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Michael Jackson - Stranger In Moscow

Written and recorded by Michael for his album HIStory, issued in June 1995.

It was written in a Moscow hotel room in September 1993, soon after the allegations of child molestation broke - "a strange, eerie, lonely time" according to Michael. "The lyrics are totally autobiographical," he confirmed. "When you hear lines like 'here abandoned in my fame, Armageddon of the brain' - at the time, on the last tour when we were in Moscow, that's really how I felt... just all alone in my hotel, and it was raining - and I just started writing it."

It charted at no.4 in the UK, but wasn't released in the US until nearly a year later, when a remixed version struggled to no.50 on the R&B singles chart and no.91 on the Hot 100.

A promo short film, shot in black and white in an unused hanger in Van Nuys, California, was directed by Nick Brandt - showing Michael walking in real time, while everything around him happened in slow motion.

Stranger In Moscow - Lyrics

I was wandering in the rain
Mask of life, feelin' insane
Swift and sudden fall from grace
Sunny days seem far away
Kremlin's shadow belittlin' me
Stalin's tomb won't let me be
On and on and on it came
Wish the rain would just let me

How does it feel (How does it feel)
How does it feel
How does it feel
When you're alone
And you're cold inside

Here abandoned in my fame
Armageddon of the brain
KGB was stalkin' me
Take my name and just let me be
Then a begger boy called my name
Happy days will drown the pain
On and on and on it came
And again, and again, and again...
Take my name and just let me be

How does it feel (How does it feel)
How does it feel
How does it feel
How does it feel
How does it feel (How does it feel now)
How does it feel
How does it feel
When you're alone
And you're cold inside

How does it feel (How does it feel)
How does it feel
How does it feel
How does it feel
How does it feel (How does it feel now)
How does it feel
How does it feel
When you're alone
And you're cold inside

Like stranger in Moscow
Like stranger in Moscow
We're talkin' danger
We're talkin' danger, baby
Like stranger in Moscow
We're talkin' danger
We're talkin' danger, baby
Like stranger in Moscow
I'm livin' lonely
I'm livin' lonely, baby
Stranger in Moscow

(KGB interrogator -
Russian to English Translation)
"Why have you come from the West?
Confess! To steal the great achievements of
the people, the accomplishments of the workers..."

wendyluvsmj

Chorus Singer
Posts: 79

2015/3/3 5:00

Then a begger boy called my name..
On and on and on it came
And again, and again, and again.

Oh dear sweet innocent pure-of-heart Michael, I am so sorry. You poor man, I want you to be resting in peace. You truly could not trust anyone. They sell their souls to the Devil now. They are pathetic worthless creatures. This is how they repay you for your kindness, encouragement and generosity to them. They are cowards, greedy predators. Anything for money. They prey on your legacy of love and light, something they never did when you were alive and could have defended yourself.

The Truth will come to light. They expose themselves with their outlandishness of filthy minds. They need to be prosecuted for perjury.

Lies run sprints but the truth runs marathons. Never doubt that we love you Michael.

LoveMJ99

Spokesman
Posts: 625

2014/9/19 17:27

Here abandoned in my fame
Armageddon of the brain

LoveMJ99

Spokesman
Posts: 625

2014/9/16 18:16

This song makes feel very sad, it really get me in the heart. Michael wrote it during a sad period in his life.

Guest

2014/3/16 17:57

Michael's song Stranger In Moscow is too sad but amazing!
Michael Jackson's unparalleled voice touches me deep into the heart and makes me cry. I Love you Michael!

Guest

2014/3/16 17:41

I'm stranger in the world without you Michael!

Guest

2013/9/26 19:40

I really enjoy this song

loveumoremj

Chorus Singer
Posts: 54

2013/6/30 1:07

Beautiful song, but so much sadness. I'm sorry for what happened to you sweet Michael. You were and always will be innocent. I'm sorry for the hate. You will always be loved and cherished by your fans. I hope you are peace now. I miss you.

vsimon94

Chorus Singer
Posts: 35

2013/4/16 14:57

Love that song!

LiFeGnzalz

Chorus Singer
Posts: 85

2013/4/1 0:11

Just listening this lovely song and watching the rain through my window

Donde estas Amor :)

LoveMJ99

Spokesman
Posts: 625

2012/11/10 12:00

OMG this song pulls at my heart strings.

