"Heal the World"
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Dangerous
B-side"She Drives Me Wild"
ReleasedNovember 23, 1992[1]
RecordedJune 25, 1990 – October 30, 1991[1]
Length
  • 6:25 (album version)
  • 4:32 (7" edit)
  • 4:55 (7" edit with intro)
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Michael Jackson
Producer(s)
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Who Is It"
(1992) 		"Heal the World"
(1992) 		"Give In to Me"
(1993)
Music video
"Heal the World" on YouTube

"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 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 humanity of making the world a better place.[2][3]

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,[4] 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.[5]

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.[6]

Reception

Critical reception

Chris Lacy from Albumism described the song as "a beautifully understated anthem whose lyrics call for universal improvement."[7] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it "middle-class soft."[8] 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."[9] 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."[10] 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."[11] 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".[12] Rolling Stone's Alan Light was not satisfied, calling it "a Hallmark-card knockoff of 'We Are the World'."[13]

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 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

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[60] Gold 35,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[61] Gold 45,000‡
France (SNEP)[62] Silver 125,000*
Germany (BVMI)[63] Gold 250,000^
Italy (FIMI)[64]
sales since 2009 		Gold 25,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[65]
Full-length ringtone 		Gold 100,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[66] Gold 7,500*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[67] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[68] Gold 400,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

Cover versions

See also

References

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  3. ^ Runtagh, Jordan (November 23, 2018). "Heal the World: 20 Songs for a Good Cause". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  4. ^ Miles, Tina (October 8, 2009). "Michael Jackson's Heal the World released to support new Liverpool James Bulger centre for bullied children". Liverpool Daily Post. Archived from the original on October 16, 2009.
  5. ^ Hamilton, Julian (June 6, 2009). "'Heal The World' song launched for Red Balloon Centre in Liverpool". Click Liverpool. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012.
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  10. ^ Clark, Randy (October 31, 1992). "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 5. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
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