You Are Not Alone
THE STORY BEHIND ' You Are Not Alone '
This is the gentler side of the HIStory album. While the rest of the record was screaming at the media and the legal system, this track offered a moment of vulnerability. It holds a permanent place in music history as a chart-breaker, though its legacy is complicated by the men who created it.
"You Are Not Alone" achieved something no song in the history of music had done before. On September 2, 1995, the song debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Before this moment, songs had to climb the charts to reach the top. Michael Jackson, fueled by massive anticipation and the marketing machine of the HIStory album, broke the system. It earned him a Guinness World Record and proved that despite the controversies of 1993, his ability to dominate the charts was untouched.
The song was written and produced by R. Kelly, the R&B superstar who was dominating the charts in the mid-90s. R. Kelly wrote the song after losing his mother. He recorded a demo tape where he mimicked Michael’s vocal style perfectly, copying his vibrato and even his "hee-hee" ad-libs. He sent the tape to Michael, not knowing if the King of Pop would even listen to it. Michael loved it instantly. He felt the song captured the isolation he was feeling. When they met in Chicago to record, Michael insisted that R. Kelly sing the background vocals. If you listen closely to the final chorus, the deep harmonies underneath Michael’s lead are actually R. Kelly.
Banned in Belgium While the song was a global hit, it carries a dark legal secret. In 1993, two Belgian songwriters, Eddy and Danny Van Passel, wrote a song called "If We Can Start All Over Again." They claimed R. Kelly heard their song and stole the melody for "You Are Not Alone."
They sued for plagiarism. The legal battle dragged on for 12 years. Finally, in 2007, a Belgian court ruled in favor of the brothers, stating that the melody was indeed plagiarized. As a result, "You Are Not Alone" is banned from radio and television in Belgium. It is one of the few instances where a Michael Jackson hit was legally erased from history in a specific country due to the actions of its writer.
The music video, directed by Wayne Isham, was a strategic public relations move. Michael had recently shocked the world by marrying Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis. The media called the marriage a sham, a publicity stunt to distract from the child molestation allegations.
To prove the marriage was real, Michael and Lisa Marie appeared together in the video.
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The Painting: The video features scenes of the couple semi-nude, draped in white sheets against a temple backdrop. These shots were inspired by the Maxfield Parrish painting "Daybreak."
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The Message: The imagery was meant to convey intimacy and vulnerability. However, it polarized the public. Some fans found it romantic; critics found it uncomfortable and staged. It remains the only music video where Michael appears extensively with a romantic partner.
During the HIStory World Tour (1996-1997), "You Are Not Alone" became the centerpiece of the show’s interaction with fans. In every city, a lucky female fan was pulled from the audience and brought onto the stage. This became known as the "YANA Girl" ritual. Michael would sing the final verse directly to the fan, hug her, and often dance with her. For many fans, this was the ultimate dream, but for Michael's security team, it was a nightly nightmare, as the fans would often refuse to let go, clinging to Michael as security gently tried to pry them away.
The lyrics speak of a lover who has left: "Another day has gone / I'm still all alone." However, context changes the meaning. Michael often said he felt "alone" even when surrounded by millions of people. The song’s chorus "You are not alone / I am here with you" became a two-way promise. Michael was singing it to his fans to comfort them, but he was also desperate to hear it from them. It was a plea for connection from the most isolated man on earth.
Despite the later legal troubles of R. Kelly and the plagiarism ruling, "You Are Not Alone" remains one of Michael’s most enduring ballads. It was his thirteenth and final #1 single in the United States. It represents the "Pop Ballad" era of the 90s perfectly polished, emotional, and massive in scale. It is the sound of Michael Jackson asking the world to love him again.
LYRICS of YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Another day has gone
I'm still all alone
How could this be?
You're not here with me
You never said, "Goodbye"
Someone tell me why
Did you have to go
And leave my world so cold?
Every day I sit and ask myself
"How did love slip away?"
Something whispers in my ear and says
That you are not alone
I am here with you
Though you're far away
I am here to stay
But you are not alone
I am here with you
Though we're far apart
You're always in my heart
But you are not alone
'Lone, 'lone
Why? 'Lone
Just the other night
I thought I heard you cry
Asking me to come
And hold you in my arms
I can hear your prayers
Your burdens I will bear
But, first, I need your hand
Then forever can begin
Every day I sit and ask myself
"How did love slip away?"
Something whispers in my ear and says
That you are not alone
I am here with you
Though you're far away
I am here to stay
But you are not alone
I am here with you
Though we're far apart
You're always in my heart
But you are not alone
Oh, oh, oh
Whisper three words and I'll come runnin', fly
And girl you know that I'll be there
I'll be there
You are not alone
I am here with you
Though you're far away
I am here to stay
You are not alone
I am here with you
Though we're far apart
You're always in my heart
You are not alone (you are not alone)
I am here with you (I am here with you)
Though you're far away (though you're far away)
I am here to stay
But you are not alone (you are always in my heart)
I am here with you
Though we're far apart (heart)
You're always in my heart
You are not alone (you are not alone)