Black or White

Michael Jackson

About Black or White

"Black or White" is a single by American singer Michael Jackson. The song was released by Epic Records on November 11, 1991, as the first single from his eighth studio album, Dangerous. He co-wrote, composed, and produced it with Bill Bottrell. The song is a fusion of pop rock, dance and hip hop. Epic Records described the song as "a rock 'n' roll dance song about racial harmony". "Black or White" peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 7, 1991, making it the fastest chart topper since The Beatles' "Get Back". It stayed there for a total of seven weeks. Jackson became the first artist to have number one hits in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s with the song. It is certified 2x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In the UK, the single became the first single by an American to chart at number one since "It's Now or Never" by Elvis Presley in 1960. Around the world, "Black or White" hit number one in 20 countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Turkey, Zimbabwe, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the Eurochart Hot 100. It was the best-selling single worldwide of 1992. The music video for "Black or White" premiered on MTV, BET, VH1, and Fox, which gave them their highest Nielsen ratings ever at the time, as well as the BBC's Top of the Pops in the UK on November 14, 1991. The video was directed by John Landis, who previously directed Thriller. It was co-choreographed by Jackson and Vincent Paterson. It premiered simultaneously in 27 countries, with an audience of 500 million viewers, the most ever for a music video. 


Year:
1991
4:16
130 
#2

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com

I took my baby on a Saturday bang
Boy is that girl with you 
Yes we're one and the same

Now I believe in miracles
And a miracle has happened tonight

But, if you're thinkin' about my baby
It don't matter if you're black or white

They print my message in the Saturday Sun
I had to tell them I ain't second to none

And I told about equality and it's true
Either you're wrong or you're right

But, if you're thinkin' about my baby
It don't matter if you're black or white

I am tired of this devil
I am tired of this stuff
I am tired of this business
Sew when the going gets rough
I ain't scared of your brother
I ain'ts scared of no sheets
I ain't scared of nobody
Girl when the goin' gets mean

Protection 
For gangs, clubs, and nations
Causing grief in human relations
It's a turf war on a global scale
I'd rather hear both sides of the tale
See, it's not about races
Just places
Faces
Where your blood comes from
Is were your space is
I've seen the bright get duller
I'm not going to spend my life being a color

Don't tell me you agree with me
When I saw you kicking dirt in my eye

But, if you're thinkin' about my baby
It don't matter if you're black or white

I said if you're thinkin' of being my baby
It don't matter if you're black or white

I said if you're thinkin' of being my brother
It don't matter if you're black or white

Ooh, ooh
Yea, yea, yea now
Ooh, ooh
Yea, yea, yea now

It's black, it's white
It's tough for them to get by
It's black, it's white, (x3) whoo

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist also he is the most famous recording artist worldwide, entertainer and businessman. Often referred to as the King of Pop, King of Pop, Rock and Soul, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. His contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. The eighth child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene along with his brothers as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1964, and began his solo career in 1971. He has donated a total of 500 Million dollars to charities and has sold… more »

49 fans

Written by: Michael Jackson

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release & Commercial Success
"Black or White" was released on November 11, 1991, as the lead single from Michael Jackson's eighth studio album, "Dangerous". The song was a commercial success, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart for seven weeks and the UK Singles Chart for two weeks.
Message & Theme
The song was written and composed by Michael Jackson and the Grammy Award-winning producer Bill Bottrell. It conveys a message against racial discrimination, advocating that color should not be a basis for judging people.
Music Video Controversy
The music video for "Black or White", directed by John Landis, drew significant controversy for its violent themes in the "panther" sequence, prompting Jackson to apologize and release a revised version.
Morphing Technique
A revolutionary morphing technique was used in the video to transform the faces of various racial representations, reinforcing the song's message of racial harmony.
Iconic Performances
Michael Jackson performed "Black or White" live during the Dangerous World Tour and the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration.
Impressive Charts Position
The song became the fastest chart-topper since the Beatles' "Get Back", as it took only three weeks to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Worldwide Recognition
"Black or White" was not just a hit in the US and UK, it reached number one in 20 countries, including Canada, Mexico, and Australia.
Platinum Certification
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified "Black or White" Platinum, which means the song sold over one million copies in the United States alone.
Notable Guitar Solo
The song features a hard rock-influenced guitar solo played by Guns N' Roses' Slash. However, the solo for the album version of the song was performed by Bill Bottrell.
Use in Pop Culture
"Black or White" has been referred to and parodied in various TV shows and films, demonstrating its impact on popular culture.

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    Black or White

    382.4M
    2.3M     80,334

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1992

    Billboard #1


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