name	You Are Not Alone
cover	You Are Not Alone.jpg
artist	Michael Jackson
album	HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
released	August 15, 1995
format	CD single, 7", 12"
recorded	November 1994 at The Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, Illinois
genre	Contemporary R&B;
length	5:45 (album version)4:34 (radio edit)4:56 (single version)5:35 (video edit)6:02 (extended version)
label	Epic
writer	R. Kelly
producer	R. KellyMichael Jackson
certification	Platinum (U.S.)
last single	"Scream/Childhood"(1995)
this single	"You Are Not Alone"(1995)
next single	"Earth Song"(1995)
misc	}}

"You Are Not Alone," released in August 1995, is the second single from Michael Jackson's album ''HIStory''. The R&B; ballad's composition has been attributed R. Kelly in response to difficult times in his personal life. He then forwarded a bare demo tape to Jackson, who liked the song and decided to produce it with Kelly. Jackson's interest in the song was also linked to recent events in his personal life. However, the song has been faced with allegations of plagiarism by two Belgian songwriters.

The vast majority of critical reaction to "You Are Not Alone" was positive, although it did not attain unanimous praise. The song was the recipient of Grammy and American Music Award nominations. The corresponding music video, which featured Jackson and his wife was also notable for its scenes of semi-nudity.

Commercially, the song was a significant success. It holds a ''Guinness World Record'' as the first song in the 37-year history of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 to debut at number one; it was later certified platinum by the RIAA. The song peaked highly in all major markets. "You Are Not Alone" was Michael Jackson's last number one hit song in the United States during his lifetime. It was also the 800th number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart.

Production and music

"You Are Not Alone" is an R&B; ballad about love and isolation. The song was written by R. Kelly and produced by Kelly and Jackson. Kelly wrote the song after the loss of close people in his life. Kelly was delighted to be able to work with his idol, explaining "I was psyched ... I feel I could have done his whole album. Not being selfish. I was just that geeked about it. It was an experience out of this world ... It's amazing to know that five years ago I was writing songs in a basement in the ghetto and now I'm writing for Michael Jackson ... I'd be a fool not to say it's a dream come true." Jackson contacted Kelly to see if he had any material available. Kelly forwarded a tape recording of the song and Jackson then agreed to work with Kelly on the piece. On the tape sent to Jackson, Kelly sung "You Are Not Alone" mimicking Jackson's vocal style, explaining, "I think I am him. I become him. I want him to feel that as well." Jackson found the interpretation amusing. They spent the last week of November 1994 together in the studio working on the track.

Jackson explained that he instantly liked the song, but listened to it twice before making his final decision. Although the song was written by Kelly, Jackson was adamant that the production should be a collaborative effort amongst the two musicians. The tape sent to him had no harmony or modulations, so Jackson added a choir in the final portion and added a sense of climax and structure to the final piece.

Critical reaction

'You Are Not Alone' received positive views from music critics. James Hunter of ''Rolling Stone'' noted that, "the excellent current single 'Scream' or the first-rate R&B; ballad 'You Are Not Alone' – manage to link the incidents of Jackson's infamous recent past to universal concepts like injustice or isolation. When he bases his music in the bluntness of hip-hop, Jackson sketches funky scenarios denouncing greed, blanket unreliability and false accusation". Jon Pareles of ''The New York Times'' said that it was the only conventional love song on the new material on ''HIStory''. He compared it to Mariah Carey's song "Hero" and said it "sounds like a surefire hit". In more recent years, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic expressed the opinion that "You Are Not Alone" was amongst some the best songs Jackson ever released, calling the song seductive. The R&B; critic and journalist Nelson George described the song as lovely and supple.

Writer and journalist J. Randy Taraborrelli wrote of the song in 2004, "[it] remains among Michael's best songs ... On listening to 'You Are Not Alone', one wonders how many times Michael tried to tell himself, during his most desperate and anguished times, that he ''did'' have support in his life, from a higher power, or even friends and family, whether he actually believed it or not". Fred Shuster of the ''Daily News of Los Angeles'' described it as the best song on the album. Conversely, while Steve Holsey of ''Michigan Chronicle'' gave the album a positive review, he described the song as the worst on the album, calling the Kelly penned lyrics "trite" and below the standard set by Jackson's own lyrical skills. "You Are Not Alone" received an American Music Award nomination and a Grammy nomination both for "Best Pop Vocal Performance".

Chart performance

Commercially, "You Are Not Alone" remains one of Jackson's best selling singles. It holds the ''Guinness World Record'' for the first song ever to debut at number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. First week sales were 120,000 copies, it was certified platinum by the RIAA for shipments of at least one million units within the US. It broke the record set by his previous single "Scream/Childhood," which was the first song in the 37 year history of ''Billboard'' to debut at number five—where it peaked. It peaked at number one in the UK after a debut at number three in the prior week. The song also reached number one in Wallonia, France, New Zealand, Spain and Switzerland.

