Remember the Time

THE STORY BEHIND ' Remember the Time '

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This is the smoother, more melodic counterpart to the aggressive funk of the album's opening. The story below details the historic all-Black cast of the video, the "chair" performance that saved an award show, and how Michael reclaimed the history of Ancient Egypt.

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After the industrial noise of "Jam," Dangerous shifts gears into "Remember the Time." This track was the moment Michael Jackson fully mastered New Jack Swing. Unlike the jagged, aggressive beats of the earlier tracks, producer Teddy Riley built this song on a smooth, rolling groove.

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The production is defined by its "swing." The drums have a distinctive bounce, and the chords are played on a warm, gospel-style organ. It was designed to be a "feel-good" anthem, a song that made you want to dance at a backyard barbecue rather than fight in the street. Lyrically, it is a song about nostalgia. Michael asks a lover to look back on the days when their relationship was young, innocent, and secret. It is widely rumored that the song was dedicated to Diana Ross, Michael’s longtime mentor and muse, though this has never been officially confirmed.

 

The music video for "Remember the Time" is one of the most culturally significant moments in Michael’s career. Directed by John Singleton (fresh off his Oscar nomination for Boyz n the Hood), the video was an epic 9-minute short film set in Ancient Egypt.

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At the time, Hollywood films almost exclusively portrayed Ancient Egyptians as white (think Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra). Michael wanted to destroy that trope. He insisted on an all-Black cast to portray the royalty of Egypt.

• The Pharaoh: Played by comedy legend Eddie Murphy.

• The Queen: Played by supermodel Iman.

• The Herald: Played by NBA superstar Magic Johnson.

• The Wizard: Played by Michael Jackson.

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The video was a celebration of Black beauty and history. Seeing Eddie Murphy and Iman sitting on the throne as rulers of civilization was a powerful image for millions of viewers in 1992.

 

The video features a moment that shocked the world: Michael Jackson’s first on-screen kiss. In the storyline, Michael plays a wizard who entertains the bored Queen. He seduces her with his magic and dance. In a fleeting moment, he leans in and kisses Iman.

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Up until this point, Michael was often viewed as asexual or childlike by the media. This video shattered that image. He was playing a romantic lead, confident, sexy, and desirable. The chemistry between him and Iman was palpable, adding a layer of maturity to his public persona that had been missing since the Off the Wall era.

 

Following the success of the morphing effects in "Black or White," Michael pushed the technology even further. In "Remember the Time," he transforms from a pile of gold dust into a human being.

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The effect was incredibly complex for 1992. The "sand dance" sequence, where Michael dissolves into sand and spins around the room before re-materializing, took weeks to render. It solidified Michael’s reputation as the artist who always had the most cutting-edge visuals on MTV.

 

"Remember the Time" is famous for a live performance that almost didn't happen. At the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards, Michael was scheduled to perform the song. However, during rehearsals the day before, he severely twisted his ankle.

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Most artists would have canceled. Michael Jackson did not. He went on stage in a wheelchair, then hobbled to a giant throne placed in the center of the stage. He performed the entire song sitting down. Surrounded by dancers, Michael used only his upper body and his hands to convey the choreography. It was a masterclass in stage presence. The crowd went wild, proving that Michael Jackson sitting in a chair was more entertaining than most artists standing up.

 

The dance routine for the video was created by Fatima Robinson, a young hip-hop choreographer. She blended traditional Egyptian imagery (hieroglyphic poses, angular arm movements) with modern hip-hop steps.

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The breakdown section of the video, where Michael and the dancers perform an intricate routine in front of the Pharaoh, is one of the most replicated dances in history. The sharp, precise hand movements became a staple of 90s dance floors. It also featured cameos by the hip-hop group The Pharcyde as extras in the background, further cementing Michael's connection to the new generation of hip-hop culture.

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Legacy Released on January 14, 1992, "Remember the Time" reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B charts.

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It remains one of the most beloved songs in Michael’s catalog, especially within the Black community. It is often played at weddings and family reunions. The song represents the "sunny side" of the Dangerous era, a moment of pure joy, history, and romance before the storms of the tabloid media took over.