Opinions on every track... HIStory

For MattyJam

Stranger In Moscow (Charles Roane’s Full R&B Mix)

In terms of mental decisions, not including Dallas Austin mix of TDCAU on BOTDF is up there with not including Is It Scary on Scream.

My favorite Michael Jackson album, so I'll play:


Scream - Fantastic way to open the album and state the albums mission. 10/10


TDCAU - Goes further, harder and more in depth about the albums mission. Has reinvented itself many times since its release. 10/10.


SIM - Another way to say similar things to the first two tracks with an incredibly beautiful vocal. 10/10


This Time Around - I often say "Angry Mike is the best Mike" and this song is a good reason why. I don't love the bear but I don't hate it. 8/10


Earth Song - Astoundingly good song showing what kind of art you can create if your whole heart and mind are committed to s caring. 10/10



D.S. - Probably the most underrated track on the album IMO. Only one point deducted because you really have to know about the trail to "get it". 9/10



Money - Everything I love about D.S. but with a much better beat, IMO. Love the low key "you should be ashamed of yourselves" vocal in the verses 10/10


Come Together - WHY ARE YOU ON MY FAVORITE ALBUM?! 2/10


You Are Not Alone - Don't love this one as much as others. I think I'd like it much better if the intro was cut off. I know that's the radio edit, but I wish it was like that on the album. Not bad but he's got a LOT of better ballads. 7/10



Childhood - This was very hard for me to listen to for a very long time. Why not just leave this fn guy alone?? Still hard to listen to now and again but ultimately worth it every time. 10/10


Tabloid Junkie - Another underrated track. Can't believe more people don't know or talk about this. Perfect chorus, perfect vocals, perfect lyrics. 10/10

2 Bad - I love so much about this song BUT it seems too long at times. If I'm driving it's dine but if I'm listening to the album at home, it just seems like it goes on for too long, 7/10



HIStory - This took a long time to grow on my but I love it now. Seems like 2 songs mashed into 1, which I'm used to now. I love the ballad-y side of it more than the hard side of it. 9/10



Little Susie - This is what the world needs more of. Empathetic genius at it's very best. This is what I play for people who say "I wanna hear something from MJ that I've never heard before". 10/10



Smile - Yep, it's a cover and I'm still gonna give it a 10. It's the best version of the song anyone has every recorded. Period. End of. Perfect messaging to end the album. Dude was accused of the worst thing you can be a accused it. The court of public opinion found him guilty. Everyone jumped to conclusions and my man is still like "Hey I'm mad about it of course but life is still worthwhile if you just Smile". Perfection. 20/10

I sort of misspoke. He doesn't say "you should be ashamed of yourself" but I meant his tone of voice says that to me.

Alright, here goes! I’ve been working on this for a min.
I LOVE this album. I hesitate to say it’s my favorite, just because I’m not always in the mood to play this album, it’s pretty challenging and unrelenting to the listener. That said, this album is nothing short of PHENOMENAL, so personal and poignant. He has never made an album like this before or after where he truly had something to get off his chest, he needed to spill his guts, and he did! Imo it’s his magnum opus. It doesn’t feel like your typical pop album, it’s deeper than that, for the most part, MJ let go of his tried and true formula. I commend Michael for bearing his soul on this record; the good, bad, and ugly. Part of me hates that most of this album exists because of a traumatic event, but at least he turned his pain into art. It’s his most “tapped-in” album, he’s extremely socially conscious, self-analytical, reflective, angry, defiant, sobering, intelligent, clever, and inspired.
In short– it’s an incredible statement/concept album that is an essential listen if you want to know more about the man behind the sparkly glove and the moonwalk. It definitely requires active listening. Bummer that HIStory is often overlooked, and misunderstood by the general public (for many reasons). It’s truly the album that keeps on giving.

