Michael Jackson You are not alone story behind

Michael Jackson You Are Not Alone | What does one of the King of Pop most beautiful songs mean?

Michael Jackson didn’t write You Are Not Alone, although it’s as if he did, because you can feel how he suffers every note that comes out of his mouth. Every word is addressed to someone, but to whom – a partner, a deceased relative, God…?

CATEGORY | Can't Miss | Move to Tears

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AUTHOR | JC Trembol

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Reading Time | 5 min

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Listening Time | 6 min

Video | Michael Jackson You Are Not Alone
Trembol | Story behind Michael Jackson You Are Not Alone
You can’t miss | Best parts of You Are Not Alone
This is what it says | Michael Jackson You Are Not Alone Lyrics
Did you know? | Fun facts about You Are Not Alone
Much more | Extended version with Michael as an angel
Technical Note about You Are Not Alone

Michael Jackson You Are Not Alone

Trembol | Story behind Michael Jackson You Are Not Alone

Choosing my favourite Michael Jackson song is like choosing which child you love the most 😆, although ‘You Are Not Alone‘ is certainly among the candidates. I still remember when he released it in 1995 as part of his album ‘History: Past, Present and Future, Book I‘. I was a teenager at the time and as there were no Spotify or Apple Store, every time it came on the radio, I stopped whatever I was doing to listen to it. I thought it was written by Michael, but I was wrong. The arrangements, the climax and choirs at the end and the masterful vocal performance are Jackson’s, but the song was written by R. Kelly.

Upon hearing his song ‘Bump n’ Grind‘, Jackson was impressed and commissioned him to write a song.

R. Kelly couldn’t believe it:

You never believe you’re going to grow up and hear Michael Jackson singing a song you wrote! It’s still a high.

You Are Not Alone is one of Michael Jackson’s biggest hits, selling over 1 million copies in the US alone. That’s probably why R. Kelly and Michael collaborated again in 2001, with ‘Cry”, and in 2003 with ‘One More Chance‘.

What does the ‘You Are Not Alone’ video mean?

The video begins with a large number of paparazzi photographing Jackson, followed by Michael singing at the Pantages theatre in Los Angeles. These images are interspersed with others in the desert, at a waterfall and on a cliff, although the most controversial are the ones in which he appears half-naked in a temple with his then-wife, Lisa Marie Presley.

Michael Jackson You Are Not Alone (YouTube Video Screenshots)

Although many criticised the semi-nude images as meaningless, the truth is that Michael and Lisa were simply paying homage to a work by American artist Maxfield Parrish 👨‍🎨

Michael Jackson You are not alone inspiration

The painting in question is called ‘Daybreak‘ from 1922, and is considered the most popular print of the 20th century. Michael loved it for its exuberant and somewhat lustful tone.

What was going on in Michael Jackson’s life when he recorded You Are Not Alone?

Video You are not alone lisa marie presley

Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley in ‘You Are Not Alone’ video

In 1993 Michael Jackson was accused of child sexual abuse. He was never convicted, yet he suffered intense media harassment, claiming he had bought off the alleged victims to avoid prosecution. Jackson began taking painkillers to cope 💊 he lost 10 pounds and his general health had deteriorated so much that he had to cancel his ‘Dangerous‘ tour, entering rehab. A year later, in 1994, Jackson married Elvis Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. She would be his main emotional support during that time. The tabloid press claimed that the wedding was just a ploy to clean up Michael’s image, even more so when they divorced two years later. Presley stated over the years that they were always good friends, but that they separated because she felt that Michael orchestrated their public appearances, as part of his marketing. Particularly famous is their kiss at the 1994 MTV Awards 💋

What the meaning of You Are Not Alone?

