Earth Song
"Earth Song" | |
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Song |
"Earth Song" is the third single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It is a ballad that incorporates elements of blues, gospel and opera. Jackson had a long-standing history of releasing socially conscious material such as "We Are the World", "Man in the Mirror" and "Heal the World". However, "Earth Song" was the first that overtly dealt with the environment and animal welfare. The song was written and composed by Jackson; the task of production was split between Jackson, David Foster and Bill Bottrell.
Reviews were generally favorable, but some charged that the song sounded pompous, even if unintentional. "Earth Song" was accompanied by a lavish music video shot on four geographical regions. It centered around the destruction and rebirth of Earth and went on to receive a Grammy nomination in 1997. The song was a top five hit in most European countries. In the UK, it remains Jackson's best-selling single. "Earth Song" was not released as a single in the United States.
When Jackson performed the song at the 1996 BRIT Awards, Jarvis Cocker attempted to interrupt the show and stormed the stage, offended with the imagery presented. Jackson went on to receive recognition from various animal and environmental organizations.
Background
Jackson already had a long-standing history of writing charitable or socially conscious material. As an adult Jackson used his fame and wealth to promote various causes. In 1985, he co-wrote the charity single "We Are the World" with Lionel Richie, which was released worldwide to aid the poor in Africa and the US. The single became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with nearly 20 million copies sold and millions of dollars donated to famine relief. It was also the first time Jackson was seen as a humanitarian.[1] All of the profits from his single "Man in the Mirror" went to charity.[2][3] Jackson founded the "Heal the World Foundation" in 1992, inspired by his charity single of the same name.[4][5]
Following the illness and death of Ryan White, Jackson helped draw public attention to HIV/AIDS, something that was still controversial at the time. He publicly pleaded with the Clinton Administration at Bill Clinton's Inaugural Gala to give more money to HIV/AIDS charities and research. He would go on to write the song "Gone Too Soon" for White and other victims of the illness.[6][7]
Production and music
"Earth Song" was written and composed by Jackson; production of the song was a collaborative effort between Jackson, David Foster and Bill Bottrell.[8] Andrae Crouch's Choir and Jackson engage in a back and forth chant as the song reaches its climatic finale.[9] Jackson's intent was to create a song that was lyrically deep yet melodically simple, so the whole world, particularly non-English-speaking fans, could sing along. He conceptualized a song that had an emotional message.[10] "Earth Song" is a ballad that incorporates elements of blues, gospel and opera. In the socially conscious track, Jackson issues a plea to God about problems ranging from war to endangered animals.[11][12][13][14]
Reception
Critical
James Hunter of Rolling Stone stated, "The slow blues-operatic 'Earth Song' for all its noble sentiments, sounds primarily like a showpiece".[12] Deepika Reddy of The Daily Collegian expressed the opinion that someone other than Jackson pushed to have "Earth Song" in the final album selection for commercial appeal.[15] A San Jose Mercury News review called it "flat" and "whiny", believing Jackson had already experimented with these concepts earlier in his career.[16]
The Philadelphia Inquirer described the track as "a healing, rhythmic ballad that evokes religious imagery".[14] A review in The Sacramento Bee was favorable, describing Jackson's vocal performance as "cool".[17] Michael Mehle of Rocky Mountain News described the finale as "anthemic" and a "powerful gospel opus".[13] A Ledger-Enquirer review observed of "Earth Song", "[it] enjoys the same kind of subtlety, building to a dramatic call-and-response finish with the Andrae Crouch Choir".[9] Contra Costa Times's review called it "a bit sappy and overblown" but also acknowledged that it was "epic" and destined to be a "massive smash hit".[18]
Commercial
"Earth Song" remains Jackson's best selling single in the UK, where it sold more than one million copies. It debuted at number one, where it remained for six weeks throughout December 1995—beating the U2/Brian Eno project Passengers in competition to win the Christmas number one spot—and into the new year.[19][20] During its stay at number one, "Earth Song" kept the first single released by The Beatles in 25 years, "Free as a Bird", off the number one position. In early December, bookmakers correctly predicted that Jackson would keep The Beatles off the top position and go on to attain the Christmas number-one single.[21][22]
The song also took the number one position in Spain and Switzerland, peaking within the top five in almost every European state.[23] The song was only released to radio in the U.S., appearing on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.[24]
