On November 26th, 1991, Michael's eighth studio album, Dangerous, was released. The CD was highly anticipated so much so that before the CD was released, thousands of copies of the CD were stolen by thieves. Dangerous consists of 14 songs, various topics of discussions and multiple music genres that would satisfy any music lover. The CD started off the Dangerous era that was from 1991 to 1993 that consists of Michael doing various appearances from MTV's 10th Anniversary special to the Soul Train Awards to Oprah.
For me, personally, Dangerous was and is, in my opinion, the best album that Michael ever created, completed, did in his entire legendary career. One of the reasons why I think that way is because of the fact that Michael used every possible music genre for this album. R&B, hip-hop, new jack swing, funk, rock, classical, rap, soul, and pop can be heard on the album. This was proof that Michael did not care for the genres of music and just made music. He wanted to listener to get familiar with all types of music and that at the end, it does not matter what genre the music is, it only matters how good the product is.
Another reason why I think Dangerous was his best work was because he was the executive producer on this CD. In his previous masterpieces, he was either the co-producer or someone produced the work for him. With this CD, he was leading the way along with Teddy Riley and Bill Bottrell. Michael wrote most of the songs in the album and dealt with various emotions/topics: love, anger, protesting, race, hope, lust, cheating, regret, loneliness, denial and betrayal.
Dangerous is the type of album that explores the various types of topics and emotions that Michael sang about and probably dealt with. In each song, Michael sang about certain topics that he normally did not sing about in his previous work. If Bad focus on Michael's "bad" side, then Dangerous focused on Michael's "dangerous" side. Listening to and reading the songs and the lyrics really tells the story of Michael's life at that time. He was no longer the little, sweet child prodigy of the Jackson 5 era. He was a regal, smart, (and yes I am going to say it, sexy) and grown; handling and dealing with the world in his own, unique way.
In this blog, I am going to list each song going by the order of the song listing and state what I think he is talking about in the song. It will be accompanied by video and/or a picture along with my favorite lyric. I am not trying to analyze the lyrics because Joe Vogel, author of Man in the Music, has already done that. I was thinking of doing that, but Mr. Vogel does it better than me. :) Also, with the song, I am going to state the type of Michael he was in the song. If you do not understand what I mean, I will show you.
* "Jam" : (serious Michael) Michael sings about the confusions in the world; what should one believe and stick to that belief. As one nation, people must come together to help one another. However, others have focused more on themselves than helping others. Michael sings about being conditioned by the system, false prophets and how to make sense out of all of the distractions that comes with life. The late, great Heavy D's rap is about how he is moving on up, working with Guy, then with Janet and now with Michael. He also raps about how he kept his composure when he met Michael for the first time.
Favorite lyric: don't you preach to me/don't scream and shout.
Song and lyrics by Michael Jackson
Produced by Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley and Bruce Swedien
Favorite lyric: but there's a bigger problem/that's much more in demand
Written and composed by Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle
Produced by Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson
---------------
* "In the Closet ": (sexy Michael) Michael's sings about his desire to have a sexual tryst with his lover without anyone knowing. He sings that there is something about this woman that he just cannot help but give her some. He wants to keep his affair in the closet.
Favorite lyric: None.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley
Produced by Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson
------------------
* "She Drives Me Wild": Michael sings about a woman that he finds very attactive and how he can get the woman to be his woman. The woman is so hot to Michael that he does not mind if he gets his groove on with her.
Favorite lyric: None.
Written and Composed by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley
Rap lyrics by Aqil Davidson
Produced by Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson.
------------
* "Remember the Time": (in love Michael) Michael sings about a woman he had a romantic relationship with and the times he had with this woman. He asks her if she remembers the trip to Spain, the late night calls and how they met.
Favorite lyric: those sweet memories/will always be dear to me.
Written and composed by Teddy Riley, Michael Jackson and Bernard Belle
Produced by Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson
-------------
* "I Can't Let Her Get Away": (regretful Michael) Michael sings about the regret he feels for letting a woman he loved get away. He did all he could do for her but he still let her go. Now that the woman is gone, he is crying and alone. Now that he has seen what he has done, he can't seem to forgive himself.