Michael Jackson You Are Not Alone (Google Image)

You Are Not Alone is a song of love and isolation 🥺 that makes no reference to romance, so it applies to anyone you miss. Here are some of the theories about who it is aimed at:

R. Kelly wrote it with an ex-girlfriend named Lizette Martinez in mind, whom he didn’t treat very well and who miscarried his child. This story was told by Lizette, without confirmation from Kelly.
R. Kelly talks about God, who is always present and never leaves us alone.
R. Kelly dedicated it to several deceased people around him. This version seems to have been confirmed by Kelly himself.
It is also said that Michael Jackson, regardless of who R. Kelly wrote it to, sings it to his wife at the time, Leslie Marie Presley, because she was his great support.

In my opinion, Michael Jackson sings it to himself, because of the pain he felt from the persecution he was suffering. He didn’t want to feel alone anymore.

You Can’t Miss ⭐️ The best of You Are Not Alone

1. The first few seconds with trumpets that you only hear in the album version, not in the official video, are a little gem. Just with that intro you can already feel that what is to come is going to be special.

2. The second verse is sheer emotion: ‘just the other night, I thought I heard you cry, asking me to come and hold you in my arms’.You can’t sing more beautifully than that.

3. Michael sings the last chorus several times, increasing his and the choirs’ volume with each repetition. The song overflows, tears escape, you feel the protection he needs. Out of this world!

This is what it says | Michael Jackson You Are Not Alone Lyrics

MICHAEL JACKSON | YOU ARE NOT ALONE | LYRICS IN ENGLISH

Another day has gone
I’m still all alone
How could this be?
You’re not here with me
You never said goodbye
Someone tell me why
Did you have to go?
And leave my world so cold

Everyday I sit and ask myself
How did love slip away?
Something whispers in my ear and says

That you are not alone
I am here with you
Though you’re far away
I am here to stay
But you are not alone
I am here with you
Though we’re far apart
You’re always in my heart
But you are not alone

‘Lone, ‘lone
Why, ‘lone

Just the other night
I thought I heard you cry
Asking me to come
And hold you in my arms
I can hear your prayers
Your burdens I will bear
But first I need your hand
Then forever can begin

Everyday I sit and ask myself
How did love slip away?
Something whispers in my ear and says

That you are not alone
I am here with you
Though you’re far away
I am here to stay
But you are not alone
I am here with you
Though we’re far apart
You’re always in my heart
But you are not alone

Whisper three words and I’ll come running
And girl you know that I’ll be there
I’ll be there

That you are not alone
I am here with you
Though you’re far away
I am here to stay
But you are not alone
I am here with you
Though we’re far apart
You’re always in my heart

For you are not alone (You are not alone)
For I am here with you (I am here with you)
Though you’re far away (Though you’re far away)
I am here to stay (You and me)
For you are not alone (You’re always in my heart)
For I am here with you
Though we’re far apart
You’re always in my heart

For you are not alone
Not alone, oh
You are not alone
You are not alone
Say it again
You are not alone
You are not alone
Not alone, not alone

If you just reach out for me girl
In the morning, in the evening
Not alone, not alone
You and me
Not alone
Oh, together, together

Gotta stop being alone
Gotta stop being alone

MICHAEL JACKSON | YOU ARE NOT ALONE | LETRA EN ESPAÑOL

Otro día se ha pasado
Todavía estoy solo
¿Cómo puede ser?
No estás aquí conmigo
Nunca te despediste
Que alguien me diga por qué
¿Tenías que irte?
Y dejar mi mundo tan frío

Todos los días me siento y me pregunto
¿Cómo se escapó el amor?
Algo me susurra al oído y me dice

Que no estás sola/solo
Estoy aquí contigo
Aunque estés lejos
Estoy aquí para quedarme
Pero no estás sola/solo
Estoy aquí contigo
Aunque estemos lejos
Siempre estás en mi corazón
Pero no estás sola/solo

Solo/Sola
Por qué, solo/sola

Justo la otra noche
Me pareció oírte llorar
Pidiéndome que viniera
Y te sostenga en mis brazos
Puedo escuchar tus oraciones
Tus cargas las llevaré yo
Pero primero necesito tu mano
Entonces la eternidad puede comenzar

