Results for: They_Don't_Care_About_Us
From Amazon:
Searching for 'They_Don't_Care_About_Us'
Number of products:
Page 1 of 0
| "They Don't Care About Us" | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||||||||
| Single by Michael Jackson | ||||||||||
| from the album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I | ||||||||||
| Released | April 4, 1996 | |||||||||
| Format | CD single | |||||||||
| Recorded | 1994-1995 | |||||||||
| Genre | Hard rock, hip-hop, soul | |||||||||
| Length | 4:44 (Album/Single Version) 4:11 (Short Edit) |
|||||||||
| Label | Epic Records | |||||||||
| Writer(s) | Michael Jackson | |||||||||
| Producer | Michael Jackson | |||||||||
| Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
"They Don't Care About Us" is the fourth single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, released on April 4, 1996. The song remains one of the most controversial pieces Jackson ever composed. In the US, media scrutiny surrounding alleged antisemitic lyrics were the catalyst for Jackson issuing multiple apologies and re-recording the album—altering the lyrics for that particular track. The singer countered allegations of antisemitism, arguing that reviews had misinterpreted the context of the song, either unintentionally or deliberately. Musically, it is an aggressive hip-hop production about social ills.
The song was accompanied by two music videos directed by Spike Lee. The first was shot in a shantytown of Rio de Janeiro, and Salvador where State authorities tried to ban all production over fears the video would damage their image, the area and prospects of staging the 2004 Olympics. Still, the residents of the area were happy to see the singer, hoping their problems would be made visible to a wider audience. The second video was shot in a prison and contained video footage of multiple references to human rights abuses.
Commercially, the song became a top ten hit in all European countries and number one in Germany for three weeks. In the US, radio stations were reluctant to play the controversial composition; it, however, managed to peak at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Contents |
Dispute regarding lyrics and context
The possibility that the lyrics to "They Don't Care About Us" preached antisemitism was first raised publicly by The New York Times on June 15, just days before the album's release. The publication highlighted the lyrics, "Jew me, sue me, everybody do me/ Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me" and labeled them "slurs".[1] Jackson responded directly to the publication, stating:
The idea that these lyrics could be deemed objectionable is extremely hurtful to me, and misleading. The song in fact is about the pain of prejudice and hate and is a way to draw attention to social and political problems. I am the voice of the accused and the attacked. I am the voice of everyone. I am the skinhead, I am the Jew, I am the black man, I am the white man. I am not the one who was attacking. It is about the injustices to young people and how the system can wrongfully accuse them. I am angry and outraged that I could be so misinterpreted.[1]
When questioned further about the lyrics on the ABC News program Prime Time Live, Jackson denied that "They Don't Care About Us" was anti-Semitic, stating, "It's not anti-Semitic because I'm not a racist person ... I could never be a racist. I love all races."[1] The singer also noted that some of his closest employees and friends were Jewish. That same day, Jackson received support from his manager and record label, who described the lyrics as "brilliant", that they were about opposition to prejudice and taken out of context.[1]. The following day, two leading members of the Jewish community stated that Jackson's attempt to make a song critical of discrimination had backfired. They expressed the opinion that the lyrics used were unsuitable for a teenage audience that might not understand the song's context, adding that the song was too ambiguous for some listeners to understand. They accepted that Jackson meant well and suggested that the entertainer write an explanation in the album booklet.[2]
On June 17, Jackson issued another public apology to anyone offended by his choice of words. He promised that future copies of the album would include an apology, by this point however, two million copies of the record had already been shipped. The singer concluded, "I just want you all to know how strongly I am committed to tolerance, peace and love, and I apologize to anyone who might have been hurt".[3] The next day, in his review of HIStory, Jon Pareles of The New York Times alleged, "In ... 'They Don't Care About Us', he gives the lie to his entire catalogue of brotherhood anthems with a burst of anti-Semitism: 'Jew me, sue me, everybody do me/ Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me'".[4]
On June 21, Patrick Macdonald of The Seattle Times criticized Jackson, stating, "He may have lived a sheltered life, but there really is no excuse for using terms like 'Jew me' and 'kike' in a pop song, unless you make it clear you are denouncing such terms, and do so in an artful way".[5] Two days later, Jackson decided, despite the cost incurred, he would return to the studio and alter the offending wording on future copies of the album; "Jew me" and "Kike me" would be substituted with "do me" and "strike me". He reiterated his acceptance that the song was offensive to some.[6][7] Spike Lee, who would direct the music videos for "They Don't Care About Us", asserted there was a double standard in the music industry. He claimed that the use of the word nigger, in music, does not cause controversy. Additionally, Jackson, who is African American, used the word nigger on another song on the HIStory album, but it did not attract media attention.[8]