In one scene, Jackson originally appeared in complete nudity, but just before the video aired a decision was made to use special effects to remove or cover these aspects. Despite giving the song a positive review, Taraborrelli said of the video, "The only problem with 'You Are Not Alone' was the bizarre video for it, in which Michael and Lisa Marie frolic about semi-nude against an ethereal backdrop...The semi-nudity made no sense and was a bit disconcerting; one wished they would put their clothes back on". Afterward, Presley expressed regret about doing the video, saying she was "sucked up in the moment. It was kind of cool being in a Michael Jackson video. Come on!".

Plagiarism

In 2007, a Belgium court ruled that R. Kelly had plagiarized the 1993 song "If We Can Start All Over" when composing "You Are Not Alone". The court transferred rights of Jackson's hit to the twin composer brothers, Eddy and Danny Van Passel. The judgment is only recognized in Belgium and airplay of the hit has been banned in that nation.

Charts

Peak positions

!Chart (1995)	Peakposition
align="left"
align="left"
align="left"
align="left"
!Chart (2009)	Peakposition
align="left"
align="left"
align="left"
UK Singles Chart
U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Digital Songs

End of year charts

End of year chart (1995)	Position
U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100

Certifications

{| class="wikitable" !Country !align="center"|Certification !align="center"|Sales/shipments |- |align="left"|Austria |align="center"|Gold |align="center"|20,000 |- |align="left"|France |align="center"|Gold |align="center"|250,000 |- |align="left"|Germany |align="center"|Gold |align="center"|250,000 |- |align="left"|New Zealand |align="center"|Gold |align="center"|7,500 |- |align="left"|Switzerland |align="center"|Gold |align="center"|25,000 |- |align="left"|United Kingdom |align="center"|Gold |align="center"|400,000 |- |align="left"|United States |align="center"|Platinum |align="center"|1,000,000 |- |}

Track listing

;Canadian/United States single # "You Are Not Alone" – 4:56 # "You Are Not Alone" (radio edit) – 4:34 # "You Are Not Alone" (Franctified Club Mix) – 10:40 # "Scream Louder" (Flyte Tyme Remix) – 5:30 # "MJ Megaremix" – 10:33

;Brazilian single # "You Are Not Alone" (R. Kelly Remix Edit) – 4:30 # "You Are Not Alone" (Classic Club Edit) – 4:59 # "You Are Not Alone" (Jon B. Remix Edit) – 4:59 # "You Are Not Alone" (R. Kelly Remix) – 6:23 # "You Are Not Alone" (Jon B. Main Mix) – 6:55 # "Rock with You" (Frankie's Favorite Club Mix) – 7:45

;Japanese single # "You Are Not Alone" – 4:56 # "You Are Not Alone" (radio edit) – 4:34 # "You Are Not Alone" (Franctified Club Mix) – 10:40 # "You Are Not Alone" (R. Kelly Mix) – 6:23 # "You Are Not Alone" (Franctified Club Mix Edit) – 7:40 # "You Are Not Alone" (Jon B. Main Mix) – 6:55 # "You Are Not Alone" (Jon B. Padapella Mix) – 6:55

;Cassette single # "You Are Not Alone" – 4:56 # "Scream Louder" (Flyte Tyme Remix) – 5:30 ;Austrian single # "You Are Not Alone" – 4:56 # "You Are Not Alone" (radio edit) – 4:34 # "You Are Not Alone" (Franctified Club Mix) – 10:40 # "You Are Not Alone" (Classic Club Mix) – 7:40 # "You Are Not Alone" (Jon B. Main Mix) – 6:55 # "You Are Not Alone" (Jon B. Padapella Mix) – 6:55 # "MJ Medley Aus Dem Viva" – 4:59

;Dutch single # "You Are Not Alone" – 4:56 # "You Are Not Alone" (radio edit) – 4:34 # "You Are Not Alone" (Franctified Club Mix) – 10:40 # "You Are Not Alone" (Classic Club Mix) – 7:40 # "You Are Not Alone" (Jon B. Main Mix) – 6:55 # "You Are Not Alone" (Jon B. Padapella Mix) – 6:55 # "Magic Michael Jackson Mix" – 4:26

;''Visionary'' single

CD side

# "You Are Not Alone" (radio edit) – 4:34 # "You Are Not Alone" (Classic Club Mix) – 7:36

DVD side

# "You Are Not Alone" (music video) – 5:35

''The X Factor'' UK 2009 finalists version

name	You Are Not Alone
cover	YouAreNotAloneXF2009.jpg
artist	The X Factor Finalists 2009
released
format	CD single, digital single
genre	Pop, R&B;
writer	R. Kelly
label	Syco
misc	}}

The final twelve acts from the sixth series of TV talent show ''The X Factor'' in the United Kingdom released a cover version of the song on November 15, 2009 in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital. The finalists premiered the song live on the November 15 edition of the programme; the single was available for digital download that day and a physical release followed the day after. The release of the song follows a similar occurrence a year earlier, when the final twelve acts from the fifth series released a cover version of Mariah Carey's "Hero" in aid of Help for Heroes and raised over £1 million.

