

It featured clips from Jackson's Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour DVD and clips of fans dancing. There was a casting call posted up on Jackson's official website, saying that they were "looking for his fans of all ages who want to be a part of this iconic event." On December 4, 2010, a 30-second teaser of the video was released on Michael Jackson's official YouTube channel and the official website. On Monday, November 22, 2010, the filming for the official video began in Tustin, California, a main filming location being the airship hangars at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin. That song proved a commercial success and charted within the top 20 in several countries. "I'll never forget that smile he had on his face as the song played through the speakers at the Palms Hotel in Vegas." The song is the second collaboration between the two artists and the second consecutive duet single release for Jackson, following " Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008". Jackson's nephew, Taj Jackson, posted a message saying that his uncle was proud of the song. It was available to stream from Jackson's official website. The song was released globally on Monday, November 15, 2010, at 12:01am EST. I'm so proud to have had the chance to work with Michael, one of my all time idols.” Before the official release of the song, Akon stated on Twitter that the final version would have more of Jackson's vocals.

But its time has definitely come now in its final state, it has become an incredible, beautiful, anthemic song. Īkon commented, “The world was not ready to hear ‘Hold My Hand’ when it leaked a couple years ago. Akon regretted the decision after Jackson died the next year and decided to finish the song in his honor. Due to the leak, the song was subsequently pulled from Akon's track listing for his 2008 album, Freedom. This would be the last new song leaked during Jackson's lifetime. However, in its unfinished state, the song leaked out in 2008. A handwritten note from Jackson belonging to his estate indicated his desire that “Hold My Hand” be the first single on his next project. Akon finished the rest of his vocals for the song in 2010, a few days before the release.

"Hold My Hand" was recorded by Jackson and Akon in 2007.

When Kelly was asked what he thought it was about the song that struck a chord with both Akon and Jackson, he said that it was the song's theme of friendship and togetherness. While there, Jackson heard the song and loved it, and decided he wanted to contribute to it. Shortly afterwards Akon went to Las Vegas to work on what would have been Michael Jackson's next album. After hearing the song later, Akon said that he loved it and wanted to keep it for himself, so he wanted to record his own version of it. Akon and Kelly had been in the studio working on songs for Houston's I Look to You album and while on his own Kelly completed the song from a track Akon had left. Co-writer Claude Kelly told HitQuarters that "Hold My Hand" was originally written with Whitney Houston in mind.
