A Song Too Good to Be True

In 1984, two Jackson brothers — Michael and Jermaine — came together in the studio to record what could have been one of the greatest pop duets of the decade. The track, “Tell Me I’m Not Dreamin’ (Too Good to Be True),” blended Michael’s soaring vocals with Jermaine’s smooth tone, creating a song that captured the signature sound of the era: glossy, rhythmic, and deeply soulful.

Yet despite its undeniable potential, the song never received an official single release for more than two decades. Behind its disappearance from airwaves lay a tangled web of family tension, legal battles, and a seven-word warning that revealed just how complex life inside the Jackson family could be.

🚫 The Warning That Changed Everything

At the center of this mystery is Michael Jackson’s chilling seven-word message to his brother:

“Stay away from her, she’s mine now.”

According to multiple Jackson family accounts and music biographers, the remark was not directed at Jermaine’s music — but at his personal life. The brothers, who had shared a close bond since childhood and performed together as part of The Jackson 5, found their relationship strained when they reportedly became entangled in a personal dispute involving one of Michael’s romantic interests.

While the details were never publicly confirmed, this private conflict bled into their professional lives at a delicate time. Michael was riding the historic wave of his Thriller success, and Jermaine was attempting to carve out his own solo identity at Arista Records, away from the shadow of his brother’s immense fame.

That single sentence — “Stay away from her, she’s mine now” — reportedly marked the point of no return for their collaboration, complicating what had begun as a promising creative reunion.

📀 The Unreleased Hit: “Tell Me I’m Not Dreamin’ (Too Good to Be True)”

Despite never being formally released as a single, “Tell Me I’m Not Dreamin’” still managed to make waves. The song, tucked into Jermaine Jackson’s self-titled 1984 album, became an underground sensation, especially in clubs and on radio stations that circulated promotional copies.

Chart Success Without Release: The track reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart purely through airplay and fan circulation.
Critical Acclaim: Critics hailed it as one of the most polished and dynamic collaborations between two Jacksons, highlighting their seamless vocal chemistry.

However, the song’s commercial potential was thwarted by a legal standoff between the brothers’ respective record labels — Michael’s Epic Records and Jermaine’s Arista Records. Both companies claimed rights to the distribution of the song, resulting in a stalemate that kept it from official release.

🕰️ A 24-Year Wait for Redemption

It wasn’t until 2008, with the release of Thriller – 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, that the long-shelved duet finally received its due recognition. Fans and critics alike celebrated the long-awaited revival, hailing it as a “lost gem” from the peak of Michael’s creative reign.

For Jermaine, the release was bittersweet — a reminder of what could have been if family tensions and industry politics hadn’t derailed their partnership.

💔 Brothers, Bound by Music and Rivalry

The story of “Tell Me I’m Not Dreamin’” encapsulates both the brilliance and the burden of the Jackson legacy. Michael and Jermaine shared an unshakable musical bond, but their relationship — strained by fame, loyalty, and personal pride — reflected the pressures that often accompany success within a family of prodigies.

While the world may never fully know the truth behind Michael’s seven-word warning, the song that survived those decades of silence stands as proof of what they could achieve together — even when divided.

And in the end, the title itself feels prophetic. For the brothers who once ruled the stage side by side, “Tell Me I’m Not Dreamin’” was more than a duet. It was a fleeting dream that almost came true.