Music and other commentary
 |
|
||||
| Problems listening to this file? See media help. | |||||
The controversial song begins with a child chanting, "Enough is enough of this garbage!" and a female helps sing the chorus—"All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us".[2][9][10] Most of the song is written in D minor. Instruments used include a piano and guitar.[11] Jon Pareles believed Jackson was calling himself "a victim of police brutality" and a "victim of hate". He continued, "A listener might wonder just who 'Us' is supposed to be ... To make the songs lodge in the ear, Jackson uses elementary singsong melodies -- a 'nyah, nyah' two-note motif in 'They Don't Care About Us' ... and he comes up with all kinds of surprises in the arrangements".[4]
James Hunter of Rolling Stone magazine noted that musically, Jackson was no longer trying to hide any eccentricities he had, he expressed the opinion that in "They Don't Care About Us", the pop musician sounded more embattled than ever.[12] Jim Farber of New York Daily News said that Jackson "snarled" while singing, that the song "clicked" and has an "original clattering rhythm".[13]
The review of HIStory in The Washington Times noted of "They Don't Care About Us": "[it] follows fast, inviting more pathos - and more controversy. With haunting clapping and a police scanner in the background",[14] The Sacramento Bee described it as a "looped reggae-lite dance beat".[15] MT Reviews awarded the song a maximum 10 out of 10 rating and called the song: "A stirring song about social injustice and inequality. Jackson's lyrical abilities are tremendous; the song reflecting the rawer, angrier tone of HIStory..." In the review of the song, the issue of possible anti-Semitic lyrics was addressed: "The fact that some consider the lyrics as Anti-Semitic, is ludicrous. One only has to look at Jackson's past music with anthems such as "Can You Feel It", "Man In The Mirror", "Black or White" and "Heal the World", to understand the man's message of love, unity and peace. Furthermore, upon listening to the angry and frustrated nature of the song, the lyrics "Jew me sue me" and "kick me kike me" are in context - after all this song is about the problematic nature of society, human rights abuses (see Prison Version music video) and discrimination in many respects."
Chart performance
In the UK, it peaked at number four and stayed on the chart for three months.[16] The song found particular success in Europe, peaking within the top ten in all states. European highlights came in Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Sweden, in these countries the song became a top five hit and stayed in their respective charts for a minimum of 21 weeks.[17] The song reached the top of the charts for three weeks in Germany and stayed a full 30 weeks in the survey.[18] It is the longest consecutive chart run of a Michael Jackson song in the German charts. The lyrical controversy surrounding "They Don't Care About Us" brought partial commercial disappointment in the US; radio stations were reluctant to play the song. It peaked at number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, falling short of the record breaking success of the two previous singles "Scream/Childhood" and "You Are Not Alone", yet the song peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart.[19]
Music videos
Producing the first video proved to be a difficult task for Jackson. State authorities unsuccessfully tried to ban the singer filming in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador (Pelorinho). Officials feared images of poverty might affect tourism and accused Jackson of exploiting the poor. Ronaldo Cezar Coelho, the state secretary for Industry, Commerce and Tourism demanded editing rights over the finished product, stating, "I don't see why we should have to facilitate films that will contribute nothing to all our efforts to rehabilitate Rio's image". Some were concerned that scenes of poverty and human rights abuses would affect their chances of hosting the Olympics in 2004. Others supported Jackson's wish to highlight the problems of the region, arguing that the government were embarrassed by their own failings.
A judge banned all filming but this ruling was overturned by an injunction. Although officials were angry, the residents were not. Thousands pushed through security and one fan managed to hug the singer, both of them falling to the street. The woman was escorted away and Jackson continued to sing and dance for the director. 1,500 policemen and 50 residents acting as security guards effectively sealed off the Dona Marta shanty town. It was alleged that Jackson's production team had negotiated with drug dealers in order to gain permission to film in one of the city's shantytowns.[20][21]
The music video was directed by Spike Lee. Asked why he chose Lee to direct the video, Jackson responded, "'They Don't Care About Us' has an edge, and Spike Lee had approached me. It's a public awareness song and that's what he is all about. It's a protest kind of song ... and I think he was perfect for it".[22] Jackson also collaborated with 200 members of the cultural group Olodum, "who swayed to the heavy beat of Salvador's 'samba-reggae' music".[20][23] The media interest surrounding the music video exposed Olodum to 140 countries around the world. It brought them worldwide fame and increased their credibility in Brazil.[24] At the beginning of the video, a brazilian boy says "Michael, eles não ligam pra gente" which means "Michael, they don't care about us".