Music video

The video is very similar to the video of the cover version of the charity single of the year before. It shows various contestants performing their part in front of a plain black background, then shows the 12 finalists together performing the song in front of a screen of photos. Photos and video footage of the finalists at the Great Ormond Street Hospital are shown throughout the video.

Charts

!Chart (2009)	Peakposition
align="left"

End-of-year charts

{|class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (2009) !Position |- |UK Singles Chart | style="text-align:center;"|28 |-

Notes

References

George, Nelson (2004). ''Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection''. Sony BMG.

Category:1990s ballads Category:1995 singles Category:2009 singles Category:Michael Jackson songs Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Category:Billboard Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs number-one singles Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles Category:Number-one singles in France Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles Category:Music videos directed by Wayne Isham Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles Category:Rhythm and blues ballads Category:Pop ballads Category:Songs written by R. Kelly Category:Great Ormond Street Hospital Category:Singles certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America Category:Songs produced by Michael Jackson

az:You Are Not Alone da:You Are Not Alone de:You Are Not Alone (Lied) el:You Are Not Alone es:You Are Not Alone (canción de Michael Jackson) fa:تو تنها نیستی fr:You Are Not Alone ko:You Are Not Alone it:You Are Not Alone sw:You Are Not Alone nl:You Are Not Alone ja:ユー・アー・ナット・アローン pl:You Are Not Alone (singel Michaela Jacksona) pt:You Are Not Alone ru:You Are Not Alone sr:You Are Not Alone fi:You Are Not Alone sv:You Are Not Alone tr:You Are Not Alone vi:You Are Not Alone zh:You Are Not Alone

Not Alone may refer to:

''Not Alone'' (album), a 2006 compilation album

"Not Alone" (song), a 1998 song by Bernard Butler

"Not Alone" (Linkin Park song), a 2010 song by Linkin Park

''Not Alone – Rivers Cuomo and Friends: Live at Fingerprints'', a 2009 live EP by Rivers Cuomo

"Not Alone", a song by All That Remains, from the 2006 album ''The Fall of Ideals''

''Not Alone'', a 2011 album by South Korean singer Park Jung Min

alt	A mid-twenties African American man wearing a sequined military jacket and dark sunglasses. He is walking while waving his right hand, which is adorned with a white glove. His left hand is bare.
background	solo_singer
birth name	Michael Joseph Jackson
alias	Michael Joe Jackson, MJ, King of Pop
birth date	August 29, 1958
birth place	Gary, Indiana, U.S.
death date	June 25, 2009
death place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
instrument	vocals, guitar, drums, percussion, keyboards
genre	R&B;, pop, rock, soul, dance, funk, disco, new jack swing
occupation	Singer-songwriter, musician, composer, dancer, choreographer, record producer, actor, businessman, philanthropist
years active	1964–2009
label	Motown, Epic, Legacy
associated acts	The Jackson 5
relatives	Janet Jackson (sister)
website	130pxMichael Jackson's signature }}

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Often referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. His contribution to music, dance, and fashion, along with a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene along with his brothers as a member of The Jackson 5, then the Jacksons in 1964, and began his solo career in 1971.

In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music. The music videos for his songs, including those of "Beat It", "Billie Jean", and "Thriller", were credited with transforming the medium into an art form and a promotional tool, and the popularity of these videos helped to bring the relatively new television channel MTV to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made him a staple on MTV in the 1990s. Through stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk, to which he gave the name. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style have influenced numerous hip hop, post-disco, contemporary R&B;, pop and rock artists.

Jackson's 1982 album ''Thriller'' is the best-selling album of all time. His other records, including ''Off the Wall'' (1979), ''Bad'' (1987), ''Dangerous'' (1991), and ''HIStory'' (1995), also rank among the world's best-selling. Jackson is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He was also inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame as the first (and currently only) dancer from the world of pop and rock 'n' roll. Some of his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records; 13 Grammy Awards (as well as the Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award); 26 American Music Awards (more than any other artist, including the "Artist of the Century"); 13 number-one singles in the United States in his solo career (more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era); and the estimated sale of over 750 million records worldwide. Jackson won hundreds of awards, which have made him the most-awarded recording artist in the history of popular music.

