Jam (Michael Jackson song)
Encyclopedia
"Jam" is a song by Michael Jackson
from his 1991 Dangerous album. It appears as track one on Dangerous and track two on his 2009 This Is It
compilation album. The single was re-released in 2006 as part of Jackson's Visionary: The Video Singles
collection. "Jam" is a mix of aggressive hard funk
, dance
and rap, or funk hip hop. The bridge
features a rap
performed by Heavy D (of the group Heavy D & the Boyz). The music video
of the song featured NBA
legend Michael Jordan
(the other "MJ"). The song was also featured on the Chicago Bulls
'—Jordan's team at that time—1992 NBA Championship video "Untouchabulls". The song re-entered the UK charts in 2006, reaching number 22.
court, where Jackson teaches basketball legend Michael Jordan
how to dance, and in return, Jordan teaches Jackson how to play basketball. Special effects have Jackson throwing a basketball from a window and scoring in the hoop at the opposite end, as well as Jackson scoring by tossing the ball behind him and kicking the ball into the hoop with his heel. The extended versions of the video include Jackson teaching Jordan how to do the physically complicated moonwalk
dance technique. The rap duo Kris Kross
makes a cameo appearance, as does Heavy D (who performs a rap during the bridge
).
The video was included on Dangerous – The Short Films and Michael Jackson's Vision
. The music video was directed by David Kellogg
.
in his review for "Dangerous" described the song as a perfect album opener and rated it "5/5."
. He also performed it at the Royal Brunei Concert
in 1996, which turned out to be the last live performance of the song. The song was also supposed to be performed at the This Is It
concert series, with a snippet of Another Part Of Me
. However, the shows were cancelled due to his untimely death.
US CD single
UK CD single
VHS Promo
US CD, Maxi-Single US Promo
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...
from his 1991 Dangerous album. It appears as track one on Dangerous and track two on his 2009 This Is It
This Is It (Michael Jackson album)
Michael Jackson's This Is It is a posthumous two-disc soundtrack album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. Released by Epic Records on October 26, 2009, This Is It features previously released music, as well as six previously unreleased recordings by Michael Jackson...
compilation album. The single was re-released in 2006 as part of Jackson's Visionary: The Video Singles
Visionary: The Video Singles
-Remix EP:Released February 21, 2006, Visionary Remixes - EP is only available in the UK iTunes store.-CD Promo:# Thriller - 4:09# Don't Stop Till You Get Enough - 3:59...
collection. "Jam" is a mix of aggressive hard funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, dance
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
and rap, or funk hip hop. The bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
features a rap
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
performed by Heavy D (of the group Heavy D & the Boyz). The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
of the song featured NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
legend Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
(the other "MJ"). The song was also featured on the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
'—Jordan's team at that time—1992 NBA Championship video "Untouchabulls". The song re-entered the UK charts in 2006, reaching number 22.
Music video
The music video for "Jam" takes place within an abandoned indoor basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
court, where Jackson teaches basketball legend Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
how to dance, and in return, Jordan teaches Jackson how to play basketball. Special effects have Jackson throwing a basketball from a window and scoring in the hoop at the opposite end, as well as Jackson scoring by tossing the ball behind him and kicking the ball into the hoop with his heel. The extended versions of the video include Jackson teaching Jordan how to do the physically complicated moonwalk
Moonwalk (dance)
The moonwalk or backslide is a dance technique that presents the illusion of the dancer being pulled backwards while attempting to walk forward. A popping move, it became most popular around the world after Michael Jackson executed the dance move during a performance of "Billie Jean" on Motown 25:...
dance technique. The rap duo Kris Kross
Kris Kross
Kris Kross was an American rap duo of the 1990s comprising Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith. The duo are best known for their hit 1992 song "Jump", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and was certified double platinum as a single...
makes a cameo appearance, as does Heavy D (who performs a rap during the bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
).
The video was included on Dangerous – The Short Films and Michael Jackson's Vision
Michael Jackson's Vision
Michael Jackson's Vision is a deluxe DVD box set released on November 22, 2010. It includes three DVDs, featuring 4.5 hours of content of 42 music videos by Michael Jackson, with newly restored color and remastered audio. Michael referred to each of these productions as a "short film" and not a...
. The music video was directed by David Kellogg
David Kellogg
David Kellogg is an American film, commercial, and music video director.Kellogg has gained prominence for dozens of television spots that he has created for clients such as Pepsi, Fuji, AT&T, Sprite, Coke, Nike, Apple, IBM, MCI, United Airlines, and Mercedes-Benz...
.