Speaking of the music video, in The New Brazilian Cinema, Lúcia Nagib observed:
When Michael Jackson decided to shoot his new music video in a favela of Rio de Janeiro ... he used the favela people as extras in a visual super-spectacle ... All the while there is a vaguely political appeal in there ... The interesting aspect of Michael Jackson's strategy is the efficiency with which it gives visibility to poverty and social problems in countries like Brazil without resorting to traditional political discourse. The problematic aspect is that it does not entail a real intervention in that poverty.[25]
In 2009, Billboard described the area as "now a model for social development" and stated that Jackson's influence was partially responsible for this improvement.[26] For the first time in his career, Jackson made a second music video for a single. This second version was filmed in a prison with cell mates; In the video Jackson is seen handcuffed. It also contains real footage of police attacking African Americans, the Ku Klux Klan, genocide, execution, and other human rights abuses.[27]
2009 rehearsal footage
A short video clip released after Jackson's death of the June 23, 2009 rehearsal for the This Is It concert series shows Jackson performing the song as the main song in a medley with clips of "HIStory" as well as "Why You Wanna Trip on Me" and "She Drives Me Wild" from Dangerous.[28]
Charts
Charts
|
Certifications
|
Chart procession and succession
| Preceded by Children by Robert Miles |
German Single Charts number-one song May 10, 1996 - May 24, 1996 |
Succeeded by Macarena by Los del Rio |
Tracklisting
U.S. and Japan Single
| Track # | Song | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | They Don't Care About Us | 4:48 |
| 2 | They Don't Care About Us (Dallas Main Mix) | 7:56 |
| 3 | They Don't Care About Us (Charles Full Joint Mix) | 5:00 |
| 4 | They Don't Care About Us (Love To Infinity Walk in the Park Mix) | 7:20 |
| 5 | They Don't Care About Us (Love To Infinity Classic Paradise Mix) | 7:51 |
| 6 | They Don't Care About Us (Track Master's Radio Mix) | 4:09 |
| 7 | Rock With You (Frankie Knuckles Favorite Club Mix) | 7:39 |
| 8 | Earth Song (Hani's Extended Radio Experience) | 7:55 |
Austrian Single
| Track # | Song | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | They Don't Care About Us | 4:48 |
| 2 | They Don't Care About Us (Dallas Main Mix) | 7:56 |
| 3 | They Don't Care About Us (Love To Infinity's Anthem of Love Mix) | 7:46 |
| 4 | They Don't Care About Us (Love To Infinity Walk in the Park Mix) | 7:20 |
| 5 | They Don't Care About Us (Love To Infinity Classic Paradise Mix) | 7:51 |
| 6 | They Don't Care About Us (Love To Infinity Hacienda Mix) | 7:13 |
- Visionary single
-Cd Side:
- They Don't Care About Us (Short Version) - 4:09
- They Don't Care About Us (Love To Infinity Walk in the Park Mix) - 7:49
-Dvd Side:
- They Don't Care About Us (Music Video)
References
- ^ a b c d Weinraub, Bernard (June 15, 1995). "In New Lyrics, Jackson Uses Slurs". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE4DF113DF936A25755C0A963958260&scp=11&sq=Michael%20Jackson%20-%20HIStory&st=cse. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ^ a b "Jewish Response to Jackson". The New York Times. June 16, 1995. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE3D7153EF935A25755C0A963958260. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ^ Smith, Dinitia (June 17, 1995). "Michael Jackson Apologizes For Hurt Caused by Lyrics". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CEFD71239F934A25755C0A963958260&scp=19&sq=Michael%20Jackson%20-%20HIStory&st=cse. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ^ a b Pareles, Jon (June 18, 1995). "Pop View; Michael Jackson Is Angry, Understand?". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE0DD123DF93BA25755C0A963958260&scp=4&sq=HIStory+album+michael+jackson+review&st=nyt. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
- ^ Macdonald, Patrick (June 21, 1995). "`History' Lesson: Jackson's Living On Past Glories". The Seattle Times. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19950621&slug=2127467. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ^ Riemenschneider, Chris (June 23, 1995). "Jackson Will Re-Record `Care' Lyrics Pop music: Michael Jackson apologizes and says he plans to change the words in `They Don't Care About Us' that some considered to be racial slurs.". Los Angeles Times. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/21529572.html?dids=21529572:21529572&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+23%2C+1995&author=CHRIS+RIEMENSCHNEIDER&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Jackson+Will+Re-Record+%60Care%27+Lyrics+Pop+music%3A+Michael+Jackson+apologizes+and+says+he+plans+to+change+the+words+in+%60They+Don%27t+Care+About+Us%27+that+some+considered+to+be+racial+slurs.&pqatl=google. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ^ Smith, Dinitia (June 23, 1995). "Jackson Plans New Lyrics For Album". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE1DB1E3AF930A15755C0A963958260. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ^ Lee, Spike (2002). Spike Lee: Interviews. Univ. Press of Mississippi. pp. 151–152. ISBN 1578064708.
