Better on the Other Side
Encyclopedia
"Better on the Other Side" is a tribute
song from American recording artists The Game
, Chris Brown, Diddy
, DJ Khalil
, Polow da Don
, Mario Winans
, Usher
and Boyz II Men
dedicated to Michael Jackson
. The song was recorded on June 25, 2009, after being notified that Jackson had died, and subsequently released the following day on Diddy's Twitter account. The song gained airplay on radio show "Big Boy's Neighborhood" as well as on Game affiliate DJ Skee's satellite radio show, "Skeetox". The song's lyrics are about Jackson's influence and effect on people worldwide, as well as the recording artist reflecting on their memories of Jackson.
Musically, "Better on the Other Side" is a Hip hop
, R&B
, pop ballad
. The songs music video was recorded in ten hours and was released on June 30, 2009. The video was intercut with clips of Jackson's fan mourning and celebrating Jackson outside the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
, where Jackson was pronounced dead, as well as clips of the musicians recording the song. The song was well received by music critics.
, died from cardiac arrest
at the age of 50, later revealed to be from a drug intoxication of the anesthetic drug Propofol
(also known as "Diprivan"). Jackson was friends with musicians Chris Brown, Diddy
, Boyz II Men
and The Game
. Aside from being friends with some of the musicians involved on the song, others involved had also respected and admired Jackson. According to The Game, prior to Jackson's death Jackson, Diddy
and Eminem
had tried to end the feuding and tension between rapper 50 Cent
and The Game in 2005. The Game stated that in 2005, Jackson called him and offered to help end the feud, remembering "I was on tour in Canada, sitting in my room, cutting my hair [...] I was messing my hair up. Then my road manager knocks on my door. Boom, boom, boom. He told me, I got MJ on the phone. I ran and snatched up the phone."
The Game said Jackson started the conversation by talking about music and complimenting him on his records like "Hate It or Love It" and "How We Do" and, "[Jackson] said, 'I don't know how you're gonna feel about this, but I want to ask you something. I don't want you to judge me, but I don't really know everything that's going on between you and 50 [Cent]. But I want to be the middleman behind you putting this situation to bed." Jackson had wanted the two to meet, with him serving as a mediator, though according to Game, "It never manifested."
and a bass drop
. "Better on the Other Side" opens with a piano-accompanied soundscape starts off with Diddy "testifying" about Jackson's influence with the lyrics, "I believed I can do anything," he says. "You made the world dance. You made the music come to life." Then a "thunderous bass drops" in, led by Brown's vocals on the chorus, "This the type of song that makes the angels cry/ Look up in the sky and I wonder why/ Why you had to go, go/ I know it's better on the other side." The song concludes with one last statement from Diddy, "People can say what they want about you. We gonna remember the miracles that you showed us. Through your music, through your dance. You were the one that made us realize that you are the world. Through us your legacy lives on, Mike Jackson."
also tried to stop the beef with Game and 50 Cent however Eminem was not mentioned in Game's verse. Diddy concludes the song by stating that while people's opinions of Jackson may vary, that he's going to "remember the miracles that you showed us." through Jackson's music, dancing, and philanthropy commenting that "through us your legacy lives on, Mike Jackson."
account. "Better on the Other Side" made its debut on the morning radio show "Big Boy's Neighborhood" as well as on Game affiliate DJ Skee's satellite radio show, "Skeetox." DJ Skee, said of being one of the first to give the song radio airplay, "I told Game yesterday that Michael Jackson died, and he didn't believe me. He said, 'I'll call you right back. Then this morning, he hit me with this track, and I immediately started blasting it out." "Better on the Other Side" was also released as a digital download
. "Better on the Other Side" did not chart on any music charts from radio play or digital download sales. "Better on the Other Side" was received well by contemporary music critics. Rahman Dukes and Shaheem Reid, of MTV
, described "Better on the Other Side" as a being a "heartfelt tribute".
, where Jackson was pronounced dead at. Shortly after Diddy's part of the song begins to play, we hear the voice of Diddy, who isn't seen throughout the entire video. Clips shown in the being of the video show a young fan holding a poster that reads "R.I.P. Michael Jackson." From there we see more images of fans, some mourning Jackson, some celebrating him by doing Jackson's signature dances and dressing like the him. The Game begins rapping while lying in a bathtub
, fully clothed and drinking as the water in the tub runs. Brown is shown moments after that, bobbing his head to the music. The video then goes back and forth between recording sessions for the song and tributes from Jackson's fans. The Game is shown in the studio with Brown, then we see Boyz II Men's Wanya Morris recording and singing his part on the record. We then see Game writing his rhyme for the song and, later, getting a new tattoo
on his right arm. As the video ends, The Game stands up in the bathtub, takes off his shirt and reveals his new Michael Jackson tattoo. It is a picture of Jackson wearing a fedora and a mask on his face.
