I’m Not Gonna Spend My Life Being A Colour

“COLOUR” SONG OF THE WEEK

 

Black Or White - Single Cover

 

You tell ’em Michael!

Black & White are shades, and not actually colours, but this is such a great song, I’m rolling with it!

Last year, when Michael Jackson died, I was in Paris. I can still see all those thousands of one-gloved, crotch grabbing, men, women, boys and girls, dancing, singing, crying…and crotch grabbing (with posters)…under the Eiffel Tower.

 

Under the Eiffel

 

The words on everyone’s lips “Le Roi de la pop est Mort”.

The King of Pop is Dead.

“Black or White” was written by Michael Jackson, with the rap lyrics written by Bill Bottrell.

The guitar intro is performed by Guns N’ Roses guitarist, Slash.

 

Slash and Jackson performing "Black Or White"

 

The song was released on the 8th of November, 1991. It was the title track off the album, Dangerous.

I was 10 years old.

I can remember walking past a record store here in Sydney with my mum, and seeing those two mysterious eyes staring out at me from the Dangerous album cover.

 

Dangerous - Album Cover

 

“Black or White” is a song about racial harmony. A mix of hard rock, pop and rap.

Michael declares: “I ain’t scared of no sheets, I ain’t scared of nobody” referring to KKK ceremonies.

The rap lyrics state: “It’s not about races, just places. Faces. Where your blood comes from is where your space is. I’ve seen the bright, get duller. I’m not gonna spend my life being a colour”.

 

Black or White? Racial Harmony!

 

The “Black or White” film clip features Michael, with Macaulay Culkin, and supermodel (and now talk show host) Tyra Banks. It was directed by John Landis, who had also directed Thriller for Michael.

The song reached Number 1 in 20 countries. And it remained at the top of the charts through 1991 to 1992.

The music video premiered simultaneously in  27 countries. It had an audience of 500 million. It holds the record for the most watched music video of all time.

The music video was special. This was the first time that a video clip had used the technique of morphing (this happens in the last few minutes). Different people’s faces morph into each other, and Michael morphs into a black panther.

Can I tell you a secret? I totally wanted to be one of those morphing faces! Ahhh, childhood dreams!

The only times that this technique had been used previously was in the films Willow and Terminator 2.

Of course, the song also had a back lash for Michael, with the press asking “Michael? Are you black or white?” and other slurs.

But the song spoke for itself, breaking records previously set by Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

Check out the clip below…please note that there are two versions. Black or White was seen as one of the most controversial film clips ever made because of all the racist slogans and imagery. The full clip only gets air play in the US and UK between certain times, usually the 1am to 4am TV slot.

Here is the complete version, without the Slash intro, but with Michael destroying the windows with the racist material…and The Simpsons finale.

Just like the song, standing under the Eiffel Tower in the days following Michael’s death, colour didn’t matter.

 

The Moves Live On!

 

Black or white?

No one cared.