fenderman wrote:
"XO" is a strategy.

He is wanting his next record to do better. It is going to take time to write and record that album, so for now he is releasing a cover. A good cover that gets people's attentions, reminds them of his talent and hits with a wide demographic.

I am sure his new management sat down with him and worked out a game plan for his next couple years. This is getting more talk than his breakup, which is kind of the whole point. Remind people he is a musician, good even with other people's material.

Being proud that something you put your there did well is alright. I think if nothing else it will inspire him to make an album that he is proud of and is commercially successful.

Exactly. Who cares who wrote it or who sang it...it is beautiful. I loved it enough to buy it..even though music purchases are no longer necessary with Spotify etc. And after everything that has happened in the past several years he should embrace and feel happy about it. Maybe he is sincerely thanking everyone as opposed to "patting himself on the back".  When I first opened this thread I read through the posts about the botox...imagine you are him and experienced that..gratitude...for him and for us that he can sing again.  Regarding the new management. They are doing great things for him...it was a great move.  The world is littered with people who have fallen and cannot get back..he is slowly but surely working hard to get back to where he wants to be I for one am cheering him on.