Music Review: Michael Jackson "Man In The Mirror"
Michael Jackson
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Man In The Mirror
Album: BAD
Year: 1988
Michael Jackon becomes an advocate for the less fortunate in the purposeful ballad “Man In The Mirror.”
Piteous synths open the single, setting a grievous tone. In the first verse, he says he will follow through and help those in need. It’s not something he will talk about. He will volunteer for a charity. Handing out canned food to a family who has fallen on hard times will mean they eat, thanks to him. It’s something he can be proud of doing. He takes a walk outside the winter air. Outside, he warms his hands in his gloves and sees skinny children. He says he has no right to ignore their plight as though they don’t exist. The next summer, he sees a homeless man sleeping in the city street. He asks people for a quarter, whatever they have, for food. People walk by, as though they heard nothing. He had seen the man on the same street for about two years now. All the man has is a bottle, which helps him forget who he is.
In the chorus, he says he’s wants to be a different person than who he was before. No longer will he be one of those who go about their lives, silencing the world’s problems with their trivial conversations about the latest fashion style or celebrity rumor. After seeing one of his family members fight homelessness about losing their job, he realizes that it could be him, too. He asks people that if they want to see a kinder world, they have to search inside themselves. From there, they have to find what pains them and do what they can to offer support.
In the second verse, he says he was once self-centered. He focused on knowing every episode of the red hot television show. He read the entertainment magazine of the paper, skipping the world news. He knows there other major problems out there. People in his city are going hungry and losing hope. He wonders if he is the only person who notices it them. They were visible at one time, working hard at their jobs. However, a struggling economy forced them out, leaving them without much. Their dream of building a home and being promoted in their career were gone with a pink slip. They wander around now, looking for a place that will give them a chance.
The chorus is sung once.
The chorus is sung again, but adlibbed.
The chorus is sung again. This time, an motivational choir interjects.
In the bridge, he says that people are limited in the time they have to give to others. They can be apathetic about it, but they will know inside they are wrong for feeling that way. Then the chorus is sung again.
In the adllibbed section, he says it’s great to be useful to society. He says it’s up to people to reshape the culture and turn volunteering into a fun thing.
During his teen years and young adulthood, he had become materialistic. Having a comfortable amount of money to spend was new. Everything he wanted to get was now realistic. He bought himself the luxury car, the fancy clothes, and a two-story home, despite the fact it was only him. But recent firings at his job rattled him, forcing him to realize none of the things he bought mattered. He didn’t have any real friends and concerned himself with the tabloids. He didn’t know anything that was going on in the world. The homeless man he sees on the way to work put things into persceptive for him.
Jackson’s rational, thoughtful vocals are forceful and analytical. He can’t be the yuppie anymore. He has to found a cause bigger than himself to care about. The material things will lose their luster eventually but the whole feeling from helping someone will stay with him.
The searching synth arrangement digs for the compassion underneath as the persuasive choir raises it up. Choirs are incredibly difficult to pull off in songs. They sometimes are preachy (like in Justin Timberlake’s “Losing My Way”) or cloying (Tina Turner’s “We Don’t Need Another Hero”). Nonetheless, the choir is well-placed, genuine inspiration.
The bright “Man In Mirror” gets its social message across by personalizing the issue and striking an emotional chord.
Album: BAD
Year: 1988
Michael Jackon becomes an advocate for the less fortunate in the purposeful ballad “Man In The Mirror.”
Piteous synths open the single, setting a grievous tone. In the first verse, he says he will follow through and help those in need. It’s not something he will talk about. He will volunteer for a charity. Handing out canned food to a family who has fallen on hard times will mean they eat, thanks to him. It’s something he can be proud of doing. He takes a walk outside the winter air. Outside, he warms his hands in his gloves and sees skinny children. He says he has no right to ignore their plight as though they don’t exist. The next summer, he sees a homeless man sleeping in the city street. He asks people for a quarter, whatever they have, for food. People walk by, as though they heard nothing. He had seen the man on the same street for about two years now. All the man has is a bottle, which helps him forget who he is.
“I'm gonna make a change, for once in my life /It's gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference/Gonna make it right/As I, turn up the collar on/My favorite winter coat/This wind is blowing my mind/I see the kids in the streets/With not enough to eat/Who am I, to be blind?/Pretending not to see their needs/A summer's disregard/A broken bottle top/And a one man's soul/They follow each other on the wind ya' know/'Cause they got nowhere to go/That's why I want you to know.”
