After more than five years of work, I can finally say it — my cover of Marvin Gaye’s ‘If This World Were Mine’ is officially out today, released through EMI Sweden / Universal Music. I’m incredibly proud to share this moment with you.”
This track has been part of my life for more than 10 years. It began as a remix — one that never quite found its place and ended up on my hard drive like so many forgotten projects. But years later, I opened it again… and something clicked. I knew then it was one of the best pieces I’d ever created.
There was just one problem: it couldn’t be officially released due to copyright.
Then 2020 hit. The pandemic changed how we listened. The song’s message — imagining a better world, filled with empathy, healing, and hope — suddenly felt more important than ever. With everything happening in the world, it wasn’t just a track anymore. It was a reflection of what we were all craving.
I reached out to a contact at EMl, rode my bike to their office, and pitched the song. No PowerPoint, no flash — just me, speaking from the heart. They believed in it. But what followed was a painfully long process: rights clearances, sample negotiations, distribution delays, and legal back-and-forth that stretched over years.
In 2021, I received an offer — but the terms didn’t sit right. They didn’t match the spirit of the song, so I walked away. I still believed this track had more to give, even if it meant returning to the slow grind of clearance and delay. The back-and-forth just wouldn’t end. The emails dragged on — slower than ever. Maybe it was because I had turned down the offer. Sample clearance, distribution rights, legal hoops — everything felt completely stuck.
Eventually, I started thinking: maybe there was another way to bring the song to life. A version that still carried the same emotion and weight.
In 2024, I went for it. I found someone who truly understood the tone and feeling I was after. I spent weeks editing, shaping the sound, tweaking every detail — until I had a version I could fully stand behind. One that kept the soul of the original, ready to be shared with the world. Well… almost.
Publishing still needed to be cleared — and that took another six months. This whole thing has stretched over five years. But I never gave up on it.
Today, it’s official.
“If This World Were Mine” is out now on all platforms.
This is for the ones who reached out over the years to say it helped them through grief, illness, and dark days. Thank you for showing me it mattered.
I’m not asking for much — just a moment of your time. But I’m asking from a place that’s deeply personal. I’ve put everything into this song and fought hard to bring it into the world. I believe it has something meaningful to offer — and I’d be grateful for your help in letting it be heard.
Please take a moment to stream it, share it, or pass it along to someone who might need it. Let it become part of your story — a song to lean on, remember, or even heal with.
Thank you for walking this path with me.
Listen/Download here: https://ClaesRosen.lnk.to/ITWWM
Endless love,
Claes Rosén
If this world were yours… what would you change, fix, or fight for?
Drop your thoughts below