Life and career

Early life and The Jackson 5 (1958–1975)

Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, the eighth of ten children in an African American working-class family who lived in a small 3-room house in Gary, Indiana, an industrial city near Chicago. His mother, Katherine Esther Scruse, was a devout Jehovah's Witness, and his father, Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, was a steel mill worker who performed with an R&B; band called The Falcons. Jackson had three sisters: Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet, and five brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy. A sixth brother, Brandon, died shortly after birth.

Jackson had a troubled relationship with his father, Joe. In 1980, Jackson won three awards at the American Music Awards for his solo efforts: Favorite Soul/R&B; Album, Favorite Soul/R&B; Male Artist, and Favorite Soul/R&B; Single for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". That year, he also won Billboard Year-End for Top Black Artist and Top Black Album and a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B; Vocal Performance, also for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Jackson again won at the American Music Awards in 1981 for Favorite Soul/R&B; Album and Favorite Soul/R&B; Male Artist. Despite its commercial success, Jackson felt ''Off the Wall'' should have made a much bigger impact, and was determined to exceed expectations with his next release. In 1980, he secured the highest royalty rate in the music industry: 37 percent of wholesale album profit.

''Thriller'' and ''Motown 25'' (1982–83)

In 1982, Jackson contributed the song "Someone In the Dark" to the storybook for the film ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial''; the record won a Grammy for Best Recording for Children in 1984. In the same year he won another seven Grammys and eight American Music Awards (including the Award of Merit, the youngest artist to win it), making him the most awarded in one night for both award shows. The album topped the ''Billboard'' 200 chart for 37 weeks and was in the top 10 of the 200 for 80 consecutive weeks. It was the first album to have seven ''Billboard'' Hot 100 top 10 singles, including "Billie Jean", "Beat It," and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'." ''Thriller'' was certified for 29 million shipments by the RIAA, giving it Double Diamond status in the United States. The album won also another Grammy for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical in 1984, awarding Bruce Swedien for his work. Thanks to the ''Bad'' album, Bruce Swedien and Humberto Gatica won one Grammy in 1988 for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical and Michael Jackson won one Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form for "Leave Me Alone" in 1989. ''HIStory'' received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. However, the sales for ''Invincible'' were lower than those of his previous releases, due in part to a lack of promotion, no supporting world tour and the label dispute. The album also came out at a bad time for the music industry in general. Jackson rehearsed in Los Angeles in the weeks leading up to the tour under the direction of choreographer Kenny Ortega. Most of these rehearsals took place at the Staples Center, which was owned by AEG. With ''Thriller'', Christopher Connelly of ''Rolling Stone'' commented that Jackson developed his long association with the subliminal theme of paranoia and darker imagery. Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted this is evident on the songs "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". In "Billie Jean", Jackson sings about an obsessive fan who alleges he has fathered a child of hers. In "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" he argues against gossip and the media. "Beat It" decried gang violence in an homage to ''West Side Story'', and was Jackson's first successful rock cross-over piece, according to Huey. He also observed that the title track "Thriller" began Jackson's interest with the theme of the supernatural, a topic he revisited in subsequent years. In 1985, Jackson co-wrote the charity anthem "We Are the World"; humanitarian themes later became a recurring theme in his lyrics and public persona.

In ''Bad'', Jackson's concept of the predatory lover can be seen on the rock song "Dirty Diana". The lead single "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" is a traditional love ballad, while "Man in the Mirror" is an anthemic ballad of confession and resolution. "Smooth Criminal" was an evocation of bloody assault, rape and likely murder. Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine states that ''Dangerous'' presents Jackson as a very paradoxical individual. He comments the album is more diverse than his previous ''Bad'', as it appeals to an urban audience while also attracting the middle class with anthems like "Heal the World". The first half of the record is dedicated to new jack swing, including songs like "Jam" and "Remember the Time". The album is Jackson's first where social ills become a primary theme; "Why You Wanna Trip on Me", for example, protests against world hunger, AIDS, homelessness and drugs. ''Dangerous'' contains sexually charged efforts such as the multifaceted love song, "In the Closet". The title track continues the theme of the predatory lover and compulsive desire. The second half includes introspective, pop-gospel anthems such as "Will You Be There", "Heal the World" and "Keep the Faith"; these songs show Jackson opening up about various personal struggles and worries. In the ballad "Gone Too Soon", Jackson gives tribute to his friend Ryan White and the plight of those with AIDS.

