I think HIStory, the song, is without a doubt one of the most spectacular and moving songs Michael Jackson ever released. And yet it barely gets mentioned and is hardly ever included in anthologies. I was listening the other day and it is even more strinking in light of his passing - "every day create your history, every soldier dies in his glory..." Wouldn't it be neat if this song were re-released and included among all the important dates and headlines a reference to the news of Michael's death? It could be a charity record, with proceeds going to help pay for cost of that memorial service.
Regradless, it's a brilliant record and lyrically a perfect summation of Michael's unmatched legacy in popular culture. Who else loves this song?

I like it a lot. but it's corny as fuck and one of those songs that sort of demonstrates some of what was wrong with his later output. I find this particular one fantastic, but it's "one of those songs..." ... you know?

No.

He was trying a little too hard with this one. It's okay.

midnightmover said:

A little?

Didn't care for that song, or really most of the HIStory album.

He started delivering his vocals in that manner on the Dangerous album a little, but with HIStory and everything that followed it's the norm. I'm talking about the abrupt, spoken word "rap" that he does in time with the music. It's not singing.

Never heard it...


Never will...

I skipped it a lot initially because it's so busy and disjointed, but I grew to like it very much.

I thought this thread was going to be about the album. I always wondered why they didn't re-release the second disc on its own.

AlexdeParis said:

Because it wouldn't sell on its own. It was bundled with his very first adult greatest hits for a reason.

^^^^^

It might sell on its own now, for different reasons than when it was first released. Also, they would probably want to avoid competing with any other current or future greatest hits packages.
[Edited 7/13/09 15:42pm]

Se7en said:

I meant now or a couple of years ago. Its initial run was definitely benefited by the hits disc, but now that there are plenty of better packages, it may be preventing the album from selling more.

The 2 disc album has been back in the UK charts for a few weeks now surprisenly (currently no. 17)

And right at the bottom end of the UK top 100 singles, is Michaels "Smile". A track that was never a single in the first place. No doubt it will drop out this week, but I guess the memorial got a few people buying Mikes version. I wish sony hadn't cancelled it as a single, as I know BBC radio 2 would of been all over that one. I always did like his version.

I know the remix got UK top 5 backed with "ghosts" back in 1997 and the video was played a reasonable amount at the time aswell.

Personally, I like the track alot. No doubt its got the most samples of any track ever LOL. Jackson/Jam/Lewis really must of gone to town to pull this one off as well as they did. The remix was great aswell.
[Edited 7/13/09 16:12pm]

I find HIStory and the couple of songs from Blood In The Dance Floor to be his absloute most personal & autobiographical work to date.

He really poured his heart on these songs,,,,I don't find them to be "forced" or him trying too hard at all.

Even though HIStory was great I think Blood on the Dancefloor was better for some reason. The new songs and the remixes of the HIStory songs were fantastic and I don't really care for remixes but BOTD was really good.

HIStory made top5 in the UK first time around, i never liked it too much, i bought the CD single for the Mousse T remix of 'Ghosts' alone. Tuuuuunnnne!

ABeautifulOne said:

Ghosts is vastly underrated .....what a brilliant song.

Is it scary is another great Masterpeice...

Morphine

seeingvoices12 said:

Yah its like everything has this funky opera feel to that really worked.

I think HIStory Disc Two could sell on its own based on the success of "You Are Not Alone" and "Scream". I am surprised they didn't start selling it separately after those singles. Those songs did NOT bomb.

AlexdeParis said:

Listening to the Acapella version took me to another level of appreciation for this song! In the mid 90's....I really couldnt bare to listen to it because it would start off with a men meanacing hip hop track..then go right into a full band opus....it didnt make sense at the time...but it took the 2nd Mollestation case to make me think differently...they played that song on cnn over and over and it all made sense....as did my appreciation for D.S.

AlexdeParis said:

Thats what I was going to post too. I hate the fact that the greatest hits is on there. I paid twice as much when I didnt even want the greatest hits. I never listen to it. I actually think the first disc prevents it from being as successful because no one wants to pay that much when they already have those songs.
[Edited 7/13/09 22:42pm]

I reckon it's the cost of manufacturing that crazy booklet that keeps the price up.

Se7en said:

I enjoy HIStory disc 2. Decent MJ album.

Cinnie said:

or it could be the cost of manufacturing those gold-colored discs. HIStory was one expensive investment back in the day and it kinda still is today.

well they've split off the GH portion of it to sell as a single disc with it's own packaging. not sure why it would be any more expensive or difficult to do it for the disc of new stuff.

at this point, it would sell more copies. there are better, more comprehensive GH packages out there now... at least 3 of them, so i think after all this time, disc 2 would probably sell pretty well on its own.

shame it wasn't included in "The Collection" box set that came out recently. those just had a slip-cover for each disc, didn't they?

Ive alwayas enjoyed the HIStory album. I remember buying it on the day that it came out and being beyond excited. As for the song, History, I think its a bit self indulgent and some may say demonstrates Michael's megalomania. I understood what he was trying to do though.

I remember falling in love with Stranger in Moscow immediately. I knew it would be one of those classic MJ songs.

I know only the version released as a single (The Blood On The Dancefloor version). I think both song and video are among Michael Jackson's worse song and videos ever. I was very surprised that History/Ghosts went as high as Number 5 in the UK. But I think Ghosts is even worse.

Se7en said:

I think it would sell on its own at least here in Europe. I remember I didn't like the album when I heard it (I heard it all only once) but it does include 2 UK number ones including his biggest UK hit ever (The Earth Song) and also 3 more UK Top 5s. Although not really comparable due to different time of release just for statistical purposes Off The Wall had just 2 UK top 5s, Thriller had 2 as well, Bad had 5 (including Man In The Mirror which made the Top 5 last week) and Dangerous had 4. It would definitely sell more than Invincible

errant said:

exactly.

I like the chorus and the middle eight. The end is a complete rip off from HTW.

That's what I critize the most: MJ had such a citchy taste in terms of ballads in the last 15 years, it's horrible.

I prefer SOOML or TLIML much more.

The verses of that song are what he did quite often: aggressive shouting. Not my cupa tea.

Marrk said:

The HIStory remix was huge in Germany.

I like that song, the dates at the start, the catchy sing song chorus, easily his most intelligent and poignant statement, the whole 2 song joint with Little Susie works well here. Songs like this just proved he was more than just a song and dance man. I remember when I bought the History CDs I just played them to death.