Scream

"Scream"Single by Michael Jackson
General information
Featured artist(s)	Janet Jackson
Released	May 29, 1995 May 20, 1997 (Flyte Tyme Remix)
Recorded	October-December 1994
Studio	Flyte Time Studios (initial tracking and Janet vocals) The Hit Factory (Michael vocals) Record One (mixing)
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"
Next	"Childhood"
Track list
Previous	"Heal the World"
Next	"They Don't Care About Us"
Music video

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

The track is directed at tabloids and media, who have been trying to bring Jackson down since the 1980's. Michael expresses his frustration and anger with the injustice he's been dealing with for the last decade.

Music video

With a budget of $7 million, "Scream" is currently the most expensive music video ever produced. It premiered on June 14, 1995.

The video is shot in black and white and includes futuristic features with both of the Jacksons on a spaceship. Unlike for Michael's past music videos, he left the idea for it to the director, Mark Romanek.

“	Mark had written the treatment and the general idea was that Michael and Janet were on this large spacecraft. And they were alone... They were getting away from Earth, and the different sets were the different environments on the spacecraft where they could have a little bit of fun and where they could relax.	”
–Producer, Tom Foden for the November 1, 1995 issue of TCI: Theatre Crafts International

Initially, the record label 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 the video and interviews with people who worked on it.

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 and 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. Out of all remixes featured on Blood on the Dance Floor, this one is very 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 Michael's In The Closet.
• Janet Jackson created a dance tribute to Michael which included her performing "Scream", live on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards 2009. The first major tribute to him after he died.