They Don't Care About Us
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "They Don't Care About Us" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Michael Jackson | ||
| from the album HIStory | ||
| Released |  April 1996 June 1996 |
|
| Format | CD single | |
| Recorded | 1995 | |
| Genre | Pop/R&B | |
| Length | 4:44 | |
| Label | Epic Records | |
| Producer(s) | Michael Jackson | |
| Chart positions | ||
| Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||
| "Earth Song" (1995) |
"They Don't Care About Us" (1996) |
"Stranger in Moscow" (1996) |
| Michael Jackson's Visionary chronology | ||
| "Earth Song" (2006) |
"They Don't Care About Us" (2006) |
"Stranger in Moscow" (2006) |
| HIStory track listing | ||
| "Scream" (1) |
"They Don't Care About Us" (2) |
"Stranger in Moscow" (3) |
"They Don't Care About Us" was the third US single and fourth European single released from American pop and R&B singer-songwriter Michael Jackson's 1995 album, HIStory.
Contents |
[edit] Controversies
Both the lyrics[1] and the video generated controversy for Jackson.
The original version of the song brought accusations of Jackson being anti-Semitic because of the following lyrics:[2]
- Jew me, sue me, everybody do me
- Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me.
He responded to these allegations by insisting that he did not mean to offend any member of the Jewish community and that some of his best friends were Jewish and that racism was never in his heart. He also explained in his letter to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that the song was meant to demonstrate the hatefulness of racism, anti-Semitism and stereotyping. He said: "My intention was for this song to say 'no' to racism, anti-Semitism and stereotyping. I intend to include, in all albums that have not been shipped as of this date, the above paragraph so that no one can listen to my music and misconstrue my intentions. Just the idea that my lyrics could offend and hurt anyone's feelings is extremely painful to me."
Still under pressure, Jackson then tried to prove his good intentions as he withdrew HIStory from the market, altered the controversial words[3] and re-released it on his own expense.
The original music video for the song showed Jackson singing the song in a prison.[4] MTV took the video off its playlist because it showed scenes of violence.[4] Jackson and video director Spike Lee did another version of the video set in Brazil.[4]
Other sources claim that "The original music video, which was shot in March, on the streets of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil was reportedly not 'entirely satisfactory' to Michael's liking, so a second music video, the 'Prison Version', was made a week later. However ironically this new music video was banned in some countries due to complaints that it was too violent, and on both MTV and VH1 it was only allowed to be shown after the 9 o'clock watershed."[4]
[edit] Track listing
[edit] Original release
[edit] UK single #1
- "They Don't Care About Ours" (LP edit) – 4:10
- "They Don't Care About Us" (Love to Infinity's Walk in the Park mix) – 7:18
- "They Don't Care About Us" (Love to Infinity's Classic Paradise mix) – 7:55
- "They Don't Care About Us" (Love to Infinity's Anthem of Love mix) – 7:46
- "They Don't Care About Us" (Love to Infinity's Hacienda mix) – 7:10
- "They Don't Care About Us" (Dallas Austin main mix) – 5:20
[edit] UK single #2
- "They Don't Care About Us" (Single edit) – 4:43
- "They Don't Care About Us" (Track Master's remix) – 4:07
- "They Don't Care About Us" (Charles' full joint remix) – 4:56
- "Beat It" (Moby's sub mix) – 6:11
[edit] US single #1
- "They Don't Care About Us" (Single Version) – 4:43
- "Rock With You" (Frankie's favorite club mix radio edit) – 3:47
- "Earth Song" (Hani's radio experience) – 3:33
- "Wanna Be Startin' Something" (Brothers in rhythm house mix) – 7:40
[edit] US single #2
- "They Don't Really Care About Us" (Unedited Album Version) – 4:43
- "They Don't Really Care About Us" (Charles' Full Joint Remix) – 4:56
- "They Don't Really Care About Us" (Dallas Main Mix) – 5:06
- "They Don't Really Care About Us" (Love to Infinity's Walk in the Park Mix) – 7:18
- "They Don't Really Care About Us" (Love to Infinity's Classic Paradise Mix) – 7:55
- "They Don't Really Care About Us" (Track Master's Radio Edit) – 3:58
- "Rock With You" (Frankie's Favourite Club Mix) – 3:47
- "Earth Song" (Hani's Club Experience) – 7:55
[edit] Visionary single
- CD Side
- "They Don't Care About Us" (LP Edit)
- "They Don't Care About Us" (Love to Infinity's Walk in the Park Mix)
- DVD Side
- "They Don't Care About Us" (Brazil Music Video)
[edit] Mixes
- Album Version (explicit lyrics) – 4:44
- Album Version (clean lyrics) – 4:44
- Single Version – 4:44
- Radio Edit/LP Edit – 4:10
- Track Masters Remix
- Track Masters Radio Edit
- Track Masters Instrumental
- Charles' Full Joint Remix
- Charles' Full Joint Mix - No Intro
- Charles' Full Dirty Mix
- Dallas Austin Main Mix
- Love To Infinity's Walk In The Park Mix
- Love To Infinity's Walk In The Park Radio Mix
- Love To Infinity's Athem Of Love Mix
- Love To Infinity's Athem Of Love Radio Mix
- Love To Infinity's Athem Of Love Dub
- Love To Infinity's Classic Paradise Mix
- Love To Infinity's Classic Paradise Radio Mix
- Love To Infinity's Classic Paradise Dub
- Love To Infinity's Hacienda Mix
- A Cappella – 2:10
[edit] Credits
- Written and composed by Michael Jackson
- Produced by Michael Jackson
[edit] References
- ^ Michael Jackson > What a History it is. AskMen. Retrieved on January 28, 2007.
- ^ ADL troubled by anti-Jewish Lyrics in Michael Jackson Song. Anti-Defamation League (June 15, 1995). Retrieved on January 28, 2007.
- ^ ADL Welcomes Michael Jackson's Decision to Remove Anti-Semitic Lyrics From Song. Anti-Defamation League (June 22, 1995). Retrieved on January 28, 2007.
- ^ a b c d Micahel Jackson > Videography. JacksonAction.com. Retrieved on January 28, 2007.