In the chorus, he says he’s wants to be a different person than who he was before. No longer will he be one of those who go about their lives, silencing the world’s problems with their trivial conversations about the latest fashion style or celebrity rumor. After seeing one of his family members fight homelessness about losing their job, he realizes that it could be him, too. He asks people that if they want to see a kinder world, they have to search inside themselves. From there, they have to find what pains them and do what they can to offer support.
“I'm starting with the man in the mirror/I'm asking him to change his ways/And no message could have been any clearer/If you wanna make the world a better place (If you wanna make the world a better place)/Take a look at yourself, and then make a change (Take a look at yourself, and then make a change)/Na na na, na na na, na na, na na.”
In the second verse, he says he was once self-centered. He focused on knowing every episode of the red hot television show. He read the entertainment magazine of the paper, skipping the world news. He knows there other major problems out there. People in his city are going hungry and losing hope. He wonders if he is the only person who notices it them. They were visible at one time, working hard at their jobs. However, a struggling economy forced them out, leaving them without much. Their dream of building a home and being promoted in their career were gone with a pink slip. They wander around now, looking for a place that will give them a chance.
“I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love/It's time that I realize/That there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan/Could it be really me, pretending that they're not alone?/A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart/And a washed-out dream (Washed-out dream)/They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see/'Cause they got no place to be/That's why I'm starting with me/(Starting with me!)”
The chorus is sung once.
The chorus is sung again, but adlibbed.
“I'm starting with the man in the mirror (Ooh!)/I'm asking him to change his ways (Change his ways - ooh!)/And no message could've been any clearer/If you wanna make the world a better place (If you wanna make the world a better place)/Take a look at yourself and then make that (Take a look at yourself and then make that ...)/Change!”
The chorus is sung again. This time, an motivational choir interjects.
“I'm starting with the man in the mirror (Man in the mirror - Oh yeah!)/ I'm asking him to change his ways (Better change!)/No message could have been any clearer (If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make the change).”
In the bridge, he says that people are limited in the time they have to give to others. They can be apathetic about it, but they will know inside they are wrong for feeling that way. Then the chorus is sung again.
“You gotta get it right, while you got the time/'Cause when you close your heart
You can't close your ... your mind! (Then you close your ... mind!)/That man, that man, that man, that man/With that man in the mirror (Man in the mirror, oh yeah!)/That man, that man, that man/I'm asking him to change his ways (Better change!)/You know that man/No message could have been any clearer/If you wanna make the world a better place (If you wanna make the world a better place)/Take a look at yourself and then make a change/(Take a look at yourself and then make a change).”
In the adllibbed section, he says it’s great to be useful to society. He says it’s up to people to reshape the culture and turn volunteering into a fun thing.
“Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!/Na na na, na na na, na na, na na (Oh yeah!)/Gonna feel real good now!/Yeah yeah! Yeah yeah! Yeah yeah!/Na na na, na na na, na na, na na/ (Oh)/Oh no, no no/I'm gonna make a change/It's gonna feel real good!/Come on! (Change ...)/Just lift yourself/You know/
You've got to stop it/Yourself! (Yeah! - Make that change!)/I've got to make that change, today!/Hoo!(Man in the mirror)/You got to/You got to not let yourself brother/Hoo! (Yeah! - Make that change!)/You know - I've got to get that man, that man (Man in the mirror)/You've got to/
You've got to move! Come on!/Come on!/You got to/Stand up! Stand up! Stand up! (Yeah! - Make that change)/Stand up and lift yourself, now!(Man in the mirror)/Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Aaow! (Yeah! - Make that change!)/Gonna make that change,come on!/You know it!/You know it!/You know it!/You know (Change ...)/Make that change.”
During his teen years and young adulthood, he had become materialistic. Having a comfortable amount of money to spend was new. Everything he wanted to get was now realistic. He bought himself the luxury car, the fancy clothes, and a two-story home, despite the fact it was only him. But recent firings at his job rattled him, forcing him to realize none of the things he bought mattered. He didn’t have any real friends and concerned himself with the tabloids. He didn’t know anything that was going on in the world. The homeless man he sees on the way to work put things into persceptive for him.
Jackson’s rational, thoughtful vocals are forceful and analytical. He can’t be the yuppie anymore. He has to found a cause bigger than himself to care about. The material things will lose their luster eventually but the whole feeling from helping someone will stay with him.
The searching synth arrangement digs for the compassion underneath as the persuasive choir raises it up. Choirs are incredibly difficult to pull off in songs. They sometimes are preachy (like in Justin Timberlake’s “Losing My Way”) or cloying (Tina Turner’s “We Don’t Need Another Hero”). Nonetheless, the choir is well-placed, genuine inspiration.
The bright “Man In Mirror” gets its social message across by personalizing the issue and striking an emotional chord.