Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson - Scream

Written by Michael with sister Janet, James Harris III and Terry Lewis, and recorded as a duet with Janet for his album, HIStory, issued in June 1995.

Lead single from the album, debuted at no.5 on the Hot 100 in the USA - the highest ever new entry (the previous record holder, Let It Be by the Beatles, made its bow at no.6). Also achieved no.2 on the R&B singles chart and no.3 in the UK.

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* Written and composed by James Harris III and Terry Lewis, Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson
* Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson

"Scream" was a duet between Michael and his sister Janet written by both Jacksons and the production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The duo received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for Scream. "Scream", however, doesn't reappear in the tracklisting of Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection and The Essential Michael Jackson. Also, the video didn't reappear in Visionary: The Video Singles. The video did appear, however, in the DVD The Work of Director Mark Romanek.

Music VideoBoth songs were made into music videos. "Scream" remains as one of Michael's most well-received music videos. Directed by Mark Romanek the video has a heavy sci-fi theme with features of anime and pop culture (such as Andy Warhol's self portrait). At $7,000,000 in expense, the video remains as the most expensive music video of all time. The "Scream" video went on to win several MTV VMA Awards and a Grammy for Best Music Video

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"Sometimes, the only thing you can do is scream," said Michael. "You just wanna let it all out! People should listen, and decide for themselves."

According to hit producer, Jimmy Jam: Janet had come up with the title "Scream," for which Jam and Lewis were asked to write uptempo, aggressive music. They arrived at the Hit Factory in New York City with seven rhythm tracks. Michael picked out his favorite track, and the next day the foursome met at his apartment in Trump Tower. Michael came up with a melody, and he and Janet worked on lyrics separately, with Lewis acting as referee. Michael had said he wanted something about how angry he'd felt for the past two years.

The three-day recording session stretched to a week and a half, at which point Janet decided that she'd be more comfortable recording her vocals at Flyte Tyme Studios in Edina, where she'd made her last two multimillion-selling albums. The producers urged Michael to come along, since he was distracted in New York, bouncing between four studios working on four different songs.

Of those seven proposed rhythm tracks, one of them eventually became the music to Tabloid Junkie.


Scream - Lyrics

Tired of injustice
Tired of the schemes
Life is disgustin’
So what does it mean, damnit
Kicking me down
I got to get up
As jacked as it sounds
The whole system sucks, damnit

Peek in the shadow
Come into the light
You tell me I’m wrong
Then you better prove you’re right
You’re sellin’ out souls but
I care about mine
I’ve got to get stronger
And I won’t give up the fight

With such confusions
Don’t it make you wanna scream
(Make you wanna scream)
Your bash abusin’
Victimize within the scheme
You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize
Somebody please have mercy
’Cause I just can’t take it

Stop pressurin’ me
Just stop pressurin’ me
Stop pressurin’ me
Make me wanna scream
Stop pressurin’ me
Just stop pressurin’ me
Stop pressurin’ me
Make me wanna scream

Tired of your tellin’
(Tellin’)
The story your way
(The story your way)
You're causin’ confusion
(Confusion)
Then think it’s okay, damnit

Keep changin’ the rules
While you’re playin’ the game
I can’t take it much longer
I think I might go insane

(Now, baby)
With such confusion
Don't it make you wanna scream
(Make you wanna scream)
Your bash abusin’
Victimize within the scheme
(Scream it baby)
You find your pleasure scandalizin’ every lie
Oh father, please have mercy
’Cause I just can’t take it

Stop pressurin’ me
Just stop pressurin’ me
Stop pressurin’ me
Make me wanna scream
Stop pressurin’ me
Just stop pressurin’ me
Stop fuckin’ with me
Make me wanna scream

Oh, my God, can't believe what I saw
As I turned on the TV this evening
I was disgusted by all the injustice
All the injustice
All the injustice

"A man has been brutally beaten to death by Police
after beingwrongly identified as a robbery suspect.
The man was an 18 yearold black male..."

Yeah yeah
Baby

With such collusions
Don’t it make you wanna scream
(Make you wanna scream)
Your bash abusin’
(Make you wanna scream)
Victimize within the scheme
You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize
Oh brother please have mercy
’Cause I just can't take it
Just can’t take it

Stop pressurin’ me
Just stop pressurin’ me
Stop pressurin’ me
Make me wanna scream
Stop pressurin’ me
Just stop pressurin’ me
Stop pressurin’ me
Make me wanna scream

Stop pressurin’ me
Just stop pressurin’ me
Stop pressurin’ me
Make me wanna scream
Stop pressurin’ me
Just stop pressurin’ me
Stop pressurin’ me
Make me wanna scream

Stop your pressure !