''HIStory'' creates an atmosphere of paranoia. Its content focuses on the hardships and public struggles Jackson went through just prior to its production. In the new jack swing-funk-rock efforts "Scream" and "Tabloid Junkie", along with the R&B; ballad "You Are Not Alone", Jackson retaliates against the injustice and isolation he feels, and directs much of his anger at the media. In the introspective ballad "Stranger in Moscow", Jackson laments over his "fall from grace", while songs like "Earth Song", "Childhood", "Little Susie" and "Smile" are all operatic pop pieces. In the track "D.S.", Jackson launched a verbal attack against Tom Sneddon. He describes Sneddon as an antisocial, white supremacist who wanted to "get my ass, dead or alive". Of the song, Sneddon said, "I have not—shall we say—done him the honor of listening to it, but I've been told that it ends with the sound of a gunshot". ''Invincible'' found Jackson working heavily with producer Rodney Jerkins. It is a record made up of urban soul like "Cry" and "The Lost Children", ballads such as "Speechless", "Break of Dawn" and "Butterflies" and mixes hip-hop, pop and R&B; in "2000 Watts", "Heartbreaker" and "Invincible".

Vocal style

Jackson sang from childhood, and over time his voice and vocal style changed noticeably. Between 1971 and 1975, Jackson's voice descended from boy soprano to high tenor. Jackson first used a technique called the "vocal hiccup" in 1973, starting with the song "It's Too Late to Change the Time" from The Jackson 5's ''G.I.T.: Get It Together'' album. Jackson did not use the hiccup technique— somewhat like a gulping for air or gasping— fully until the recording of ''Off the Wall'': it can be seen in full force in the "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" promotional video. With the arrival of ''Off the Wall'' in the late 1970s, Jackson's abilities as a vocalist were well regarded. At the time, ''Rolling Stone'' compared his vocals to the "breathless, dreamy stutter" of Stevie Wonder. Their analysis was also that "Jackson's feathery-timbred tenor is extraordinarily beautiful. It slides smoothly into a startling falsetto that's used very daringly". 1982 saw the release of ''Thriller'', and ''Rolling Stone'' was of the opinion that Jackson was then singing in a "fully adult voice" that was "tinged by sadness".

A distinctive deliberate mispronunciation of "come on", used frequently by Jackson, occasionally spelled "cha'mone" or "shamone", is also a staple in impressions and caricatures of him. The turn of the 1990s saw the release of the introspective album ''Dangerous''. ''The New York Times'' noted that on some tracks, "he gulps for breath, his voice quivers with anxiety or drops to a desperate whisper, hissing through clenched teeth" and he had a "wretched tone". When singing of brotherhood or self-esteem the musician would return to "smooth" vocals. When commenting on ''Invincible'', ''Rolling Stone'' were of the opinion that—at the age of 43—Jackson still performed "exquisitely voiced rhythm tracks and vibrating vocal harmonies". Nelson George summed up Jackson's vocals by stating "The grace, the aggression, the growling, the natural boyishness, the falsetto, the smoothness—that combination of elements mark him as a major vocalist".

Music videos and choreography

Referred to as the King of Music Videos, Steve Huey of Allmusic observed how Jackson transformed the music video into an art form and a promotional tool through complex story lines, dance routines, special effects and famous cameo appearances; simultaneously breaking down racial barriers. Before ''Thriller'', Jackson struggled to receive coverage on MTV, allegedly because he was African American. Pressure from CBS Records persuaded MTV to start showing "Billie Jean" and later "Beat It", leading to a lengthy partnership with Jackson, also helping other black music artists gain recognition. MTV employees deny any racism in their coverage, or pressure to change their stance. MTV maintains that they played rock music, regardless of race. The popularity of his videos on MTV helped to put the relatively young channel "on the map"; MTV's focus shifted in favor of pop and R&B.; His performance on ''Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever'' changed the scope of live stage show; "That Jackson lip-synced 'Billie Jean' is, in itself, not extraordinary, but the fact that it did not change the impact of the performance is extraordinary; whether the performance was live or lip-synced made no difference to the audience" thus creating an era in which artists re-create the spectacle of music video imagery on stage. Short films like ''Thriller'' largely remained unique to Jackson, while the group dance sequence in "Beat It" has frequently been imitated. The choreography in ''Thriller'' has become a part of global pop culture, replicated everywhere from Indian films to prisons in the Philippines. The ''Thriller'' short film marked an increase in scale for music videos, and has been named the most successful music video ever by the ''Guinness World Records''.

In the 19-minute music video for "Bad"—directed by Martin Scorsese—Jackson began using sexual imagery and choreography not previously seen in his work. He occasionally grabbed or touched his chest, torso and crotch. When asked by Oprah in the 1993 interview about why he grabbed his crotch, he replied, "I think it happens subliminally" and he described it as something that was not planned, but rather, as something that was compelled by the music. "Bad" garnered a mixed reception from both fans and critics; ''Time'' magazine described it as "infamous". The video also featured Wesley Snipes; in the future Jackson's videos would often feature famous cameo roles.

