Heal the World (Song)
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| “Heal the World” | |
|---|---|
| Single by Michael Jackson | |
| from the album Dangerous | |
| B-side | “She Drives Me Wild” |
| Released | November 23, 1992 |
| Recorded | 1989–1991 |
| Length | 6:25 (album version) 4:32 (7″ edit) 4:55 (7″ edit with intro) |
| Label | Epic |
| Songwriter(s) | Michael Jackson |
| Producer(s) | Michael Jackson Bruce Swedien |
| Michael Jackson singles chronology | |
| “Who Is It“ (1992) “Heal the World“ (1992) “Give In to Me“ (1993) | |
“Heal the World” is a song recorded by American singer Michael Jackson from his eighth studio album, Dangerous (1991). It was released on November 23, 1992 by Epic Records as the sixth single from the album. It was written and composed by Jackson, and produced by Jackson and Bruce Swedien. It is a song steeped with antiwar lyrics and Jackson’s wish for the humanity of making the world a better place. The music video for the song was directed by Joe Pytka.
In a 2001 Internet chat with fans, Jackson said that “Heal the World” is the song he was most proud to have created. He also created the Heal the World Foundation, a charitable organization which was designed to improve the lives of children. The organization was also meant to teach children how to help others. This concept of ‘betterment for all’ would become a centerpiece for the Dangerous World Tour. In the documentary Living with Michael Jackson, Jackson said he created the song in his “Giving Tree” at Neverland Ranch.
An ensemble performance of “We Are the World” and “Heal the World” closed Jackson’s memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009. The song was performed as rehearsed by Jackson at the venue just weeks earlier, in preparation for his planned This Is It concerts in London along with “Dirty Diana“. R&B singer Ciara sang the song as a tribute to Jackson at the 2009 BET Awards.
The song was played at the funeral of James Bulger, and Jackson also donated the song to be used as the anthem for the James Bulger Red Balloon Centre, a school for children to go to if they are being bullied or have learning difficulties.
Composition
This song is written in the key of A major (but later transitions to B major as a choir starts singing, and last more chorus in D♭ major from the end), and it spans from E3 to C♯5. It has a tempo of 80 beats per minute.
The lyrics includes a reference to Isaiah 2:4: “See the nations turn their swords into plowshares.”
Reception
Critical reception
Chris Lacy from Albumism described the song as “a beautifully understated anthem whose lyrics call for universal improvement.” AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it “middle-class soft.” Larry Flick from Billboard viewed “Heal the World” as a “oh-so-sweet call for peace and love”. He added, “Although tune sounds a bit like ‘We Are the World‘, the sincerity in his vocal cuts through a somewhat overblown arrangement and choir climax.”
Randy Clark from Cash Box said that it’s “musically about as close a jab at his previous ‘We Are the World’ as he could pull off without Quincy Jones and the superstar backing.” He added that “the sing-along ballad features mostly Michael’s vocals, bringing in a choir at the end for the full effect. The universal message is also the theme of his current world tour.” After Jackson’s death, the Daily Vault’s Michael R. Smith wrote, “Certainly, message songs like ‘Heal the World’ and ‘Gone Too Soon‘ have a striking and sad resonance now that Jackson is no longer with us, so in that way his legacy is preserved and his music does live on.
” David Browne of Entertainment Weekly praised the song, “And when his voice isn’t competing with drum machines, it has rarely sounded stronger-achingly pure”. Rolling Stone‘s Alan Light was not satisfied, calling it “a Hallmark-card knockoff of ‘We Are the World’.”
Commercial reception
The song reached number two in the UK Singles Chart in December 1992, kept off the number one position by Whitney Houston‘s “I Will Always Love You“. It peaked number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Music video
The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Joe Pytka and features children living in countries suffering from unrest, especially Burundi. It is also one of only a handful that does not feature Jackson. The version of the video included on Dangerous: The Short Films and Michael Jackson’s Vision contains an introductory video that features a speech from Jackson taken from the special “spoken word” version of the track. This version was not included on Video Greatest Hits – HIStory featuring the music video. Jackson performed the song in the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show with a 35,000 person flash card performance.