Scream- what an iconic opening track w sister Janet. Angry mike is my favorite mike, and he’s pissed! The driving beat and vicious vocals are fantastic. Great song to run to, Funky, futuristic, and fierce. only knock is that it’s slightly overproduced. Love the video, wish the dance break was longer. 10/10
They Don’t Care About Us- such an enduring song that resonates today more than ever. He was really in the pocket w this one. Such a smart, anthemic, and brutally honest message. MJ’s pen was on fire. It’s both super personal and universal. Hate that this one was so controversial at the time, and he relented, context is key. Still amazing nonetheless! Love the Brazil video. 10/10
Stranger In Moscow- His most personal and honest song ever written. Heartbreaking and haunting track. Absolutely beautiful w simply lush instrumentals, great vocals, and lyrics that are clever and emotionally raw. The song builds to an amazing crescendo. He has a few “I’m misunderstood” songs in his catalog, but this is the one that moves me the most. One of the best songs in his catalog. Video is unique. 10/10
This Time Around- I want to love this song but it doesn’t move me as it should. I like it, It’s got a good beat and I love an angry mike, but this song falls somewhat flat in comparison to the better songs on this album. It’s too repetitive, lyrics are hard to hear sometimes. However, Biggie is great, and I love that MJ went there. 6/10
Earth Song- what can be said about this song that hasn’t been said already? It’s probably his most daring and audacious song. No song builds like Earth song does. The ending never fails to give me goosebumps. The passion!! His vocals, the ahead-of-its-time environmental plea, and the production are all phenomenal. Dare I say masterpiece? 10/10
D.S.- I’ve slept on this song. Maybe because it’s so heavy and niche, but I do really like it. It’s driving and aggressive. I love the verses, but the chorus falls a bit flat to me. I feel like “cold man” is too soft, he already went there, so may as well double down. I commend the giant balls it took to not only write this song but include it on the album. However, only people in the know would understand its significance. 6/10
Money- It took a min for this song to grow on me but now I adore it. It’s such a wise and knowing song lyrically, w a rich and layered production and a killer groovy beat/flow. Love that MJ is almost rapping the verses. Heartbreaking in hindsight knowing all we know. 9/10
Come Together- on its own, incredible cover. This song is so fun and gritty and he gives it a nice edge. I like it more than the original, but it’s also the first version of the song I knew, so I’m partial. That being said, it doesn’t belong here. It has no thematic resonance on the album and it’s just an unnecessary addition especially given it was in Moonwalker years prior. I’d love to know why he included it. 7/10
You Are Not Alone- this song interestingly has waned on me throughout the years. I used to love it when I was younger, but for some reason, it doesn’t move me anymore. It actually annoys me a bit? idk why… maybe it’s the R Kelly of it all? ( I despise Cry as well) I think it’s a great vocal performance, especially the adlibs near the end, but the lyrics are lacking to me. It’s a bit bland/ vanilla. I get that this album needed a love song, but this one is too generic, anyone could’ve sung it. I wish MJ would’ve written the love song himself, after all, he did just get married that year… The video is just okay, slightly awkward. 7/10
Childhood - A plea for understanding. If the ‘93 allegations didn’t just happen, I might roll my eyes a bit at this one, but I do understand where he was coming from. He felt so misunderstood to the point where he had to beg for understanding and kindness. It’s a pretty song, Disney-esque, sung beautifully, his voice soars, and it’s v revealing of his soul. Never seek it out though. 7/10
Tabloid Junkie- One of my favorite songs on the album. He loves a tabloid-themed song but always finds a way to reinvent it. The songwriting is top-tier, so winking and clever. The beat is funky and driving. I do have one big issue w this song and that is the mix. The lyrics in the verses are SO HARD to make out, the music is way too loud and drowns him out. 8/10
2 Bad- one of my all-time favorite MJ songs! I’ve always felt this was an under-appreciated track. It’s so groovy and vicious. I LOVE the attitude and anger in the vocals and the witty lyrics. Yes, the Shaq rap is super corny but I can overlook it. I also love the Ghost/2bad video, some of my fav MJ choreography. My only critique is the intro is too long. 9/10
HIStory - This song flies under the radar for me. I admire the ambition and complexity of it. I think the spoken word clips littered throughout are an interesting inclusion and create an effective audible experience. The message is lovely. The abrasive contrast between the chorus and verses reminds me of morphine to a slightly less effective degree. The chorus is just a bit elementary/ sing-songy for my taste. I do want to listen to it more though, so my opinion might change. 7/10
Little Susie - tbh I never really listen to this track, I can’t explain why. Perhaps it’s the intro that’s so off-putting? This song is truly an anomaly in his catalog, so interesting. I love the storytelling, the mood, and the fantastical element of it. It’s certainly emotional and effective. I would’ve loved to know more about his inspo for the song. I’m knocking a few points off for the indulgent intro, the little girl’s “la la’s” go on too long and also, the track feels out of place on this album. Sounds more like a soundtrack to a movie. 7/10
Smile- an absolute gem. So beautiful, raw, and poignant. It captures his essence and highlights his silky voice. Don’t seek it out, but brilliant closing track. 10/10

Awesome review. I love this album too.

I rate most songs similarly to you, except I would rate Tabloid Junkie and the title track higher and Moscow and Come Together lower.

Come together was included there I think to remind the world that he was still the owner of that bloody ATV publishing company; in 95 he had to merge this with Sony and,as I understood from some fans that digg infos, he tried In vain to buy it back.

I love Earth song and your review a lot.
If you want I can scan Joseph Vogel,s book about this song and give it to you. It's short and amazingly written.