MUSIC: MISunderstanding Michael (Hype, Sales, Money)

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Alecia McKenzie

BRUSSELS, Jun 27 1995 (IPS) - No one understands Michael Jackson, or so things seem to the beleaguered star. The current hoo-ha surrounding his double disc album ‘HIStory (Past, Present and Future – Book 1)’ is just the latest chapter in a long story of controversy.

First, the dramatic whitening of his skin has been seen by some people as a wish on his part to be white. Jackson says it’s a skin disease.

Second, there were the child abuse charges two years ago. The fact that he paid off his accuser and that the case never went to court only adds to the doubts. He says he paid to avoid a lengthy, traumatic trial in which he could not be sure of justice.

Third, his marriage to Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ daughter, is widely considered a sham, despite both their protestations to the contrary.

And now, the lyrics on his come-back record ‘HIStory’ has got many Jewish groups in the United States angry and upset. The groups claim that the lyrics of ‘They Don’t Care About Us’ are anti-semitic, while Jackson, in a statement issued last week, said that his “sole intention with that song was to emphatically say ‘no’ to racism, anti-semitism and stereotyping”.

One Jewish group, B’nai B’rith, has even charged that the lyrics — “Jew me, sue me,” and “kick me, kike me” — were recorded because of the publicity they would generate. The group condemned “the disgraceful insensitive approach to gaining public attention”.

Jackson, meanwhile, has apologised for the words and said he will re-record the song. In his statement, which IPS obtained from his record company Sony Music, Jackson said, “I am truly surprised, shocked and deeply hurt at the unforeseen reaction that the lyrics of ‘They Don’t Care About Us’ have caused.

“I want everyone to know how strongly I am — and always have been — committed to tolerance, peace and love. It pains me to realize that my choice of words to convey those feelings, has inadvertently hurt the very people with whom I stand in solidarity.”

Indeed objective listeners would probably sympathise with Jackson because the song is obviously showing the pain of victims of racism, not recommending bigotry. One wonders, in fact, why Jackson feels compelled to apologise.

In constrast, some other U.S. groups, like Guns N’ Roses, have recorded racist lyrics without showing any remorse. The words in one of Guns N’ Roses’ songs — “Niggers and homeless, get out of my way” — caused anger among African-Americans, but this was largely ignored. Ironically, a member of Guns N’ Roses – the guitarist Slash – plays on ‘HIStory’. (MORE)

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