}} ;Bibliography

George, Nelson (2004). ''Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection'' booklet. Sony BMG.

Further reading

External links

Michael Jackson Live: Best Pics – slideshow by ''Life magazine''

Michael Jackson at MTV

FBI file on Michael Jackson

Category:1958 births Category:2009 deaths Category:African American dancers Category:African American male singers Category:African American record producers Category:African American singer-songwriters Category:American beatboxers Category:American businesspeople Category:American child singers Category:American choreographers Category:American dance musicians Category:American dancers Category:American disco musicians Category:American male singers Category:American boogie musicians Category:American pop singers Category:American rhythm and blues singers Category:American rock singers Category:American soul singers Category:American tenors Category:American vegetarians Category:Boy sopranos Category:Brit Award winners Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Category:Drug-related deaths in California Category:English-language singers Category:Epic Records artists Category:Expatriates in Bahrain Category:Former Jehovah's Witnesses Category:Grammy Award winners Michael Jackson Category:Manslaughter victims Category:Motown artists Category:Musicians from Indiana Category:People acquitted of sex crimes Category:People from Gary, Indiana Category:People from Santa Barbara County, California Category:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Category:Songwriters from Indiana Category:Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees Michael Jackson Category:World Music Awards winners Category:People charged with child sexual abuse Category:Grammy Legend Award

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name	Jon Lajoie
birth date
birth place	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
known for	''I Kill People" skit, "WTF Collective" music video
occupation	Canadian, comedian, musician, actor
nationality	Canadian
website	http://www.jonlajoie.com/
influences	}}

Jonathan "Jon" Lajoie (born August 21, 1980) is a Canadian comedian, actor, rapper, singer, musician and Internet celebrity from Montreal, Quebec.

Background

Lajoie was born in Saint-Hubert, Quebec and raised in Montreal, Quebec. His father is French-Canadian and his mother is English-Canadian. He graduated from Dawson College's theatre program in 2001. Since 1998, he has acted as an English-Canadian musician named Thomas Edison in Radio-Canada's French-Canadian sitcom ''L'auberge du chien noir''.

Beyond the Internet

''The League''

Lajoie currently has a role in the FX Network TV show called ''The League'' as Taco McArthur, a perpetually stoned and unemployed musician. Lajoie performs his song "The Birthday Song" in an episode of the show's first season.

''Comedy Central Presents''

Jon Lajoie filmed an episode of ''Comedy Central Presents'' on November 7, 2009. It premiered on March 5, 2010. The same special aired uncensored as part of Comedy Central's Secret Stash on June 6 at 1:30 AM (EST). The special featured the world premiere of the video for his song "Pop Song".

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Details
''You Want Some of This?''		* Release date: January 30, 2009	* Label: Normal Guy Productions	Compact disc>CD, music download
''I Kill People''		* Release date: November 15, 2010	* Label: Normal Guy Productions	* Formats: CD, music download

Singles

"Very Super Famous" (2011)

"The Best Song" (2011)

"F**k Everything" (2011)

Music videos

Song title !! width="150"
	"High as Fuck"			October 1st, 2007
"2 Girls 1 Cup Song"		November 1st, 2007
"Everyday Normal Guy"		November 21st, 2007
"Cold Blooded Christmas"		December 10th, 2007
	"Why Did You Leave Me?"		January 8th, 2008
"Everyday Normal Guy 2"		January 16th, 2008
		February 4th, 2008
"Sunday Afternoon"		March 11th, 2008
"Show Me Your Genitals"		May 31st, 2008
"Stay at Home Dad"		August 21st, 2008
"Show Me Your Genitals 2: E=MC Vagina"		September 5th, 2008
Bootlegs & B-Sides (including "I Don't Understand" and "Potty Training Song")		October 11th, 2008
"Too Fast"		November 17th, 2008
	"Everyday Normal Crew"		January 5th, 2009
"Alone in the Universe"			March 8th, 2009
"I Kill People"		April 23rd, 2009
"Michael Jackson is Dead"		June 26th, 2009
"Radio Friendly Song"		August 27th, 2009
"WTF Collective"		October 5th, 2009
	"Chatroulette Song"		March 26th, 2010
"I Can Dance"		April 19th, 2010
		Non-album song	May 31st, 2010
"Pop Song"	Julien Demers-Arsenault	''You Want Some of This?''	June 5th, 2010
"Mel Gibson's Love Song"			July 5th, 2010
"WTF Collective 2"		November 16th, 2010
"In Different Ways"	Julien Demers-Arsenault	December 18th, 2010
	"Very Super Famous"		"Very Super Famous" single	February 15th, 2011
		Non-album song	May 2nd, 2011
"The Best Song"		"The Best Song" single	June 21st, 2011
"Fuck Everything"	Jon Lajoie	"Fuck Everything" single	July 29th, 2011