Tribute
A tribute is wealth, often in kind, that one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often the case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. Various ancient states, which could be called suzerains, exacted tribute from areas they had conquered or threatened to conquer...
song from American recording artists The Game
The Game (rapper)
Jayceon Terrell Taylor , better known by his stage name Game, formerly The Game, is an American rapper and actor. As a member of G-Unit, he rose to fame in 2005 with the success of his debut album, The Documentary, which earned him two Grammy Award nominations...
, Chris Brown, Diddy
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
, DJ Khalil
DJ Khalil
Khalil Abdul-Rahman, better known by his stage name DJ Khalil, is a Los Angeles based American hip hop/soul record producer, and is the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Self Scientific, together with rapper Chace Infinite...
, Polow da Don
Polow Da Don
Polow-Freache Jamal Fincher Jones , better known by known by professional name Polow da Don or Awesome Jones, is an American record producer, songwriter, rapper, and singer. His cousin is Atlanta singer Monica. He has produced for a variety of artists including Usher, Nelly, Christina Aguilera, T.I...
, Mario Winans
Mario Winans
Mario Winans is an American R&B singer, songwriter, music producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Born Mario Brown, he is the son of gospel recording artist Vickie Winans and her first husband, Bishop Ronald Brown. He is also the stepson of his mother's second husband, gospel singer, Pastor Marvin...
, Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
and Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
dedicated to Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
. The song was recorded on June 25, 2009, after being notified that Jackson had died, and subsequently released the following day on Diddy's Twitter account. The song gained airplay on radio show "Big Boy's Neighborhood" as well as on Game affiliate DJ Skee's satellite radio show, "Skeetox". The song's lyrics are about Jackson's influence and effect on people worldwide, as well as the recording artist reflecting on their memories of Jackson.
Musically, "Better on the Other Side" is a Hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
, pop ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
. The songs music video was recorded in ten hours and was released on June 30, 2009. The video was intercut with clips of Jackson's fan mourning and celebrating Jackson outside the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California....
, where Jackson was pronounced dead, as well as clips of the musicians recording the song. The song was well received by music critics.
Background
On June 25, 2009, American recording artist, Michael JacksonMichael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, died from cardiac arrest
Death of Michael Jackson
On June 25, 2009, American singer Michael Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication after he suffered a respiratory arrest at his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood in Los Angeles. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, said he found Jackson in his room, not breathing, but with a faint pulse,...
at the age of 50, later revealed to be from a drug intoxication of the anesthetic drug Propofol
Propofol
Propofol is a short-acting, intravenously administered hypnotic agent. Its uses include the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, sedation for mechanically ventilated adults, and procedural sedation. Propofol is also commonly used in veterinary medicine...
(also known as "Diprivan"). Jackson was friends with musicians Chris Brown, Diddy
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
, Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
and The Game
The Game (rapper)
Jayceon Terrell Taylor , better known by his stage name Game, formerly The Game, is an American rapper and actor. As a member of G-Unit, he rose to fame in 2005 with the success of his debut album, The Documentary, which earned him two Grammy Award nominations...
. Aside from being friends with some of the musicians involved on the song, others involved had also respected and admired Jackson. According to The Game, prior to Jackson's death Jackson, Diddy
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
and Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
had tried to end the feuding and tension between rapper 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
and The Game in 2005. The Game stated that in 2005, Jackson called him and offered to help end the feud, remembering "I was on tour in Canada, sitting in my room, cutting my hair [...] I was messing my hair up. Then my road manager knocks on my door. Boom, boom, boom. He told me, I got MJ on the phone. I ran and snatched up the phone."
The Game said Jackson started the conversation by talking about music and complimenting him on his records like "Hate It or Love It" and "How We Do" and, "[Jackson] said, 'I don't know how you're gonna feel about this, but I want to ask you something. I don't want you to judge me, but I don't really know everything that's going on between you and 50 [Cent]. But I want to be the middleman behind you putting this situation to bed." Jackson had wanted the two to meet, with him serving as a mediator, though according to Game, "It never manifested."
Composition
"Better on the Other Side" is a pop-ballad song that is four minutes thirty-six seconds long. The songs lyrics pertain to the influence of Jackson and his worldwide appeal and effect, as well as reflecting on their own personal memories of Jackson. The song instruments include a pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and a bass drop
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
. "Better on the Other Side" opens with a piano-accompanied soundscape starts off with Diddy "testifying" about Jackson's influence with the lyrics, "I believed I can do anything," he says. "You made the world dance. You made the music come to life." Then a "thunderous bass drops" in, led by Brown's vocals on the chorus, "This the type of song that makes the angels cry/ Look up in the sky and I wonder why/ Why you had to go, go/ I know it's better on the other side." The song concludes with one last statement from Diddy, "People can say what they want about you. We gonna remember the miracles that you showed us. Through your music, through your dance. You were the one that made us realize that you are the world. Through us your legacy lives on, Mike Jackson."