In 2006, "Earth Song" reached number 55 on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles chart, following the Visionary: The Video Singles campaign, whereby 20 of Jackson's hit singles from the 1980s–1990s were reissued in several European countries.[25]
Environmental recognition
Jackson received the Genesis Award: 1995 Doris Day Music Award, given each year for animal sensitivity.[19] In 2008, a writer for the Nigeria Exchange noted, "'Earth Song' drew the world's attention to the degradation and bastardization of the earth as a fall out of various human activities".[26]
Music video
The music video for "Earth Song," directed by fine art photographer Nick Brandt, was expensive and well-received; it gained a Le Film Fantastique: Best Video Award in 1996 and a Grammy nomination for Best Music Video, Short Form in 1997. The production had an environmental theme, showing images of animal cruelty, deforestation, pollution and war. Jackson and the world's people unite in a spiritual chant—"Earth Song"—which summons a force that heals the world. Using special effects, time is reversed so that life returns, war ends and the forests regrow. The video closes with a request for donations to Jackson's Heal the World Foundation.[19][27] The clip was shown infrequently in the United States.[28]
The video was filmed in four geographic regions. The first location was the Amazon Rainforest, where a large part was destroyed a week after the video's completion. Natives of the region appeared in the video and were not actors. The second scene was a war zone in Croatia, with residents of the area. The third location was Tanzania, which incorporated scenes of illegal poaching and hunting into the video. No animals were harmed in the making of the "Earth Song", as the footage came from documentary archives. However, a poacher killed an elephant within a mile of the shot. The final location was in Warwick, New York, where a safe forest fire was simulated in a corn field.[27]
BRIT awards
In 1996, Jackson performed "Earth Song" at the BRIT Awards; he was there to collect a special "Artist of a Generation" award. Jackson sang while dangling off the edge of a high rise crane lift. Below, a chorus of backing performers joined in and many of them began to physically embrace Jackson upon his descent. In response to the performance, an intoxicated Jarvis Cocker ran onto the stage without permission, lifted his shirt and pretended to break wind, before giving Jackson the insulting V-sign. The Pulp frontman had been there with his band, who had failed to win three Brit awards.[29] Jarvis was subsequently questioned by police over claims he had assaulted some of the child performers, but he was later released without charge.[30][31] Jarvis explained that he found the performance offensive, claiming that Jackson had portrayed himself as Christ-like and could do as he pleased because of his immense wealth and power.[19][32][33] Jackson condemned Cocker's behaviour as "disgusting and cowardly".[31]
The incident is refered to in the book Politics and Popular Culture by John Street, Professor of Politics at the University of East Anglia. He says "But to read popular culture as a straight forward text is to take a very narrow view of its meaning, and hence of its political message. As we have noted, the text's meaning will depend on how it is heard and read. Michael Jackson may have intended his 'Earth Song' to be an exercise in compassion; others–like Jarvis Cocker–saw it quite differently. One reason these alternative readings emerge is because of the way the performance of popular culture engages more than a literal text, it employs gestures and symbols, tones of voice, looks and glances, all of which might tell a different story".[34]
Charts
Chart (1995) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[23] | 15 |
Austrian Singles Chart[23] | 2 |
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[23] | 4 |
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[23] | 2 |
Dutch Singles Chart[23] | 3 |
Eurochart Hot 100 Singles[25] | 55 |
Finnish Singles Chart[23] | 8 |
French Singles Chart[23] | 2 |
Italian Singles Chart[23] | 15 |
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart[23] | 4 |
Norwegian Singles Chart[23] | 4 |
Spanish Singles Chart[23] | 1 |
Swedish Singles Chart[23] | 4 |
Swiss Singles Chart | 1[35] |
UK Singles Chart[23] | 1 |
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play[24] | 32 |
Chart (2009) | Peak position |
Danish Singles Chart[23] | 32 |
Swiss Singles Chart | 4[35] |
UK Singles Chart | 33[36] |
Certifications
Country | Certification | Sales |
---|---|---|
Germany | 2X Platin | 1,000,000 [37] |
Switzerland | Platin | 50,000 [38] |
Credits
- Written and composed by Michael Jackson
- Produced by Michael Jackson and David Foster
- Co-produced by Bill Bottrell
- Piano by David Paich
- Bass by Guy Pratt
Notes
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 340–344
- ^ "Blacks who give back". Ebony. 1990. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
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ignored (help) - ^ Taraborrelli, p. 382
- ^ George, p. 45–46
- ^ Harrington, Richard (February 5, 1992). "Jackson to Tour Overseas". The Washington Post.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ "Stars line up for Clinton celebration". Daily News of Los Angeles. January 19, 1993.
