such as Oneness, Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, and the International Child Art Foundation—organizations dedicated to advancing arts education, fighting racism, and fostering global connections among youth. This digital release was coordinated by Michael Jackson in collaboration with American media corporation Clear Channel Communications.

Music video

The accompanying music video premiered during the 2003 Radio Music Awards and showcases The All Stars as they record the song.