Track listing
- 7″ single and cassette single
“Heal the World” (7″ edit) – 4:32
“She Drives Me Wild” – 3:41
12″ single
“Heal the World” (album version) – 6:25
“Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” (Brothers in Rhythm house mix) – 7:40
“Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough” (Roger‘s Underground Solution) – 6:18
“Rock with You” (Masters at Work remix) – 5:29
CD maxi single
“Heal the World” (7″ edit) – 4:32
“Heal the World” (7″ edit with intro) – 4:55
“Heal the World” (LP version) – 6:25
“She Drives Me Wild” (album version) – 3:41
CD promo
“Heal the World” (7″ edit) – 4:32
“Heal the World” (7″ edit with intro) – 4:55
Visionary DualDisc single
DVD side
“Heal the World” (music video) – 7:31
“Heal the World” (single version) – 4:32
“Will You Be There” – 5:52
Charts
Weekly charts
Weekly chart performance for “Heal the World”
| Chart (1992–1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 20 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 4 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 3 |
| Canada Contemporary Hit Radio (The Record) | 22 |
| Canada Retail Singles (The Record) | 17 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 21 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) | 4 |
| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) | 3 |
| Europe (European Dance Radio) | 2 |
| France (SNEP) | 2 |
| Germany (GfK) | 3 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 2 |
| Italy (Musica e dischi) | 8 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 6 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 4 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 3 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 6 |
| Panama (El Siglo de Torreón) | 6 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 7 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 15 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 5 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 2 |
| UK Airplay (Music Week) | 1 |
| UK Dance (Music Week) | 6 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 27 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 9 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 62 |
| US Pop Airplay (Billboard) | 21 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 26 |
2006 weekly chart performance for “Heal the World”
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 63 |
| France (SNEP) | 60 |
| Germany (GfK) | 90 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 22 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 13 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 40 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 1 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 27 |
2009 weekly chart performance for “Heal the World”
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 26 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 22 |
| Belgium (Back Catalogue Singles Flanders) | 3 |
| Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard) | 28 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten) | 7 |
| Europe (European Hot 100) | 24 |
| France Download (SNEP) | 6 |
| Germany (GfK) | 18 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 4 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 16 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 19 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 3 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 44 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 18 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 9 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 44 |
| US Digital Song Sales (Billboard) | 39 |
Year-end charts
1992 year-end chart performance for “Heal the World”
| Chart (1992) | Position |
|---|---|
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 88 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 9 |
1993 year-end chart performance for “Heal the World”
| Chart (1993) | Position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 18 |
| Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) | 56 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) | 43 |
| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) | 22 |
| Germany (Official German Charts) | 34 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 50 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 15 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 35 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 40,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| France (SNEP) | Silver | 125,000* |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 250,000^ |
| Italy (FIMI) sales since 2009 | Gold | 25,000‡ |
| Japan (RIAJ) Full-length ringtone | Gold | 100,000* |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Gold | 7,500* |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 400,000^ |
| * Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Personnel
- Written and composed by Michael Jackson
- Produced by Michael Jackson
- Co-produced by Bruce Swedien
- Recorded and mixed by Bruce Swedien and Matt Forger
- Lead and background vocals by Michael Jackson
- Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson
- Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson and John Bahler
- Choir arrangement by John Bahler, featuring the John Bahler Singers
- Prelude composed, arranged and conducted by Marty Paich
- Keyboards: David Paich and Brad Buxer
- Synthesizers: Michael Boddicker, David Paich and Steve Porcaro
- Drums: Jeff Porcaro, John Robinson (tom overdubs)
- Percussion: Bryan Loren
- Orchestra arranged and conducted by Marty Paich
- Ending solo vocal: Christa Collins
- Playground girl: Ashley Farell
Cover versions
- The Brazilian singer Xuxa Meneghel made a Spanish version named Curar El Mundo in 1992.
- The Brazilian band Roupa Nova made a Portuguese version named A Paz in 2010.
- In 2016 Mumbai-based folk music duo Maati Baani (formed by Nirali Kartik and Kartik Shah) released a cover of the song featuring 45 child artists between the ages of 5 and 13 from India, South Africa, Russia, Canada, Japan and the United States, displaying an eclectic array of musical styles.
- Jillian Ward covered the song in 2021 for the Frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.
- Cusanus – Student Choir
- Musicians From All Over The World
- Joslin
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