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"You Are Not Alone" is a song by Michael Jackson released as the ninth track on the second disc of the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album. It was released as a single on August 15, 1995, serving as the second single from the album. It's the first collaboration between the King of Pop and R. Kelly, who wrote and co-produced the track. "You Are Not Alone" has become one of the best selling and most known singles Jackson has released. The song explores themes of love and isolation.
R. Kelly's management received a phone call in the fall of 1994, with a request to craft a song for Jackson. Kelly first thought it was rather a joke, although after learning it wasn't, he immediately went into studio and started writing. Reportedly, Kelly wrote multiple demos for Jackson, however, only "You Are Not Alone" interested him. The two artists started working on the track in November 27, 1994.
Music video[]
On July 28, 1995, a music video for "You Are Not Alone" directed by Wayne Isham premiered. It features Jackson singing in a theater as well as him and Lisa Marie Presley, his then-wife, semi-nude and affectionate in a temple.
Live performances[]
The song made its live debut on September 7, 1995 at the MTV Video Music Awards. It again made an appearance at the in November later that year during the Soul Train Music Awards.
HIStory World Tour[]
"You Are Not Alone" would continue to be performed throughout the HIStory World Tour between 1996 and 1997. While singing, a lucky fan would be picked to get on stage and share a hug with Jackson.
MJ & Friends[]
Jackson would perform to the song between June 25 and June 27, 1999 during his MJ & Friends concert in Seoul. It served as the closer to the set list.[1] This would be the final time he'd publicly do so. Ironically, this happened exactly a decade before Michael's passing.
This Is It[]
Jackson is known to have performed to "You Are Not Alone" for the final time on June 6, 2009 during rehearsals for the This Is It concert residency. It's also rumored, that one more rehearsal took place on June 23, although unconfirmed. According to Michael Prince, the song was possibly cut out of the final version of the set list, created on the day of Jackson's passing.[2]
Charts[]
The song remains one of Michael Jackson's best selling singles, holding the Guinness World Record for the first ever and Jackson's only song to debut a number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number one in multiple countries, including UK, France, Spain and more. Additionally, it topped the UK chart again in 2009, following the X-Factor's finalists covering it.
Controversies[]
"If We Can Start All Over"[]
On October 18, 1995, Belgian writers Edward and Daniel van Passel sued R. Kelly for allegedly plagiarising a song they wrote 2 years prior, "If We Can Start All Over". Their song, however, was never officially released, and only music sheets exist. The Belgian court rejected the brothers' claim on January 20, 2003, having decided that the similarities between the songs' melodies is purely coincidence. Afterwards, van Passels submitted an appeal.
On September 4, 2007, the Court of Appeal in Brussels have decided otherwise, and ruled that due to the earliest copy of the score to "You Are Not Alone" that Kelly provided being registered in August 1995, it was possible that the artist had access to "If We Can Start All Over". Kelly has stated that he never met the brothers or heard the song.
Surviving R. Kelly[]
In the debut episode of the 2019-2023 documentary series regarding sexual abuse allegations against Kelly, titled Surviving R. Kelly, one of the girls, Lizzette Martinez claimed, that Kelly wrote "You Are Not Alone" about her suffering a miscarriage of their child when she was only 17 years old. Lyrics that would supposedly allude do it were "Just the other night / I thought I heard you cry / Asking me to come / And hold you in my arms" and "Every day I sit and ask myself / How did love slip away / Something whispers in my ear and says / That you are not alone / I am here with you / Though you’re far away / I am here to stay".[3]
Classic Club Mix[]
"You Are Not Alone (Classic Club Mix)" is a remix of "You Are Not Alone" done by Frankie Knuckles and released as the twelfth track on the Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix album.
Audio[]
On November 16, 2004 a new version of "You Are Not Alone" would be released, now featuring additional 15 seconds, including previously unheard vocals during the outro.
[Verse 1]
Another day has gone, I'm still all alone
How could this be that you're not here with me?
You never said goodbye, someone tell me why
Did you have to go and leave my world so cold?
[Pre-Chorus]
Every day, I sit and ask myself "How did love slip away?"
