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Stranger in Moscow

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"Stranger in Moscow"
Stranger In Moscow.jpg
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
B-side"Off the Wall" (Junior Vasquez Mix)
ReleasedNovember 4, 1996
RecordedFebruary–March 1994[1]
StudioNeverland Ranch
(Los Olivos, California)
The Hit Factory
(New York City)
Sony Music Studios
(New York City)
GenreR&B
Length5:44 (album version)
5:24 (album edit)
4:05 (radio edit)
5:32 (video mix)
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Michael Jackson, Brad Buxer (uncredited)[2]
Producer(s)Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"They Don't Care About Us"
(1996) 		"Stranger in Moscow"
(1996) 		"On the Line"
(1997)
Music video
"Stranger In Moscow" on YouTube
Audio sample
"Stranger in Moscow"
  • file
  • help

"Stranger in Moscow" is a song by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson from his ninth studio album, HIStory. The song was released as the sixth and final single worldwide on November 4, 1996, but was not released in the United States until July 7, 1997 by Epic Records.[3] The track was written by Jackson in September 1993, while on the Dangerous World Tour stop in Moscow. An early version of the track's chord structure appears in the video game Sonic the Hedgehog 3; according to conflicting accounts, Jackson and his team composed music for the game before leaving the project. Jackson wrote the lyrics as a poem before adapting them for the song.

The song's music video depicts the lives of six individuals, including Jackson, who are left isolated and disconnected from the world around them. This is Jackson's lowest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 91, though it charted highly in the top 10 of numerous countries worldwide, including Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The song was performed on the HIStory World Tour in 1996–1997. It was covered a few times by other artists.

Background[]

"Stranger in Moscow", like several other HIStory tracks, was Jackson's response to recent events in his personal life.[4] In 1993, the relationship between Jackson and the press soured entirely when he was accused of child sexual abuse. Though not charged with a crime, Jackson was intensely scrutinized by the media during the criminal investigation. Complaints about the coverage and media included using sensational headlines[5] and headlines that implied guilt,[6] accepting stories of Jackson's alleged criminal activity and leaked police material for money,[7][8] deliberately using unflattering pictures of Jackson,[6] and a lack of objectivity.[6]

The coverage upset Jackson, and damaged his health; Jackson's health had deteriorated such that he canceled the remainder of his Dangerous World Tour and went into rehabilitation.[9][10] The media showed him little sympathy. The Daily Mirror held a "Spot the Jacko" contest, offering readers a trip to Walt Disney World if they could correctly predict where the entertainer's next appearance would be.[9] A Daily Express headline read, "Drug Treatment Star Faces Life on the Run", while a News of the World headline accused Jackson of being a fugitive. These tabloids also falsely alleged that Jackson had traveled to Europe to have cosmetic surgery that would make him unrecognizable upon return.[9] Geraldo Rivera set up a mock trial, with a jury made up of audience members, even though Jackson had not been charged with a crime.[11]

Music[]

Originally, HIStory was planned as a greatest hits album, with a few new tracks. However, Jackson and his collaborators were so pleased with the result of "Stranger in Moscow" that they decided to give HIStory a full studio album as the second disc.[12]

"Stranger in Moscow" is an R&B ballad,[13][14] written by Jackson in 1993 during his Dangerous World Tour stop in Moscow. It has a tempo of 67 beats per minute, making it one of Jackson's slowest songs.[15] The instrumental portion is based on the credits theme of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, a 1994 video game which Jackson and his tour keyboardist Brad Buxer were hired to compose for.[16][17] Conflicting accounts state that Jackson either dropped out of the project following the sexual abuse allegations around this time or, because of his dissatisfaction with the limitations of the Sega Genesis sound chip.[18]

According to keyboardist Brad Buxer’s memory of events, the song itself was inspired by one of the cues he had composed for Sonic The Hedgehog 3. He remembers being called up to Jackson's hotel room in Moscow on the Dangerous World Tour, thinking the latter wanted to hear his new game cues. Buxer played several songs on the piano in the room, among which was the Sonic The Hedgehog 3 credits theme cue (which would become the basis verse for "Stranger In Moscow"); he played it 'more like a song', and Michael loved it. He and Buxer then worked together on developing the chords and changes for the rest of the song over an hour and a half. While the track is an example of the collaborative process between the two, only Jackson received writing credit on the record.[19]

