HIStory - He's Still Making It (History - Michael Jackson)

Member Name: JacintaZoo

Product:	History - Michael Jackson
Date:	28/11/00 (231 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Covers a range of different styles

Disadvantages: Some songs are perhaps too autobiographical for some listeners

HIStory: "The man's almost 40 - why is he singing about his childhood?" "I was left just selecting the ones I liked the best." "Sheez! Who steeped on his foot! - What's with all the negativity?!!" "Is THIS Michael Jackson (Little Susie, Money, D.S., Childhood)...NO! I don't think so!!! Where is he??" "He should have just written a book about the whole allegations episode."
These are just some opinions on HIStory that I'm quite sure we have all either shared, or have heard others express. Given Michael's previous phenomenal success, what went wrong?

Well, the thing with HIStory is this: you either get it, or you don't.

And I think that listening to it becomes a LOT more pleasurable if you aren't just skimming through searching for another 'Bad' or 'Beat it'. These are songs from the heart. You may not get your groove on like you might have to 'Remember the Time' or to 'Rock With You', but if you REALLY listen then you realise that you are listening to another Michael Jackson masterpiece.

I myself have only just 'got it'. Upon first listening, I thought it sounded as though it had missed the usual scrutiny that a Michael Jackson album undergoes as to which songs are good enough to be included. The only songs I thought were 'okay' at the time of release were 'Earth Song', 'Scream' and 'You Are Not Alone'; I won't even mention all the insults I hurled at the rest of the songs.

It just didn't work for me when people would explain, saying, "Yes, but it's from the heart, sincere - it's his most personal album ever." That didn't cut any ice with me, and I thought that must have been the lamest and most poorly-thought-of excuse ever for thinking an album really rocks.

Now the ironic thing is that now there are few other words that I can find to
describe it. I'm not suggesting that because it could be regarded as his most personal album that personal equates with best. Throughout his career he has undoubtedly written some amazing songs which have appealed to us all.

Today some might think he's never equalled the funk of Off the Wall, the fan-following of Thriller, the attitude of Bad or the creativity of Dangerous. Yet each time his albums have a different edge to them, and I think a large part of it for HIStory is his utter Vulnerability.

We should feel privileged that he even released it as an album. He can write hit records with the drop of a hat, which is why it can be expected that the new album will be excellent, and then some. But would we really want to have been denied HIStory? The lyrics to so many of the songs should be every fan's ANTHEM, not something to squirm at.

It takes a REAL man to pour his heart out on a song like Childhood, and release it knowing that many will criticise him, for it's very nature is about something which has passed. However, it had to be said, which is typical of much on the album. The point is that when you truly say what's in your heart you are taking a risk.

Yet he disregards this risk and speaks his mind, unabashed and unashamed. If people don't like him because of it, that's their prerogative. He unwraps the shroud of mystery - even anonymity - which has enveloped him, and gives us an insight into how he thinks and feels about issues of substance.

As a Michael Jackson fan and supporter, I treasure every single 'angry' word that he sings on the HIStory album. That's not a fault, it's one of the things that makes it so damn good. For it wasn't just a bad time for him during the allegations, it was for his fans as well.

So how anyone can listen to Tabloid Junkie, This Time Around, D.S., TDCAU, Scream or Money without shouting, "YOU GO MIKE!!!" I just
don't know!!! What would you rather - another Will You Be There?? No, every single song within that context on the HIStory album was entirely appropriate.

He has turned his situation on it's head. "Lie for it, spy for it, kill for it - die for it." It's the intro to Money. With this song, I don't think he could have made people see the truth any more clearly if he'd have taken them by the shoulders and shaken some sense into them. Because we all KNOW just what people DO for money. And as he so forcefully reminds us, that's just about anything. It's almost too obvious.

Well now. What on Earth is Come Together doing on there, I hear so many ask. I've also heard some pretty fanciful explanations... Here are just a few for you.

"It's there because he wanted to remind us of how good he used to be, and to let us know he'd return back to good music with the next album." "Most people don't have that single do they?" "He couldn't think of anything else to put in there." "He's obsessed with the Beatles, and he's forcing that onto his fans - Michael Jackson fans."

Wrong, wrong, wrong. That's missing the point completely! If you ask me, the explanation is so simple - it lies in the title of the song. It's all he really wants us to do.

Now I can't even listen to the rain without feeling the isolation which radiated from Stranger In Moscow, in the pit of my stomach. Or hear about a case of child abuse/neglect and not faintly hear those first few powerful chords of Little Susie. I used to be afraid that I would grow to love a song about a girl who dies so tragically. Now I'm afraid that I'll become the kind of person who is so reluctant to become receptive to the story of another's pain.

Earth Song speaks for itself. And I can't even tell how many times HIStory has made me get my butt upsta
irs to my room and get on with my homework!

We've had inspiring and motivational songs from Michael before, Man in the Mirror being one of my favourites. However, with all the soundbytes and excerpts from history, REAL history, this in itself puts your existence right into context.

You can 'go by feel, instead of circumstance' as he sang so well on Keep the Faith. On History though, he challenges us to see the bigger picture and learn from the mistakes and successes of OTHERS, before we go ahead and make it OUR way! Isn't having that ability what having true wisdom is all about? Isn't this exactly what HE has done right here with is album?!

As for Smile, no other song that he's ever performed has ever said more about his character! Even if he sang it totally out of tune and backwards, I still would have nothing to say but 'respect' to the man. Just cast your mind back to the time when the whole world didn't even know where Michael Jackson was - he just disappeared, addicted to painkillers, hurt, alone and afraid.

Money can buy you what success doesn't earn, but neither can give you security and peace of mind. But you know what? At the end of it all, he still has it in his heart to raise a smile. Just the thought of it breaks my heart more than the song itself ever could.

HIStory is blatantly up there with the rest of his albums. So to even ask "is THIS Michael Jackson" begs the question -- "Who on Earth else could it be?"

Happy listening.

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