Black or White
Michael Jackson
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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
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
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.
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Message & ThemeThe 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.
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Music Video ControversyThe 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.
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Morphing TechniqueA revolutionary morphing technique was used in the video to transform the faces of various racial representations, reinforcing the song's message of racial harmony.
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Iconic PerformancesMichael Jackson performed "Black or White" live during the Dangerous World Tour and the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration.
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Impressive Charts PositionThe 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.
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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.
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Platinum CertificationThe 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.
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Notable Guitar SoloThe 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.
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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 Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 1 Jun 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/19224365/Michael+Jackson/Black+or+White>.
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