Guitars were played by Steve Lukather while keyboards, synthesizers and bass are credited to David Paich and Steve Porcaro.[20] Jackson used Russian imagery and symbolism to underscore the track's sense of fear and alienation.[21] It concludes with a narrative, spoken in Russian, by a KGB interrogator (Ed Wiesnieski).[22] The narrative, translated into English is, "Why have you come from the west? Confess! To steal the great achievements of the people, the accomplishments of the workers..."[23]

Critical reception[]

"Stranger in Moscow" received praise from music reviewers and producers. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic noted of HIStory, "Jackson produces some well-crafted pop that ranks with his best material... 'Stranger in Moscow' is one of his most haunting ballads".[24] Tom Molley of the Associated Press described it as "[an] ethereal and stirring description of a man wounded by a 'swift and sudden fall from grace' walking in the shadow of the Kremlin".[25] Longtime collaborator Bruce Swedien, has described "Stranger in Moscow" as one of the best songs Jackson had ever done.[12] Fred Shuster of the Daily News of Los Angeles described it as, "a lush, pretty minor-key ballad with one of the album's catchiest choruses".[26] Chris Willman of Los Angeles Times stated:

"Stranger in Moscow", is a step removed from the focused paranoia of much of the rest of the album, more akin to the deeper, fuzzier dread of a past perennial like "Billie Jean". Jackson imagines himself alone and adrift in a psychic Russia, pre-glasnost, hunted by an unseen KGB: "Here abandoned in my fame / Armageddon of the brain", he sings in the somber, constricted verses, before a sweeping coda kicks up four minutes in and the stalkee suddenly breaks his cool to wail about a desolate, inconsolable loneliness. Here, in this song, is the real genius—and probably real personhood—of Michael Jackson.[27]

A reviewer from Music Week rated it five out of five, picking it as Single of the Week. The reviewer added, "More melodic than most of HIStory's new, uptempo tracks, this has a somewhat old-fashioned feel, being closer in spirit to Rock With You than Scream. It isn't quite vintage Jacko, but the song is irresistible."[28] The magazine's Alan Jones stated that the Todd Terry remix "works like a dream, and guarantees Jackson another substantial hit."[29] Jon Pareles of The New York Times stated, "The ballads are lavishly melodic. 'Stranger In Moscow', with odd lyrics like 'Stalin's tomb won't let me be,' has a beautiful chorus for the repeated question 'How does it feel?' ".[13] Further praise came in 2005 when it was felt that the song had successfully portrayed "eerie loneliness" and was characterized as beautiful by Josephine Zohny of PopMatters.[30] Rod Temperton, one of Jackson's songwriters from his earlier career, believes that "Stranger in Moscow" is Jackson's best song.[31] James Hunter of Rolling Stone commented:

[Jackson is] angry, miserable, tortured, inflammatory, furious about what he calls, in "Stranger in Moscow", a "swift and sudden fall from grace"...HIStory feels like the work of someone with a bad case of Thriller nostalgia. Occasionally this backward focus works to Jackson's advantage: On "Stranger in Moscow" he remembers the synth-pop '80s while constructing wracked claims of danger and loneliness that rival any Seattle rocker's pain.[32]

Patrick Macdonald of The Seattle Times described "Stranger in Moscow" as "a pretty ballad interspersed with sounds of rain."[33]

Music video[]

Michael Jackson walking the streets of the city in the music video.

The song's music video, directed by photographer Nick Brandt, and filmed in Los Angeles, is focused around six unrelated people living in isolation in a cityscape on a dark, cloudy day while the rest of the world moves around them in slow motion (introducing the so-called 'bullet time' effect).[34] The first half of the video introduces these figures. Five of the figures are: a bald man looking down at the city from his apartment window, a middle-aged woman sitting alone in a coffee shop, a homeless man lying on the damp street, a well-dressed man feeding pigeons, and a teenage boy ostracized from a street game of baseball. The sixth figure is Jackson himself, seen walking the city streets while he sings. Special effects are used to show birds and wasps flying, glass breaking and coffee spilling, all in slow motion.[35]

