Scream

"Scream"Single by Michael Jackson
General information
Featured artist(s)	Janet Jackson
B-side	"Childhood"
Released	May 29, 1995 May 20, 1997 (Flyte Tyme Remix)
Recorded	October–December 1994
Studio	The Hit Factory (New York City, New York) Flyte Tyme (Edina, Minnesota)
Genre	Dance-pop • R&B • electronic rock • Funk
Length	4:38
Album	HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
Label	Epic Records
Writer(s)	Michael Jackson • Janet Jackson • Jimmy Jam • Terry Lewis
Producer(s)	Michael Jackson • Janet Jackson • Jimmy Jam • Terry Lewis
Singles chronology
Previous	"Gone Too Soon"
Current	"Scream"
Next	"Childhood"
Track list
Previous	"Heal the World"
Current	"Scream"
Next	"They Don't Care About Us"
Music video

"Scream" is a song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the sixteenth track (first on the second disc only) from the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I double album. It was released as a single on May 29, 1995, specifically as a part of a double A-side, "Scream/Childhood". Alongside Michael, Janet Jackson is featured on lead vocals.

Background

"Scream" was primarily directed at Jackson's frustration with the tabloid press. In 1986, the press ran a story claiming that Jackson slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to slow the aging process. This story prompted others to begin making up their own stories about him.

Production

Janet wanted to be involved with "Scream" for sibling support, making it the first time they had worked together since 1984, when Michael and his brothers provided backing vocals on "Don't Stand Another Chance". Janet said that it was "very fun" working with her brother again, and that seeing the work her brother was doing was "interesting". "Scream" was written and produced by Michael, Janet, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis.

Although Janet worked with Jam and Lewis on numerous occasions, Michael didn't, and so it was his first time working with the two. He was credited for playing instruments such as keyboard, synthesizer, guitar, drums, and percussion on the single. The recording process was unique because much of the arrangement was made up of certain looping sounds, such as the drum snares, guitar, police sirens, as well as grunts by Michael.

Music video

The music video for "Scream" is currently, to this day, the most expensive one ever made in history, costing over $7 million to make. Initially, Epic Records wasn't positive on the idea due to its massive budget.

“	I got on the phone with the head of the record label and he had seen the budget and was apoplectic. He started screaming at me on the speakerphone, “do you think I'm the fucking Bank of America? Are you out of your fucking mind?” I said “Michael and Janet want something huge, you've given me no time to do it, the song brings to mind images of a spaceship and if Michael Jackson has his own spaceship it's going to be really impressive”. There was this dead silence on the speakerphone and then I heard, “yeah, that's right” and I realised Michael was in the room on the other end of the line which I didn't know. From that moment the record executive guy knew he was pretty much shitty.	”
–Director, Mark Romanek for "The Work of Director Mark Romanek", 2005

Making of "Scream"

In 1995, a short video premiered on MTV, titled The Making of Michael & Janet Jackson’s "Scream" music video. It featured behind-the-scenes of making videos and interviews with people who worked on it.

Although there was no bad blood between them, in Janet's self titled 2022 documentary, she spoke out about feeling separated from her brother while shooting the video.

Awards

• Grammy Award: Best Music Video, Short Form.
• Billboard Music Video Award: Video of the Year – Pop/Rock.
• Short film nominated for 11 MTV Music Video Awards, but won only three: Best Dance Video, Best Choreography and Best Art Direction.

Live performances

Michael performed "Scream" between 1996–1997, during the HIStory World Tour as part of a medley alongside "They Don't Care About Us" and "In the Closet". It would serve as the tour opener, where the King of Pop would come out of a spaceship (titled "MJ-2040") in a shiny golden costume.

Flyte Tyme Remix

"Scream Louder (Flyte Tyme Remix)" is a remix of "Scream" done by Flyte Tyme and released as the sixth track on the Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix album, and serves as a B-side to the "You Are Not Alone" single. Of all remixes featured on Blood on the Dance Floor, this one is most reminiscent of the original and leans more towards funk. The remix also features samples from Sly & The Family Stone's Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).

Lyrics

• Scream
• Scream Louder (Flyte Tyme Remix)

[Intro]
(Hoo!)
(No)
(Ooh, hee)
(Hoo)

[Verse 1]
I'm tired of injustice, I'm tired of the schemes
Your lies are disgustin', so what does it mean? Damn it
You're kickin' me down, ah, I got to get up
As jacked as it sounds, the whole system sucks, damn it
(Hoo! Hoo-hoo)
Peek in the shadow (Hoo-hoo)
I come into the light (Hee-hee)
You tell me I'm wrong (Hee-hee)
Then you better prove you're right
You're sellin' out souls, but ah, I care about mine
I've got to get stronger, and I won't give up the fight

[Pre-Chorus]
With such confusion, don't it make you wanna scream?
(Make you wanna scream?)
Your bash abusin' victimize within the scheme (Hoo)
You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize (Ooh, lie, ooh, lie)
Somebody, please have mercy 'cause I just can't take it

[Chorus]
Stop pressurin' me, just stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me, make me want to scream (Hoo, hoo)
Stop pressurin' me, just stop pressurin' me (You just stop it, baby)
Stop pressurin' me (You just, you just), make me want to scream

[Verse 2]
I'm tired of you tellin' (Tellin')
The story your way (Story your way)
You're causin' confusion (Uh-huh-uh)
You think it's okay, damn it
You keep changin' the rules (Hoo-hoo)
While I keep playin' the game (Hoo-hoo)
I can't take it much longer (Hoo-hoo)
I think I might go insane (Yeah)
Ah, baby (Hoo)