Recording and lyrical content
DJ Skee stated that after notifying Chris Brown and Usher and Boyz II Men, who at the time were in a recording studio, via a phone call, that they'd written and recorded the song overnight and gave him the song to play on June 26, 2009. "Better on the Other Sides"s lyrics pertain to the influence of Jackson and his effect on people worldwide, as well as reflecting on their own personal memories of Jackson. In the song's lyrics Diddy opens the song with Jackson's influence in the lyrics "I believed I can do anything," he says. "You made the world dance. You made the music come to life." Brown's part of the song is the chourus, where he described the grief of Jackson's death and noting that "I know it's better on the other side." On The Game's verses he reflects on Jackson's influence on him growing up and comparing himself to Jackson. Towards the ending on the song The Game claims that the feud between him and 50 Cent is over, presumably due to Jackson's death, "First thing I did when I heard was I called Puff. Cause him and Mike tried to stop the beef between us, Who was us? Me and fifty, that beef is dead, and the young Mike Jackson gonna take us to the ledge." After this line, Chris Brown then sings the chorus. Hinting that he is the "young Mike Jackson." However, their beef has since continued. And EminemEminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
also tried to stop the beef with Game and 50 Cent however Eminem was not mentioned in Game's verse. Diddy concludes the song by stating that while people's opinions of Jackson may vary, that he's going to "remember the miracles that you showed us." through Jackson's music, dancing, and philanthropy commenting that "through us your legacy lives on, Mike Jackson."
Release and critical analysis
Less than 24 hours after Jackson's death, "Better on the Other Side" was released by Diddy on his TwitterTwitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account. "Better on the Other Side" made its debut on the morning radio show "Big Boy's Neighborhood" as well as on Game affiliate DJ Skee's satellite radio show, "Skeetox." DJ Skee, said of being one of the first to give the song radio airplay, "I told Game yesterday that Michael Jackson died, and he didn't believe me. He said, 'I'll call you right back. Then this morning, he hit me with this track, and I immediately started blasting it out." "Better on the Other Side" was also released as a digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
. "Better on the Other Side" did not chart on any music charts from radio play or digital download sales. "Better on the Other Side" was received well by contemporary music critics. Rahman Dukes and Shaheem Reid, of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, described "Better on the Other Side" as a being a "heartfelt tribute".
Music video
The music video to "Better on the Other Side" was released on June 30, 2009. The video was recorded and released it within ten hours. The music video begin with clips of fans tribute to Jackson outside the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical CenterRonald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California....
, where Jackson was pronounced dead at. Shortly after Diddy's part of the song begins to play, we hear the voice of Diddy, who isn't seen throughout the entire video. Clips shown in the being of the video show a young fan holding a poster that reads "R.I.P. Michael Jackson." From there we see more images of fans, some mourning Jackson, some celebrating him by doing Jackson's signature dances and dressing like the him. The Game begins rapping while lying in a bathtub
Bathtub
A bath , bathtub , or tub is a large container for holding water in which a person may bathe . Most modern bathtubs are made of acrylic or fiberglass, but alternatives are available in enamel over steel or cast iron, and occasionally waterproof finished wood...
, fully clothed and drinking as the water in the tub runs. Brown is shown moments after that, bobbing his head to the music. The video then goes back and forth between recording sessions for the song and tributes from Jackson's fans. The Game is shown in the studio with Brown, then we see Boyz II Men's Wanya Morris recording and singing his part on the record. We then see Game writing his rhyme for the song and, later, getting a new tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
on his right arm. As the video ends, The Game stands up in the bathtub, takes off his shirt and reveals his new Michael Jackson tattoo. It is a picture of Jackson wearing a fedora and a mask on his face.
Chart performance
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles |
13 |
See also
- Death of Michael JacksonDeath of Michael JacksonOn June 25, 2009, American singer Michael Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication after he suffered a respiratory arrest at his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood in Los Angeles. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, said he found Jackson in his room, not breathing, but with a faint pulse,...
- "Home" (La Toya Jackson song)Home (La Toya Jackson song)"Home" is a sentimental ballad by La Toya Jackson which first appeared on the 2003 promotional copy her album Startin' Over. Jackson released the single in late July 2009 in dedication to her younger brother, Michael Jackson, who died on June 25...