Stranger in Moscow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Stranger in Moscow" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Michael Jackson | ||
| from the album HIStory | ||
| Released | November 4, 1996 (UK) August 1997 (US) |
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| Format | CD single | |
| Recorded | 1994 | |
| Genre | Pop Ballad/R&B | |
| Length | 5:44 | |
| Label | Epic Records | |
| Writer(s) | Michael Jackson | |
| Producer(s) | Michael Jackson | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||
| "They Don't Care About Us" (1996) |
"Stranger In Moscow" (1996) |
"Blood on the Dance Floor" (1997) |
| Michael Jackson's Visionary chronology | ||
| "They Don't Care About Us" (2006) |
"Stranger in Moscow" (2006) |
"Blood On The Dance Floor" (2006) |
| HIStory track listing | ||
| "They Don't Care About Us" (2) |
Stranger in Moscow (3) |
"This Time Around" (4) |
"Stranger in Moscow" is a single by singer/songwriter Michael Jackson released in November 1996. According to Jackson, he wrote the song while on tour in Russia. The song's music video shows Jackson walking down a street while everything except himself and other primary subjects are moving in slow motion. Jackson's producer, Rod Temperton, believes this is his best song.
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[edit] Chart performance
The single was a success in Europe, reaching the top of the charts in Spain and Italy and #4 in The UK, where it stayed in the top 40 for five weeks during the Christmas period. It was the least successful single release from the HIStory album, but maintained the trend of continuous top 5 hits in the UK, where the album proved to be Jackson's most successful singles album to date.
Due to the remixes made for the song it reached #1 in the UK Dance Chart (staying at the top for 5 weeks), #1 in the UK Club Chart, and #1 on the official Euro DJ's chart. This meant that it was Jackson's biggest club hit and one of the biggest club hits from a mainstream commercial artist.
It also performed well in many other European countries, peaking at #5 in Switzerland and #9 in Denmark. It also peaked at #6 in New Zealand and at #14 in Australia.
Like most later Jackson singles, it proved to be less popular in the United States. The single was released almost a year later than the rest of the world in August 1997 and peaked at #91, being Jackson's biggest commercial failure in his home country for over twenty years.
[edit] Choreography
The song was performed on the HIStory World Tour. Jackson incorporates a mixture of robotic and popping dance moves during a set and almost always opens the song with his famous “Cobrasteen” step in which Jackson pivots on his heels, followed by a slide of one foot from front to back, whilst keeping the upper body stiff and spot spins. He also usually showcases a variety of floating, gliding and sliding steps. Much like in the style of Billie Jean, the song is extended at the end with a revamp of the drum line. Here, Jackson often does his patented moonwalk (a move generally set aside for use in “Billie Jean” only) followed by a spin and a pose stricken on the downbeat which closes the song.
[edit] Track listing
[edit] Original release
[edit] UK single #1
- Stranger in Moscow" (Album Version) – 5:44
- Stranger in Moscow" (Charles "The Mixologist" Roane - Full Mix w/mute Drop) – 4:30
- Stranger in Moscow" (Tee's Light AC Mix) – 4.26
- Stranger in Moscow" (Tee's Freeze Radio) – 3:36
- Stranger in Moscow" (Tee's In-House Club Mix) – 6:43
- Stranger in Moscow" (TNT Frozen Sun Mix-Club) – 6:41
[edit] UK single #2
- Stranger in Moscow" (Album Version) – 5:44
- Stranger in Moscow" (Hani's Extended Chill Hop Mix R&B) – 6:01
- Stranger in Moscow" (Hani's Num Club Mix) – 10:15
- Stranger in Moscow" (Basement Boys Radio Mix) – 4:03
- Stranger in Moscow" (Spensane Vocal Remix R&B) – 4:42
- Stranger in Moscow" (12" Dance Clib Mix) – 8:18
[edit] US single #1
- Stranger in Moscow" (Album Version) – 5:44
- Stranger in Moscow" (12' Dance Club Mix) – 8:18
- Stranger in Moscow" (Hani's Num Club Mix) – 10:15
- Stranger in Moscow" (Danger Dub Mix) – 6.34
- Stranger in Moscow" (Hani's Num Radio) – 10.12
- Scream" (Def Radio Mix) – 3:20
- Scream" (Naughty Radio Edit With Rap) – 4:30
- Scream" (Dave 'Jam' Hall's Extended Urban Remix) – 4:35
[edit] US single #2
- "Stranger In Moscow" (Album Version) – 5:44
- "Stranger in Moscow" (Tee's Radio Mix) – 4:12
- "Stranger in Moscow" (Charles Roane's Full R&B Mix) – 5:04
- "Stranger in Moscow" (Hani's Num Radio Mix) – 10:15
- "Stranger in Moscow" (Tee's In-House Club Mix) – 6:43
- "Stranger in Moscow" (Basement Boys 12in Club Mix) – 4:31
- "Stranger in Moscow" (Hani's Extended Chill Hop Mix) – 7:12
- "Off The Wall" (Junior Vasquez Remix) – 4:57
[edit] Visionary single
- CD Side
- "Stranger in Moscow" (Album Version)
- "Stranger in Moscow" (Tee's In-House Club Mix)
- DVD Side
- "Stranger in Moscow" (Music Video)
[edit] Mixes
- Album Version - 5:44
- Radio Edit - 4:10
- Hani's Num Club Mix - 10:10
- Hani's Num Radio Mix
- Hani’s Num Dub
- Hani's Dub Hop Mix
- Hani's Extended Chill Hop Mix
- Basement Boys 12" Dance Club Mix - 8:18
- Basement Boys Radio Mix
- Basement Boys Bonus Dub Beats
- Basement Boys Danger Dub
- Basement Boys Lonely Dub
- Basement Boys Bonus Dub Beats
- Basement Boys Spensane Vocal Remix
- Tee's Freeze Mix-Club - 8:15
- Tee's Freeze Radio
- Tee's Mission Mix-Club
- Tee's Radio Mix
- Tee's In-House Club Mix
- Tee's Bonus Beats Dub
- Tee's Light AC Mix
- Tee's Capella
- TNT Frozen Sun Mix-Club
- TNT Danger Dub
- Charles Roane Full Mix
- Charles Roane Full Mix With Mute Drop
[edit] Credits
- Written and composed by Michael Jackson
- Produced by Michael Jackson
- Keyboards and Bass by David Paich
[edit] Trivia
- This song has also been covered by Transformer di Roboter, employing the famous Macintosh startup chime as the bass-line throughout.
- Some have noted that the song sounds similar to the ending music of the game Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on Sega Genesis [1]. It has since been revealed that at one point, Michael Jackson was to compose the soundtrack for the game. His keyboard player was the head songwriter. This may bring in to question who wrote the melody despite its credit to Jackson [2].
- The song's lyrics contain the phrase "Armageddon of the brain," the same phrase Jackson used in 1994 (a year before the release of the album) in an interview with Ebony Magazine to describe the 1993 allegations.