Todos los días me siento y me pregunto
¿Cómo se me escapó el amor?
Algo me susurra al oído y me dice

Que no estás sola/solo
Estoy aquí contigo
Aunque estés lejos
Estoy aquí para quedarme
Pero no estás sola/solo
Estoy aquí contigo
Aunque estemos lejos
Siempre estás en mi corazón
Pero no estás sola/solo

Susurra tres palabras y vendré corriendo
Y sabes que estaré allí
Estaré allí

Que no estás sola/solo
Estoy aquí contigo
Aunque estés lejos
Estoy aquí para quedarme
Pero no estás sola/solo
Estoy aquí contigo
Aunque estemos lejos
Siempre estás en mi corazón

Porque no estás sola/solo (No estás sola/solo)
Porque estoy aquí contigo (Estoy aquí contigo)
Aunque estés lejos (Aunque estés lejos)
Estoy aquí para quedarme (Tú y yo)
Porque no estás sola/solo (Siempre estás en mi corazón)
Porque estoy aquí contigo
Aunque estemos lejos
Siempre estás en mi corazón

Porque no estás sola/solo
No estás sola/solo, oh
No estás sola/solo
No estás sola/solo
Dilo otra vez
No estás sola/solo
No estás sola/solo
No estás sola/solo, no estás sola/solo

Si sólo me buscas
En la mañana, en la noche
solo/sola no, solo/sola no
Tú y yo
Solos no
Oh, juntos, juntos

Tenemos que dejar de estar solos
Tenemos que dejar de estar solos

Songwriters: Robert S. Kelly | Letra de You Are Not Alone © Universal Music – Z Songs, R. Kelly Publ. Inc. | Background Image: Michael Jackson You Are Not Alone video screenshot

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Did you know...?

In 1993, Edward and Daniel van Passel wrote the score for a song entitled ‘If We Can Start All Over’. When ‘You Are Not Alone‘ became a worldwide hit, they sued in their home country, Belgium. The court concluded that it was possible that R. Kelly may have had access to the score, although he always denied it. Belgium upholds ban on all radio and television broadcasts of the song and music video for ‘You Are Not Alone‘ 😳

‘You Are Not Alone‘ is Michael Jackson’s 13th and final No.1, and also holds the Guinness World Record for being the first song to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

In one scene of the video Michael appeared completely naked, but just before it was released, the decision was made to use special effects to blur that part.

Much more | Extended version with Michael Jackson as an angel

Extra Scena of ‘You Are Not Alone’

The extended version of the song that appeared on ‘History on Film, Volume II‘ showed Michael Jackson with white wings, as if he were an angel 👼

Michael Jackson performed ‘You Are Not Alone‘ live at 2 awards shows in 1995:

The song’s author, R. Kelly, covered ‘You Are Not Alone‘ on his 2010 album ‘Love Letter‘. Jackson’s close friend Diana Ross did the same on her album ‘Voice of Love‘. As a curiosity, in 2011, a clip of the song was remixed with another Jackson song, ‘I Just Can’t Stop Loving You‘ and released on her album ‘Immortal‘. We still prefer the original.

Technical Note | Michael Jackson You Are Not Alone

“You Are Not Alone” is an R&B (Rhythm and Blues) ballad, played at a tempo of 60 bits per minute, making it one of the slowest songs Michael Jackson has ever done.

It is written in B major 🎼

When R. Kelly sent the demo of the song to Michael, he loved it, but Jackson still incorporated his musical hallmarks to make it completely his own, you know what they are?

The percussive arrangements to clearly mark the ballad rhythm.
The choir to add grandeur to the piece.
The vibratos in her voice to give warmth to a lyric with so much loneliness.
The change to lower tones as the music fades out, leaving you wanting more.

As you can see, You Are Not Alone is pure essence of the King of Pop 👑

‘You Are Not Alone’ single front cover

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1 Comment

mary D on 09/11/2023 at 05:51

Someone dedicated this song to me he was very loving and hes out there somewhere
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