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Heal the World

This article is about the Michael Jackson song. For the concept in Jewish moral philosophy, see Tikkun olam.

"Heal the World"
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Dangerous
B-side"She Drives Me Wild"
ReleasedNovember 23, 1992 (1992-11-23)[1]
Recorded1989–1991[1]
Length
  • 6:25 (album version)
  • 4:32 (7" edit)
  • 4:55 (7" edit with intro)
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Michael Jackson
Producer(s)
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Who Is It"
(1992) 		"Heal the World"
(1992) 		"Give In to Me"
(1993)
Music video
"Heal the World" on YouTube

"Heal the World" is a song recorded by American singer Michael Jackson from his eighth studio album, Dangerous (1991). It was released on November 23, 1992 by Epic Records as the sixth single from the album. It was written and composed by Jackson, and produced by Jackson and Bruce Swedien. It is a song steeped with antiwar lyrics and Jackson's wish for the humanity of making the world a better place.[2][3] The music video for the song was directed by Joe Pytka.

In a 2001 Internet chat with fans, Jackson said that "Heal the World" is the song he was most proud to have created. He also created the Heal the World Foundation, a charitable organization which was designed to improve the lives of children. The organization was also meant to teach children how to help others. This concept of 'betterment for all' would become a centerpiece for the Dangerous World Tour. In the documentary Living with Michael Jackson, Jackson said he created the song in his "Giving Tree" at Neverland Ranch.

An ensemble performance of "We Are the World" and "Heal the World" closed Jackson's memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009. The song was performed as rehearsed by Jackson at the venue just weeks earlier, in preparation for his planned This Is It concerts in London along with "Dirty Diana". R&B singer Ciara sang the song as a tribute to Jackson at the 2009 BET Awards.

The song was played at the funeral of James Bulger,[4] and Jackson also donated the song to be used as the anthem for the James Bulger Red Balloon Centre, a school for children to go to if they are being bullied or have learning difficulties.[5]

Composition

This song is written in the key of A major (but later transitions to B major as a choir starts singing, and last more chorus in D♭ major from the end), and it spans from E3 to C♯5. It has a tempo of 80 beats per minute.[6]

The lyrics includes a reference to Isaiah 2:4: "See the nations turn their swords into plowshares."[7]

Reception

Critical reception

Chris Lacy from Albumism described the song as "a beautifully understated anthem whose lyrics call for universal improvement."[8] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it "middle-class soft."[9] Larry Flick from Billboard viewed "Heal the World" as a "oh-so-sweet call for peace and love". He added, "Although tune sounds a bit like 'We Are the World', the sincerity in his vocal cuts through a somewhat overblown arrangement and choir climax."[10] Randy Clark from Cash Box said that it's "musically about as close a jab at his previous 'We Are the World' as he could pull off without Quincy Jones and the superstar backing." He added that "the sing-along ballad features mostly Michael's vocals, bringing in a choir at the end for the full effect. The universal message is also the theme of his current world tour."[11] After Jackson's death, the Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith wrote, "Certainly, message songs like 'Heal the World' and 'Gone Too Soon' have a striking and sad resonance now that Jackson is no longer with us, so in that way his legacy is preserved and his music does live on."[12] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly praised the song, "And when his voice isn't competing with drum machines, it has rarely sounded stronger-achingly pure".[13] Rolling Stone's Alan Light was not satisfied, calling it "a Hallmark-card knockoff of 'We Are the World'."[14]

Commercial reception

The song reached number two in the UK Singles Chart in December 1992, kept off the number one position by Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You". It peaked number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Joe Pytka and features children living in countries suffering from unrest, especially Burundi. It is also one of only a handful that does not feature Jackson. The version of the video included on Dangerous: The Short Films and Michael Jackson's Vision contains an introductory video that features a speech from Jackson taken from the special "spoken word" version of the track. This version was not included on Video Greatest Hits – HIStory featuring the music video. Jackson performed the song in the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show with a 35,000 person flash card performance.

Track listing

Charts

Certifications

Certificationsfor "Heal the World"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[62] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[63] Gold 40,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[64] Gold 45,000‡
France (SNEP)[65] Silver 125,000*
Germany (BVMI)[66] Gold 250,000^
Italy (FIMI)[67]
sales since 2009 		Gold 25,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[68]
Full-length ringtone 		Gold 100,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[69] Gold 7,500*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[70] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[71] Gold 400,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

Cover versions

  • The Brazilian singer Xuxa Meneghel made a Spanish version named Curar El Mundo in 1992.[72]
  • The Brazilian band Roupa Nova made a Portuguese version named A Paz in 2010. [73]
  • In 2016 Mumbai-based folk music duo Maati Baani (formed by Nirali Kartik and Kartik Shah) released a cover of the song featuring 45 child artists between the ages of 5 and 13 from India, South Africa, Russia, Canada, Japan and the United States, displaying an eclectic array of musical styles.[74]
  • Jillian Ward covered the song in 2021 for the Frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.[75]

See also

References

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  2. ^ Promise, Agunia Billion. "A Critical Analysis of 'Heal the World' by Michael Jackson". Rivers State University. Retrieved June 4, 2021 – via Academia.edu.
  3. ^ Runtagh, Jordan (November 23, 2018). "Heal the World: 20 Songs for a Good Cause". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  4. ^ Miles, Tina (October 8, 2009). "Michael Jackson's Heal the World released to support new Liverpool James Bulger centre for bullied children". Liverpool Daily Post. Archived from the original on October 16, 2009.
  5. ^ Hamilton, Julian (June 6, 2009). "'Heal The World' song launched for Red Balloon Centre in Liverpool". Click Liverpool. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012.
  6. ^ "Heal the World By Michael Jackson – Digital Sheet Music". MusicNotes.com. Sony/ATV Music Publishing. April 10, 2002. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  7. ^ Tobey, Kristen (2016) Plowshares: Protest, Performance, and Religious Identity in the Nuclear Age Penn State University Press, p.64
  8. ^ Lacy, Chris (November 21, 2016). "Tribute: Celebrating 25 Years of Michael Jackson's 'Dangerous'". Albumism. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  9. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Michael Jackson – Dangerous". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  10. ^ Flick, Larry (December 5, 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 49. p. 82. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  11. ^ Clark, Randy (October 31, 1992). "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 5. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  12. ^ Smith, Michael R. (July 21, 2009). "Dangerous – Michael Jackson". The Daily Vault. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  13. ^ Browne, David (November 29, 1991). "MUSIC REVIEW – Dangerous (1991) – Michael Jackson". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
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  67. ^ "Italian single certifications – Michael Jackson – Heal the World" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 2, 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Heal the World" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  68. ^ "Japanese ringtone certifications – Michael Jackson – Heal the World" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 30, 2020. Select 2010年3月 on the drop-down menu
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  72. ^ Xuxa - Curar El Mundo. Retrieved March 30, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  73. ^ "Heal the World", Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre (in Portuguese), May 10, 2023, retrieved March 30, 2024
  74. ^ Joshi, Sonam (August 31, 2016). "45 Kids Got Together For This Cover Of MJ's 'Heal The World' And It's Sheer Brilliance". The Huffington Post. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  75. ^ "Jillian Ward dedicates touching 'Heal the World' cover to COVID-19 frontliners". GMA Network. April 8, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
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