MJ's Best Yet

In 1991, after the massive success of Bad and Thriller, Michael put together Dangerous, believed by many to be his best album yet. Sure, it didn't sell as well as any of the others, but it should've.

Everything that makes MJ famous was on the album: from good-cause ballads such as Heal The World and Keep The Faith, beat-heavy jams MJ spits his way through (Jam, the title track Dangerous) and fun party music (Black or White, Remember The Time). For this reason, I believe Dangerous is the essential Michael Jackson CD: not because all his hits are here, but because this album alone sums up his style.

Also, the cover art is some of the best ever produced, up there with Pink Floyd's Echoes: Best Of and The Beatles' Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. It's a highly complex picture, blending all kinds of elements of Michael's life. Features I've been able to make out include the bones of the elephant man, a young Michael with afro hair, Bubbles, and Liz Taylor/Diana Ross (?). See what you can find for yourself, it's a cover open to interpretation.

In many ways, Dangerous was the beginning of the end. During a Beijing stopover of the worldwide Dangerous tour, he was informed that police were raiding Neverland, with a warrant to search for child pornography. They were to find many incriminating pictures and videos, along with a 5-storey high painting of Michael surrounded by adoring children.

Michael went beserk, smashing up his hotel room in anger. For the next few weeks, he went into a severe depression, and was kept on suicide watch. Many concerts were cancelled, citing 'sickness'.

From then on, Michael's music would be forever ruined. With his reputation in tatters, Michael's lyrics turned bitter, sharp and hostile. In his infamous double album HIStory, he mixed attacks on the media with creepy paedophile anthems to a terrible effect. His rapidly expanding ego also became apparent: the cover featuring a statue of MJ himself. (Such a statue was actually built, and toured around the world)

Will Michael ever be the same again? In a word, no. Well, there will always be the classics. Ladies and Gentlemen, Michael Jackson's Dangerous.

Tracks:

One - Jam

A rocky, beat-heavy rap track, in which Michael Jordan guest-starred for the video. You'd be surprised how well Michael can rap: that voice can angrily articulate at high speed just as well as it can belt out a love ballad or two. It's very hard to tell what this song is about: something to do with improving the planet, but there's no way of telling:

I have to find my peace cuz no-one seems to let me be
False prophets cry of doom what are the possibilities
I told my brother they'll be problems times and tears for fears
We must live each day like it's the last
Go with it, go with it...

Two - Why You Wanna Trip On Me?

This track opens with a well engineered, jolty blend of acoustic, electric and bass guitar. MJ goes on to rap/sing the way he does about how, with all the problems facing the world, people focus so much energy on him.

Three - In The Closet

A saucy, romantic love song featuring a woman who is only credited as "Mystery Girl". This was originally going to be a duet with Madonna: Michael played her the tape, but she stopped it and said "Are you kidding me? I'm not singing that piece of crap!"

I must say, I disagree with Madonna: this is a mysterious, beautiful love song from Michael. It's beat-packed, like the other tracks, but is also highly passionate and sexual. At one point, Michael's moans reach very close to the orgasmic, while him and his lover sing about keeping their relationship under wraps.

Four - She Drives Me Wild

This song opens using the sound effects of traffic: horns, exhaust, sirens, etc. mixed into a sound collage (think Pink Floyd's Money). The song continues into one of my favourite ditties on the album: Michael raps about a girl who's showing off the goods:

Satin lace and a paisley cut top
The girl is waistin' over
and she knows what she's got

Five - Remember the Time

One of my favourite songs ever! This is about a girl who Michael knew long ago, but she doesn't seem to remember him...the video is an instant classic! I remember watching the exclusive debut screening of the Remember the Time video, simulcast on local radio station...what a video!

Six - Can't Let Her Get Away

A beat-heavy track about a girl who'll MJ will do anything for. He spits his way through this one, wildly articulating and ad-libbing.

Seven - Heal The World

The classic "save-the-children" melody. I hate this song. Next!

Eight - Black Or White

My favourite MJ song ever! This anti-racism track i've perhaps heard more times than any other song, ever: I've memorised all the lyrics, and even the exact notes of the guitarwork! The video is another classic - in fact, they're all good, so you may want to check out the Dangerous: The Videos collection.

Nine - Who Is It

A creepy track that opens with the collective singing of a choir of angels, then leads us into some melancholy beats and lyrics. Try listening to this in the dark: the effect is quite scary.

Ten - Give In To Me

A sad rock track about a lost love. For some reason, I was never too fond of this song, despite MJ's excellent vocals. Although, when are his vocals less than excellent?

Eleven - Will You Be There

The classic movie theme from Free Willy. Perhaps the most personal, sensitive thing he's ever put to record: you can tell immediately that he wrote it himself. First, a mass choir performs Beethoven's 9th as the intro. Then, a soft angel's voice sings a few notes. The beats enter the mix.

Hold me
Like the river Jordan
And I will then say to thee
"You are my friend"

Perhaps one of his best, most personal tracks ever.

Twelve - Keep the Faith

A dull Christian Music style melody, like those crappy tunes you were forced to sing for church in elementary school.

Thirteen - Gone Too Soon

This ballad was written about a child Michael knew who fell victim to AIDS. Moving in a Michael-ish way, but a strange choice for a single.

Fourteen - Dangerous

A hard-rocking finale that MJ spits and dances his way through. Most of this song's lyrics are not spoken, or sung, or rapped: but gnarled, through clenched teeth.

So, should you buy Dangerous? Yes, if you're looking for the essential Michael Jackson album. For a neat Greatest Hits compilation, check out HIStory.

- Dylan