In the second half of the scenario, heavy rain descends on the city and the citizens try to flee, all again seen in slow motion. From the safety of shelter, the six "strangers" watch everyone's futile attempts to avoid the sudden change in weather. Eventually, they decide to go outside, where they look up at the sky and allow the rain to soak them. The video ends with Michael whipping his hair. During this scene, a soft Russian voice is heard, a reference to Moscow.[36]

The music video also appears on Jackson's video albums HIStory on Film, Volume II and Michael Jackson's Vision. It was published on YouTube in October 2009. The video has amassed more than 61 million views as of September 2021.[37]

Jackson's biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli has stated that the video is based on Jackson's real life. He used to walk alone at night looking for new friends, even at the peak of his musical popularity. The 1980s saw him become deeply unhappy; Jackson, as a teenager, explained in an interview, "Even at home, I'm lonely. I sit in my room sometimes and cry. It's so hard to make friends... I sometimes walk around the neighborhood at night, just hoping to find someone to talk to. But I just end up coming home."[25][38]

Live performances[]

The song was performed during HIStory World Tour (1996-1997).[39][40] It was also slated to be performed in the This Is It concerts in London, which was scheduled to run from July 2009 to March 2010. On only selected nights, "Stranger in Moscow" was going to be performed instead of "Human Nature", as Jackson himself pondered whether or not the fans would like it.[citation needed] The shows were cancelled due to Jackson's untimely death in June 2009.

Track listing[]

Personnel[]

As per the liner notes of The Ultimate Collection[43]:

  • Lead and Background vocals by Michael Jackson
  • Guitar: Steve Lukather
  • Keyboards, Synthesizers & [Synth] bass: David Paich
  • Keyboards & Synthesizers: Steve Porcaro
  • Keyboards & Synthesizers, programming (uncredited): Brad Buxer
  • Michael Jackson Beatbox samples in intro spliced/edited by Andrew Scheps[44]

Charts[]

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[73] Silver 200,000double-dagger

