This article is about the song. You may have been looking for the album.
"Dangerous" is a song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the fourteenth and final track from the album of the same name.
The 1990 demo was released on The Ultimate Collection in 2004. It isn't currently available on streaming services, but can be purchased through iTunes. A remix done by Roger Sanchez was released as a B-side to the "Blood on the Dance Floor" single.
Background[]
"Dangerous" was developed from "Streetwalker", which Jackson wrote for the Bad album, but ultimately lost out to "Another Part of Me".[1] In 1988, following Bad's release, Bill Bottrell created the music track for what would eventually become the demo of "Dangerous", using "Streetwalker" as a starting point.[2]
During recording sessions in September 1990, Jackson recorded a 6:40-minute demo of "Dangerous", which he wrote using Bottrell's music track. Teddy Riley later added writing and produced the song with Jackson in 1991.
| “ | Dangerous was about a woman who was just so beyond, you know, beyond the best girl he's ever been with. That was the name of the album, so we thought about doing a song called Dangerous, and Michael came up with the hook. So I said, 'Let me get into the music'. I went to my lab and put the track together. The track evolved: Michael came in with the hook, I did the music and then we finalised the song. We used a drum machine, the Akai MPC-60, and a lot of the sounds from that and samples I had on my sample CDs. There's no science to it, I just feel my way through the production. I always feel my way - I never do anything the same. | ” |
–Riley for MusicRadar, December 20, 2021[3] | ||
A different, longer version exists. This version features Jackson screaming at the beginning after a soundproof wall fell on him as he was about to record.[1]
| “ | The genesis of the songs we co-wrote [for Dangerous] consisted of Jackson humming melodies and grooves, and him then leaving the studio while I developed these ideas with a bunch of drum machines and samplers. | ” |
–Bottrell in Michael Jackson: For The Record | ||
Cancelled single release[]
"Dangerous" was originally planned to be released as the album's tenth single in January 1994. It was ultimately scrapped, however, most likely due to contributing factors, including the 1993 sexual allegations made against Jackson, and "Gone Too Soon", the ninth single, failing to top the charts.
Live performances[]
Jackson performing "Dangerous"
"Dangerous" was first performed during the final leg of Jackson's Dangerous World Tour. It included him singing the second verse, the bridge, and the third speaking interlude. It was performed in the same style at the 1993 American Music Awards.
The second version was performed as a regular during the HIStory World Tour and at the 1995 MTV Music Awards. This version doesn't contain the second verse, bridge, or third speaking interlude, but instead has samples from "Yes", "Owner of a Lonely Heart", "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly", "Smooth Criminal", Janet Jackson's "You Want This and Let's Dance", Monty Norman's "James Bond Theme", Judy Garland's "Get Happy" and Duran Duran's "A View to a Kill".
"Dangerous" was later used during the MJ & Friends concerts with an interlude where the dancers introduce themselves. It was also performed at the American Bandstand 50th Anniversary Special, with the last performance being at then-president Bill Clinton's gala in 2002.
This Is It[]
Before Jackson's death, "Dangerous" was to be a part of his sold-out This Is It concerts. The intro's audio was released in 2010, featuring samples from "Morphine", "2000 Watts", and "This Place Hotel". The dancers performed a snippet at the 2011 Carnival Dance Showcase, featuring snippets of "Smooth Criminal", "Stranger in Moscow", and the "Psycho Theme" with the performance.
"Dangerous" remains one of the only songs rehearsed for This Is It to not have it's footage released. Only bits of the official recordings have been leaked online, and high quality pictures have been included in the physical releases of the Michael Jackson's This Is It documentary.
Cartier v. Jackson[]
In 1994, Jackson was sued by a lesser-known artist, Crystal Cartier. She accused him of stealing "Dangerous" from Cartier, as the chorus for her song of the same title shared similarities with Jackson's. During the Cartier v. Jackson case, he explained how "Streetwalker" evolved into "Dangerous", resulting in him winning the entire thing.[4]
| “ | Yes, I wrote a song for the Bad album called Streetwalker and it had driving bass melody, strong bass lick. That bass lick was taken by my engineer, Billy Bottrell, cause I was kinda frustrated with this song in general, so he took the bass and put new chords to the bass melody, which is what inspired the song Dangerous. | ” |
–Jackson during the Cartier v. Jackson case | ||
Audio[]
- Demo - (
listen)
Lyrics[]
[Spoken Intro]
The way she came into the place, I knew right then and there
There was something different about this girl
The way she moved her hair, her face, her lines
Divinity in motion
As she stalked the room, I could feel the aura of her presence
Every head turned feeling passion and lust
The girl was persuasive, the girl I could not trust
The girl was bad, the girl was dangerous
[Verse 1]
I never knew but I was walkin' the line (Hee!)
"Come go with me", I said, "I have no time" (Hee-hee!)
She said "Don't you pretend we didn't talk on the phone" (Hee!)
My baby cried, she left me standin' alone (Hee! Hee!)
[Chorus]
She's so dangerous
The girl is so dangerous (Hee-hee!)
Take away my money, throw away my time
You can call me honey, but you're no damn good for me
[Spoken Interlude]
She came at me in sections with the eyes of desire
I fell trapped into her web of sin
A touch, a kiss
A whisper of love, I was at the point of no return
Deep in the darkness of passion's insanity
I felt taken by lust's strange inhumanity
This girl was persuasive, this girl, I could not trust
The girl was bad, the girl was dangerous
[Verse 2]
I never knew but I was livin' in vain (Hee!)
She called my house, she said "You know my name"
(She called me!)
"And don't you pretend you never did me before"
(Don't you, don't you, do it!) (Hee!)
