Source: MJVibe
Throughout the 70s and 80s, Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones created the sound of modern pop music. However, in the 90s Michael’s first album of the decade, Dangerous, was not produced by Jones. There are several songs on the album where I miss Jones’ production, but there are others that turned out to be original and new: “In the Closet”, “Remember the Time”, “Jam” and a few others. I would also like to assert “Heal the World” into that list. The song released as a single in 1992 for the Dangerous album.
“Heal the World” is one of those rare songs where the softer you sing it, the more powerful the music sounds. If you try to sing it without the consciousness of purity in which it was created it simply will not work. I feel the same way about John Lennon’s “Image”, if you simply whisper the lyrics it just fits the music so well rather than approaching it with a strong vocal.
“Heal the World” is one of the best pop songs ever written. Before the song comes on there is an interlude of a young person expressing the need to take care of the world for the future generations. It is striking to hear the youth have this in their mind and the ability to express the need for protecting our planet. It really sets the stage for the rest of the song.
The lyrics suggest that a better world can be created but it is up to all of the world’s citizens to look within themselves in order to find ways to make it possible. Many people rely on others to fight their battles for them or carry the belief that government and military has all of the answers. The song’s lyrics suggest that all of the answers are within and can accomplish peace by collaborating with others in a pure, loving way that exemplifies methods on how to “Be God’s Glow”. There are a lot of great lyrics in this song, but the idea that each of us represents God’s glow is my favorite part of the song and it makes you feel great as an audience member when you invest into listening to the song whole-heartedly. The lyrics aim to invite listeners to use their hearts for the betterment of our world.
The vocals are soft and match the music perfectly. I’ve tried to sing this song one day with a regular baritone-bass voice and it just did not work. After thinking about my family, including the new baby that we have and all the love and support that we’ve had from relatives who are no longer here, I could soften my voice and sing the song myself. There has to be a level of vulnerability and purity of heart and mind when approaching a song that is clearly attempting to change the world.
The instrumentation is mostly piano but there is a wider production around it. The song makes use of the hit sound of a drum machine that Michael found to be so successful on the Thriller album. Nearly all pop artists from the mid-80s to now incorporates that same rhythm in the foundation of the music instrumentation.
Michael’s inspiration was to bring the world together. At the release of this song, he was the number one musician and celebrity in the world. He was a creative soul that was extraordinarily talented but had a simple message: “Heal the World”. He describes ways in which to achieve world transformation and essentially creates a call to action for listeners to roll up their sleeves and get involved in making changes that will make the world a better place.