Released: November 26, 1991
Genre: New Jack Swing • R&B • pop
Label: Epic
Producer: Michael Jackson ∙Bill Bottrell ∙Bruce Swedien ∙Teddy Riley
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By 1991, Michael Jackson was the world’s biggest Black entertainer in the world. He had the world in his hands when he started out as a member of his family group Jackson 5, but his solo career skyrocketed to newer heights & became the most powerful Black man in the world after the successes of Off The Wall (1979,) Thriller (1982) & Bad (1987).
Originally beginning to record new songs for a greatest hits album titled Decade (similar to what Madonna did for her The Immaculate Collection greatest hits record,) the idea was dropped with Michael deciding on making the new material into a new album..which he titled Dangerous.
Dangerous was released by Epic Records on November 26, 1991 to critical acclaim! With elements of R&B, pop, funk, hip hop, electronic, gospel, classical, rock and industrial, Dangerous introduced Michael to a new sub-genre (new jack swing,) and it was very experimental for the singer.
Working closely with the creator of the new jack swing sub-genre Teddy Riley, the album was experimental, gritty and showcased a shift in Michael’s sound artistically..focusing more on material that was socially conscious with themes of racism, poverty, romance, self-improvement, the state of the world and the welfare of children.
Dangerous debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 326,500 copies in its first week. Dangerous also peaked on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart as well, and has since been certified 8x platinum by the RIAA. The Dangerous album has also been crowned one of the best-selling albums of all time, selling over 32 million copies worldwide.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Michael Jackson’s Dangerous.
Jam (featuring Heavy D)
Written by Michael Jackson ∙René Moore ∙Bruce Swedien ∙Teddy Riley
The album opens with the new jack swing influenced Jam, which featured the late and great rapper Heavy D. Lyrically, the song has Mike wanting society to come together and have some type of accord where we live in a world of peace, cooperation, love and positivity. The method of Michael using a dnace record like this to promote a better world is forever top tier. Jam became another top three hit on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart, while peaking at number 26 on the Hot 100.
***Jam contains a sample of Let A Woman Be A Woman – Let A Man Be A Man by Dyke & The Blazers, and was sampled by Skee-Lo’s I Wish.
Why You Wanna Trip on Me
Written by Teddy Riley ∙ Bernard Belle
Why You Wanna Trip on Me is Michael’s clapback to his critics obsession over him, and reminds them of what they could be focusing on! One thing i’ve admired about Michael is how socially aware and conscious he was. Why You Wanna Trip on Me touched on topics like the HIV/AIDS epidemic, world hunger, illiteracy, police brutality, homelessness and much more. So yeah like Mike said stop tripping on him damn it!
***Why You Wanna Trip on Me contains a sample of Think (About It) by Lyn Collins.
In The Closet (featuring Princess Stéphanie of Monaco)
Written by Michael Jackson ∙ Teddy Riley
In The Closet is one of my favorite songs from this album if NOT the favorite, because Mike & the legendary Teddy Riley did their thing writing and producing this record. Originally supposed to be a collaboration with Madonna, Michael decided not to work with the artist because her lyrical ideas were too provocative. Lyrically, the song was about a woman and man keeping their relationship under wraps. The female vocals on the record was originally labeled “mystery girl,” but was later revealed to be Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, daughter of Grace Kelly and Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.
In the Closet became the album’s third consective top ten single, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, & also became the album’s second number one single on the R&B charts.
***In The Closet was sampled for Take You Down by Chris Brown & So What! by II Close.
She Drives Me Wild (featuring Wreckx-n-Effect)
Written by Michael Jackson ∙ Teddy Riley ∙ Aqil Davidson
She Drives Me Wild is a new jack swing masterpiece that I never hear people talk about when it comes to their favorite Michael songs. Inspired by the actress Salli Richardson, the song is lyrically about being attracted to a woman, but pushed away at the same time because of how he knows he shouldn’t be with a woman this dangerously fine.
***She Drives Me Wild was sampled for I Wish by Skee-Lo.
Remember the Time
Written by Michael Jackson ∙Teddy Riley ∙ Bernard Belle
Remember The Time is a beautiful masterpiece with R&B & new jack swing influences! From a lyrical perspective, the song amazingly describes a romance that is so blissful and so remarkable that had Michael wanting to risk it all! I love how nostalgic Remember The Time is, especially the music video. The star studded short film music video was directed by John Singleton, and had cameos from Eddie Murphy, Iman, The Pharcyde, Magic Johnson, Wylie Draper (whom portrayed Michael in The Jacksons: An American Dream) and Tommy “Tiny” Lister Jr.