Favorite lyric: I think the whole world of you/your thoughts of me remain.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley
Produced by Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson
-------------------
* "Heal the World": (the humanitarian Michael) The song is about making the world a better place and giving yourself to others in order to help others. To come together as one to make the world a better place for everyone.
Favorite lyric: if you care enough for the living/make a better place for you and for me.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson
Produced by Michael Jackson
* "Black or White": (the protester Michael) Michael sings about racial equality. No matter what our race identities are we are all one in the same. Michael reminds the listener that racism exists but hopefully, with the help of learning and understanding from one another, racism will be a thing of the past.
Favorite lyric: I ain't scared of no sheets/I ain't scared of nobody.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson
Rap lyrics by Bill Bottrell
Produced by Michael Jackson and Bill Bottrell
---------------
* "Who Is It": (regretful Michael) Michael sings about the betrayal he felt when his woman suddenly left him. He is completely shattered by this and he has questions that he needs answers to. He wants to find the truth into why his woman left him.
Favorite lyric: None.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson
Produced by Michael Jackson and Bill Bottrell
-------------
* "Give In To Me" : (demanding Michael) Michael sings about his complicated relationship with his woman. His woman isn't sensitive to his feelings and wants her to be. He does not want her to hear it when she expresses her love verbally. Rather, he wants his woman to express her love for him emotionally and probably physically.
Favorite lyric: love is a feeling/give it when I want it.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson and Bill Bottrell.
Produced by Bill Bottrell and Michael Jackson
------------------
* "Will You Be There": (sensitive Michael) This song is about unconditional love and if the person Michael is singing to (i.e. family, friends, fans, woman) would show him that type of love. The lyrics are deep and thoughtful. It describes Michael's doubtfulness and how people view him. He sings about the roles people have for him and the people controlling him. Michael wants to know in his lowest of lows and highest of highs will you be there, will you still care. Later in his life, his doubt was gone when they (family, fans, woman) were all there for him. By the way, this is my favorite song from the album.
Favorite lyric: I'm so confused/will you show to me/you'll be there for me/and care enough to bear me.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson
Produced by Michael Jackson and co-produced by Bruce Swedien
---------------
* "Keep the Faith" : (spiritual Michael) Michael sings about knowing about faith but the power of faith us believing in faith. In his view, in order to get things right in your life is to keep the faith. Do not let anyone shame you for having faith. To focus on doing the right thing and to go for your dreams, you got to keep the faith.
Favorite lyric: but the power's in believing/so give yourself a chance.
Written and composed by Glen Ballard, Siedah Garrett and Michael Jackson
Produced by Michael Jackson and co-produced by Bruce Swedien
------------
* "Gone Too Soon": (reflective Michael) The song is self-explanatory. Here today, gone tomorrow The song is a constant reminder that life is too short. Live your life and live it well.
Favorite lyric: None.
Music by Larry Grossman
Lyrics by Buz Kohan
Produced by Michael Jackson and co-produced by Bruce Swedien
* "Dangerous": (lustful Michael) Michael sings about fighting off his lust he has for a woman he had a tryst with. He pretends as if he does not know the woman. When Michael is with his main woman, the other woman would remind him of the phone calls they had and the fooling around they did. The other woman states these events in front of Michael's main woman. Michael is angry because he gives his other woman his time and money but she only gives him trouble. The other woman is nothing more than dangerous to him.
Favorite lyric: None.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley and Bill Bottrell
Produced by Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson
Album -
Lyrics of the Dangerous album comes from the actual album that I own.
Pictures -
Pictures from the Dangerous era comes from my own personal harddrive. Picture of the Dangerous album comes from a google.com search.
Videos/Audio-
Video and audio of the songs and short films from the Dangerous era are courtesy of youtube.com and Michael Jackson's official youtube.com account.
Dangerous, 1991.
