Butterflies
Michael Jackson
2002
Annual listening-list association retained: 2002. The source-checked recording release year is 2001; these are separate date fields. No new regional or single-release date is inferred from this list year.
Release: 2001
Release: 2001Source checked | Recent carryover
The original Invincible album catalog documents this recording in 2001. Only the year is established here; any later single, video, regional issue or compilation is a separate event.
The large badge identifies this listening list, not a newly issued recording. Later reissues and renewed chart popularity do not replace an original release date. How years are assigned.
Michael Jackson: Invincible (official album catalog)
Original album year and matching track, not a later compilation or re-recording. Year precision only; this source does not by itself establish a day-specific first single date.
Inspiration and background
Documented songwriting inspiration
Co-writer Marsha Ambrosius recalled that the song began with her crush on a man working at a McDonald's in London. Jackson heard it on her Floetry demo and invited her to work with him during the Invincible sessions. This account comes from Ambrosius' own interview.
Evidence scope: Songwriting-origin account given by co-writer Marsha Ambrosius in a direct interview.
Sources for this information
TheGrio: Marsha Ambrosius on her studio sessions with Michael Jackson
Direct interview: Ambrosius explains the crush behind the song and the demo-to-Jackson recording path. Paraphrased, not copied lyrics. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Earlier note and its recorded status
Earlier status: Basic catalog context. This earlier wording is retained as historical context; the reviewed account above is the current summary.
Butterflies by Michael Jackson is included in the 2002 annual collection. The cited US year-end table lists it at number 64. A documented songwriting inspiration has not been established for this record; this is chart context, not a creative-origin account.
Other appearances and versions
catalog version unspecified
Textual recording candidate, not an audio fingerprint or pressing-level verification.
An annual chart year and an original release date are different. Similar titles may be covers or different masters; no audio fingerprint has been performed.
Sources and scope
External chart association; scope is limited to the cited chart, not full discographic verification
Editorial artist-repertoire classification
Billboard year-end 2002 table (Wikipedia transcription)
Secondary chart transcription: title, artist and annual association only. Not a complete recording or songwriting review.
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