"Someone in the Dark" is a song by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as a promotional single to the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial audiobook companion album. The track is divided into two parts: "Opening Version" and "Closing Version".
Background[]
Ed Eckstine, executive vice president and general manager of Quincy Jones Productions, stated in the Thriller 40 documentary at approximately 46 minutes and 25 seconds in that Quincy Jones initially became friends with Steven Spielberg. While Spielberg was working on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jones and Jackson were invited on the set.
During the two being on set, Spielberg told Jones that they should do a record together of some sort. Jones then pitched the idea to Jackson of doing the storybook album of E.T., where Jackson would narrate the story and write and sing a song for the album. Jackson was on board with the idea. In the summer of 1982, Epic Records allowed Jackson to record the story-book album - including "Someone in the Dark" - for MCA, on two conditions:
- MCA must hold back the album until after Christmas 1982, so it wouldn't compete with his new album, Thriller.
- MCA must not release "Someone in the Dark" as a single.
MCA, however, breached both of these conditions in the States by releasing the album in November 1982 and by servicing radio stations with promo copies of "Someone in the Dark". The problem was that no one proceeded to call Walter Yetnikoff, President of Epic at the time, to clear the rights over due to the album being released on Universal/MCA. This proceeded in Yetnikoff relaying a message to Branca to relay to Jackson to "stop kissing the monster" about the poster of E.T. hugging Jackson.
Court action resulted in MCA having to withdraw the album and being prohibited from releasing this song as a single, thus creating, arguably one of Jackson's rarest and most sought-after promo singles, with copies changing hands for £1,000+. According to John Branca in the Thriller 40 documentary, Jackson was upset at Yetnikoff. Yetnikoff questioned what he should do to make the situation better. Jackson owned all of his masters as a result of the lawsuit, starting from Off the Wall until the future releases that followed.
Audio[]
The "Opening Version" was re-released on multiple of Jackson's releases. It almost made it on the scrapped 1990s compilation album, Decade. It later made multiple appearances on the 2001 special edition of Thriller, The Ultimate Collection in 2004, and finally Thriller 25 in 2008.
- "Closing Version" - (
listen)
Lyrics[]
All alone wishing on stars
Waiting for you to find me
One sweet night I knew I would see
A stranger who'd be my friend
When someone in the dark reaches out to you
And touches off a spark that comes shining through
It tells you never be afraid
Then somewhere in your heart you can feel the glow
A light to keep you warm when the night winds blow
Like it was written in the stars I knew
My friend, my someone in the dark was you
Promise me we'll always be
Walking the world together
Hand in hand where dreams never end
My star secret friend and me
When someone in the dark reaches out to you
And touches off a spark that comes shining through
It tells you never be afraid
Then somewhere in your heart you can feel the glow
A light to keep you warm when the night winds blow
Look for the rainbow in the sky
I believe you and I
Could never really say goodbye
Wherever you may be
I'll look up and see
Someone in the dark for me
Wherever you may be
I'll look up and see
Someone in the dark for me
Though you're gone star far away
Each time I see a rainbow
I'll remember being with you
Smiles coming through my tears
When someone in the dark reaches out to you
And touches off a spark that comes shining through
It tells you never be afraid
Then somewhere in your heart you can feel the glow
A light to keep you warm when the night winds blow
Look for the rainbow in the sky
I believe you and I
Could never really say goodbye
Wherever you may be
I'll look up and see
Someone in the dark for me
Wherever you may be
I'll look up and see
Someone in the dark for me
Though you're gone star far away
Each time I see a rainbow
I'll remember being with you
Smiles coming through my tears
When someone in the dark reaches out for you
And touches off a spark that comes shining through
It tells you never be afraid
Then somewhere in your heart you can feel the glow
A light to keep you warm when the night winds blow
Look for the rainbow in the sky
I believe you and I
Could never really say goodbye
Wherever you may be
I'll look up and see
Someone in the dark for me
Wherever you may be
I'll look up and see
Someone in the dark for me
![Vinyl (side A)[1]](/wiki/File:Someone_in_the_Dark_Vinyl_1.jpeg "Someone in the Dark Vinyl 1.jpeg (101 KB)")
![Vinyl (side B)[1]](/wiki/File:Someone_in_the_Dark_Vinyl_2.jpeg "Someone in the Dark Vinyl 2.jpeg (94 KB)")