TinaC1967

Who Is It ?
Posts: 4

2012/10/11 14:07

Love the smooth sound and love his voice

Simy

Human Beat-Box
Posts: 168

2012/5/19 10:49

You are not alone Michael! ♥ We all love you most! ♥♥♥

♥♥♥

LiFeGnzalz

Chorus Singer
Posts: 85

2012/3/17 5:01

Such a L.O.V.E.ly moment I'm having right now, listening this great song on this rainy night!

This is LiFe

Simy

Human Beat-Box
Posts: 168

2011/11/5 10:53

This song and video are a super job!
Michael you do not feel alone, even for a moment!
♥

♥

4everloveMJJ

Who Is It ?
Posts: 10

2011/9/15 2:30

Loved this song the first time I heard it and love it now. It has such a haunting tune to it. Love you always and forever, Michael! ♥

sandi

Who Is It ?
Posts: 6

2011/8/16 0:44

a favorite of mine - the video is wonderful. the percussion sounds like raindrops.

Guest

2011/7/17 2:10

I do too.. so haunting!

jackina

Who Is It ?
Posts: 12

2011/7/15 22:46

i love Stranger in moscow... i love michael!

Pretty_woman20

Who Is It ?
Posts: 11

2011/6/26 19:45

One of my Favorites ♥♥♥ !

Guest

2011/6/19 10:33

One of the best

MJDisciple

Who Is It ?
Posts: 8

2011/6/4 22:56

My Favorite MJ Song! You can feel his emotion pouring out from his heart. I love it!

mjlover12121

Chorus Singer
Posts: 32

2011/5/18 2:41

Such a great song! I love you Michael

mjloove

Spokesman
Posts: 452

2011/5/14 14:11

Cette chanson est tout simplement EXTRAORDINAIRE elle me laisse sur le c... C'est incroyable sa voix l'intrumentale le clip tout est bluffant dedans c'est l'une de mes préférées si ce n'est ma préférée cette chanson ne peut provenir que d'un genie comme Michael !!!!!!

CeBAD

Chorus Singer
Posts: 38

2011/4/15 22:41

I love this song. Mike is beautiful ...

Tajnax

Chorus Singer
Posts: 56

2011/4/12 18:20

This song is. ..... unique!

tiger

Who Is It ?
Posts: 15

2011/4/1 15:33

Beautiful, and surreal at the same time. Lot of emotion, the haunting loneliness, the despair, the longing.. There's so much about this amazing song, it takes you far away.

Thinking of you

jgneeley

Who Is It ?
Posts: 10

2011/3/22 4:16

Michael is Love, his message is clear. Can you feel it?

marilia

Who Is It ?
Posts: 19

2011/1/27 10:34

always said that she and my music describes me as I am in my loneliness in me and what I feel while I know how you feel mike Ezat milhres between myself and millions but I'm so tanbem this and the music of my life

MaikyWans

Member DJ
Posts: 47

2011/1/27 10:34

...einer der besten Songs von HIStory aber hab es gehaßt ihn Live immer Playback ertragen zu müssen...why??verkaufszahlen???

Mariiana

Human Beat-Box
Posts: 211

2011/1/20 19:24

I feel like stranger in Moscow if Mike isn´t here...

I really miss him..
Blessings Jacksons..

soraya851

Who Is It ?
Posts: 2

2011/1/20 13:07

The BEST!!! I love you more!!!

carmelita

MjTunes Donator
Posts: 79

2010/10/5 22:34

j'aime tout dans cette chanson ; le rythme, les instruments, la voix de Michael. Bref c'est parfait

mylovemj

Chorus Singer
Posts: 36

2010/9/10 17:52

Michael is just perfect

Teres

MjTunes Donator
Posts: 19

2010/7/30 3:19

Thank You Michael Jackson for a beautiful song that came from your very heart and soul. I feel the loneliness and pain that he was going through. Wish you were here so I could tell you that you were not alone. I was always right there. God bless his soul he deserves to rest in peace! Love you Michael, my angel. Missing you eveyday! Teres

Guest

2010/7/26 4:22

especially when he says- how does it feel NOW, the NOW touches me deeply and i feel the suffering he feels.

