"They Don't Care About Us" is a song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the seventeenth track (second track on the second disc) from the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I double album. It was released as a single on April 8, 1996, serving as the fifth single from the album.
The themes revolve around bringing awareness to racism and human rights, and its message holds up to this day.
Background[]
The initial idea for "They Don't Care About Us" was born at Hayvenhurst during the Bad sessions, as confirmed by Bill Bottrell when asked if Jackson had worked on early ideas at the house.[1]
Although "They Don't Care About Us" was born at Hayvenhurst, it wasn't until the Dangerous sessions that production started on the track. It was recorded between 1989–1990 and was a candidate for the album, although it ultimately didn't make the final selection.[2] Bryan Loren recalled listening to the track, stating it had no lyrics at that point.[3]
Jackson revisited "They Don't Care About Us", during sessions for the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album, and worked on it between 1994-1995.[4]
Music videos[]
The song received three separate music videos, all of which were directed by Spike Lee.
Brazil Version[]
The first clip was released in March 1996, often titled "Brazil Version". It features Jackson dancing around Rio de Janeiro with a Brazilian drumming group, Olodum, surrounded by crowds and police.
Producing this video in February 1996 for "They Don't Care About Us" proved to be a difficult task for Jackson. State authorities unsuccessfully tried to ban Jackson filming in Salvador (Pelourinho) and in Rio de Janeiro. Officials in the state of Rio feared images of poverty might affect tourism and accused Jackson of exploiting the poor. Ronaldo Cezar Coelho, the state secretary for Industry, Commerce and Tourism, demanded editing rights over the finished product, stating, "I don't see why we should have to facilitate films that will contribute nothing to all our efforts to rehabilitate Rio's image". Some were concerned that scenes of poverty and human rights abuses would affect their chances of hosting the Olympics in 2004. Others supported Jackson's wish to highlight the problems of the region, arguing that the government were embarrassed by their own failings.
A judge banned all filming but this ruling was overturned by an injunction. Although officials were angry, the residents were not and Jackson was surrounded by crowds of enthusiastic onlookers during filming. One woman managed to push through security to hug Jackson who continued dancing while hugging her. Another woman appeared and hugged him from behind, which caused him to fall to the ground; police pulled the two women off him and escorted them back to the crowd. After the director helped Jackson get up off the street, he continued to sing and dance. This incident made it into the music video.
Jackson also collaborated with 200 members of the cultural group Olodum, who "swayed to the heavy beat of Salvador's 'samba-reggae' music". The media interest surrounding the music video exposed Olodum to 140 countries around the world, bringing them worldwide fame and increased credibility in Brazil. At the beginning of the video, a Brazilian woman says, "Michael, eles não ligam pra gente" (Portuguese for "Michael, they don't care about us"), recorded by Angélica Vieira, producer of Manhattan Connection.
Prison Version[]
The second version was released a month later and is dubbed the "Prison Version". In it, Jackson dances and sings in prison while surrounded by footage of violence committed by governments against their people.
2020 Version[]
On August 29, 2020, on what would have been Jackson's 62nd birthday, a new music video for "They Don't Care About Us" was released, directed by Spike Lee. It featured scenes from the "Prison" and "Brazil" versions, mixed with footage of the "Black Lives Matter" protests from around that time.
Live performances[]
Jackson performed "They Don't Care About Us" between 1996–1997 during the HIStory World Tour. It was part of a medley opening the tour, alongside "Scream" and "In the Closet". For all three songs, he'd wear a shiny golden costume.
Jackson would perform it during the canceled This Is It concerts, although it never came to fruition. Footage of rehearsals was featured in Michael Jackson's This Is It documentary.[5]
Controversy[]
The possibility that the lyrics to "They Don't Care About Us" contained antisemitism was first raised publicly by The New York Times on June 15, 1995, one day before the album's release. The publication highlighted the lyrics, "Jew me, sue me, everybody do me/Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me" and labeled them "slurs". Jackson responded directly to the publication, stating:
| “ | The idea that these lyrics could be deemed objectionable is extremely hurtful to me, and misleading. The song in fact is about the pain of prejudice and hate and is a way to draw attention to social and political problems. I am the voice of the accused and the attacked. I am the voice of everyone. I am the skinhead, I am the Jew, I am the black man, I am the white man. I am not the one who was attacking. It is about the injustices to young people and how the system can wrongfully accuse them. I am angry and outraged that I could be so misinterpreted. | ” |
–Jackson for New York Times, 1995[6] | ||
When questioned further about the lyrics, Jackson denied that "They Don't Care About Us" was antisemitic, commenting, "It's not antisemitic because I'm not a racist person ... I could never be a racist. I love all races." That same day, Jackson received support from his manager and record label, who described the lyrics as "brilliant", and said that they were about opposition to prejudice and taken out of context.