For me, personally, Dangerous was and is, in my opinion, the best album that Michael ever created, completed, did in his entire legendary career. One of the reasons why I think that way is because of the fact that Michael used every possible music genre for this album. R&B, hip-hop, new jack swing, funk, rock, classical, rap, soul, and pop can be heard on the album. This was proof that Michael did not care for the genres of music and just made music. He wanted to listener to get familiar with all types of music and that at the end, it does not matter what genre the music is, it only matters how good the product is.
Another reason why I think Dangerous was his best work was because he was the executive producer on this CD. In his previous masterpieces, he was either the co-producer or someone produced the work for him. With this CD, he was leading the way along with Teddy Riley and Bill Bottrell. Michael wrote most of the songs in the album and dealt with various emotions/topics: love, anger, protesting, race, hope, lust, cheating, regret, loneliness, denial and betrayal.
Michael goofing off in the early 1990s.
Dangerous is the type of album that explores the various types of topics and emotions that Michael sang about and probably dealt with. In each song, Michael sang about certain topics that he normally did not sing about in his previous work. If Bad focus on Michael's "bad" side, then Dangerous focused on Michael's "dangerous" side. Listening to and reading the songs and the lyrics really tells the story of Michael's life at that time. He was no longer the little, sweet child prodigy of the Jackson 5 era. He was a regal, smart, (and yes I am going to say it, sexy) and grown; handling and dealing with the world in his own, unique way.
Michael in 1991.
Michael with Michael Jordan in the "Jam" short film in 1992.
* "Jam" : (serious Michael) Michael sings about the confusions in the world; what should one believe and stick to that belief. As one nation, people must come together to help one another. However, others have focused more on themselves than helping others. Michael sings about being conditioned by the system, false prophets and how to make sense out of all of the distractions that comes with life. The late, great Heavy D's rap is about how he is moving on up, working with Guy, then with Janet and now with Michael. He also raps about how he kept his composure when he met Michael for the first time.
Favorite lyric: don't you preach to me/don't scream and shout.
Song and lyrics by Michael Jackson
Produced by Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley and Bruce Swedien
"Jam" short film, 1992.
-----------------
* "Why You Wanna Trip on Me" : (angry Michael) Michael sings about the media's unwanted focus on him but not on the many problems of society. (Ex. illiteracy, poverty, education, diseases, violence, police brutality) Basically, Michael wants to media to stop tripping on him and start tripping on what is hurting the world. Favorite lyric: but there's a bigger problem/that's much more in demand
Written and composed by Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle
Produced by Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson
"Why You Wanna Trip on Me?", 1991.
---------------
Michael looking yummy on the set of the "In the Closet" short film, 1991.
* "In the Closet ": (sexy Michael) Michael's sings about his desire to have a sexual tryst with his lover without anyone knowing. He sings that there is something about this woman that he just cannot help but give her some. He wants to keep his affair in the closet.
Favorite lyric: None.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley
Produced by Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson
"In the Closet" short film, 1992
------------------
* "She Drives Me Wild": Michael sings about a woman that he finds very attactive and how he can get the woman to be his woman. The woman is so hot to Michael that he does not mind if he gets his groove on with her.
Favorite lyric: None.
Written and Composed by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley
Rap lyrics by Aqil Davidson
Produced by Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson.
"She Drives Me Wild", 1991.
------------
Michael on set of the "Remember the Time" short film, 1991.
* "Remember the Time": (in love Michael) Michael sings about a woman he had a romantic relationship with and the times he had with this woman. He asks her if she remembers the trip to Spain, the late night calls and how they met.
Favorite lyric: those sweet memories/will always be dear to me.
Written and composed by Teddy Riley, Michael Jackson and Bernard Belle
Produced by Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson
"Remember the Time" short film, 1992.
-------------
* "I Can't Let Her Get Away": (regretful Michael) Michael sings about the regret he feels for letting a woman he loved get away. He did all he could do for her but he still let her go. Now that the woman is gone, he is crying and alone. Now that he has seen what he has done, he can't seem to forgive himself.