DiDi48

Chorus Singer
Posts: 38

2010/7/25 22:21

You can feel his pain when he's singing this.

LoveMJ99

Spokesman
Posts: 625

2010/7/9 16:25

I can feel his pain whenever I hear this song. I love you Michael.

lib

Who Is It ?
Posts: 8

2010/6/19 13:49

Une pure merveille!! Cette chanson est si touchante et poignante, je l'adore...

KLVan

Chorus Singer
Posts: 43

2010/4/11 4:20

So sad that this song is about his life L.O.V.E.

GiveIn2MeMJ

Who Is It ?
Posts: 4

2010/3/28 7:52

Such a haunting, poignant MJ song...you can feel his pain and loneliness, and his yearning to change it. Phenomenal, highly emotional tune. Pure magic, pure genius, pure Michael...even in his darker moods he could touch us all and make us feel what he's feeling. His SOUL is in his music.

blaxiegirl

Chorus Singer
Posts: 44

2010/1/18 15:42

I always feel the rain porring on my face,when I hear this beautyfull song! The melody is so tender, his voice,oh!,beyond words!!!

I can feel his lonelyness...

MURMOSA51

Chorus Singer
Posts: 83

2009/11/25 21:59

love this song and video so much

mrsmj

Who Is It ?
Posts: 18

2009/11/9 0:33

He is so sad here I think.With his swift and sudden fall from grace.He was so loved -I hope he realized his fans were always behind him.

nanas_972

Chorus Singer
Posts: 45

2009/10/21 14:35

stranger in the world

nanas_972

Chorus Singer
Posts: 45

2009/10/10 16:53

l'une des chansons d'MJ que j'aime particulièrement,encore plus touchante aujourd'hui,je le pleure toujours il me manque tellement

Guest

2009/10/9 22:23

Si tous les gens qui t'aiment avaient pu te prendre dans leur bras à ce moment là.... J'aime cette chanson.. Détresse dans la solitude et l'incompréhension... Il est trop tard... Repose en paix.. Miette

Alaskan_Eskimo

Who Is It ?
Posts: 13

2009/10/4 8:04

One of my fav songs of all time - in my top 3: magical, so emotionnal, very personnal. I can feel MJ's loneliness and distress. RIP my angel.

Guest

2008/11/16 1:59

c est l une des seul chanson qui me donne autant de frisons a chaque fois que je l ecoute

coolpearlz

Who Is It ?
Posts: 1

2008/10/29 13:43

why Moscow? btw, i love this song! Fall Again...i heard it on movie Maid in Manhattan

voulamj87

Chorus Singer
Posts: 50

2008/10/14 12:34

That's my song... I FEEL his pain in this song.. I feel conneceted to him when I listen to it! :(

GiJackson

Chorus Singer
Posts: 42

2008/10/9 10:08

Quando estou triste fico ouvindo essa música... as vezes ela me faz pensar em várias coisas, outras vezes me faz bem ouví-la.. é estranho, mas gostou muito muito dela. How does it feel When you're alone And you're cold inside Like stranger in Moscow

thriller25

Who Is It ?
Posts: 8

2008/8/12 1:05

i love the lyrics good song

Cinimoro

Who Is It ?
Posts: 1

2008/7/15 4:10

Michael! You are brilliant : ) thank you for this wonderful song, it's one of your best!

Natou

Who Is It ?
Posts: 1

2008/7/15 0:32

J'adore cette chanson !!!

j5mjsoul

Who Is It ?
Posts: 2

2008/4/15 1:13

THIS IS THE SONG

jacksonboy

Who Is It ?
Posts: 1

2008/3/26 21:43

I'm in love with a song this one

Time-Spent

Who Is It ?
Posts: 21

2008/3/17 1:08

This is another one of my favorites. I can't quite tag the reasoning. I think it's the mood it sets. Coming out of the numbness into the rain to feel again.

gsummers

Human Beat-Box
Posts: 278

2008/2/1 22:40

One of his best songs ever.and mine

CeyennaLuvsMJ

Human Beat-Box
Posts: 119

2008/1/18 7:14

I love this song so much it's so touching.

gsummers

Human Beat-Box
Posts: 278

2007/11/2 22:58

A classic witout doubt the american music buying public dont know what a awesome track this is, just beautifull. Hince its poor chart in the us and yet was a european number one

Stranger_In_Moscow

Who Is It ?
Posts: 11

2007/9/9 2:10

This is probably the best song that Michael has ever composed. When I listen to it and I hear it, it sends me on a mental journey and really touches my spirit. Michael...magnifique!