Reception
"Jam" was generally well received by music critics. Adam Gilham of SputnikmusicSputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic, or simply Sputnik, is a music website offering music criticism and music news alongside features commonly associated with wiki-style websites...
in his review for "Dangerous" described the song as a perfect album opener and rated it "5/5."
Live Performances
Jackson performed "Jam" as the opening number throughout his Dangerous World TourDangerous World Tour
The Dangerous World Tour was the second worldwide concert tour by American megasuperstar Michael Jackson. The tour, sponsored by Pepsi-Cola, included 69 performances to an audience of 3.5 million. All profits were donated to various charities including Jackson's own "Heal the World Foundation". The...
. He also performed it at the Royal Brunei Concert
HIStory World Tour
The HIStory World Tour was the third and final worldwide solo concert tour by American megasuperstar Michael Jackson, covering Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and North America. The tour included a total of 82 concerts and was attended by approximately 4.5 million fans, beating his previous Bad Tour...
in 1996, which turned out to be the last live performance of the song. The song was also supposed to be performed at the This Is It
This Is It (Michael Jackson concerts)
This Is It was a planned series of fifty concerts by Michael Jackson to be held at The O2 Arena in London. They were scheduled to begin in July 2009 and continue through to March 2010. However, with all concerts sold out, Jackson died less than three weeks before the first concert date...
concert series, with a snippet of Another Part Of Me
Another Part of Me
"Another Part of Me" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. Produced by Quincy Jones for the singer's seventh solo album, Bad , the song was originally featured in Jackson's 1986 3-D film Captain EO. It is the sixth song on the album...
. However, the shows were cancelled due to his untimely death.
Track listings and formats
Dual Disc Single- CD Side:
- "Jam" - 4:11
- "Jam" (Silky 12" Mix) - 6:26
- DVD Side:
- "Jam" (Music Video) - 8:01
US CD single
- "Jam" - 4:11
- "Jam" (Roger's Jeep Radio Mix) – 3:56
- "Jam" (Silky 7" Mix) – 4:14
- "Jam" (Roger's Club Mix) – 6:17
- "Jam" (Atlanta Techno Mix) – 6:06
- "Rock with You" (Masters at Work Remix) – 5:29
UK CD single
- "Jam" – 4:11
VHS Promo
- "Jam" (Music Video) - 8:01
US CD, Maxi-Single US Promo
- "Jam" (Roger's Jeep Radio Mix)
- "Jam" (Teddy's Jam)
- "Jam" (7" Edit)
- "Jam" (MJ's Raw Mix)
- "Jam" (Teddy's 12" Mix)
- "Jam" (Roger's Jeep Mix)
- "Jam" (Percapella)
- "Jam" (Radio Edit Without Rap)
Personnel
- Song and lyrics by Michael Jackson
- Music by René MooreRene MooreRené Moore is an American singer-songwriter and producer, and is more memorable musically for hits he produced with his soul co-singer Angela Winbush as part of René & Angela, including "I'll Be Good," "Save Your Love ," "Your Smile," and "You Don't Have to Cry."-Biography:Moore and singer Angela...
, Bruce SwedienBruce SwedienBruce Swedien is a Grammy Award-winning audio engineer and music producer. He is known for his work with Quincy Jones.Swedien is a five-time Grammy winner and has been nominated 13 times. He recorded, mixed, and assisted in producing the best-sold album in the world, Thriller by Michael Jackson...
, Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael 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...
and Teddy Riley - Produced by Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley and Bruce Swedien
- Solo and background vocals by Michael Jackson
- Recorded and mixed by Bruce Swedien, Teddy Riley and Dave Way
- Arrangement by Michael Jackson, Bruce Swedien, Teddy Riley and René Moore
- Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson
- Rap performed by Heavy D*
- Rene Moore, Teddy Riley, Bruce Swedien and Brad Buxer: Keyboards
- Teddy Riley, Rhett LawrenceRhett LawrenceRhett Lawrence is a record producer and songwriter. He is originally famous for producing the Grammy Award–winning, Billboard #1 Hot 100 and #1 R&B single "Vision of Love" for Mariah Carey. He produced and co-wrote the Kelly Clarkson pop rock hit "Miss Independent” which was #1 for 6 weeks at Top...
, Michael Boddicker and Brad Buxer: Synthesizers - Teddy Riley and Bruce Swedien: Drums
- Teddy Riley: Guitar
Charts
| Chart (1992/2006/2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
11 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 28 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 12 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 11 |
| French Singles Chart | 8 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
2 |
| Spanish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 22 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 30 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
12 |
| United States Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
26 |
| United States Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Billboard charts The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine... |
3 |
| United States Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Billboard charts The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine... |
4 |
Release history
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
|
| Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... |