Michael Jackson – In The Closet

Written by Michael with Teddy Riley, and recorded by Michael for his album, Dangerous, issued in November 1991.

It was originally titled (Coming) Out Of The Closet, and intended as a duet with Michael and Madonna. A demo version of this is believed to exist but there’s no official release.

There’s another demo version also recorded by Michael solo, which has leaked on the internet – no official release of that either. Other demo versions are also known to exist.

"He (Michael) did a demonstration for me," said Riley, "and he was the one who actually came up with the structure of how the song should come out. He would work out these string lines on the synthesiser, then he came up with these mouth sounds that were very percussive – sort of like a drum machine, but different. And it all worked."

Credited to Michael and ‘Mystery Girl’ – whose identity was rumoured to be Madonna or Paula Abdul, but proved to be Princess Stephanie of Monaco.

It is the third single from Dangerous, released ahead of Who Is It, when Michael heard director Herb Ritts’ ideas for the promo short film. The promo premiered on 23rd April 1992. It co-starred supermodel Naomi Campbell. The promo was banned in South Africa because of its ‘very sensual nature which could offend viewers.’

It hit no.1 on the R&B singles chart in the US, and charted at no.6 on the Hot 100 and no.8 in the UK.

[Teddy Riley’s Words About The Song]
Now, In the Closet was something Michael came up with, and it came out exactly as he wanted the track to be. He kind of put his vocals on a Dictaphone when he was in another room. He’d often record the vocals on a Dictaphone and take them into the studio and then see how it would all work out.

This is some of Michael’s more explicit material on there, in terms of lyrical content [laughs]! But it didn’t surprise you at the time. No, not at all.

Credits

* Written and composed by Teddy Riley, Michael Jackson and Bernard Belle
* Produced by Teddy Riley and Michael Jackson
* Recorded and mixed by Bruce Swedien, Teddy Riley and Dave Way
* Solo and background vocals: Michael Jackson
* Rhythm arrangement by Teddy Riley
* Synthesizer arrangement by Teddy Riley
* Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson
* Keyboards and synthesizers: Teddy Riley
* Sequencing and programming: Wayne Cobham

In The Closet – Lyrics

(Spoken)
There’s something I have to say to you
If you promise you’ll understand
I cannot contain myself when in your presence
I’m so humble, just touch me
Don’t hide our love
Woman to man

She’s just a lover, who makes me high
It’s worth the giving, it’s worth the try
You cannot cleave it, or put it in the furnace
You cannot wet it, you cannot burn it

She wants to give it
(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
Dare me
(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
She wants to give it

(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
Yea
(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)

It’s just a feeling, you have to soothe it
You can’t neglect it, you can’t abuse it
It’s just desire, you cannot waste it
Then, if you want it, then, won’t you taste it

She wants to give it
(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
Yea
(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
She wants to give it

She wants to give it
(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
Yea
(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)

One thing in life you must understand
The truth of lust woman to man
So open the door, and you will see
There are no secrets
Make your move, set me free

Because there’s something about you baby
That makes me want to give it to you
I swear there’s something about you baby

Just promise me, whatever we say
Whatever we do to eachother
For now we take a vow to just
Keep it in the closet

Just promise me, whatever we say
Or do to each other
For now we’ll make a vow to just
Keep it in the closet

If you can get it, it’s worth a try
I really want it, I can’t deny
It’s just desire, I really love it
‘Cause if it’s aching, you have to rub it
She wants to give it

(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
Yea
(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
She wants to give it

(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
Dare me
(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)

Just open the door, and you will see
This passion burns inside of me
Don’t say to me, you’ll never tell
Touch me there, make the move
Cast the spell

Because there’s something about you baby
That makes me want to give it to you
I swear there’s something about you baby

Just promise me, whatever we say
Or do to each other
For now we take a vow to just
Keep it in the closet

Because there’s something about you baby
That makes me want to give it to you

I swear there’s something about you baby
That makes me want to give it to you

I swear there’s something about you baby
That makes me want to give it to you

I swear there’s something about you baby
That makes me want to give it to you

I swear there’s something about you baby
That makes me want to give it to you

I swear there’s something about you baby
That makes me want to give it to you

I swear there’s something about you baby
Makes me want

Just promise me, whatever we say
Or whatever we do to each other
For now we’ll make a vow to just
Keep it in the closet

(She wants to give it)
Dare me
(Aahh)
Keep it in the closet
(She wants to give it)
Dare me
(Aahh)
Keep it in the closet

(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
Dare me

(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
Dare me
(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
Keep it in the closet

(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
Dare me

(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
Dare me
(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
Dare me

(She wants to give it)
Keep it in the closet

(She wants to give it)

(She wants to give it)
Keep it in the closet

(She wants to give it, aahh, she wants to give it)
Dare me