| "Dangerous" | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Michael Jackson | |||||||||||
| from the album Dangerous | |||||||||||
| Released |  December 29, 1993 January 8, 1994 |
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| Recorded | 1991 | ||||||||||
| Genre | New Jack Swing, R&B | ||||||||||
| Length | 6:59 | ||||||||||
| Label | Epic Records | ||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Michael Jackson, Bill Bottrell, Teddy Riley | ||||||||||
| Producer | Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley | ||||||||||
| Michael Jackson singles chronology | |||||||||||
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"Dangerous" is the title track of Michael Jackson's eighth solo studio album, released in November 1991. It is the albums final track and one of his longest songs ever recorded at just over 7 minutes long
Written and composed by Jackson, Bill Bottrell and Teddy Riley, the song was planned as the tenth single from the album. These plans were canceled, after allegations of child sexual abuse were made against Jackson in August 1993.
Contents |
Production
"Dangerous" was developed from another song titled "Streetwalker" and a small part from Another Part of Me[1], which Jackson both wrote for his 1987 Bad album. "Streetwalker" would appear as a bonus track on the 2001 expanded edition of that record.[2]
During recording sessions for the Dangerous album of 1991, Jackson recorded a 6:40 minute demo of "Dangerous", which he produced with Bill Bottrell. Music commentator Nelson George said of the demo, "[it is] very different to the final version. Here the keyboards are spacey, in strong contrast to the taunt, mechanical rhythm track. Throughout the song, Michael keeps up a spoken word rap about the dangerous woman who is this song's subject. Overall it is much moodier". The demo was released in November 2004, on Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection.[3] A different, longer version also exists, with Jackson heard screaming at the beginning—after a sound protection wall fell on him as he was about to record.[2]
"The genesis of the songs we co-wrote [for Dangerous]", said Bottrell, "consisted of Michael humming melodies and grooves, and him then leaving the studio while I developed these ideas with a bunch of drum machines and samplers".[2]
At a court hearing in 1994, songwriter Crystal Cartier accused Jackson of plagiarizing the song. Cartier claimed she had written, copyrighted and recorded the song in 1985. Jackson testified that "Dangerous" grew out of the song "Streetwalker", which he co-wrote with Bottrell in 1985. His original demo version of the song was played in court. The recordings were followed by acapella performances of "Dangerous" and "Billie Jean"; giving a rare insight into his songwriting habits. As Cartier was unable to supply any original tapes to back up her suit, the judge found in Jackson's favor, and Cartier was refused the right to appeal.[2][4][5]
Planned release as a single
Dangerous was released in 1991, and with shipments of seven million copies in the US and 32 million copies sold worldwide, it stands as one of the world's best-selling records.[6][7][8] The album's appeal meant that singles were still being released through 1993 and Jackson was still traveling the world on his Dangerous World Tour. However the fall of 1993 saw intensifying media scrutiny surrounding allegations of child sexual abuse on Jackson's part. The albums ninth single, "Gone Too Soon", did not perform well in the UK and the singer's health deteriorated, thus the tenth single "Dangerous" was canceled.[2][9][10][11]
An alternative version and a remix titled "Roger's Rough Dub", were both to be included on the first acetate version of the expanded edition of Dangerous–the bonus disc was later canceled.[2]
It was released as a promo single on December 29, 1993 in the US and it was released in the UK on January 8, 1994, a week after Jackson settled the allegations out-of-court.
Critical analysis
Music critic Nelson George said of "Dangerous", "[it is] a pile driving track...that explodes from radio speakers. 'Dangerous' in fact, opens another window into Michael's artistic process".[3] Jon Pareles of The New York Times called it "[Jackson's] latest song about a predatory lover" and highlighted the lyrics "I felt taken by lust's strange inhumanity", observing, "He is a great dancer, yet his songs proclaim a terror of the body and of fleshly pleasures".[12] Writer Barry Farber noted of the same lyrics, "his lyrics here are an excellent representation of how sex can sometimes feel like a powerful biologically driven force".[13]
Live performance
Although "Dangerous" was never released as a single, it became a central component of his live performance, particularly on televised award shows. Jackson first performed "Dangerous" when he opened the 20th American Music Awards, on January 25, 1993. He went on to perform the song at the 25th Soul Train Anniversary Show, the MTV Video Music Awards, Wetten, dass..? and the American Bandstand 50th anniversary show. The song was also performed on the final concerts of the Dangerous World Tour, the whole HIStory World Tour and the "Michael & Friends" in Korea and Germany. [2] The live performance of "Dangerous" from the 20th American Music Awards is sometimes referred as the official music video of the song.
Credits
- Written and composed by Michael Jackson, Bill Bottrell and Teddy Riley
- Produced by Michael Jackson & Teddy Riley
- Recorded by Jean-Marie Horvat, Bruce Swedien, Teddy Riley and Thom Russo
- Mixed by Bruce Swedien and Teddy Riley
- Solo and background vocals: Michael Jackson
- Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson
- Rhythm arrangement by Teddy Riley
- Synthesizer arrangement by Teddy Riley
- Synthesizers: Teddy Riley, Brad Buxer and Rhett Lawrence
Notes
- ^ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named1993_Dangerous_Deposition; see Help:Cite error. - ^ a b c d e f g Halstead, p. 78–80
- ^ a b George, p. 24
- ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n18_v85/ai_14895598/
- ^ Amador, p. 107–109
- ^ "Michael Jackson sulla sedia a rotelle". Affari Italiani. (August 11, 2008). http://www.affaritaliani.it/entertainment/micheal-jackson110708.html. Retrieved May 10, 2009.
- ^ "Gold and Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Michael%20Jackson&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=100. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
- ^ Carter, Kelley L. (August 11, 2008). "New jack swing". Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/arts/chi-5-things-0810aug10,0,1329158.story. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
- ^ George, p. 45
- ^ Campbell, p. 89–93
- ^ 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 June 2, 2009.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (November 24, 1991). "Michael Jackson in the Electronic Wilderness". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE2D6143DF937A15752C1A967958260&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fJ%2fJackson%2c%20Michael. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
- ^ Farber, p. 57
References
- Amador, Vicente B (1998). Copyright under the Intellectual Property Code. Rex Bookstore, Inc. ISBN 9712325911.
- Campbell, Lisa (1993). Michael Jackson: The King of Pop. Branden. ISBN 082831957X.
- Campbell, Lisa (1995). Michael Jackson: The King of Pops Darkest Hour. Branden. ISBN 0828320039.
- Farber, Barry (2007). Rock 'n' roll wisdom. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0275991644.
- Halstead, Craig (2007). Michael Jackson: For the Record. Authors OnLine. p. 46–48. ISBN 978-0-7552026-7-6.
- George, Nelson (2004). Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection booklet. Sony BMG.
External links
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