Give In to Me
| "Give In to Me" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Give In to Me" is the tenth track on Michael Jackson's 1991 studio album Dangerous. The single peaked at number one in New Zealand for four consecutive weeks, and at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Stylistically, "Give In to Me" is a hard rock ballad which featured Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash.[1][2] Some suggest that the song, also considered a heavy metal ballad, has an aggressive sexual flavor.[3][4] The single was never released in North America or Asia. The single release is notable for its B-sides, which include the album versions of two of Jackson's other hard rock songs, "Dirty Diana" and "Beat It", which also include guest appearances by hard rock guitarists (Steve Stevens and Eddie Van Halen, respectively).
Background
This song is written in the key of E minor.[5] Jackson's vocal spans from G3 to B4.[5] It has a moderately slow tempo of 87 beats per minute.[5]
Critical response
"Give In to Me" received positive reviews from contemporary music critics. EW editor David Browne praised Jackson's delivery, writing, "when his voice isn't competing with drum machines, it's menacing on the creepy Give In to Me (his best-ever shot at hard rock)."[6] Alan Light of Rolling Stone reviewed the song: "Give In to Me" flirts with something more disturbing as Jackson sings, "Don't try to understand me/Just simply do the things I say" in a grittier, throaty voice while Slash's guitar whips and soars behind him."[7]
Music video
The music video for "Give In to Me"[8] features Jackson performing the song on stage at an indoor rock concert with ex Living Color bassist Muzz Skillings, Guns N' Roses guitarists Slash and Gilby Clarke, as well as the band's touring keyboardist Teddy Andreadis. Loud explosions are later heard with visuals of stylized electrical arcs and Jackson dancing as they run down his body. Slash's Les Paul is hit in the frets which increases the speed of the riffs. The last scene shows one electrical arc running down Jackson's body, an unintentional effect that was left in. The video is featured on the video albums: Dangerous - The Short Films and Michael Jackson's Vision.[9]
According to Jackson—when he was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey—it was shot in just about two hours in Germany in late August 1992. The pyrotechnics appearing on the video are computer-generated and were added later on.
Charts
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 4 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 12 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 3 |
| European Hot 100 Singles | 3 |
| French Singles Chart | 7 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 2 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 1 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 7 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 15 |
| Swiss Singles Chart[10] | 7 |
| UK Singles Chart | 2 |
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
| Swiss Singles Chart[10] | 35 |
| UK Singles Chart | 74 |
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
| Hungarian Singles Chart[11] | 8 |
Track listing
- Austria CD Single
- "Give In to Me" – 5:28
- "Dirty Diana" – 4:52
- "Beat It" – 4:17
- UK CD Single
- "Give In to Me" (Vocal Version) – 4:42
- "Dirty Diana" – 4:52
- "Beat It" – 4:17
- UK Promo CD
- "Give In to Me" (Vocal Version) – 4:42
- "Give In to Me" (Instrumental) – 5:28
- 45 RPM and 7":
- "Give In To Me" – 5:28
- "Dirty Diana" – 4:52
Personnel
- Written, composed, and produced by Michael Jackson and Bill Bottrell
- Recorded, mixed, bass, drums, mellotron, and guitar by Bill Bottrell
- Guitars recorded by Jim Mitchell; assisted by Craig Brock
- Special guitar performance by Slash
- Solo and background vocals by Michael Jackson
- Guitar by Tim Pierce
Covers and sample versions
- 2000, 3 Doors Down's "Kryptonite" contains a guitar-melody similar to this song.
- 2001, Eminem's melody line from his track "Under the Influence" is similar to the song.[12][13]
- 2003, Dream Theater's song "Endless Sacrifice" from Train of Thought album contains a guitar melody similar to the song.
- 2009, Allison Iraheta performed the song on the eighth season of American Idol, and a studio recording was released on iTunes.
- 2009, French hip hop artist Kery James sampled "Give In to Me" on his song "Lettre à Mon Public".[14]
- 2010, Tech N9ne's song "Last Sad Song" contains a piano melody similar to Jackson's song.[15]
- 2012, Three Days Grace included a cover of this song on their album Transit of Venus.
- 2006, Justin Timberlake Sampled The Song on " Summer Love " on his Album FutureSex/LoveSounds .
References
- ^ Campbell, Lisa (1993). Michael Jackson: The King of Pop. Branden Books. p. 309. ISBN 978-0-8283-1957-7. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ Krewen, Nick (November 22, 1991). "Shrewd and Dangerous". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
Jackson also wants to reach a rock audience, so Guns 'N' Roses guitarist Slash contributes his two cents in Black Or White and Give In To Me, while Heavy D. splices in some rap at appropriate moments
- ^ The Atlantic, Volume 269. Atlantic Monthly Co. 1992. p. 101. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
- ^ Campbell, Lisa (1993). Michael Jackson: The King of Pop. Branden Books. pp. 325–326. ISBN 978-0-8283-1957-7. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Give In To Me– Michael Jackson Digital Sheet Music (Digital Download)". MusicNotes.com. Alfred Publishing Co. Inc. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
- ^ "Music Review: Dangerous, by Michael Jackson". Entertainment Weekly. November 29, 1991.
- ^ Michael Jackson Dangerous Album Review | Rolling Stone
- ^ Michael Jackson – Give In To Me – YouTube
- ^ iTunes – Music Videos – Give In to Me (Michael Jackson's Vision) by Michael Jackson
- ^ a b "Swiss Singles Chart Archives". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
- ^ "Hungarian Singles Chart Archives". Mahasz. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
- ^ les samples de Eminem
- ^ "What Is Love" and Eminem's 5 Other Most Random Samples – The L Magazine
- ^ "Kery James "Lettre à Mon Public"". WhoSampled 4. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
- ^ "Tech N9ne – Last Sad Song (Feat. Krizz Kaliko)". Vodpod. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
