Heal the World
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| "Heal the World" | ||||||||
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| Single by Michael Jackson | ||||||||
| from the album Dangerous | ||||||||
| B-side | She Drives Me Wild | |||||||
| Released | November 23, 1992 | |||||||
| Format | CD single | |||||||
| Recorded | 1991 | |||||||
| Genre | R&B, soul | |||||||
| Length | 6:25 (Album Version) 4:31 (Single Version) |
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| Label | Epic Records | |||||||
| Writer(s) | Michael Jackson | |||||||
| Producer | Michael Jackson | |||||||
| Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||||||
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"Heal the World" is a song from Michael Jackson's hit album, Dangerous, released in 1991. The music video features children living in countries suffering from unrest. It is also one of only a handful of Michael Jackson's videos not to feature Jackson himself, the others being "Cry", "HIStory" and "Man in the Mirror". (The clips for "HIStory" and "Man in the Mirror" only feature Michael Jackson in archival footage).[1] Jackson performed the song in the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show with a 35,000 person flash card performance.
In a 2001 Internet chat with fans, Jackson said "Heal the World" is the song he is 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 days earlier, in preparation for his planned "This Is It" tour in London along with Dirty Diana. Ciara, an R&B singer sung this song at the BET Awards 2009. Jennette McCurdy, is performing this duet with Brittany Hargest of Jump5 from her new album.
According to Jane Goodall, Jackson wrote the song, which he considered his most powerful to date, after discussions with her regarding the plight of wild chimpanzees, and Jackson's hope to promote more compassion towards wild animals. In a letter to Goodall, Jackson mentioned that despite the song having been inspired by chimpanzees, it ended up being about his hope for a better world for human children.[2]
The song was played at the funeral of James Bulger[3], and Jackson also donated the song to be used as the anthem for the charity the James Bulger Red Balloon Center, a school for children to go if they are being bullied or have learning difficulties[4].
Contents |
[edit] Reception
The song reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1992, kept off the #1 position by Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You". It peaked #27 on the Billboard Hot 100.
[edit] Track listing
[edit] Original release
- "Heal the World" (7" edit) – 4:31
- "Heal the World" (Album version) – 6:25
- "She Drives Me Wild" – 3:41
- "Man in the Mirror" – 4:55
[edit] CD release
UK??[EPC6584482]
- "Heal the World" (7" edit) – 4:31
- "Heal the World" (7" edit with Intro) – 4:55
- "Heal the World" (LP version) – 6:25
- "She Drives Me Wild" – 3:41
[edit] Visionary single
- CD side
- "Heal the World" (7" edit)
- "Will You Be There"
- DVD Side
- "Heal the World" (Music video)
2."Ryan Cassidy's Tribute"
[edit] Mixes
- Album version – 6:25
- 7" edit w/intro
- 7" edit
- Spoken version [includes a special message from Michael Jackson of the "Signature Series" promo CD]
[edit] Charts
| Chart (1992/1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 20 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 4 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 9 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 4 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 Singles | 2 |
| French Singles Chart | 2 |
| German Singles Chart | 3 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 2 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 3 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 3 |
| Spanish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 15 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 5 |
| UK Singles Chart | 2 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 27 |
| US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 62 |
| US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 9 |
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 40 |
| French Singles Chart | 60 |
| Spanish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 13 |
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 26 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 22 |
| Danish Singles Chart | 7 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 46 |
| German Singles Chart | 18 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 22 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 19 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 3 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 18 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 9[5] |
| UK Singles Chart | 44[6] |
| US Billboard Hot Digital Songs[7] | 60 |
[edit] Certification
| Country | Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Gold[8] | 250,000 |
| New Zealand | Gold[9] | 7,500[10] |
[edit] Credits
- Written and composed by Michael Jackson
- Produced by Michael Jackson & David Foster
- Co-produced by Bruce Swedien
- Recorded and mixed by Bruce Swedien and Matt Forger
- Solo and background vocals: Michael Jackson
- Ending solo vocal: Christa Larson
- Playground girl: Ashley Farell
- Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson
- Orchestra arranged and conducted by Marty Paich
- Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson and John Bahler
- Choir arrangement by John Bahler, featuring the John Bahler Singers
- Keyboards: David Paich and Brad Buxer
- Synthesizers: Michael Boddicker, David Paich and Steve Porcaro
- Drums: Jeff Porcaro
- Percussion: Bryan Loren
- Prelude composed, arranged and conducted by Marty Paich
[edit] Cover versions
- The song was covered as "Heal Massa God World" in a reggae style by Jamaican artist Wayne Wonder on his 2006 album Don't Have To.
- The song was also covered by R&B superstar Ciara at the 2009 BET Awards, as a tribute to Michael's passing.
- Piccolo Coro dell'Antoniano; Italian choir of children, also has been performing it occasionally. For the first time, in 2005, at the annual Spring Concert.
- The song was covered by hundreds of people, led by Judith Hill, on July 7, 2009, at Jackson's memorial service.
- The song was covered by a group of employees that worked at the Red Balloon Care Center in Merseyside, it was used to raise money to open "The James Bulger Red Balloon Center", it is in memory of the 2 year-old toddler James Bulger, who was murdered in February 1993 by two ten year-olds.
- Italian singer Laura Pausini performs this song as a tribute to Jackson in all of her shows. In her DVD, LauraLive, there's a clip for it.
[edit] References
- ^ "Heal The World (Music Video)". Epic Records. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTMjA4ZJUqo#t=2m50s. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ Alan Duke (2009-10-09). "Goodall: Chimps' plight inspired Jackson's 'Heal the World'". CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/09/ent.jackson.goodall/.
- ^ 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/
- ^ http://www.clickliverpool.com/news/local-news/124665-heal-the-world-song-launched-for-red-balloon-centre-in-liverpool.html
- ^ "Swiss Singles Chart Archives". hitparade.ch. http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=Heal+The+World&cat=s. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
- ^ "UK Singles Chart". The Official UK Charts Company. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/top40_singles.php. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=1&strSuche=Heal+the+World
- ^ http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp
- ^ http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart_facts.asp
[edit] External links
- Official Music Video
- Michael Jackson's Heal The World Foundation
- Heal The World Live at Super Bowl XXVII
