One of the greatest things about Michael Jackson was his unending optimism that we could all help make the world a better place. His passion for that message formed the basis of some truly tremendous pop classics, including the 1991 smash hit "Black or White," which has not lost any of its peppy spark during the last two decades. Gliding over a joyful electric guitar riff and some ebullient hand claps, Jackson's stirring delivery sells his plea for tolerance and equality right to your heart. His attempts at musical inclusiveness are less successful: A hard rock interlude halfway through the song feels out of place, though it does satisfyingly ramp up the energy; the uncredited rap verse that follows, however, is definitely misguided (and more than a little dated). Nevertheless, if there's one thing that won't ever be diminished with time, it's the steadfast spirit with which MJ imbued his work. A-
20 years ago this week, "Black or White" was the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100.
No comments:
Post a Comment