With tears in her eyes, my baby walked out the door
(Don't you, don't you, don't you) (Hee! Hee! Hee! Hee!)
[Chorus]
She's so dangerous
The girl is so dangerous (Hee-hee!)
Take away my money, throw away my time
You can call me honey, but you're no damn good for me
Dangerous
The girl is so dangerous (Hee-hee!) (Dog gone!)
I have to pray to God, 'cause I know how lust can blind
It's a passion in my soul, but you're no damn lover friend of mine
[Ad-Libs]
Hee-hee!
Ooh!
Ooh!
Hoo!
[Bridge]
I cannot sleep alone at night
My baby left me here tonight
I cannot cope 'til it's all right
You and your manipulation, you hurt my baby!
[Spoken Interlude]
And then it happened, she touched me
For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honeycomb
And her mouth was smoother than oil, but her inner spirit and words were as sharp as a two-edged sword
But I loved it, 'cause it's dangerous
[Chorus]
Dangerous (Hee!)
The girl is so dangerous (Hee-hee!) (Hee!)
Take away my money, throw away my time (Oh!)
You can call me honey, but you're no damn good for me
Dangerous (Hee!)
The girl is so dangerous (Hee-hee!) (Hee!)
Take away my money, throw away my time (Dog gone!) (Oh!)
You can call me honey, but you're no damn good for me
Dangerous (Hee!)
The girl is so dangerous (Hee-hee!)
Take away my money, throw away my time (Woah!) (Oh, yeah!)
You can call me honey, but you're no damn good for me
Dangerous (Hee! Hee!)
The girl is so dangerous (Hoo-hee! Hoo!) (Dog gone!)
I have to pray to God, 'cause I know how lust can blind
It's a passion in my soul, but you're no damn lover friend of mine
[Outro]
Hoo!
Hoo!
Hoo!
My baby
You been, you take, uh
You don't, don't, don't
You turn, my baby
Hoo!
Hoo!
Hoo!
Hoo!
Hoo!
Hoo!
Dangerous
Dangerous, dangerous
Hoo!
Dangerous, dangerous
Hoo!
(Woah)
[Spoken Intro]
The way she came into the place, I knew right then and there
There was something different about this girl
The way she moved her hair, her face, her lines
Divinity in motion
As she stalked the room, I could feel the aura of her presence
Every head turned feeling passion and lust
The girl was persuasive, the girl I could not trust
The girl was bad, the girl was dangerous
[Verse 1]
She never knew but I was walking the line
She never thought that I would have the time
She'd never feel that I was going alone
She never thought and then she hang up the phone
[Chorus]
She's so dangerous
The girl is so dangerous
Take away my money, throw away my time
You can call me honey, but you're no damn good for me
Dangerous
The girl is so dangerous
I have to pray to god, 'cause I know how lust can blind
It's a passion of my soul, but you're no damn lover friend of mine
[Spoken Interlude]
She came at me in sections with the eyes of desire
I fell trapped into her web of sin
A touch, a kiss
A whisper of love, I was at the point of no return
Deep in the darkness of passion's insanity
I felt taken by lust's strange inhumanity
This girl was persuasive, this girl I could not trust
The girl was bad, the girl was dangerous
[Verse 2]
She never thought that I was walking the line
She'd never feel that I would have the time
She never thought that I was going alone
She came to me and then she hang up the phone
[Chorus]
She's so dangerous
The girl is so dangerous
Take away my money, throw away my time
You can call me honey, but you're no damn good for me
Dangerous
The girl is so dangerous
I have to pray to god, 'cause I know how lust can blind
It's a passion in my soul, but you're no damn lover friend of mine
(But you're no, but you're no)
(But you're no, but you're no)
(But you're no, but-)
[Bridge]
Da da, she tried to ruin my reputation
Da, she goin' around, he was the voice of information
That baby got me callin' away, and was the secrets in the constellation
And then it happened
She touched me
[Spoken Interlude]
And then it happened, she touched me
For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honeycomb
And her mouth was smoother than oil, but her innards bitter than wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword
But I loved it, 'cause it's dangerous
[Verse 3]
She never thought that I was walking the line
She'd never feel that I could have the time
She never thought that I was going alone
She came to me, and then she hang up the phone
[Chorus]
She's so dangerous
The girl is so dangerous
Take away my money, rhrow away my time
You can call me honey, but you're no damn good for me
Dangerous
The girl is so dangerous
Take away my money, throw away my time
You can call me honey, but you're no damn good for me
Dangerous
The girl is so dangerous
Take away my money, throw away my time
You can call me honey, but you're no damn good for me
Dangerous
The girl is so dangerous
I have to pray to god, 'cause I know how lust can blind
It's a passion in my soul, but you're no damn lover friend of mine
[Outro]
She came at me in sections with the eyes of desire
I fell trapped
The girl was bad, the girl was dangerous
[?] trust
The girl is dangerous
One, two, three, four, ah
Gallery[]
|
"Look deep within yourself, and you'll find something amazing." To view the Dangerous (song) gallery, click here. |
Trivia[]
- In 1992, Sony Music of Mexico released a promo compilation CD which, along with the album version of the song, features two exclusive radio edits of "Dangerous" – "Radio English" (4:23) and "Radio Spanish" (3:37). It is unclear whether these edits would have been included or used for the canceled single release.[5]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Michael Jackson: For The Record
- ↑ Making Michael: Inside the Career of Michael Jackson
- ↑ Teddy Riley on producing Michael Jackson's Dangerous: "It was really difficult for me having to follow in Quincy Jones' footsteps"
- ↑ Remembering Michael Jackson's legal faceoff against Denver's Crystal Cartier
- ↑ Various - Sony Music - Discogs