They Don't Care About Us

Infobox Single |
Name = They Don't Care About Us


Artist = Michael Jackson
from Album = HIStory
Released = flagicon|UK April 1996
flagicon|US June 1996
Format = CD single
Recorded = 1995
Genre =Pop-Rock
Length = 4:44 (Album/Single Version)
4:10 (LP Edit)
Label = Epic Records
Writer = Michael Jackson
Producer = Michael Jackson
Reviews =
Last single = "This Time Around"
(1995)
This single = "They Don't Care About Us"
(1996)
Next single = "Stranger in Moscow"
(1996)
Misc = Extra chronology
Artist = Michael Jackson's ""
Background = khaki
Last single = "Earth Song"
(2006)
This single = "They Don't Care About Us"
(2006)
Next single = "Stranger in Moscow"
(2006)Extra tracklisting
Album = HIStory
Type = studio
prev_track = "Scream"
prev_no = 1
this_track = "They Don't Care About Us"
track_no = 2
next_track = "Stranger in Moscow"
next_no = 3

"They Don't Care About Us" is a song by Michael Jackson, released as the third single in the United States and the fourth in Europe from his album "HIStory". It debuted and peaked at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 8, 1996. The song reached top 10 in different charts world-wide. "They Don't Care About Us" had reached number two in the United World Chart, knocked-off the top spot by George Michael's "Fastlove".

Controversies

Both the lyrics [cite web |url=http://uk.askmen.com/men/entertainment_60/66c_michael_jackson.html |title=Michael Jackson > What a History it is |accessdate=2007-01-28 |format= |work=AskMen ] and the music video generated controversy for Jackson.

Lyrics

The original version of the song brought accusations of Jackson being anti-Semitic because of the following lyrics: [cite web |url=http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/2460_12.asp |title=ADL troubled by anti-Jewish Lyrics in Michael Jackson Song |accessdate=2007-01-28 |format= |work=Anti-Defamation League |date=June 15 1995] :"Jew me, sue me, everybody do me":"Kick me, kyke me, don't you black or white me."He responded to these allegations by insisting that he did not mean to offend any member of the Jewish community and that some of his best friends were Jewish and that racism was never in his heart. He also explained in his letter to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that the song was meant to demonstrate the hatefulness of racism, anti-Semitism and stereotyping. He said: "My intention was for this song to say 'no' to racism, anti-Semitism and stereotyping. I intend to include, in all albums that have not been shipped as of this date, the above paragraph so that no one can listen to my music and misconstrue my intentions. Just the idea that my lyrics could offend and hurt anyone's feelings is extremely painful to me."

The live version from the History Tour eliminates the whole second verse because of the controversy.

Still under pressure, Jackson removed "HIStory" from the market, altered the controversial words [cite web |url=http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/2471_12.asp |title=ADL Welcomes Michael Jackson's Decision to Remove Anti-Semitic Lyrics From Song |accessdate=2007-01-28 |format= |work=Anti-Defamation League |date=June 22 1995 ] , and re-released it at his own expense.

At least three censored versions have been released. The first version, debuting with the re-released version of "HIStory", obscures the "Jew" and "kyke" lyrics with electronic noises. The second censored version only has the "kyke" lyric obscured (as heard in remixes such as the Dallas Austin Main Mix). Most future compilations until 2008 use the censored version that obscures both lyrics. The most recent censored version, debuting with the King of Pop compilation, re-samples the words "sue" and "kick" to replace the original off-color phrases. The song sloppily has "sue" pasted over the original "Jew" lyric. It also has "kick" sloppily pasted over the original "kyke" lyric. This version is also twenty-five seconds shorter than all previous versions since it shortens most of the police APB heard at the beginning and end of the song. The lyrics from the version found on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Pop_(album) King of Pop] compilation read as follows:

:"Sue me, sue me, everybody do me":"Kick me, kick me, don't you black or white me."

The firestorm ignited over the "Jew" and "kyke" lyrics overshadowed another line containing a potentially-offensive lyric that was never censored in any version. The line "hick me, kick me" is present in all versions of "They Don't Care About Us". Separating the music from the vocals yields irrefutable proof that Jackson clearly says "hick me, kick me" in the song.

Despite the controversy, the song reached #1 in the Israeli Single Charts.

Music video versions

The original music video for the song showed Jackson singing the song in a prison.cite web |url=http://www.jacksonaction.com/?page=videography.htm |title=Micahel Jackson > Videography |accessdate=2007-01-28 |format= |work=JacksonAction.com ] MTV took the video off its playlist because it showed scenes of violence. Jackson and video director Spike Lee did another version of the video set in Dona Marta, a shanty town in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. However, because of the location, this version has also been under some controversy. Brazillian politicians accused Jackson of exploiting poverty to make money. It is also alleged that Jackson needed and was given permission by drug traffickers to shoot the video. [Mirabella, Marina. [http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9602/brazil_jackson/index.html Michael Jackson struts stuff in shantytown] , 17 February 1996]

Other sources claim that "The original music video, which was shot in March, on the streets of Salvador in Brazil was reportedly not 'entirely satisfactory' to Michael's liking, so a second music video, the 'Prison version', was made a week later. However ironically this new music video was banned in some countries due to complaints that it was too violent, and on both MTV and VH1 it was only allowed to be shown after the 9 o'clock watershed."