Remember The Time was a commercial success, peaking at number 1 on the Billboard R&B charts, and number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts respectively. The song has also been certified 3x platinum by the RIAA.
***Remember The Time has been sampled by A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie for Look Back at It, Chris Brown’s Even, Shindy’s September, A Tribe Called Quest’s Scenario (Remix), and was covered by Mack Wilds and The Temptations.
Can’t Let Her Get Away
Written by Michael Jackson ∙Teddy Riley
Can’t Let Her Get Away is another new jack swing influenced record produced by Jackson & Riley where the singer is dealing with a failing relationship and he battles with ending it altogether even though he tries everything to make her happy.
***Can’t Let Her Get Away contains samples of Movin’ by Brass Construction & South Bronx by Boogie Down Productions.
Heal the World
Written by Michael Jackson
One thing that I’ll always treasure and appreciate about Michael and his legacy is how he utilized his platform and power as a Black man to make the world a better place if he could’ve helped it. Now if the world deserved it or not, eh. Lol, but on a serious note Heal The World is easily one of Michael’s most powerful and beautiful records.
From a lyrical perspective, the song speaks about Michael’s wish for the human race to make the world be better than it is. Michael has stated that Heal The World was one of the songs he was most proud to make, and created a whole foundation in the song’s honor in 1992.. The charitable organization has helped improve the lines of children worldwide.
Black or White
Written by Michael Jackson ∙ Bill Bottrell
The lead single from the heavily anticipated album was Black or White, a song with influences of rock, pop, dance and hip hop. From a lyrical perspective, the song is about harmony amongst races. The lyrics became interpreted for people who criticized Jackson’s skin tone changing due to his vitiligo condition.
The music video for Black or White was so iconic, yet so controversial at the same time due to the final four minutes of the original video. Despite that, the song was a massive hit for Michael, giving him his 12th number one hit on the Hot 100 chart. Black Or White also made Michael the first artist to have number one pop hits in the 70s, 80s and 90s, while being the fastest chart topper since The Beatles. Top TIERRRRRRRRR AF.
Who Is It
Written by Michael Jackson
From a lyrical perspective, Who Is It is about the feelings of despair that he is feeling after a breakup that randomly happened while eventually learning that she was cheating on him. Released the fifth single, the song peaked at number 6 on the R&B Charts, and number 14 on the Hot 100 respectively.
Give In to Me
Written by Michael Jackson ∙Bill Bottrell
Give In To Me showcases how versatile Michael was musically. A ballad with hard rock and heavy metal influences, the song was a big hit overseas, peaking at number 2 on the UK pop charts. Give In To Me also had a special guitar performance from Slash from the band Guns N’ Roses.
Will You Be There
Will You Be There is one of my favorite Michael songs period. Featured on the soundtrack for Free Willy, Will You Be There is a R&B record with pop and gospel influences and included the Cleveland Orchestra being featured on the song.
The song became another successful record on the album, peaking at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Will You Be There has since been certified platinum by the RIAA,
Keep the Faith
Written by Michael Jackson ∙Glen Ballard ∙Siedah Garrett
Keep The Faith is an inspirational record about following your dreams and being confident about yourself. One of the album’s standout gems for sure.
Gone Too Soon
Written by Larry Grossman ∙ Buz Kohan
Gone Too Soon is a touching cover of a Dionne Warwick song that she performed in 1983, in honor of Ryan White..a young boy from Indiana who came to national attention when his school expelled him for having HIV/AIDS. White was also Michael’s friend, so the tribute was personal and you feel the emotion in his voice. Forever one of his best songs of all time. The song was released as the ninth and final single from the album.
***Gone Too Soon is a cover of Dionne Warwick’s version.
Dangerous
Written by Michael Jackson ∙Bill Bottrell ∙ Teddy Riley
The album closes with the title track, which was produced by Jackson & Riley. From a lyrical perspective, the song talks about how dangerous and enamored this man is with a woman he likes.
Dangerous is easily one of the best new jack swing records of all time period. Michael won a Grammy award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical in 1993, and rightfully so because it is a true top tier record that stands the test of time. -MW.
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