double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ "mikesmallcombe - Single Post". Michael Jackson Book - Making Michael by Mike Smallcombe.
  2. ^ The MJCast Episode 100: Brad Buxer Special
  3. ^ "Michael Jackson's 'Blood'". Billboard. 1997-06-21. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  4. ^ Pinkerton, Lee (1998). The Many Faces of Michael Jackson. Music Sales Distribution. p. 34. ISBN 0-7119-6783-0.
  5. ^ Campbell (1995), p. 42–45
  6. ^ a b c Taraborrelli, p. 500–507
  7. ^ Campbell (1995), p. 77–80
  8. ^ Campbell (1995), p. 47–50
  9. ^ a b c Campbell (1995), p. 89–93
  10. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 524–528
  11. ^ Campbell (1995), p. 104–106
  12. ^ a b "MJ visionary". Sony BMG. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  13. ^ a b Pareles, Jon (1995-06-18). "Pop View; Michael Jackson Is Angry, Understand?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
  14. ^ "Stranger In Moscow". Allmusic. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  15. ^ The Complete Michael Jackson, International Music Publications Ltd, 1997, ISBN 1859094473, p81
  16. ^ "Brad Buxer: Musicien, Arrangeur" [Brad Buxer: Musician, Arranger]. Black & White (in French). France: Captain EO Productions. December 2009.
  17. ^ Montgomery, James (2009-12-04). "Did Michael Jackson Compose 'Sonic The Hedgehog 3' Soundtrack?". MTV.com. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
  18. ^ GameTrailers. Pop Fiction: Season 4: Episode 39: Sonic 3: Michael Jackson. Archived from the original on 2021-11-16 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ "Michael Jackson's HIStory: An Essay". April 13, 2019. Event occurs at medium.com. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  20. ^ George, p. 12
  21. ^ Swygart, William (2008-04-08). "Top Ten Things About "Rasputin" By Boney M". Stylus magazine. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  22. ^ Jackson, Michael. HIStory booklet. Sony BMG. p 42
  23. ^ Jackson, Michael. Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix booklet. Sony BMG. p 9
  24. ^ Erlewine, Stephen. "Michael Jackson HIStory Overview". Allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
  25. ^ a b Molloy, Tim (2005-05-22). "Michael Jackson seemingly gives his side of story – on decade-old album". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  26. ^ Fred Shuster, Jackson attempts to rewrite 'history', Daily News of Los Angeles, 1995-06-18
  27. ^ Chris Williams (1995-06-18). "Pop Music Review: Hits and Missives". The Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
  28. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1996-10-26. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  29. ^ Jones, Alan (1996-09-28). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 24. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  30. ^ Zohny, Josephine (2005-02-09). "In Defense Of Michael". PopMatters. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  31. ^ Barker, Emily (8 August 2014). "Michael Jackson: The Stories Behind 35 Of His Greatest Songs". NME.
  32. ^ Hunter, James (1995-08-10). "Michael Jackson HIStory". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Archived from the original on 2008-06-22. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  33. ^ Macdonald, Patrick (1995-06-21). "'History' Lesson: Jackson's Living On Past Glories". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  34. ^ Harris, Aisha (13 March 2014). "An Underrated Michael Jackson Track Gets an Airy, Psychedelic Cover". Slate.
  35. ^ Terrorist!, The (November 2, 2018). "[Music] Michael Jackson – Stranger In Moscow".
  36. ^ В, Сітко А. Практична граматика англійської мови. Книга 1: Навчальний посібник. Нова Книга. ISBN 9789663824888 – via Google Books.
  37. ^ "Michael Jackson - Stranger In Moscow (Official Video)". YouTube. 2009-10-03. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  38. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 206
  39. ^ "Michael Jackson Live in Manila 1996". 25 June 2012.
  40. ^ "Michael Jackson serves up a thriller to his adoring fans at the RDS".
  41. ^ "Michael Jackson - Stranger In Moscow". Discogs.
  42. ^ "Michael Jackson - Stranger In Moscow". Discogs.
  43. ^ The Ultimate Collection (Media notes). 2004.
  44. ^ Gearspace post by engineer Rob Hoffman on Stranger In Moscow
  45. ^ "Michael Jackson – Stranger In Moscow". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  46. ^ "Michael Jackson – Stranger In Moscow" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  47. ^ "Michael Jackson – Stranger In Moscow" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  48. ^ "Michael Jackson – Stranger In Moscow" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  49. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. 1996-09-28. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  50. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. 1996-10-26. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  51. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles Week 42/96" (PDF). Music & Media. 1996-10-19. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  52. ^ "Michael Jackson: Stranger In Moscow" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  53. ^ "Michael Jackson – Stranger In Moscow" (in French). Les classement single.
  54. ^ "Michael Jackson – Stranger In Moscow" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  55. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. 1996-12-14. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  56. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 202 Vikuna 26.12. '96 – 8.1. '97)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  57. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Stranger In Moscow". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  58. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 41. October 12, 1996. p. 18. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  59. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Michael Jackson" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
  60. ^ "Michael Jackson – Stranger In Moscow" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  61. ^ "Michael Jackson – Stranger In Moscow". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  62. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  63. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  64. ^ "Michael Jackson – Stranger In Moscow". Singles Top 100.
  65. ^ "Michael Jackson – Stranger In Moscow". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  66. ^ "IFPI Taiwan Single Top 10". IFPI Taiwan. November 11, 1996. Archived from the original on 1998-02-24. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  67. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  68. ^ "The RM on a Pop Tip Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). November 2, 1996. p. 8. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  69. ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  70. ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  71. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1996". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  72. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1996". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  73. ^ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Stranger in Moscow". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  74. ^ "Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé Defy Naysayers at Michael Jackson Tribute". Rolling Stone. 10 October 2011.
  75. ^ "Tame Impala: Cover Michael Jackson's 'Stranger in Moscow'". 14 March 2014.
  76. ^ "Tame Impala cover Michael Jackson's Stranger in Moscow". TheGuardian.com. 13 March 2014.
  77. ^ Stranger In Moscow. Archived from the original on 2021-11-16. Retrieved 7 May 2020 – via Youtube.
  78. ^ Santana-Stranger In Moscow. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 7 May 2020 – via Youtube.

References[]

  • Campbell, Lisa (1995). Michael Jackson: The King of Pops Darkest Hour. Branden. ISBN 0-8283-2003-9.
  • George, Nelson (2004). Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection. Sony BMG.
  • Pinkerton, Lee (1998). The Many Faces of Michael Jackson. Music Sales Distribution. ISBN 0-7119-6783-0.
  • Taraborrelli, J. Randy (2004). The Magic and the Madness. Terra Alta, WV: Headline. ISBN 0-330-42005-4.
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