It’s no secret thatMichael Jacksonwas extremely vocal about standing up against injustice and bringing himself alongside the oppressed, and he embodied those ideals various times throughout his discography in ways that are still relevant today. Though known as theKing of Pop, it would be a massive mistake to takeall of Jackson’s musicat face value as fun, sparkly pop songs. His discography is full of powerful songs that make bold statements.
Jackson did this numerous times on his solo albums, but most prominently in the 1990s. As a Black artist, Jackson knew what it was like to constantly face both adversity and injustice, causing him to passionately address these topics quite often in his music. The following eight songs are ones that Jackson created decades ago that still hold relevance today, ranging from topics such as racism to greed and climate change.
8"Beat It"
Thriller (1982)
Jackson laid it out plain and simple on theThrillertrack “The Girl Is Mine” when he said “I’m a lover, not a fighter” - and “Beat It” is proof of that. Though focused primarily on gang violence that was prevalent in the early 1980s,“Beat It” tells a cautionary tale of what happens when you take the bait and engage in a fight rather than walk awayand leave it be. Jackson was just starting to learn how to address these topics in his music when he released “Beat It.”
Digging deeper, however, shows that Jackson isn’t just saying that we ought not to fight. Instead,it’s important to pick and choose our fights, and reflect upon the reasons why we’re engagingin them. This is a sentiment that’s still important today; are we fighting just because we want to defend our own pride, or because there’s something bigger at stake? There are some fights that certainly have to be fought, but those that are picked for shallower reasons simply aren’t worth the hurt.
7"Man In The Mirror"
Another one of Jackson’s earliest examples of dipping his toe into a greater narrative, “Man in the Mirror” tackles the crucial point of self-reflection in the grand scheme of things. Change is something humankind has been pushing and fighting for throughout history, butthe catalyst starts on the individual level. As Jackson sings, “If you want to make the world a better place / Take a look at yourself and make that change.”
Introspection and change on an individual level are absolutely essential to truly making our communities, and the world, a better place.
Jackson doesn’t just address being open to change on a grand scale, however. “Man in the Mirror” speaks of “the kids in the street” and “some with no home,” scenes that are taken from everyday life. If we aren’t willing to do something about the day-to-day problems we walk by on a regular basis, then it will be much, much harder to begin tackling bigger issues. Introspection and change on an individual level are absolutely essential to truly making our communities, and the world, a better place.
6"Black Or White"
Dangerous (1992)
“Black or White” is perhaps the most famous example of Jackson tackling an issue like racism, as the song calls for unity regardless of race. Though Jackson is more playful in this upbeat anthem, singing “If you’re thinking about my baby / It don’t matter if you’re black or white” - meaning he won’t hesitate to confront you for getting between him and his partner, regardless of your skin color - the sentiment still stands, especially as we get further into the song.
Jackson’s bridge shifts from the song’s pop sound into a gritty rock section to drive home his most key points, beginning with a no-nonsense “I am tired of this devil.” He outright states thathe’s not afraid of anyone when it comes to addressing this topic, even directly calling out the most hateful group by singing “I ain’t scared of no sheets.” L.T.B.’s rap verse only adds further to this, ending with the iconic “I’m not gonna spend my life being a color.”
Unfortunately, in today’s world, racism is still a rampant issue, and the sentiment of “Black or White” rings just as true. This call for unity by Jackson, which includesstanding alongside those who are facing racist oppression on a regular basis, is perhaps more important now than ever before. At our core, we are all human beings, and we all deserve to be treated equally as such, regardless of the color of our skin.
5"They Don’t Care About Us"
HIStory: Past, Present And Future, Book I (1995)
Of his entire discography, “They Don’t Care About Us” may bethe most important song Jackson ever created. Jackson’s genuine anger at how oppressed people were being treated by the government, specifically Black people, oozes through into each thundering word he speaks. Jackson doesn’t hold back here, lamenting his disbelief at how little those who were running the country really did care about people like him.
And tell me, what has become of my rights?
Am I invisible ‘cause you ignore me?
Your proclamation promised me free liberty now
I’m tired of being the victim of shame
They’re throwing me in a class with a bad name
I can’t believe this is the land from which I came
Jackson takes a stand with the oppressed in this song, and, unfortunately, many of its themes still resonate today - especially amidst increased unrest in the 2020s. From the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 to the recent protests against ICE and the mass deportation in Los Angeles,“They Don’t Care About Us” has become an anthem and a call to action for those who feel powerless against the treatment they are receivingat the hands of the powerful.
4"Earth Song"
HIStoryeasily sees Jackson at his most vocal about pressing issues, one of which is a topic that was always very important to him: the environment. “Earth Song” is a heartbreaking plea for people to take note of what is happening to nature as a result of human behavior, which has evolved from global warming into climate change in today’s world. Jackson warns thatthere won’t be a tomorrow if we don’t take care of the world that we have today.
As time goes on, “Earth Song” only becomes more and more important.
Jackson ends the song with a long series of questions beginning with “what about,” most of which are centered on nature - though others deal with war and bloodshed as well. He ends it all with the question “Do we give a damn?”, andconsidering climate change is still a controversial topic today, it would seem that, 30 years later, we don’t have a direct answerto that. As time goes on, “Earth Song” only becomes more and more important.
3"Money"
Jackson shifts towards a much more generalized issue in “Money,” which addresses the long-running problem of greed, specifically in a capitalistic society. As a highly successful celebrity, Jackson was no stranger to being tricked by others for the sake of money. This seems to be his motivation for writing this particular song, insisting thatmany people have betrayed him with the means of getting money out of it somehow, whether it be from him directly or someone else.
This, however, is an issue on a large scale too, and is certainly still relevant in today’s world. In the final chorus of the song,Jackson even drops the names of various rich men that he believes to be driven by greed, including Cornelius Vanderbilt, J.P. Morgan, and even United States President Donald Trump. Money is indeed still a factor that drives many individuals, particularly corrupt ones, in today’s world, which makes a song like this extremely relevant.
2"Tabloid Junkie"
While “Tabloid Junkie,” similarly to “Money,” focuses mostly on Jackson’s own bad experiences with the press, it can also be applied on a greater scale, too. Jackson was often the topic of gossip magazines and papers throughout his life, many of which called him hurtful names and scrutinized just about everything he did - which is still common in today’s celebrity culture. In “Tabloid Junkie,“he warns the press to be careful with what they write, as their words hold powerful weight.
At the same time, Jackson warns consumers to be aware of what they’re reading in the news, and that’s what is entirely relevant today. Jackson sings “Just because you read it in a magazine / Or see it on the TV screen / Don’t make it factual.” In a world that’s dominated by social media, mostly without sources, it’s important thatwe’re even more vigilant about fact-checking and not taking things at face value, whether it’s celebrity gossip or breaking global news.
1"The Lost Children”
Invincible (2001)
Jackson’s 2001 albumInvincibledidn’t follow as much in the footsteps ofHIStory’s ambitious effort to bring light to various injustices, but it did at least cover a crucial topic in “The Lost Children.“The titular subject of the song remains intentionally vague, referring to either the unfortunate multitude of kidnapped children who have never been found or those like Jackson himself who lost their childhoods and thus became lost children in adulthood.
In a world that’s becoming more aware of how our childhoods affect us later on as adults, “The Lost Children” is perhaps even more relevant now than it was before. While Jackson’s ballad here is simply a reflection on the way he mourns those children who are now considered lost, it’s alsoan opportunity for self-reflection about our own childhoods and what we’re carryinginto adulthood.Michael Jacksontook the space to mourn, and we ought to, too.