References

External links

Official website

Lajoie on ''Funny or Die''

The Lance – Jon Lajoie's transition from online to stage, Dec. 3, 2008

Jon Lajoie Conquers web with Coarse Songs – AOL Music

Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian comedians Category:Canadian comedy musicians Category:Canadian Internet personalities Category:Canadian people of English descent Category:Canadian rappers Category:Canadian stand-up comedians Category:Anglophone Quebec people Category:Quebecers of French descent Category:People from Longueuil Category:Musicians from Montreal Category:Dawson College alumni

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name	Mavis Staples
landscape	yes
background	solo_singer
birth name	Mavis Staples
born	July 10, 1939
origin	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
genre	Rhythm and blues, soul, gospel
occupation	Singer
years active	1950–present
label	Epic, Stax/Volt, Curtom, Paisley Park, Alligator, Anti-, Warner Bros., Verve
associated acts	The Staple Singers
website	www.mavisstaples.com
notable instruments	}}

Mavis Staples (born July 10, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer and civil rights activist who recorded with The Staple Singers, her family's band.

Biography

Mavis Staples began her career with her family group in 1950. Initially singing locally at churches and appearing on a weekly radio show, the Staples scored a hit in 1956 with "Uncloudy Day" for the Vee-Jay label. When Mavis graduated from what is now Paul Robeson High School in 1957, The Staple Singers took their music on the road. Led by family patriarch Roebuck "Pops" Staples on guitar and including the voices of Mavis and her siblings Cleo, Yvonne, and Pervis, the Staples were called "God's Greatest Hitmakers."

With Mavis' voice and Pops' songs, singing, and guitar playing, the Staples evolved from enormously popular gospel singers (with recordings on United and Riverside as well as Vee-Jay) to become the most spectacular and influential spirituality-based group in America. By the mid-1960s The Staple Singers, inspired by Pops' close friendship with Martin Luther King, Jr., became the spiritual and musical voices of the civil rights movement. They covered contemporary pop hits with positive messages, including Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" and a version of Stephen Stills' "For What It's Worth."

During a December 20, 2008 appearance on National Public Radio's news show "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me," when Staples was asked about her past personal relationship with Dylan, she admitted they "were good friends, yes indeed" and that he had asked her father for her hand in marriage.

The Staples sang "message" songs like "Long Walk to D.C." and "When Will We Be Paid?," bringing their moving and articulate music to a huge number of young people. The group signed to Stax Records in 1968, joining their gospel harmonies and deep faith with musical accompaniment from members of Booker T. and the MGs. The Staple Singers hit the Top 40 eight times between 1971 and 1975, including two No. 1 singles, "I'll Take You There" and "Let's Do It Again," and a No. 2 single "Who Took the Merry Out of Christmas?"

Staples made her first solo foray while at Epic Records with The Staple Singers releasing a lone single "Crying in the Chapel" to little fanfare in the late 1960s. The single was finally re-released on the 1994 Sony Music collection ''Lost Soul''. Her first solo album would not come until a 1969 self-titled release for the Stax label. After another Stax release, ''Only for the Lonely'', in 1970, she released a soundtrack album, ''A Piece of the Action'', on Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label. A 1984 album (also self-titled) preceded two albums under the direction of rock star Prince; 1989's ''Time Waits for No One,'' followed by 1993's ''The Voice'', which ''People'' magazine named one of the Top Ten Albums of 1993. Her recent 1996 release, ''Spirituals & Gospels: A Tribute to Mahalia Jackson'' was recorded with keyboardist Lucky Peterson. The recording honours Mahalia Jackson, a close family friend and a significant influence on Mavis Staples' life. Staples made a major national return with the release of the album ''Have a Little Faith'' on Chicago's Alligator Records, produced by Jim Tullio, in 2004. The album featured spiritual music, some of it semi-acoustic.

In 2004, Staples contributed to a Verve release by legendary jazz/rock guitarist, John Scofield. The album entitled, ''That's What I Say'', was a tribute to the great Ray Charles, and led to a live tour featuring Mavis, John Scofield, pianist Gary Versace, drummer Steve Hass, and bassist Rueben Rodriguez. A new album for Anti- Records entitled ''We'll Never Turn Back'' was released on April 24, 2007. The Ry Cooder-produced concept album focuses on Gospel songs of the civil rights movement and also included two new original songs by Cooder.

