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Rating: HIStory, Past, Present and Future.
At first glance, it might seem like a cute play on words (HI=hello! Story=story, translation for the most ignorant), but instead it is the title of another fantastic and lively album by Michael Jackson. So first of all, a little bit of HIStory notes:
- This album is chronologically placed in 1995;
- 3 years after "Dangerous";
- 8 years after "Bad";
- 13 years after "Thriller";
- and many, many years after "Off The Wall".
So let's begin. At this time, MJ was already considered the King of POP, and it seemed logical to associate the album of new songs with the Greatest Hits album. Unfortunately for the numerous fans, this choice cost them many "buckeroos" as we say here in Carrara. In this review, I will focus only on the new songs since the other CD contains songs that should be injected into the arteries of those who understand something about music.
The album starts strong with the duet between Michael and the splendid Janet titled "Scream" with many well-suited futuristic effects with which MJ wants to put an end to the criticism and the continuous alleged scandals regarding his skin color—a great song for youngsters but not enjoyable for those used to classic sounds. It continues with "They Don't Care About Us", another autobiographical song condemning racism (just like "Black or White"). Nice intro with children singing the chorus lines. An abrupt change of style with "Stranger in Moscow": intro with pouring rain, a slow and calm rhythm, a fine and cold voice... a masterpiece with a capital "M"!!!!!! Then we move on to the usual rhythmic pieces with "This Time Around", a danceable track that, however, doesn't provide the engagement we have come to expect from Michael's songs. We continue with another gem, a 10-rated song: the splendid "Earth Song" characterized by a chorus performed by a choir that resembles a lament. It doesn't match "Imagine" by Lennon, but it gets remarkably close. "D.S" is made of guitar riffs performed by Slash (maybe) in which Michael mocks the lawyer who accused him of sexual harassment with many double meanings.
"Money" is a fairly underrated Hip Hop track in which MJ reiterates that the world is all based on money: if you have it, I'm your friend, otherwise you can go screw yourself. Then we move to a Beatles cover dating back to 1989 (he sings it in MoonWalker, the film). Good performance by MJ who has nothing to envy from the Beatles, but unfortunately, many don't see it that way. We move to the splendid "You Are Not Alone", a lullaby in which MJ unleashes a vocal solo at the end that truly shatters the glass. Another gem for the Greatest Hits. There comes a track where Mike explains with a sweet melody that he didn't have a childhood and that he still manages to be amazed by simple things. Enjoyable for fans, not for "outsiders". In "2Bad" Jacko tries futuristic effects that unfortunately will penalize him a few years later (Invincible) but alas, no one could know that back then. "Tabloid Junkie" is a great song in which our hero explains that not everything journalists say is true (here we go again) and is characterized by rhythmic and fast parts. The title track is the last noteworthy song (also because frankly "Little Susie" and "Smile", even though I appreciate Jacko almost like a fan, I'll attach them where the sun doesn't shine). It starts with trumpets reminiscent of a military march and follows the classic Jackson song structure: minimalism at the start, "explosions" of choirs at the end.
In conclusion, we can congratulate Michael Jackson who, as always, produces masterpieces worthy of entering history, or rather the HIStory of music. And with the legendary line by Forrest Gump, I close my review: "...and that's all I have to say about that. I'm a bit tired".
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