First Michael Jackson song since his death released

New York : Michael Jackson's This Is It was launched online on Monday and is the first song to be released after his death.

This Is It, a ballad about unexpectedly falling in love, was released on Jackson's official website www.michaeljackson.com at midnight in New York (0400 GMT) ahead of a documentary and album of the same name. It was also sent to radio stations.

The song opens with the words "This is it. Here I stand. I'm the light of the world. I feel grand."

"Falling in love wasn't my plan," Jackson croons. "I never thought I would be your lovebird."

Jackson's brothers sing background vocals on the track, which is to play during the closing scene of the documentary, set for release on October 28, and is to also appear on the two-disc CD, due out October 26, the website said.

The documentary is to give filmgoers a look behind the scenes at Jackson's rehearsals for a sold out series of 50 concerts in London that was to have begun in July. The theme of those shows was also to have been "This Is It".

No information was released about when the song was originally recorded or when Jackson's brothers recorded their vocals for it.

The song was expected to be the first of a long line of Jackson material that his label Sony and his family would make available as they sift through his unreleased work.

The singer of such hits as "Thriller", Bad" and "Billie Jean" has again topped the bestseller lists since his June 25 death.

Billboard magazine said Jackson sold 5 million albums in the week after his death in Los Angeles at the age of 50 after selling 750 million records during his career. His collection Number Ones became the bestselling album so far this year.