Her voice has been sampled by some of the biggest selling hip-hop artists, including Salt 'N' Pepa, Ice Cube and Ludacris. Mavis Staples has recorded with a wide variety of musicians, from her friend Bob Dylan (with whom she was nominated for a 2003 Grammy Award in the "Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals" category for their duet on "Gotta Change My Way of Thinking" from the album ''Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan'') to The Band, Ray Charles, Nona Hendryx, George Jones, Natalie Merchant, Ann Peebles, and Delbert McClinton. She has provided vocals on current albums by Los Lobos and Dr. John, and she appears on tribute albums to such artists as Johnny Paycheck, Stephen Foster and Bob Dylan.

In 2003, Staples performed in Memphis at the Orpheum Theater alongside a cadre of her fellow former Stax Records stars during "Soul Comes Home," a concert held in conjunction with the grand opening of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music at the original site of Stax Records, and appears on the CD and DVD that were recorded and filmed during the event. In 2004, she returned as guest artist for the Stax Music Academy's SNAP! Summer Music Camp and performed, again at the Orpheum and to rave reviews, with 225 of the academy's students. In June 2007, she again returned to the venue to perform at the Stax 50th Anniversary Concert to Benefit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, produced by Concord Records, who now owns and has revived the Stax Records label.

Staples was a judge for the 3rd and 7th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists.

In 2009, Mavis Staples, along with Patty Griffin and The Tri-City Singers released a version of the song “Waiting For My Child To Come Home” on the compilation album Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration.

On October 30, 2010, Staples performed at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear alongside singer Jeff Tweedy.

Staples also performed at the 33rd Kennedy Center Honors, singing in a tribute to Paul McCartney, an honoree

On February 13, 2011, Mavis Staples won her first Grammy award in the category for Best Americana Album for ''You Are Not Alone''. In her acceptance speech, a shocked and crying Staples said "This has been a long time coming."

On May 7, 2011, Mavis was awarded an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

Film and television

During her career Staples has appeared in many films and television shows, including ''The Last Waltz'', ''Graffiti Bridge'', ''Wattstax'', ''New York Undercover'', ''Soul Train'', ''Soul to Soul'', The Psychiatrist, and ''The Cosby Show''.

Discography

Albums

''Mavis Staples'' (Volt, 1969)

''Only for the Lonely'' (Stax, 1970)

''A Piece of the Action'' (Curtom, 1977)

''Oh What a Feeling'' (Warner, 1979)

''Mavis Staples'' (HDH, 1984)

''Don't Change Me Now'' (Volt/Ace, 1988)

''Time Waits for No One'' (Paisley Park, 1989)

''The Voice'' (Paisley Park, 1993)

''Spirituals & Gospel: Dedicated to Mahalia Jackson'' with Lucky Peterson (Verve, 1996)

''Have a Little Faith'' (Alligator, 2004)

''We'll Never Turn Back'' (Anti-, 2007) produced by Ry Cooder

''Live: Hope at the Hideout'' (Anti-, 2008)

''You Are Not Alone'' (Anti-, 2010) produced by Jeff Tweedy

Singles

"Crying in the Chapel" b/w "Nothing Lasts Forever" (Epic)

"I Have Learned to Do Without You" b/w "Since I Fell For You"

"Endlessly" b/w "Don't Change Me Now" (Volt)

"A House Is Not a Home" (Volt)

"A Piece of the Action" b/w "Til Blossoms Bloom" (Curtom)

The Weight on the The Last Waltz (1976)

"Oh What a Feeling" (Warner Bros., 1979)

"Tonight I Feel Like Dancing" (Warner Bros., 1979)

"Love Gone Bad" (1984)

"Show Me How It Works" (from Wildcats) (Warner Bros., 1986)

"20th Century Express" b/w "All The Discomforts Of Home" (Paisley Park, 1989)

"Time Waits for No One" (Paisley Park, 1989)

"Jaguar" (Paisley Park, 1989)

"Melody Cool" (Paisley Park, 1991)

"The Voice" (Paisley Park, 1993)

"Blood Is Thicker Than Time" (Paisley Park, 1993)

Other

"Christmas Vacation" (Theme song from ''National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation'') (1989)

''Johnny's Blues: A Tribute To Johnny Cash'' (Northern Blues, 2003)

"Waiting For My Child To Come Home" with Patty Griffin and The Tri-City Singers, on ''Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration'' (2009)

Footnotes

References

Official website

Mavis Staples Singles Chart History

External links

Mavis Staples at NPR Music

River Front Times: Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples Interview

Mavis Staples on NPR's "Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!"'s "Not My Job" segment

An Evening with Mavis Staples hosted by the Chicago Freedom School

Category:1939 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Chicago, Illinois Category:People from Chicago, Illinois Category:African American singers Category:African Americans' rights activists Category:American female singers Category:National Heritage Fellowship winners

de:Mavis Staples es:Mavis Staples fr:Mavis Staples nl:Mavis Staples