Favorite lyric: I think the whole world of you/your thoughts of me remain.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley
Produced by Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson
"I Can't Let Her Get Away", 1991.
-------------------
Michael with the children in 1992 or 1993.
* "Heal the World": (the humanitarian Michael) The song is about making the world a better place and giving yourself to others in order to help others. To come together as one to make the world a better place for everyone.
Favorite lyric: if you care enough for the living/make a better place for you and for me.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson
Produced by Michael Jackson
"Heal The World" short film, 1991.
---------------------
Michael with a panther in 1991.
* "Black or White": (the protester Michael) Michael sings about racial equality. No matter what our race identities are we are all one in the same. Michael reminds the listener that racism exists but hopefully, with the help of learning and understanding from one another, racism will be a thing of the past.
Favorite lyric: I ain't scared of no sheets/I ain't scared of nobody.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson
Rap lyrics by Bill Bottrell
Produced by Michael Jackson and Bill Bottrell
"Black or White" short film, 1991.
---------------
* "Who Is It": (regretful Michael) Michael sings about the betrayal he felt when his woman suddenly left him. He is completely shattered by this and he has questions that he needs answers to. He wants to find the truth into why his woman left him.
Favorite lyric: None.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson
Produced by Michael Jackson and Bill Bottrell
"Who Is It" short film, 1993.
-------------
* "Give In To Me" : (demanding Michael) Michael sings about his complicated relationship with his woman. His woman isn't sensitive to his feelings and wants her to be. He does not want her to hear it when she expresses her love verbally. Rather, he wants his woman to express her love for him emotionally and probably physically.
Favorite lyric: love is a feeling/give it when I want it.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson and Bill Bottrell.
Produced by Bill Bottrell and Michael Jackson
"Give In To Me" short film, 1993.
------------------
Michael rehearsing with Slash in 1991.
* "Will You Be There": (sensitive Michael) This song is about unconditional love and if the person Michael is singing to (i.e. family, friends, fans, woman) would show him that type of love. The lyrics are deep and thoughtful. It describes Michael's doubtfulness and how people view him. He sings about the roles people have for him and the people controlling him. Michael wants to know in his lowest of lows and highest of highs will you be there, will you still care. Later in his life, his doubt was gone when they (family, fans, woman) were all there for him. By the way, this is my favorite song from the album.
Favorite lyric: I'm so confused/will you show to me/you'll be there for me/and care enough to bear me.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson
Produced by Michael Jackson and co-produced by Bruce Swedien
"Will You Be There", 1991.
---------------
* "Keep the Faith" : (spiritual Michael) Michael sings about knowing about faith but the power of faith us believing in faith. In his view, in order to get things right in your life is to keep the faith. Do not let anyone shame you for having faith. To focus on doing the right thing and to go for your dreams, you got to keep the faith.
Favorite lyric: but the power's in believing/so give yourself a chance.
Written and composed by Glen Ballard, Siedah Garrett and Michael Jackson
Produced by Michael Jackson and co-produced by Bruce Swedien
"Keep The Faith", 1991.
------------
* "Gone Too Soon": (reflective Michael) The song is self-explanatory. Here today, gone tomorrow The song is a constant reminder that life is too short. Live your life and live it well.
Favorite lyric: None.
Music by Larry Grossman
Lyrics by Buz Kohan
Produced by Michael Jackson and co-produced by Bruce Swedien
"Gone to Soon", 1992
-----------------------
Michael during the Dangerous tour in 1992.
Favorite lyric: None.
Written and composed by Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley and Bill Bottrell
Produced by Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson
"Dangerous", 1991.
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Links:
Lyrics of the Dangerous album comes from the actual album that I own.
Pictures -
Pictures from the Dangerous era comes from my own personal harddrive. Picture of the Dangerous album comes from a google.com search.
Videos/Audio-
Video and audio of the songs and short films from the Dangerous era are courtesy of youtube.com and Michael Jackson's official youtube.com account.
