When Dangerous dropped I was in awe of "In The Closet" (as well as the title track). Teddy delivered the goods with this one. Stripped down yet operatic. Hip-hop, yet soulful. Funky, yet flirtatious and charming. The crescendos, tacit, harmonies, and a bass line that’s felt more than its heard. MJ’s vocals and vocal arrangement are superb as usual, capturing a perfect blend of intensity and rawness, yet endearing, passionate, and strikingly believable in context. If you ain’t feeling it during, “There’s something about you, baby, that makes me want to give it to you” then you’re deaf…or inhuman.

The opening piano, synth strings, killer drum sounds and “Planet Rock” lasers ( ), orchestra hits/ horn stabs, and sound f/x perfectly construct a song. (There are hundreds of new school so-called producers who need to take note of this.) I was surprised that this song wasn’t a bigger hit.

And any great song should have a great video to accompany it.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...qQdYTpFAvg

Adisa said:

LOVE THIS SONG.. and video... NAOMI.. is the most beautifulest models... and did you get to see the making of the video... you should have seen the way michael was looking at her... he had so much desire in his eyes... i almost was so jealous of Naomi...

Nice description! I love that song and the video as well.

TotalAlisa said:

I remember seeing the making of...

I remember when I first got this album and couldn't stop listening to it. I knew exactly which songs were gonna be released a singles, I could just feel it. "Give In to Me" was a surprise, though. I wasn't expecting that one. Anyway, the "In The Closet" video was nothing like I expected it was gonna be, which is a good thing.

TotalAlisa said:

never. release. a. song. about. "closets". if. your. sexuality. has. always. been. in. doubt.

----thats the reason this song wasn't the huge hit it could have been.

Yes, it still kicks ass.

I would like to have seen Madonna's lyrics for this track.

sosgemini said:

I compleltely disagree. MJ knows a lot of people think he's gay so I thought it was brave of him to make a song called "Keep It In The Closet". I would have never expected him to release a song w/that title. The whole thing was brilliant!

I still like it, but I wish that lame intro talking shit was a separate interlude & not part of the track...

A few nights ago I wanted to hear htis song so I looked for my copy of "Dangerous" (because unfornatley, it's isn't on that boxed set..big mistake!). Awesome sounding song. Excellent production!

LOVE IT!!! One of my fav MJ tracks

This was almost cool. MJ and JT mix "Like I Love You In The Closet".

http://www.youtube.com/wa...rrQ89od0EY

Alright, fixed that whole lame intro thing in ITunes... it's one of those things you mean to get to but never remember. I feel better now

I loove that song! one my all-time favs. to dance too! just really start breaking it down on that!

What an incredible sounding album. I've never heard anything clearer or louder. The production is pristine. Dangerous and Off The Wall rate higher in my book than Thriller any day. Just slightly, but they're definitely above it.

God, I used to dance my ass off to this album in my bedroom.

Adisa said:

CalhounSq said:

CURSED WOMAN!

INSATIABLE said:

Co-sign everything. I wonder what MJ and Teddy would have done together with History if Teddy had been involved.

Adisa said:

Good point. "No Diggity" came out a year later.

CinisterCee said:

Teddy put Mike off because he was "too busy" making Another Level, so he went to Jam and Lewis and Dallas Austin. AL was hot though, but too sample-driven.

Adisa said:

That wasnt bad. Now, how about MJ and Justin's ex? Behold, "I'm A Slave 4U In the Closet"

http://www.youtube.com/wa...1E7_L3mo0w



Actually I think that was pretty hot
[Edited 3/27/07 14:16pm]

I love that song. I wish he would have released the video version as a remix. I love the video version.

NaughtyKitty said:

Well, The Neptunes were Teddy's students. So I guess Mike did the right thing by not working with them.

Now, I'm ready for a mix video about "F*cking for Tracks In The Closet".

Adisa said:

How big a hit did you want it to be?

In the USA, "In The Closet" peaked at #6 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B chart. It was MJ's third #1 single from Dangerous following "Black Or White" (#1 Hot 100) and "Remember The Time" (#1 R&B). "In The Closet" eventually sold over 500,000 copies gaining a RIAA gold sales award and remained on the chart for 20 weeks.

Worldwide success was also excellent with the single being a 3rd consecutive #1 in France and hitting #2 in Italy and #5 in Australia.
[Edited 3/27/07 16:37pm]

CalhounSq said:

Yes. He has a habit of doing that. I didn't need the intro to "Black Or White" or "Will You Be There?" to be a part of the actual song. He also did that on "You Rock My World." Just give me the music!

But, anyway, "In The Closet" is one of my favorites from Dangerous. I had it on repeat not too long ago.

Adisa said:

I thought In The Closet was a big hit. But anyway, this was Teddy Riley's finest moment as a producer.

Adisa said:

You scared me for a second, ADISA. When I first read the title to you're thread, For some odd reason I thought you were talking about R. Kelly's "In The Closet" LOL!!!! Seriously though, That was one of my favorite songs from the Dangerous album, And Naomi Campbell was sssssmokin!

lameless said:

omg that's the worst one! I couldn't believe they included that intro on HIStory Vol 1.

CinisterCee said:

Hahahaha. I think the BOW intro is soooo cute!