Heal the World explained

Heal the World
Cover:Michael Jackson - Heal the World.png
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Michael Jackson
Album:Dangerous
B-Side:She Drives Me Wild
Released:[1]
Recorded:1989–1991
Length:
  • 6:25 (album version)
  • 4:32 (7" edit)
  • 4:55 (7" edit with intro)
Label:Epic
Producer:
Prev Title:Who Is It
Prev Year:1992
Next Title:Give In to Me
Next Year:1993

"Heal the World" is a song recorded by American singer Michael Jackson from his eighth studio album, Dangerous (1991). It was released on November 23, 1992 by Epic Records as the sixth single from the album. It was written and composed by Jackson, and produced by Jackson and Bruce Swedien. It is a song steeped with antiwar lyrics and Jackson's wish for the humanity of making the world a better place.[2] [3] The music video for the song was directed by Joe Pytka.

In a 2001 Internet chat with fans, Jackson said that "Heal the World" is the song he was most proud to have created. He also created the Heal the World Foundation, a charitable organization which was designed to improve the lives of children. The organization was also meant to teach children how to help others. This concept of 'betterment for all' would become a centerpiece for the Dangerous World Tour. In the documentary Living with Michael Jackson, Jackson said he created the song in his "Giving Tree" at Neverland Ranch.

An ensemble performance of "We Are the World" and "Heal the World" closed Jackson's memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009. The song was performed as rehearsed by Jackson at the venue just weeks earlier, in preparation for his planned This Is It concerts in London along with "Dirty Diana". R&B singer Ciara sang the song as a tribute to Jackson at the 2009 BET Awards.

The song was played at the funeral of James Bulger,[4] and Jackson also donated the song to be used as the anthem for the James Bulger Red Balloon Centre, a school for children to go to if they are being bullied or have learning difficulties.[5]

Composition

This song is written in the key of A major (but later transitions to B major as a choir starts singing, and last more chorus in D major from the end), and it spans from E3 to C5. It has a tempo of 80 beats per minute.[6]

Reception

Critical reception

Chris Lacy from Albumism described the song as "a beautifully understated anthem whose lyrics call for universal improvement."[7] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it "middle-class soft."[8] Larry Flick from Billboard viewed "Heal the World" as a "oh-so-sweet call for peace and love". He added, "Although tune sounds a bit like 'We Are the World', the sincerity in his vocal cuts through a somewhat overblown arrangement and choir climax."[9] Randy Clark from Cash Box said that it's "musically about as close a jab at his previous 'We Are the World' as he could pull off without Quincy Jones and the superstar backing." He added that "the sing-along ballad features mostly Michael's vocals, bringing in a choir at the end for the full effect. The universal message is also the theme of his current world tour."[10] After Jackson's death, the Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith wrote, "Certainly, message songs like 'Heal the World' and 'Gone Too Soon' have a striking and sad resonance now that Jackson is no longer with us, so in that way his legacy is preserved and his music does live on."[11] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly praised the song, "And when his voice isn't competing with drum machines, it has rarely sounded stronger-achingly pure".[12] Rolling Stones Alan Light was not satisfied, calling it "a Hallmark-card knockoff of 'We Are the World'."[13]

Commercial reception

The song reached number two in the UK Singles Chart in December 1992, kept off the number one position by Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You". It peaked number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Joe Pytka and features children living in countries suffering from unrest, especially Burundi. It is also one of only a handful that does not feature Jackson. The version of the video included on and Michael Jackson's Vision contains an introductory video that features a speech from Jackson taken from the special "spoken word" version of the track. This version was not included on Video Greatest Hits – HIStory featuring the music video. Jackson performed the song in the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show with a 35,000 person flash card performance.

Track listing

  1. "Heal the World" (7" edit) – 4:32
  2. "She Drives Me Wild" – 3:41
  1. "Heal the World" (album version) – 6:25
  2. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:40
  3. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" (Roger's Underground Solution) – 6:18
  4. "Rock with You" (Masters at Work remix) – 5:29
  1. "Heal the World" (7" edit) – 4:32
  2. "Heal the World" (7" edit with intro) – 4:55
  3. "Heal the World" (LP version) – 6:25
  4. "She Drives Me Wild" (album version) – 3:41
  1. "Heal the World" (7" edit) – 4:32
  2. "Heal the World" (7" edit with intro) – 4:55

DVD side

  1. "Heal the World" (music video) – 7:31
  2. "Heal the World" (single version) – 4:32
  3. "Will You Be There" – 7:39

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1992–1993)!scope="col"
Peak
position
Canada Contemporary Hit Radio (The Record)22
Canada Retail Singles (The Record)[14] 17
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[15] 3
Europe (European Dance Radio)[16] 2
Italy (Musica e dischi)[17] 8
Panama (El Siglo de Torreón)[18] 6
Portugal (AFP)[19] 7
UK Airplay (Music Week)[20] 1
UK Dance (Music Week)[21] 6
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[22] 9
US Cash Box Top 100[23] 26
Chart (2006)!scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[24] 63
Chart (2009)!scope="col"
Peak
position
Belgium (Back Catalogue Singles Flanders)[25] 3
Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard)28
Europe (European Hot 100)[26] 24
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)39

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)!scope="col"
Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 88
UK Singles (OCC)[28] 9
Chart (1993)!scope="col"
Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[29] 18
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[30] 56
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[31] 43
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[32] 22
Germany (Official German Charts)[33] 34
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 50
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 15
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[36] 35