On June 17, Jackson issued another public apology to anyone offended by his choice of words and promised that future copies of the album would include an apology, Jackson concluded, "I just want you all to know how strongly I am committed to tolerance, peace, and love, and I apologize to anyone who might have been hurt". The next day, in his review of HIStory, Jon Pareles of The New York Times alleged, "In ... 'They Don't Care About Us', he gives the lie to his entire catalog of brotherhood anthems with a burst of anti-Semitism: 'Jew me, sue me, everybody do me/ Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me'".
On June 23, Jackson decided, despite the cost incurred, that he would return to the studio and alter the offending wording on future copies of the album; "Jew me" and "Kike me" would be substituted with "do me" and "strike me".
Audio[]
- Uncensored version - (
listen)
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
All I want to say is that they don't really care about us
(Don't worry what people say, we know the truth)
All I want to say is that they don't really care about us
(Enough is enough of this garbage!)
(Okay, okay, alright)
All I want to say is that they don't really care about us
[Overlapping voices]
[Pre-Chorus]
Skinhead, dead head, everybody gone mad
Situation, aggravation, everybody, allegation
In the suit, on the news, everybody, dog food
Bang-bang, shot dead, everybody's gone mad
[Chorus]
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
[Pre-Chorus]
Beat me, hate me, you can never break me
Will me, thrill me, you can never kill me
Jew me, sue me, everybody do me
Kick me, kike me, don't you, "Black or white" me
[Chorus]
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
[Verse 1]
And tell me, what has become of my life?
I have a wife and two children who love me
I am a victim of police brutality now
I'm tired of being the victim of hate
You're ripping me off my pride, oh, for God's sake
I look to Heaven to fulfill its prophecy, set me free
[Pre-Chorus]
Skinhead, dead head, everybody gone bad
Trepidation, speculation, everybody, allegation
In the suit, on the news, everybody, dog food
Black man, blackmail, throw the brother in jail
[Chorus]
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
[Verse 2]
And tell me, what has become of my rights?
Am I invisible 'cause you ignore me?
Your proclamation promised me free liberty now
I'm tired of being the victim of shame (Ooh)
They're throwing me in a class with a bad name (Ooh)
I can't believe this is the land from which I came (Ooh)
You know, I really do hate to say it
The government don't wanna see
But if Roosevelt was livin'
He wouldn't let this be, no, no
[Pre-Chorus]
Skinhead, dead head, everybody gone bad
Situation, speculation, everybody, litigation
Beat me, bash me, you can never trash me
Hit me, kick me, you can never get me
[Chorus]
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
[Guitar Solo]
[Bridge]
Some things in life
They just don't wanna see
But if Martin Luther was livin'
He wouldn't let this be, no, no
[Pre-Chorus]
Skinhead, dead head, everybody gone mad
Situation, segregation, everybody, allegation (Hoo-hoo)
In the suit, on the news, everybody, dog food (Hoo-hoo)
Kick me, kike me, don't you wrong or right me
(We're deep in fire)
[Chorus]
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
(We're deep in the fire)
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
(I'm here to remind you)
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
(Don't you sit back and watch the beatin')
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about— (Hoo-hoo)
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about— (Hoo-hoo)
All I wanna say is that they don't really care about us
(Hee-hee, hoo-hoo)
[Instrumental Outro]
Gallery[]
![Vinyl back cover[7]](/wiki/File:Tdcauvinylback.jpg "Tdcauvinylback.jpg (64 KB)")
![Vinyl (Side A)[7]](/wiki/File:Tdcauvinyl1.jpg "Tdcauvinyl1.jpg (88 KB)")
![Vinyl (Side B)[7]](/wiki/File:Tdcauvinyl2.jpg "Tdcauvinyl2.jpg (88 KB)")
|
"Look deep within yourself, and you'll find something amazing." To view the They Don't Care About Us gallery, click here. |
References[]
- ↑ @BillBottrell – X, July 4, 2024
- ↑ Episode 151: Matt Forger Special (Part 2)
- ↑ Michael Jackson and Bryan Loren
- ↑ Michael Jackson: All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track
- ↑ Michael Jackson | They Don’t Care About Us | This Is It Rehearsal | TheMJQuotes 5.1 Re-render
- ↑ In New Lyrics, Jackson Uses Slurs
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Michael Jackson – They Don't Care About Us