Somethin' whispers in my ear and says
[Chorus]
That you are not alone, I am here with you
Though you're far away, I am here to stay
But you are not alone, I am here with you
Though we're far apart, you're always in my heart
But you are not alone
[Post-Chorus]
'Lone, 'lone
Why? 'Lone
[Verse 2]
Just the other night, I thought I heard you cry
Asking me to come and hold you in my arms
I can hear your prayers, your burdens, I will bear
But first, I need your hand, then forever can begin
[Pre-Chorus]
Every day, I sit and ask myself "How did love slip away?"
Something whispers in my ear and says
[Chorus]
That you are not alone, I am here with you
Though you're far away, I am here to stay
But you are not alone, I am here with you
Though we're far apart, you're always in my heart
For you are not alone, oh-oh-oh
[Bridge]
Whisper three words and I'll come runnin', fly
And girl, you know that I'll be there
I'll be there
[Chorus]
But you are not alone, I am here with you
Though you're far away, I am here to stay
But you are not alone, I am here with you (Ooh)
Though we're far apart, you're always in my heart
That you are not alone (You are not alone)
I am here with you (I am here with you)
Though you're far away (Though you're far away, you and me)
I am here to stay
But you are not alone (You are always in my heart)
For I am here with you
Though we're far apart, you're always in my heart
For you are not alone (Not alone, oh-oh)
[Outro]
('Lone, 'lone) You are not alone, you are not alone
Say it again
('Lone, 'lone) You are not alone, you are not alone
Not alone, not alone
('Lone, 'lone) If you just reach out for me, girl
In the morning, in the evening
('Lone, 'lone) Not alone, not alone
You and me, not alone, oh
('Lone, 'lone) Together, together
('Lone, 'lone) Not, not being alone
Not, not being alone
You believe in me
[Verse 1]
Another day has gone, I'm still all alone
How could this be? You're not here with me
You never said goodbye, someone tell me, why
Did you have to go and leave my world so cold?
[Pre-Chorus]
Every day I sit and ask myself, "How did love slip away?"
Something whispers in my ear and says
[Chorus]
That you are not alone, I am here with you
Though you're far away, I am here to stay
But you are not alone, I am here with you
Though we're far apart, you're always in my heart
But you are not alone
[Post-Chorus]
'Lone, 'lone
Why, 'lone
[Verse 2]
Just the other night, I thought I heard you cry
Asking me to come and hold you in my arms
I can hear your prayers, your burdens I will bear
But first I need your hand, then forever can begin
[Pre-Chorus]
Every day I sit and ask myself, "How did love slip away?"
Something whispers in my ear and says
[Chorus]
That you are not alone, I am here with you
Though you're far away, I am here to stay
But you are not alone, I am here with you
Though we're far apart, you're always in my heart
But you are not alone
[Bridge]
Oh, whisper three words and I'll come runnin'
And girl you know that I'll be there
I'll be there
[Chorus]
That you are not alone, I am here with you
Though you're far away, I am here to stay
But you are not alone, I am here with you
Though we're far apart, you're always in my heart
That you are not alone, I am here with you
(You are not alone, I am here with you)
Though you're far away, I am here to stay
(Though you're far away, you and me)
But you are not alone, I am here with you
(You are always in my heart)
Though we're far apart, you're always in my heart
For you are not alone (Not alone, oh)
[Outro]
You are not alone, you are not alone
Say it again
You are not alone, you are not alone
Not alone, not alone
If you just reach out for me, girl
In the morning, in the evening
Not alone, not alone
You and me, not alone, oh!
Together, together
Not not being alone!
Not not being alone!
You believe in me!
Not not being alone!
Not not being alone!
Not not being alone!
Not alone, oh!
"Look deep within yourself, and you'll find something amazing." To view the You Are Not Alone gallery, click here.
Trivia[]
Daybreak (Maxfield Parrish. 1922)
The "you are always in my heart" lyric would go on to be reused in "Speechless" a few years later.
In the fan community, it has been debated if the 13 second high note near the end of "You Are Not Alone" is actually one, full vocal take. Some claim that what can be heard on the record is actually looped due to the multiple cuts throughout the take.
During one of the shots in the music video, Jackson and Presley recreate a 1922 painting by Maxfield Parrish, Daybreak.
The music video was shot inside of the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, California. Years later, the music video for "Hollywood Tonight" would be filmed in front of it.
In rapper Kendrick Lamar's song, "6:16 in LA", he references the title of "You Are Not Alone".[5]
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