Jam

"Jam"Single by Michael Jackson
General information
Featured artist(s)	Heavy D
Released	July 13, 1992
Recorded	Fall 1990-October 1991
Studio	Record One (initial tracking and further overdubs) Larrabee Studios (later overdubs)
Genre	New jack swing Industrial funk
Length	5:40
Album	Dangerous
Label	Epic Records
Writer(s)	Michael Jackson René Moore Bruce Swedien Teddy Riley
Producer(s)	Michael Jackson René Moore Bruce Swedien Teddy Riley
Singles chronology
Previous	"In the Closet"
Next	"Who Is It"
Track list
Next	"Why You Wanna Trip on Me"
Music video

"Jam" is a song by Michael Jackson released as the first track on the Dangerous album. It was released as a single on July 13, 1992, serving as the fourth single from the album. It features Heavy D on the rap verse. The song was recorded in the fall of 1990.

Background

The track started initially as only an experimental drum beat by Bruce Swedien and Rene Moore - they used various loops, percussion sounds and drum samples, including Swedien's sleigh bells. They presented it to Michael, who also had Teddy Riley to further embellish the drum beat with keyboards, horns, industrial hits and guitars. According to Teddy:

"Well, 'Jam’ was brought to me as just a drum beat. Rene Moore and Bruce Swedien came up with the idea and gave it to Michael as a beat, so you can't take that credit away from them. But it was just a stripped tune until Michael did his vocals and I came in with the icing."

Music video

The video for the track features Jackson dancing in an abandoned building, followed by the guest star, Michael Jordan teaching him to play basketball. Later on, Jackson teaches Jordan to do the moonwalk.

Live performances

It was first performed during the Dangerous World Tour (1992-1993). It returned for the set list of the Royal Concert in 1996. Michael would perform "Jam" for the last time during the June 23, 2009 This Is It rehearsals.

Audio

An early demo of "Jam" featuring a slightly different instrumentation and guide vocals leaked online in 2002. A second, more complete demo with an alternate rap verse by Heavy D leaked on January 27, 2023 after Brad Sundberg's laptop got stolen.

• Demo - ( listen)
• "Bruce's Ruff Mix" - ( listen)

Lyrics

• Jam
• Bruce's Ruff Mix

[Intro]
One, two, three, jam
Jam, jam, jam
Jam, if you wanna get up, then jam
Jam, jam, you wanna get up, then jam
Jam, jam, jam
You wanna get up, jam
You wanna get up, jam
You wanna get up, jam
You wanna get up, jam
You wanna get up, jam
You wanna get up, jam
You wanna get up, jam
You wanna get up, jam
You wanna get up and jam, jam, jam
You wanna get up and jam, jam, jam
Said, you wanna get up and jam
Jam, jam, said you wanna get up and jam
Jam, jam, said you wanna get up and jam

[Verse 1]
Nation to nation, all the world must come together
Face the problems that we see then maybe somehow we can work it out
I asked my neighbor for a favor, she said later
What has come of all the people, have we lost love of what it's about?
I have to find my peace 'cause no one seems to let me be
False prophets cry of doom, what are the possibilities?
I told my brother there'll be problems, times and tears for fears
But we must live each day like it's the last
Go with it, go with it

[Chorus]
Jam
It ain’t, it ain’t too much stuff
It ain’t too much
It ain’t too much for me to
Jam
It ain't
It ain’t too much stuff
It ain’t, don't you
It ain’t too much for me to
Jam

[Verse 2]
The world keeps changing, rearranging minds and thoughts
Predictions fly of doom, the baby boom has come of age, we'll work it out
I told my brothers don't you ask me for no favors
I'm conditioned by the system, don't you talk to me, don't scream and shout
She prays to God, to Buddha, then she sings a Talmud song
Confusions contradict the self, do we know right from wrong?
I just want you to recognize me in the temple
You can't hurt me, I found peace within myself
Go with it, go with it

[Chorus]
Jam
It ain't
It ain't too much stuff
It ain't too much
It ain't too much for me to
Jam
It ain't
It ain't too much stuff
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't too much for me to
Jam
It ain't too much stuff
It ain't too much
It ain't too much for me to
Jam
It ain't
It ain't too much stuff
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't too much for me to
Jam

[Verse 3]
Jam, jam, here comes the man
Hot damn, the big boy stands with an upper hand
Makin' funky tracks with my man Michael Jackson
Smooth criminal hat, the man is Mike, so relaxed
Mingle, mingle, jingle in the jungle
Bum rushed the door, 3 and 4's in a bundle
Execute the plan, first, I cooled it like a fan
Got with Janet, then with Guy, now with Michael
'Cause it ain’t too hard to

[Chorus]
Jam
It ain't
It ain't too much stuff
It ain't too much
It ain't too much for me to
Jam
Get on it
It ain't too much stuff
It ain't
Don't stop
It ain't too much for me to
Jam
It ain't
It ain't too much stuff
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't too much for me to (Hoo-hoo!)
Jam
It ain't (Hoo-hoo!)
It ain't too much stuff
It ain't
Don't you (Hoo-hoo!)
It ain't too much for me to
Jam (Hoo!)