However in recent years a workprint of the music video has appeared, which is a rough cut of the Prison Version. This version contains even more violent footage than the released video, which includes scenes of the Holocaust, dead bodies, gunshot scenes and a kid throwing around a foot detached from its body.But however more brutal, this version still censors the lyrics mentioned above. The prisoners in the video are singing along on all choruses, whereas in the released version, they only sing one chorus. It is unknown from where this cut originates, but it is clearly an early cut.

The "Brazil version" of the "They Don't Care About Us" music video, featuring the Brazilian cultural group Olodum playing drums, can be found on the DVD "HIStory on Film, Volume II", as well as on the DVD side of the "" single, which was released in 2006. It shows him spontaneously improvising physically complicated dance techniques before admiring crowds on the streets of a Brazilian city.

Track listing

UK single #1

# "They Don't Care About Us" (LP edit) – 4:10
# "They Don't Care About Us" (Love to Infinity's Walk in the Park Mix) – 7:18
# "They Don't Care About Us" (Love to Infinity's Classic Paradise Mix) – 7:55
# "They Don't Care About Us" (Love to Infinity's Anthem of Love Mix) – 7:46
# "They Don't Care About Us" (Love to Infinity's Hacienda Mix) – 7:10
# "They Don't Care About Us" (Dallas Austin Main Mix) – 5:20

UK single #2

# "They Don't Care About Us" (Single edit) – 4:43
# "They Don't Care About Us" (Track Master's Remix) – 4:07
# "They Don't Care About Us" (Charles' Full Joint Remix) – 4:56
# "Beat It" (Moby's Sub Mix) – 6:11

U.S. single #1

# "They Don't Care About Us" (Single version) – 4:43
# "Rock with You" (Frankie's Favorite Club Mix Radio Edit) – 3:47
# "Earth Song" (Hani's Radio Experience) – 3:33
# "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (Brothers in Rhythm House Mix) – 7:40

U.S. single #2

# "They Don't Care About Us" (Unedited album version) – 4:43
# "They Don't Care About Us" (Charles' Full Joint Remix) – 4:56
# "They Don't Care About Us" (Dallas Main Mix) – 5:06
# "They Don't Care About Us" (Love to Infinity's Walk in the Park Mix) – 7:18
# "They Don't Care About Us" (Love to Infinity's Classic Paradise Mix) – 7:55
# "They Don't Care About Us" (Track Master's Radio Edit) – 3:58
# "Rock With You" (Frankie's Favourite Club Mix) – 3:47
# "Earth Song" (Hani's Club Experience) – 7:55

2LP Promo

*Side A
#Love To Infinity's Classic Paradise Mix
#Love To Infinity's Anthem Of Love Mix

*Side B
#Dallas Main Mix
#Charles' Full Joint Mix (no intro)
#Track Masters Remix

*Side C
#Love To Infinity's Hacienda Mix
#Love To Infinity's Walk In The Park Mix

*Side D
#Single Version
#Charles' Full Joint Mix (no rap)
#A Capella

"Visionary" single

;CD side
# "They Don't Care About Us" (LP edit)
# "They Don't Care About Us" (Love to Infinity's Walk in the Park Mix)

;DVD side
# "They Don't Care About Us" (Brazil music video)

Official Mixes

*Album version (explicit lyrics) – 4:44
*Album version (clean lyrics) – 4:44
*Single version – 4:44
*Radio edit/LP edit – 4:10
*A cappella

Love to Infinity Mixes

*Love to Infinity's Walk in the Park Mix
*Love to Infinity's Anthem of Love Mix
*Love to Infinity's Anthem of Love Dub
*Love to Infinity's Classic Paradise Mix
*Love to Infinity's Classic Paradise Dub
*Love to Infinity's Hacienda Mix
*Love to Infinity's Walk in the Park Radio Mix
*Love to Infinity's Classic Paradise Radio Mix
*Love to Infinity's Anthem of Love Radio Mix

Track Masters Mixes

*Track Masters Remix
*Track Masters Radio Edit
*Track Masters Instrumental

Charles "The Mixologist" Roane Mixes

*Charles' Full Joint Remix
*Charles' Full Joint Mix - No Intro
*Charles' Full Joint Mix (without rap)
*Charles' Full Dirty Mix

Other Mixes

#Dallas Austin Main Mix

Charts

Credits

* Written and composed by Michael Jackson
* Produced by Michael Jackson

References