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(help) - ^ Smith, Patricia (January 20, 1992). "Facing the music and the masses at the presidential gala". The Boston Globe.
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(help) - ^ Jackson, Michael. HIStory booklet. Sony BMG. p 36
- ^ a b "Jackson disappoints with HIStory". Ledger Enquirer. June 23, 1995. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
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(help) - ^ Grant, Adrian (1998). Michael Jackson : Making History. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0711967237.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (June 18, 1995). "Pop View; Michael Jackson Is Angry, Understand?". The New York Times. Retrieved December 05, 2008.
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(help) - ^ a b Hunter, James (August 10, 1995). "Michael Jackson HIStory". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
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(help) - ^ a b Mehle, Michael (June 20, 1995). "Can Michael Jackson make a comeback?". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
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(help) - ^ a b "Jackson promises new CD in spring". The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 25, 1995. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
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(help) - ^ Reddy, Deepika (June 23, 1995). "Jackson's latest lives up to his character". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved December 05, 2008.
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(help) - ^ "Is Michael Jackson HIStory?". San Jose Mercury News. June 19, 1995. Retrieved December 05, 2008.
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(help) - ^ "Michael Jackson back from Neverland..." The Sacramento Bee. June 20, 1995. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
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(help) - ^ "HIStory's a Thriller". Contra Costa Times. June 18, 1995. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
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(help) - ^ a b c d George, p. 48–50
- ^ "MJ visionary". Sony BMG. Retrieved November 05, 2008.
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(help) - ^ Hinckley, Davis (December 5, 1995). "Extra! Extra!". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 15, 2008.
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(help) - ^ British Hit Singles and Albums. Guinness World Records. 2006. p. 49. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "M. Jackson - Earth Song (nummer)". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved November 09, 2008.
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(help) - ^ a b "Artist Chart History - Michael Jackson". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
- ^ a b "European Hot 100 Singles - Earth Song - Michael Jackson". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 05, 2008.
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(help) - ^ Sylva, Ifedigbo (October 27, 2008). "Scammers New Anthem; "Mugu Don Pay !!!". Nigeria Exchange. Retrieved December 05, 2008.
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(help) - ^ a b Michael Jackson HIStory on Film volume II VHS/DVD
- ^ "History on Film, Vol. 2". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
- ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/brits-brawl-as-cocker-pulps-jackson-chorus-1320077.html
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6354975.stm
- ^ a b http://www.independent.co.uk/news/brits-brawl-as-cocker-pulps-jackson-chorus-1320077.html
- ^ Pinkerton, Lee (1997). The Many Faces of Michael Jackson. Music Sales Distribution. p. 55. ISBN 0711967830.
- ^ "Brits behaving badly". BBC. March 4, 2003. Retrieved December 05, 2008.
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(help) - ^ Street, John (1997). Politics and Popular Culture. Temple University Press. p. 36. ISBN 1566396034.
- ^ a b "Swiss Singles Chart Archives". hitparade.ch. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
- ^ "UK Singles Chart". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ Bundesverband Musikindustrie
- ^ [1]
References
- George, Nelson (2004). Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection booklet. Sony BMG.
- Taraborrelli, J. Randy (2004). The Magic and the Madness. Terra Alta, WV: Headline. ISBN 0-330-42005-4.