“They Don't Care About Us” by Michael Jackson (1996)

The Legend with the Brazilian percussionists (image from mygoodplanet.com)

Brazil and Michael Jackson: 10 years ago and now

Brazil is currently in the spotlight for its hosting of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, commonly known as the 2016 Summer Olympics or Rio Olympics, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. South America's largest country also hosts a number of political and economic issues too but the Olympics should help locals forget their problems for a while. It is an opportunity for the Brazilians to extend their hand of friendship and hospitality to visitors from all over the world.

20 years ago Brazil was also host to music icon Michael Jackson for the shooting of the music video for his hip hop inspired single "They Don't Care About Us".

Too young to remember Michael Jackson

When Michael Jackson was at the height of his popularity, I was still to young to comprehend about his popularity and why he mattered to his fans. All I knew then was that he was very popular. All I can remember from that time was my classmate who got a sticker from Pepsi and my mother who warned me and my siblings against idolizing the superstar because according to her, he was a bad influence to the youth.

Past 2000, I knew a lot more about Michael Jackson, thanks to the Guinness Book of World Records, entertainment/music magazines, MTV, music videos, etc. He was married to the daughter of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. He is African-American, but a skin condition made him “look” like white. He was said to be “less black and more white”. He was said to have undergone a sex-change operation. (I don't know if that is true or not.) He was friends with Macaulay Culkin, a former famous child superstar. His album “Thriller” was one of the best selling albums of all times, and his “HIStory” one of the most expensive albums. He was member of the family pop group the Jackson 5 whose hit “ABC” was one of the songs in the Eddie Murphy flick “Daddy Day Care”.

Single cover (image from Wikipedia)

The worst thing I have ever read about Michael Jackson? Those allegations of child abuse. And that he was an abused child himself. 

I am not a fan of the King of Pop but I do like some of his songs: “Beat It”, “Billy Jean”, “Thriller”, “Black or White” (the first song of his I have ever heard), and “They Don't Care About Us”. I look up to Michael Jackson as an icon, a legend worthy of veneration from music fans. His musicianship is unparalleled.

What I think of the song

The song “They Don't Care About Us” is perhaps the soundtrack of our times. This song pops into my mind when I watch the news about the wars in Syria and Iraq, the barbarity of the Islamic State and their minions worldwide, the migrant crisis and the negligence of the rich Arab nations, police brutality in the United States and the hypocrisy of the Black Lives Matter movement, the callousness of politicians in the Philippines, human traffickers, manufacturers and importers of dangerous goods, etc.

The title of the song could have cropped into Michael Jackson's consciousness whenever he thinks of the people around him – his friends, his peers in the industry, and fans – who are unable to relate to his feelings and console him in his times of great agony and depression. Was he feeling helpless, hopeless, alone when he wrote “They Don't Care About Us”? Could there be some sort of an untold story, original idea, or suppressed emotions behind the creation of this song? Had he deviated from the original idea and created a different thing instead? Was he trying to hide his pain?

Forgive me for this mind of mine! I cannot help but look at different angles of different things and relate them in the most unrelated ways possible. One thing is for sure, though. I think of the King of Pop whenever this song comes into mind, and vice versa.