[Bridge]
It ain't too hard for me to jam
It ain't too hard for me to jam
It ain't too hard for me to jam (Chh, chh, chh!)
It ain't too hard for me to jam
It ain't too hard for me to jam (Chh, chh, chh!)
It ain't too hard for me to jam
It ain't too hard for me to jam, it ain't too hard for me to jam, it ain't too hard for me to jam (Get down, hoo!)
Ooh!
Chh!
Chh!
Chh!
Chh!
Chh!
Chh!
Ooh!
Dad gone it!

[Chorus]
Jam
It ain't
It ain't too much stuff
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't too much for me to
Jam
Uh-huh
It ain't too much stuff
It ain't too much
It ain't too much for me to
Jam (Dad gone it)
Uh-huh (Dad gone it)
It ain't too much stuff (Hee-hee!)
It ain't too much
It ain't too much for me to
Jam
Too much
It ain't too much stuff
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't too much for me to
Jam

[Outro]
Dad gone it
Dad gone it
Give it, baby
Give it to me
Come on
Won't you really give it to me
Got to give it
You just want to give it

[Verse 1]
Nation to nation, all the world must come together
To retaliate all the problems we can
Sometime we can work it out
I asked my neighbor for a favor
She said maybe
I said we don't know the situation
All we lose
Can't talk about
I had to make the [?] me
I feel the must, the must [?] for me
I said you tell me what your problem
I don't have to work
And she [?] we can do
Go with it, go with it

[Chorus]
Jam
It ain't too much
Jam
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't too much for me
So jam
It ain't, it ain't too much
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't, it ain't too much
So

[Verse 2]
The world is changing
We can see all the problems of the world
[?] See into
Somehow we can work it out
I told my brother
Don't you have me for your favors
He said maybe you would know where [?]
[?] We can scream and shout
I don't want you to [?]
I love the [?]
I'm tougher, tougher, tougher, tougher, tougher, tougher, tougher
Tougher, tougher, tougher, tougher for
Go with it, go with it

[Chorus]
Jam
It ain't
It ain't too much
Jam
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't too much for me
So jam
It ain't, it ain't too much
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't, it ain't too much
So Jam
Jam
It ain't
It ain't too much
Jam
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't too much for me
So jam
It ain't, it ain't too much
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't, it ain't too much
So Jam (Mm)

[Verse 3]
Hot, diggity, diggity dog
Jam with 'em baby, make ‘em leap like a frog
Put ‘em in perspective, let ‘em know your record is hot
(How you know?) Cause Heavy D already checked it (Uh)
Look, there's a [?], I put that in the [?]
God gave me hands, so let me go right on the handler
Michael Jackson sings and Michael Jordan slams
But [?], and it ain't to hard for me to jam (Go with it, go with it)

[Outro]
Jam
It ain't, it ain't too much
Jam
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't too much for me
So jam
It ain't, it ain't too much
Jam
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't too much for me
So jam
It ain't, it ain't too much
Jam
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't too much for me
So jam
It ain't, it ain't too much
Jam
It ain't
Don't you
It ain't too much for me
So jam
It ain't, it ain't too much
Jam
It ain't
Too much
It ain't too much for me
So jam
It ain't, it ain't too much
Jam
It ain't
Too much
It ain't too much for me
So jam
It ain't, it ain't too much
Jam
It ain't
Too much
It ain't too much for me
So jam
It ain't, it ain't too much
Jam
It ain't
Too much
It ain't too much for me

Gallery

Vinyl back cover

Vinyl

"Look deep within yourself, and you'll find something amazing." To view the Jam gallery, click here.

Trivia

• "Jam" was famously interpolated for the theme of Carnival Night for Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
• This song was featured on the Chicago Bulls 1992 NBA Championship video called the Untouchabulls and was also used in many promotional ads of the NBA in the said season.
• This song re-entered the UK charts in 2006, reaching number 22.
• The song was originally known as "Time Marches On" and was intended for Rene Moore's unreleased Motown album.