Michael Jackson has given Ne-Yo a big boost by giving the R+B pin-up's new song a rave review.

Ne-Yo wrote the track Closer with Jackson in mind, and played it for his hero while they were working together on the King of Pop's comeback album.

Ne-Yo recalls, "He told me that he likes the way I do Michael Jackson. I asked him what he meant by that, and he said, `When you do that, it doesn't feel like you're trying to copy me or trying to be me. It feels like you're complimenting me.'

"And that's what I'm doing. It means the world that he liked it."