- ^ "Jackson explains remarks denounced as antisemitism". (June 16, 1995). The Boston Globe .
- ^ Catlin, Roger (June 18, 1995). "Once the indisputable King of Pop, Jackson badly needs a hit to revive his career, is Michael HIStory?". The Hartford Courant. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/22893883.html?dids=22893883:22893883&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+18%2C+1995&author=ROGER+CATLIN%3B+Courant+Rock+Critic&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=ONCE+THE+INDISPUTABLE+KING+OF+POP%2C+JACKSON+BADLY+NEEDS+A+HIT+TO+REVIVE+HIS+CAREER+IS+MICHAEL+HISTORY%3F&pqatl=google. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
- ^ "They Don't Care About Us". www.musicnotes.com. http://www.musicnotes.com/download/viewer/downloadviewer.asp?ppn=MN0015822&dltype=0. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ^ Hunter, James (August 10, 1995). "Michael Jackson HIStory". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/michaeljackson/albums/album/312830/review/5943497/history_past_present_and_future_book_1. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
- ^ Farber, Jim (June 19, 1995). "Michael's 'HIS'-sy fit". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1995/06/19/1995-06-19_michael_s__his_-sy_fit__sing.html. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ^ A 'HIStory' of self-pity and hype. (June 21, 1995). The Washington Times.
- ^ "Jackson's old hits are still the best". (June 20, 1995). The Sacramento Bee.
- ^ a b "MJ visionary". Sony BMG. http://www.mjvisionary.com/mjvisionary.html. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "M. Jackson - They Don't Care About Us (nummer)". www.ultratop.be. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=They+Don%27t+Care+About+Us&cat=s. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
- ^ a b c "Artist Chart History - 'They Don't Care About Us' Michael Jackson". musicline / media control. http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/title/Jackson%2CMichael/They+Don%2527t+Care+About+Us/single. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
- ^ a b c "Artist Chart History - Michael Jackson". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=4902&model.vnuAlbumId=497792. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
- ^ a b "Brazil:Michael Jackson films video for 'They Don't Care About Us'". ITN. February 9, 1995. http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//RTV/1995/02/09/605160349/. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ^ Schemo, Diana Jean (February 11, 1996). "Rio Frets as Michael Jackson Plans to Film Slum". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E03E4D81539F932A25751C0A960958260. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ^ Grant, Adrian (1998). Michael Jackson : Making History. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0711967237.
- ^ Dunn, Christoper (2001). Brutality Garden. UNC Press. p. 207. ISBN 0807849766.
- ^ Crock, Larry (2005). Brazilian Music. ABC-CLIO. p. 296. ISBN 1576072878.
- ^ Nagib, Lúcia (2003). The New Brazilian Cinema. I.B.Tauris. p. 123. ISBN 1860649289.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Remains A Global Phenomenon". Billboard. July 2, 2009. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/michael-jackson-remains-a-global-phenomenon-1003990447.story?pn=1. Retrieved July 5, 2009.
- ^ "First look at Michael Jackson's new music video on Entertainment Tonight". (March 29, 1996). PR Newswire.
- ^ "Jackson rehearses with dancers". CNN. July 2, 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/02/jackson.wrap/index.html#cnnSTCVideo. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
- ^ a b "Swiss Singles Chart Archives". hitparade.ch. http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=They+Don%27t+Care+About+Us&cat=s. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
- ^ "New Zealand Singles Chart". RIANZ. http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
- ^ "Norwegian Singles Chart". VG. http://lista.vg.no/. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
- ^ http://www.swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=They+Don%27t+Care+About+Us&cat=s
- ^ "UK Singles Chart". The Official UK Charts Company. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/top40_singles.php. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
- ^ U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs
- ^ http://ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_singles.asp?chart=1U50
US $42.49
End Date: Sunday Mar-21-2010 8:10:17 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $42.49
Buy it now | Add to watch list
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT US~MICHAEL JACKSON~DOUBLE PROMO
US $499.95
End Date: Saturday Mar-13-2010 23:24:02 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $499.95
Buy it now | Add to watch list
MICHAEL JACKSON THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT US GERMAN LP NM
font>