"Jam" is a song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson released as the first track from the Dangerous album. It was released as a single on July 13, 1992, serving as the fourth single from the album. Kris Kross, Naughty by Nature, and Heavy D all made a cameo in the music video (the latter performing a rap during the bridge).[1]
Background[]
"Jam" started in 1990, initially as only an experimental drum beat by Bruce Swedien and René Moore - they used various loops, percussion sounds, and drum samples, including Swedien's sleigh bells.[2] They presented it to Jackson, who also had Teddy Riley further embellish the drum beat with keyboards, horns, industrial hits, and guitars.[3] According to Riley:
| “ | 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 music video for "Jam", directed by David Kellogg, takes place within an abandoned indoor basketball court, where Jackson teaches basketball player Michael Jordan how to dance, and in return, Jordan teaches Jackson how to play basketball. Special effects have Jackson throwing a basketball through a window and scoring in the hoop in the opposite room, as well as Jackson scoring by tossing the ball behind him and kicking the ball into the hoop with his heel. The extended versions of the video include Jackson teaching Jordan how to do the physically complicated moonwalk dance technique (known as the slide step).
The video was included in Dangerous: The Short Films and Michael Jackson's Vision. The music video was directed by David Kellogg and was filmed on April 20, 1992, in Chicago, Illinois. The music video premiered on Fox on June 19, 1992, at 9:30 p.m. EST.
Live performances[]
Jackson first performed "Jam" as the opening number throughout his Dangerous World Tour. He also performed it at the Royal Brunei Concert in 1996, which turned out to be the last live performance of the song. A portion of the song was performed at the start of the 1993 Super Bowl XXVII halftime show. "Jam" was prepared for the This Is It concerts, with a snippet of "Another Part of Me"; however, the shows were cancelled due to Jackson's death.
Audio[]
An early demo of "Jam" featuring 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, following the Brad Sundberg laptop theft. On October 23, 2025, a snippet of the original, pre-Riley version of the song (entitled "Time Marches On") created by Swedien and Moore leaked online.
Lyrics[]
[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[4]](/wiki/File:Jambackcover.jpg "Jambackcover.jpg (137 KB)")
![Vinyl[4]](/wiki/File:Jamvinyl.jpg "Jamvinyl.jpg (65 KB)")
|
"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.
- The drums from "Let a Woman Be a Woman - Let a Man Be a Man" by Dyke & the Blazers are sampled in the track, alongside the guitar from "I Get Lifted" by KC & the Sunshine Band. Sound effects from Elektra's Authentic Sound Effects: Volume 3 are also used frequently throughout the track.
- "Jam" was featured in 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.
- "Jam" was originally titled "Time Marches On" and was intended for René Moore's unreleased Motown album.