Another Part of Me

THE STORY BEHIND ' Another Part of Me '

​

This track holds a special place in history as the bridge between Michael’s pop career and his adventures in cinema. The story below details its origins in the groundbreaking Disney 3D film Captain EO, the famous "dance-off" that saved it from being cut, and its message of cosmic unity.

​

While "Another Part of Me" sits comfortably in the middle of the Bad album, its journey began years earlier in a galaxy far, far away.

​

In 1985, Michael Jackson teamed up with two titans of Hollywood: George Lucas (creator of Star Wars) and Francis Ford Coppola (director of The Godfather). Their goal was to create a revolutionary 3D science-fiction film to be shown exclusively at Disney theme parks. The project was titled Captain EO.

​

Michael starred as Captain EO, a space commander on a mission to bring music and color to a dark, enslaved planet. The film was the most expensive movie ever made (minute-for-minute) at the time. Michael needed a song for the film’s finale, a triumphant anthem that would play as the planet transformed from mechanical grey to vibrant nature. He wrote "Another Part of Me."

​

For over a year, the song was exclusive to Disneyland and Epcot Center. Millions of fans heard the song only while wearing 3D glasses, watching Michael fly a spaceship. It wasn't until the Bad album was finalized in 1987 that the song was released to the general public on vinyl.

 

"Streetwalker" vs. "Another Part of Me" The inclusion of "Another Part of Me" on the Bad album was not guaranteed. In fact, it was the subject of a fierce debate between Michael and producer Quincy Jones.

​

Quincy Jones was in love with a different song Michael had written called "Streetwalker." "Streetwalker" was a bluesy, infectious shuffle that sounded like a cousin to "The Way You Make Me Feel." Quincy was convinced it was a hit and wanted it on the album. Michael, however, felt "Streetwalker" was too similar to other tracks and insisted that "Another Part of Me" had a unique energy.

​

To settle the argument, Michael’s manager, Frank DiLeo, suggested a "dance test."

​

They met at the studio. First, they played "Streetwalker" at full volume. Michael tapped his foot and bobbed his head. Then, they played "Another Part of Me." Michael exploded. He started dancing aggressively, spinning and kicking across the control room. The groove clearly possessed him. Seeing this reaction, Quincy Jones smiled and said, "Okay, you win. 'Another Part of Me' is on the album." ("Streetwalker" was shelved and remained unreleased until the 2001 Special Edition).

 

"We Are the World" in Space Lyrically, "Another Part of Me" is a spiritual sequel to "We Are the World," but with a sci-fi twist.

​

In Captain EO, the song represents the moment the alien Queen (played by Anjelica Huston) is transformed by the power of music. The lyrics "We're sendin' out a major love" and "The planets are linin' up" reflect this cosmic scale. Michael is singing about the interconnectedness of all living things. He is arguing that if you hurt someone else, you are only hurting yourself because they are just "another part of me."

​

This theme of planetary unity was very close to Michael’s heart. He often spoke about how astronauts see the Earth without borders. This song was his attempt to bring that "orbital perspective" to pop music.

 

The "Jerry Hey" Horns Musically, the song is defined by its relentless funk groove. It is faster and tighter than most tracks on the album.

•  

• The signature element of the song is the brass section, arranged by the legendary Jerry Hey. The horns play sharp, staccato bursts that accent the beat. They are precise and clean, cutting through the mix like lasers (fitting the sci-fi theme).

•  

• Paul Jackson Jr. plays a funk guitar line that is incredibly difficult to replicate. It is "scratchy" and percussive, locking in with the hi-hats to create a wall of rhythm.

•  

• The bassline is a synthesized pulse that feels nervous and energetic. It never settles down, driving the song forward with a sense of urgency.

• ​

Unlike the scripted short films for "Bad" or "Smooth Criminal," the music video for "Another Part of Me" is a live performance montage.

​

It was directed by Patrick Kelly and features footage from the European leg of the Bad World Tour, specifically the legendary shows at Wembley Stadium in London and Paris. The video captures the absolute peak of "Michael Mania." You see fans fainting, screaming, and crying.

​

The video also includes brief shots of Princess Diana and Prince Charles attending the concert. Michael famously worried about playing "Dirty Diana" in front of the Princess, but she told him it was her favorite song. "Another Part of Me" was often the song where Michael would really let loose on stage, improvising his dancing with the backup singers.

​

The song holds a tragic significance in relation to the British Royal Family. At the Wembley concert shown in the video, Michael presented a oversized check for £150,000 to the Prince's Trust charity. The song "Another Part of Me" became associated with that specific night, July 16, 1988, which many critics consider the greatest concert Michael Jackson ever performed.

​

Legacy "Another Part of Me" was released as the sixth single from Bad in July 1988. It reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

​

While it is often overshadowed by the "Big Three" of the album ("Bad," "Man in the Mirror," "Smooth Criminal"), it remains a favorite among musicians because of its tight arrangement. It represents the height of the Michael Jackson/Quincy Jones funk machine, precise, polished, and impossible not to dance to.

​

For a generation of kids who grew up visiting Disney parks, the song triggers a specific nostalgia: the smell of the theater, the 3D glasses, and the image of Michael Jackson flying a spaceship to save the world.