Personnel

Cover versions

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Richard . Lecocq . François . Allard . 2018 . Michael Jackson All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track . Dangerous . London, England . . 9781788400572 . https://books.google.com/books?id=4qJfDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT576.
  2. Web site: Agunia Billion . Promise . A Critical Analysis of 'Heal the World' by Michael Jackson . . . June 4, 2021 .
  3. Jordan . Runtagh . Heal the World: 20 Songs for a Good Cause . Rolling Stone India . November 23, 2018 . June 4, 2021 .
  4. News: Tina . Miles . Michael Jackson's Heal the World released to support new Liverpool James Bulger centre for bullied children . October 8, 2009 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20091016040814/http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2009/10/08/michael-jackson-s-heal-the-world-released-to-support-new-liverpool-james-bulger-centre-for-bullied-children-92534-24879959/ . October 16, 2009.
  5. Web site: Julian . Hamilton . 'Heal The World' song launched for Red Balloon Centre in Liverpool . Click Liverpool . June 6, 2009 . https://archive.today/20120222112541/http://www.clickliverpool.com/news/local-news/124665-heal-the-world-song-launched-for-red-balloon-centre-in-liverpool.html . February 22, 2012.
  6. Web site: Heal the World By Michael Jackson – Digital Sheet Music . 10 April 2002 . . September 27, 2012.
  7. Web site: Chris . Lacy . Tribute: Celebrating 25 Years of Michael Jackson's 'Dangerous' . Albumism . November 21, 2016 . November 16, 2020 .
  8. Web site: Stephen Thomas . Erlewine . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . Michael Jackson – Dangerous . . February 15, 2014.
  9. Larry . Flick . Larry Flick . Single Reviews . . 82 . 104 . 49 . December 5, 1992 . October 25, 2020 .
  10. Randy . Clark . Music Reviews: Singles . . 5 . October 31, 1992 . November 1, 2020 .
  11. Web site: Michael R. . Smith . Dangerous – Michael Jackson . The Daily Vault . July 21, 2009 . November 20, 2020 .
  12. David . Browne . David Browne (journalist) . MUSIC REVIEW – Dangerous (1991) – Michael Jackson . . November 29, 1991 . February 15, 2014 . October 11, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121011015921/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,316329,00.html . live .
  13. Web site: Alan . Light . Michael Jackson – Dangerous . . January 1, 1992 . February 15, 2014.
  14. Book: Lwin, Nanda. Nanda Lwin. 2000. Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. 142. 1-896594-13-1.
  15. Hits of the World . . February 6, 1993 . 105 . 6 . 46 . 0006-2510.
  16. European Dance Radio . . 10 . 2 . January 9, 1993 . 8 . November 1, 2021 .
  17. Top 10 Sales in Europe . . 10 . 3 . 16 January 1993 . 16 . 24 November 2019 .
  18. News: Discos más populares en Mexico . . 56 . May 24, 1992 . 6 August 2021 . es.
  19. Top 10 Sales in Europe . . 10 . 2 . January 9, 1993 . 12 . October 30, 2020 .
  20. Top 50 Airplay Chart. Music Week. January 16, 1993. 16. April 27, 2024.
  21. Top 60 Dance Singles . . 20 . December 12, 1992 . September 30, 2020 .
  22. Web site: Dangerous – Awards . . February 15, 2014.
  23. CASH BOX Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending MARCH 20, 1993 . . October 10, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121010195235/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/90s_files/19930320.html.
  24. Web site: Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989, part 2 . Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien . February 15, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130929004432/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=26517&pages= . September 29, 2013.
  25. Web site: 50 Back Catalogue Singles – 18/07/2009 . Ultratop. Hung Medien . February 15, 2014.
  26. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=michael jackson|chart=European Hot 100}} Top 100 Music Hits, Top 100 Music Charts, Top 100 Songs & The Hot 100 ]. . February 20, 2012.
  27. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1992 . . February 15, 2014 . nl . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140414113745/http://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1992 . April 14, 2014.
  28. Year End Charts: Top Singles . . 8 . January 16, 1993.
  29. Web site: Jahreshitparade 1993 . Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien . February 15, 2014 . de.
  30. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1993 . Ultratop. Hung Medien . February 15, 2014 . nl.
  31. The RPM Top 100 A\C Tracks of 1993 . . 58 . 23 . December 18, 1993 . May 19, 2016 .
  32. 1993 Year-End Sales Charts – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles . . 10 . 51/52 . December 18, 1993 . 15 . February 12, 2021 .
  33. Web site: Jahrescharts – 1993 . Offiziellecharts.de . GfK Entertainment Charts . May 9, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150509002250/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1993 . de.
  34. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1993 . Single Top 100. Hung Medien . February 15, 2014 . nl.
  35. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1993 . Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien . February 15, 2014 . de.
  36. The Year in Music > Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks . . December 25, 1993 . 105 . 52 . YE-46 . 0006-2510 .
  37. Xuxa - Curar El Mundo . en . 2024-03-30 . www.youtube.com.
  38. Web site: Sonam . Joshi . 45 Kids Got Together For This Cover Of MJ's 'Heal The World' And It's Sheer Brilliance . . August 31, 2016 . September 2, 2016 .
  39. Web site: Jillian Ward dedicates touching 'Heal the World' cover to COVID-19 frontliners . . April 8, 2021 . June 4, 2021 .

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