[Pre-Chorus]
With such confusion, don't it make you wanna scream? (Make you wanna scream?)
Your bash abusin' victimize within the scheme (Scheme it, baby)
You find your pleasure scandalizing every lie (Ooh, lie, ooh, lie)
Oh Father, please have mercy 'cause I just can't take it

[Chorus]
Just stop pressurin' me (Stop your pressure), just stop pressurin' me
Just stop pressurin' me (Hee-hee), make me want to scream (Hoo, hoo-hoo)
Just stop pressurin' me (Stop your pressure), just stop pressurin' me (Stop your pressure)
Stop fuckin' with me (Hee), make me want to scream

[Bridge]
Oh my god, can't believe what I saw as I turned on the TV
This evening, I was disgusted by all the injustice
All the injustice (All the injustice) *screams*

[Interlude]
(Hoo-hoo)
(Hoo-hoo-hoo)
(Oh)
Yeah, yeah
Baby! (Hoo!)

[Pre-Chorus]
With such delusions, don't it make you wanna scream? (Make you wanna scream)
Your bash abusin' victimize within the scheme (Make you want to scream)
You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize (Ooh, lie, ooh, lie)
Oh brother, please have mercy 'cause I just can't take it
(Just can't take it)
(Hoo! Hoo! Hoo-hoo! Hoo!)
(Stop your pressure)

[Chorus]
Just stop pressurin' me (Stop your pressure), just stop pressurin' me (Stop your pressure)
Just stop pressurin' me (Hee), make me want to scream (You know it make me, make me wanna scream)
Just stop pressurin' me (Stop your pressure), just stop pressurin' me (Stop your pressure)
Just stop pressurin' me (Yeah, yeah), make me want to scream (You're dirty, you're dirty, baby)
Just stop pressurin' me (Stop your doin'), just stop pressurin' me (Stop your pressure)
Just stop pressurin' me, make me want to scream
Just stop pressurin' me (Baby, don't you shut up), just stop pressurin' me (Yeah, just stop me, yeah)
Just stop pressurin' me, make me want to scream

[Outro]
Stop your pressure

[Intro]
(Ow!)
(Ow!)
(Ow!)
(Aahh!)
(Hoo!)
(Aahh!)
(Hee!)
(Aahh!)
(Aahh!)

[Verse 1]
Tired of injustice
Tired of the schemes
Life is disgustin'
So what does it mean, damnit
Kicking me down
I got to get up
As jacked as it sounds
The whole system sucks, damnit
Peek in the shadow
Come into the light
You tell me I'm wrong
Then you better prove you're right
You're sellin' out souls but
I care about mine
I've got to get stronger
And I won't give up the fight

[Pre-Chorus]
With such confusion, don't it make you wanna scream?
Make you wanna scream
Your bash abusin' victimize within the scheme
You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize
Somebody please have mercy
'Cause I just can't take it

[Chorus]
Stop pressurin' me
Just stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream
Stop pressurin' me
Just stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream

[Verse 2]
Tired of your tellin' (Tellin')
The story your way (The story your way)
It's causin' confusion (Confusion)
You think it's okay, damnit
Keep changin' the rules
While you're playin' the game
I can't take it much longer
I think I might go insane

[Pre-Chorus]
With such confusion
Make me wanna scream
Now, baby
With such confusion, don't it make you wanna scream?
Make you wanna scream
Your bash abusin' victimize within the scheme
Schemin', baby
You find your pleasure scandalizing every lie
Oh Father, please have mercy
'Cause I just can't take it

[Chorus]
Stop pressurin' me
Just stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream
Stop pressurin' me
Just stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream

[Interlude]
Oh, my God, can't believe what I saw as I turned on the TV this evening
I was disgusted by all the injustice, all the injustice

[Pre-Chorus]
With such delusions, don't it make you wanna scream?
Make you wanna scream
Your bash abusin' victimize within the scheme
You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize
Oh brother, please have mercy
'Cause I just can't take it

[Chorus]
Stop pressurin' me
Just stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream
Stop pressurin' me
Just stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream

Stop pressurin' me
Just stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream
Stop pressurin' me
Just stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream

Stop pressurin' me
Just stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream
Stop pressurin' me
Just stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream
(Stop your pressure)

Gallery

Physical copies

Vinyl back cover

Vinyl (Side 1)

Vinyl (Side 2)

Videos

Making of Scream - Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson

Making of "Scream"

Trivia

• Several tracks were compiled by Jam and Lewis and presented to Michael. Janet also took inspiration from some of the tracks presented for her song, "Runaway". The JCsMusicology podcast contains an interview with Lewis & Jam at the 23:00 mark.
• Sections from Janet's" Rhythm Nation" and "The Knowledge" are sampled along with small sections from "In the Closet".
• Janet created a dance tribute to Michael, which included her performing "Scream" live on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards 2009. This performance marked the first major tribute to him after his death.
• Two weeks before the official release, Jackson heard "Scream" on a Los Angeles radio station, which was playing it once an hour. Epic found out about this and sent them a cease-and-desist order, as well as sending similar orders to two other stations in Philadelphia. The Los Angeles radio station programmer, despite facing potential legal action, noted that, "some things are more important... The record company was furious, lawyers were involved, and the situation got hairy... But on a release as big as Michael Jackson's, there's no way we're going to wait if we receive a leak. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because his security is really insane."