Cry

THE STORY BEHIND ' Cry'​​

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This song occupies the mandatory "World Anthem" slot on the Invincible album. Following in the footsteps of "Man in the Mirror," "Heal the World," and "Earth Song," "Cry" was Michael’s attempt to deliver a spiritual message of unity to a fractured world. However, the story of this song is defined less by its message and more by the silence of the man who sang it.

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By 2001, Michael Jackson had established a specific formula for his albums: every record needed a "World Saver" anthem. For Invincible, he returned to the songwriter who gave him his biggest hit of the 90s: R. Kelly. R. Kelly, who had written "You Are Not Alone," penned "Cry" with the specific intention of creating a sequel to "Man in the Mirror." The structure is almost identical: it starts with a soft, intimate verse about personal struggle and builds into a massive, gospel-backed climax about global change.

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• The Message: The lyrics suggest that if everyone holds hands and cries together, the collective release of emotion can heal the world. "You can change the world (I can't do it by myself)."

 

The timing of this song’s release gave it a haunting new context. Invincible was released on October 30, 2001, just six weeks after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. Suddenly, a song about people holding hands and crying wasn't just a pop ballad; it felt like a direct response to the tragedy. Radio stations in the US, desperate for comforting music, began playing "Cry" alongside Enya and "God Bless America." Michael’s voice, pleading for peace, became a soundtrack for the grieving nation, even though the song had been recorded months before the towers fell.

 

The music video for "Cry" is famous for one specific reason: Michael Jackson is not in it. This was unprecedented. Michael Jackson was the video medium. He changed the industry with Thriller and Billie Jean. For him to be absent from his own music video was a massive statement.

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• The Concept: Directed by Nick Brandt (who did "Earth Song"), the video features a long line of people from different races and backgrounds holding hands. They stand on beaches, in forests, and in city streets, forming a human chain.

• The Reason: The absence was a calculated act of protest. By late 2001, Michael was at war with Sony Music. He felt they were sabotaging the album. He refused to appear in the video as a "strike." He essentially told the label: "If you won't promote the album properly, I won't give you my image." (Note: There is a tiny, fleeting glimpse of a silhouette that resembles Michael at the very end, but it is widely believed to be a body double or stock footage).

 

Despite the drama behind the scenes, Michael’s vocal performance on "Cry" is committed and passionate. He uses his "gospel voice" a gritty, textured tone that he reserves for songs like "Will You Be There."

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• The Climax: As the song nears the end, the key changes (a classic R. Kelly trope). The choir explodes in volume, and Michael begins to ad-lib furiously. He shouts "Change the world!" and "Hallelujah!" with a fervor that sounds more like a preacher in a pulpit than a pop star. It showcases his ability to summon immense emotional power, even when singing a song he didn't write.

 

When "Cry" was released as the second single from the album (internationally), the reception was mixed. Many critics felt it was too formulaic. They compared it unfavorably to "Man in the Mirror," calling it "Man in the Mirror-lite." They argued that while the sentiment was noble, the R. Kelly production felt a bit generic and lacked the unique, jagged energy of MJ’s self-written anthems like "Earth Song." However, the general public, especially outside of the US, embraced it. It became a top 20 hit in the UK, France, and Spain, proving that the European audience still had a deep appetite for Michael’s humanitarian messages.

 

There was another reason "Cry" felt complicated for Michael. At the same time "Cry" was being pushed by Sony, Michael was trying to release his own charity single, "What More Can I Give," which featured Celine Dion, Beyoncé, and Mariah Carey. Michael wanted "What More Can I Give" to be the official 9/11 charity anthem. Sony refused to release it, preferring to stick with the album track "Cry." This caused further friction. Michael viewed "Cry" as a "Sony product" and "What More Can I Give" as his true contribution to the victims of 9/11.

 

"Cry" is often viewed as the "lost sibling" of Michael’s anthem collection. It doesn't have the iconic status of "We Are The World" or "Heal the World," largely because there is no image of Michael singing it. However, in recent years, fans have revisited the track and appreciated its simplicity. It stands as a testament to Michael’s unwavering belief, right up to the end of his career, that music could be a tool for social engineering and peace.