Copy

Chorus Singer
Posts: 98

2007/8/22 0:38

Estoy desacuerdo con tu explicación de el video Stranger In Moscow. Básica mente refleja la soledad y la esperanza de no ser ignorado por los demás personas que podrían ayudarte a sentirte mejor. . El video es fascinante

healtheworld

Chorus Singer
Posts: 32

2007/8/21 20:01

Bâle, 25 juillet 1997... 50 000 personnes entendent les premières notes de Stranger in Moscow. Au bout de quelques minutes, alors que Michael est au devant de la scène, la pluie se met à tomber... Moment de grâce...

PORTISHEAD

MjTunes Official DJ
Posts: 415

2007/8/17 21:57

I love the song

10/10 Stranger In Moscow (pl) Obcy w Moskwie Wêdrowa³em w deszczu Jak w jakim¶ ¿yciu na niby, wyobrazi³em sobie Ten szybki, gwa³towny upadek w nie³askê S³oneczne dni wydaj± siê byæ daleko W cieniu Kremla sta³em siê taki ma³y Mauzoleum Stalina nie dawa³o mi spokoju Ci±gle, bezustannie mnie prze¶ladowa³o Chcia³em, ¿eby deszcz zostawi³ mnie w spokoju Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? (Jak mo¿na siê czuæ?) Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? (Jak mo¿na siê czuæ?) Kiedy jest siê samotnym, a w ¶rodku odczuwa siê tylko zimno Tu jestem pozbawiony ca³ej mojej s³awy My¶lê o ostatecznej walce dobra ze z³em KGB mnie ¶ledzi³o Zanotujcie moje nazwisko i zostawcie mnie w spokoju Potem ¿ebrz±cy ch³opak wykrzykn±³ moje imiê Szczê¶liwe dni zgasz± ból I ci±gle, ci±gle to do mnie przychodzi I jeszcze raz i jeszcze raz i jeszcze raz Zapiszcie moje nazwisko i zosatwcie mnie w spokoju Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? (Jak mo¿na siê czuæ?) Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? (Jak mo¿na siê czuæ?) Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? Kiedy jest siê samotnym, a w ¶rodku odczuwa siê tylko zimno Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? (Jak mo¿na siê czuæ?) Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? (Jak mo¿na siê czuæ?) Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? Jak mo¿na siê czuæ? Kiedy jest siê samotnym, a w ¶rodku odczuwa siê tylko zimno Jak obcy w Moskwie Jak obcy w Moskwie Tu czai siê niebezpieczeñstwo Tu czai siê niebezpieczeñstwo, kochanie Jak obcy w Moskwie Tu czai siê niebezpieczeñstwo Tu czai siê niebezpieczeñstwo, kochanie Jak obcy w Moskwie ¯yjê zupe³nie samotnie ¯yjê zupe³nie samotnie, kochanie Obcy w Moskwie

estela4mj

Human Beat-Box
Posts: 146

2007/8/8 14:17

such a beautiful song. michael's voice is just amazing. you can hear the lonliness just pouring out of him, it's haunting. the video is brilliant. this song has gotten me through some tough times. it's incredible. xoxoxo, estela

lemonpleezee

Who Is It ?
Posts: 26

2007/7/21 6:19

Maybe I can help ya.;-) The slow motion background with people walking by shows loneliness in that they walk by as if he doesn't exist. Several other things can connotate that idea while showing others who feel similarly...alone. I guess feeling alone is the main theme of the video. Hope I could be of service.

satrohraj

Spokesman
Posts: 369

2007/4/30 5:42

I love the song, but the video is very confusing. I don't understand whats the theme of the video. Its in very slow motion..includes flying pigeons, Breaking of a glass, spilling of a coffee, etc. 10/10 for the song. 8/10 for the video..It may be 10/10 but i didn't understand the meaning.. So 8/10

Discography

Michael Jackson - Dangerous Special Edition - Bonus Disc

Michael Jackson - The Stripped Mixes (Album)

The Jackson 5 - Joyful Jukebox Music (Album)

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