Man in the Mirror

"Man in the Mirror"Single by Michael Jackson
General information
Released	February 6, 1988
Recorded	March 28-June 24, 1987
Studio	Westlake Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Gospel
Length	5:18
Album	Bad
Label	Epic Records
Writer(s)	Siedah Garrett Glen Bellard
Producer(s)	Quincy Jones
Singles chronology
Previous	"The Way You Make Me Feel"
Next	"Dirty Diana"
Track list
Previous	"Another Part of Me"
Next	"I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
Music video

"Man in the Mirror" is a song by Michael Jackson released as the seventh track from the Bad album. It was released as a single on February 6, 1988, serving as the fourth single from the album. "Man in the Mirror" is considered one of Jackson's most famous and known songs. Although uncredited, the track features Siedah Garrett, the Winans and the Andraé Crouch Choir. The song was nominated for Record of the Year at the 1988 Grammy Awards.

Similarly to "We Are the World" and "Heal the World", "Man in the Mirror" has humanitarian themes and encourages the listener to "make the world a better place".

Background

"Man in the Mirror" was recorded between March 28-June 24, 1987. It was written by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett. Quincy Jones, the producer of the track, told the two: "I just want hits, that's all I want." Michael suggested to make the song longer and modify a few lyrics.

Music video

The video was directed by Don Wilson and released on January 9, 1988. It features a montage depicting wars, protests, suffering and injustice. Jackson himself doesn't appear in the video too often, only for two shots.

Live performances

The track was performed to during the Bad World Tour, Dangerous World Tour. Jackson dropped the song during the HIStory World Tour, reasons unknown. The last time the King of Pop would perform "Man in the Mirror" would be during the This Is It rehearsals on June 24, 2009. It was one of the last songs he sang to during his lifetime.

30th Annual Grammy Awards

The most notable performance of the song happened during the 30th Annual Grammy Awards in 1988. There, Jackson would sing it with a choir. This version also featured a much longer outro.

Audio

On November 17, 2019, a low quality snippet of the previously unheard choir recorded for "Man in the Mirror" was leaked online.

• Unreleased choir - ( listen)

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Unh.. Mm-hmm, aah, ooh, unh, unh
I'm gonna make a change, unh, for once in my life
Unh, it's gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference, gonna make it right
Unh, unh, as I turn up the collar on my favorite winter coat
This wind is blowing my mind
I see the kids in the street with not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind, pretending not to see their needs?
A summer's disregard, a broken bottle top
And a one man's soul
They follow each other on the wind, ya know
'Cause they got nowhere to go
That's why I want you to know

[Chorus]
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
Na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na, na-na

[Verse 2]
Uh-huh, unh, unh, unh
I've been a victim of a selfish kinda love
It's time that I realize
There are some with no home
Not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me pretending that they're not alone?
A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart
And a washed-out dream
They follow the pattern of the wind, you'll see
'Cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with me

[Chorus]
I'm starting with the man in the mirror (Ooh!)
I'm asking him to change his ways (Ooh!)
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
I'm starting with the man in the mirror (Ooh!)
I'm asking him to change his ways (Ooh!)
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that change
I'm starting with the man in the mirror (Man in the mirror, oh, yeah)
I'm asking him to change his ways (Change his ways)
(Come on, change)
And no message could have been any clearer (Ooh-hoo)

[Bridge]
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make the change
You gotta get it right while you got the time
'Cause when you close your heart (You can't)
Then you close your mind (Close your, your mind!)

[Chorus]
(That man, that man) I'm starting with the man in the mirror
(That man) (Man in the mirror, oh, yeah)
(That man, that man) I'm asking him to change his ways
(That man, the man)
(Change his ways)
And no message could have been any clearer (Ooh-hoo)
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that
(Take a look at yourself and then make that)
Change!

[Outro]
Hoo, Hoo (Na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na, na-na), Hoo, Hoo, Hoo, Hoo, Hoo!
Ooh, it's gonna feel real good (Oh, yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (Na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na, na-na)
Yeah, yeah, oh, oh no
Unh, unh, unh, I'm gonna make a change
Unh, unh, it's gonna feel real good, Shamone (Change)
Just lift yourself, you know
Unh, you've got to start with yourself, (Yeah) hoo!
(Make that change) I gotta make that change today, hoo!
(Man in the mirror) You got to, you got to not pick yourself, brother, hoo! (Yeah)
You know (Make that change)
I've gotta get that man, that man (Man in the mirror)
You got to, you got to move, Shamone, Shamone
You got to stand up (Yeah), stand up (Make that change), stand up, stand up and lift yourself now (Man in the mirror)
Hoo, hoo, hoo! Aaow! (Yeah, make that change)
Go make that change, Shamone (Man in the mirror)
You know it, you know it, you know it, you know (Change)
Make that change

Gallery

Vinyl back cover

Vniyl

Trivia

• Garrett's demo leaked online in 2010.
• "Man in the Mirror" serves as the closing song for Michael Jackson's This Is It.
• The song was also later re-released as a B-side to the "Will You Be There" single, alongside "Girlfriend".