HIStory

This album represents the most aggressive, personal, and controversial chapter in Michael Jackson's career. It is his "angry" album, a double-disc retaliation against the media, the legal system, and the false friends who betrayed him during the 1993 allegations.

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To understand HIStory, you must understand the trauma of 1993. Following the massive success of Dangerous, Michael was hit with false child molestation allegations. The resulting media frenzy was brutal. He was strip-searched by police, his home was raided, and he was forced to settle a civil case to avoid a lengthy trial, despite maintaining his innocence. He became addicted to painkillers to cope with the stress and eventually canceled the remainder of his tour to go into rehab.

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When he emerged in 1995, he was no longer the polite, shy superstar of the Thriller era. He was furious. HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I was his weapon. It was a double album designed to remind the world of his genius (Disc 1: HIStory Begins) and then scream at them for how they treated him (Disc 2: HIStory Continues).

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The structure of the album was a brilliant strategic move by Sony and Michael.

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• Disc 1 (Greatest Hits): Featuring remastered classics like "Billie Jean" and "Beat It." This ensured the album would sell millions to casual fans who just wanted the hits.

• Disc 2 (The New Album): This contained 15 brand new songs. By bundling them together, Michael forced the world to listen to his new message. If you wanted the hits, you had to buy the anger.

 

For the first time, Michael looked outside his usual circle for a new sound. He hired Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the production duo famous for creating his sister Janet Jackson’s sound. They brought a harder, industrial edge to the music. The lush, cinematic sounds of Dangerous were replaced with cold, metallic beats ("Scream"), stomping military rhythms ("They Don't Care About Us"), and sparse, lonely ballads ("Stranger in Moscow").

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The marketing campaign for HIStory was the most expensive in music history ($30 million). Sony commissioned nine 32-foot tall bronze statues of Michael Jackson dressed in military gear. These statues were floated down the River Thames in London, erected in Alexanderplatz in Berlin, and placed in other major cities.

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The imagery was deliberate. It was authoritarian and monolithic. Michael was presenting himself not just as a singer, but as an Army of One. The teaser trailer for the album featured Michael marching at the head of a massive Eastern European army, unveiling his own statue while thousands cheered. The press called it megalomaniacal; Michael called it HIStory.

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"They Don't Care About Us" The album faced immediate backlash upon release due to the lyrics of "They Don't Care About Us." In the song, Michael used the words "Jew me, sue me" and "Kick me, kike me" to describe how the legal system strips people of their identity. Despite Michael’s explanation that he was using the words to demonstrate the ugliness of prejudice (essentially saying "don't do this to me"), Jewish groups like the Anti-Defamation League condemned the lyrics as antisemitic. Under immense pressure, Michael returned to the studio and re-recorded the song, covering the offensive words with loud sound effects (a screeching noise). The second pressing of the album contained this censored version.

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During the recording of the album, Michael shocked the world by marrying Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley. She became a key figure in the HIStory era. She appeared in the music video for "You Are Not Alone," appearing semi-nude with Michael in a temple setting. Their marriage was Michael’s attempt to find stability, but it also fueled the tabloid fires he was trying to extinguish.

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The defining visual moment of the era was the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards. Michael opened the show with a 15-minute medley. It was ferocious. He performed "Dangerous" and "Billie Jean," but the highlight was the new songs. He sang "You Are Not Alone" with a gospel choir and slashed his way through "Scream." The performance reminded the public that despite the scandals, he was still the greatest entertainer on the planet.

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Released on June 20, 1995, HIStory debuted at #1. It is the best-selling double album of all time, with over 20 million copies sold (counting as 40 million units in industry terms). While critics at the time were divided by the angry tone, retrospectively, HIStory is viewed as Michael’s most honest work. It features his most complex songwriting ("Stranger in Moscow") and his most successful environmental anthem ("Earth Song"). It was the sound of a man backing into a corner and fighting his way out.