The Message Music of Michael Jackson
62 years after his birth, the King of Pop’s lyrics for today’s crises
It’s almost impossible to sit still during a Michael Jackson song. His music makes you move: dance, sway, tap your foot, or bob your head.
Today he would be 62. Unlike any other pop idol, we regularly watched and heard him perform and grow from 5-years-old until his death at 50.
Michael Jackson’s gospel of personal change, race, culture
Because his platform and popularity were so massive, Jackson’s influence allowed him to spotlight issues that would otherwise be overlooked. It allowed him to slip in more profound words, speak to future generations.
“Now more than ever his message is resonating across the country,’’ says Steven Ivory, the cultural journalist who met him in 1972. “Michael’s message was always in his music.’’
Ivory, the narrative voice of the Michael Jackson channel, points to “now more than ever’’ message songs that touch everything from today’s social change to race to pandemic to what Ivory calls “the Gospel of Personal Change.’’ Just listen. Here are 10 for your playlist:
1. They don’t care about us
Feeling hated? Under attack?
From social media to TV, we all find people hatefully denouncing each other. For much of his life, people either adored or condemned Michael. Few were neutral.
His 1996 song begins with the voices of children saying, “they don’t really care about us’’ and “Enough is enough of this garbage.’’
Michael counters: stop worrying about what others say because “we know the truth.’’ The song soared in Europe but was less popular in divided America.
2. Black or White
People bought (but also mocked) the syrupy “Ebony and Ivory’’ pop candy duet with Paul McCartney.
He returned the topic and made a far more serious, moving — yet still fun and cool — version of the unity message in 1991.
Watch how all the different people morph together in the video. Yes, we are all different, but Michael, whose bizarre moments spanned the racial divide, was sure it doesn’t matter if you’re black, white, or any other mixture.
3. Man in the Mirror
Jackson’s ultimate “Gospel of Personal Change’’ came during the 1988 presidential year, and the video also shows the massive change already occurring at that time.
Religious in its fervor, but as gentle as a self-help book, Michael knows real change starts with us.
4. Show You the Way to Go
In 1977, the Jacksons, after Motown and the Jackson Five, but before Michael went solo, focused on our responsibility to show each other The Way.
How to come together and think in unity as one: Just let someone show you which way to go.
5. Earth Song.
“What about all the peace that you pledge your only son?’’ How are we stewarding our world, Jackson asks in this mantra to conservation and care.
6. Tabloid Junkie
“Be careful with the words you use.” Michael Jackson knew a lot about “fake news’’ because he was bombarded by tabloid media.
In “Tabloid Junkie,” he warned about the tribalism and “us vs. them’’ reminding us, “Just because you read it in a magazine or see it on a TV screen — Don’t mean it’s factual.”
7. The Lost Children
His whole life, the man who seemed like a lost child for most of his life, could relate to “The Lost Children.’’ He prayed and sang for the lost children, mothers, and fathers.
On his final album, he sang for all them: “I see the door simply wide open but no one can find thee.’’
8 We are the world
Called “the mother of all charity recordings,’’ Jackson used his influence and star power to bring together all the top stars of the time, selling 20 million copies for this song written by Michael and Lionel Ritchie.
They sing of: “When the world must come together as one… When you’re down and out.’’
9 Will you be there?
On his Dangerous album and in the “Free Willie” film, Michael cries for love and an end to painful isolation, asking to be held and fed.
He opens with the religious message of “Hold me like the River Jordan.’’ He tells us to be faithful and “care enough to bear me.’’
10 Smile
Can you laugh and cry at once?
Written by Charlie Chaplin, one of America’s first superstars, this painful classic ode to suffering is moving.
Key lyric summing up much of his life and so many others:
“Smile though your heart is breaking.’’ The message, of course, is timeless.
