After his death, Michael Jackson can only get bigger. Truly, the best test for an artist’s continuing impact posthumously is the impact that the first never released single makes. And if you listened to the radio stations on Monday, October 12, you may have plum forgotten that it was Columbus Day and instead been taken up by the fact that the Michael Jackson song, “This is It” was released this week. Playing more than once during an hour on several stations, the song helped to solidify the continuing impact of Michael Jackson. According to news sources, the track was originally made in 1983 along with Paul Anka. Like many a never heard before release (just think Tupac) the song still has a modern feel, with a distinctive voice that marks the song as his own.

The release of Jackson’s song comes on the eve of a release of the Jackson movie, also called This is It, due to hit theaters on October 28. The movie follows the preparation for the tour that Jackson was set to perform and was in the midst of preparing for when he reached his death. Along with the movie, a 2 disc album is also being released on October 27. Disc 1 will feature two versions of the title song along with Jackson’s greatest hits. On Disc 2, listeners will be treated to previously unreleased versions of Jackson’s greatest hits.

In recent years Jackson also released a commemorative album for Thriller, and sales of his songs shot through the roof immediately after his death, holding the majority of top spots on several industry boards. With this new release, his estate is hoping his selling power will continue to hold, and we’ll all see if Michael really still had it.