| "Dangerous" | ||||
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| Song by Michael Jackson from the album Dangerous | ||||
| Released | November 26, 1991 (song on album) | |||
| Recorded | September 1990 – February 1991[1] | |||
| Genre | Dance-pop, new jack swing, R&B | |||
| Length | 7:00 (album version) 6:40 (early version) |
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| Label | Epic Records | |||
| Writer | Michael Jackson Bill Bottrell Teddy Riley |
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| Producer | Teddy Riley Michael Jackson |
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| Dangerous track listing | ||||
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"Dangerous" is an R&B-pop song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. The song appeared on Jackson's solo studio album of the same name, released in November 1991. Written and composed by Jackson, Bill Bottrell and Teddy Riley, the song was planned as the tenth single from the album. These plans were canceled due to allegations of child sexual abuse which were made against Jackson in August 1993, Jackson's health concerns, and the failure of previous single, "Gone Too Soon", to top the charts.
Prior to the planned release of the song, "Dangerous" received a positive reaction from contemporary critics in reviews of the track's parent album. Although the song has not been released as a single, "Dangerous" entered music charts in mid-2009 after Jackson's death in June. In 1994, songwriter Crystal Cartier alleged that Jackson, Bottrell and Riley had plagiarized "Dangerous". At the subsequent court hearing the judge ruled in favor of Jackson, Bottrell and Riley, due to lack of evidence; Cartier was refused the right to appeal her case.
Near the end of Dangerous: The Short Films, the song is played over footage of various performances during his Dangerous World Tour.
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"Dangerous" was developed from another song titled "Streetwalker", which Jackson wrote for his 1987 Bad album.[2] During recording sessions in September 1990 for Dangerous, Jackson recorded a 6:40 minute demo of "Dangerous", which he wrote with Bill Bottrell. Teddy Riley later added writing and produced it with Jackson in early 1991. According to music commentator Nelson George the demo is "very different to the final version. Here the keyboards are spacey, in strong contrast to the taunt, mechanical rhythm track. Throughout the song, Jackson keeps up a spoken word rap about the dangerous woman who is this song's subject. Overall it is much moodier". The demo was released in November 2004, on Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection.[3] A different, longer version also exists, with Jackson heard screaming at the beginning—after a sound protection wall fell on him as he was about to record.[2] "The genesis of the songs we co-wrote [for Dangerous]", said Bottrell, "consisted of Jackson humming melodies and grooves, and him then leaving the studio while I developed these ideas with a bunch of drum machines and samplers".[2] "Dangerous" is played in the key of D Minor with Jackson's vocal range being from A3 to A4.[4] The song's tempo is moderate at 112 beats per minute.[4] "Dangerous" is credited as being a dance-pop, new jack swing and R&B song.
In 1994, songwriter Crystal Cartier accused Jackson, Bottrell and Riley of plagiarizing the song. Cartier claimed she had written, copyrighted and recorded the song in 1985.[5] At a court hearing, Jackson testified that "Dangerous" grew out of the song "Streetwalker", which he co-wrote with Bottrell in 1985.[2] His original demo version of the song was played in court. The recordings were followed by acapella performances of "Dangerous" and "Billie Jean," giving a rare insight into his songwriting habits. As Cartier was unable to supply any original tapes to back up her suit, the judge found in Jackson's favor, and Cartier was refused the right to appeal.[2][5][6]
There were five live performance versions of Dangerous:
For the Michael Jackson and Friends concerts and the 50th American Bandstand, Jackson wore a red shirt instead of the original white shirt and tie, but the tie was kept in. For all of the performances but those in the year 2002, Michael would have an armband in his black jacket.
The album Dangerous was released in November 1991, and with shipments of seven million copies in the United States and 32 million copies sold worldwide, it stands as one of the world's best-selling records.[7][8][9] The album's appeal and commercial success prompted Jackson's record company to keep releasing singles throughout 1992 and 1993, especially as Jackson was still promoting the album with a worldwide concert tour. However August 1993 saw intensifying media scrutiny surrounding allegations of child sexual abuse on Jackson's part. The albums ninth single, "Gone Too Soon", did not perform well in the United Kingdom and Jackson's health deteriorated, which eventually led to the cancellation of the albums tenth single "Dangerous" but it was released, with Remember the Time and Black Or White on the box set Tour Souvenir Pack.[2][10][11][12] An alternative version and a remix, entitled "Roger's Rough Dub", were both to be included on the expanded edition of Dangerous–the bonus disc was later canceled.[2]
"Dangerous" was generally well received by contemporary music critics. Jon Pareles, a writer for The New York Times, called it "[Jackson's] latest song about a predatory lover" and highlighted the lyrics "I felt taken by lust's strange inhumanity", observing, "He is a great dancer, yet his songs proclaim a terror of the body and of fleshly pleasures".[13] Music critic Nelson George said of the song, "[it is] a pile driving track...that explodes from radio speakers. 'Dangerous' in fact, opens another window into Michael's artistic process".[3] Writer Barry Farber noted that the same lyrics "are an excellent representation of how sex can sometimes feel like a powerful biologically driven force".[14]
Although it has not been released as a single, "Dangerous" entered music charts in mid-2009 after Jackson's death in June. The track debuted at its peak position, number seventy eight, on the Swiss Singles Chart for the week of July 12, 2009.[15] The song also peaked at number ninety nine on the German Singles Chart for the week of July 13, 2009.[16] "Dangerous" only remained on the two countries chart for one week.[15][16]
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| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Swiss Singles Chart | 78[15] |
| German Singles Chart | 99[16] |