| "Heal the World" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Single by Michael Jackson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| from the album Dangerous | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B-side | She Drives Me Wild | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Released | November 23, 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Format | CD single, 7", 12" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recorded | December 15, 1989 – October 29, 1991 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Genre | Soft rock, gospel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 6:24 (Album Version) 4:31 (Single Version) |
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| Label | Epic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Michael Jackson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Producer | Michael Jackson Bruce Swedien (co-producer) |
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| Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Heal the World" is a song from Michael Jackson's hit album, Dangerous, released in 1991. The music video (directed by Joe Pytka) features children living in countries suffering from unrest, especially Burundi. It is also one of only a handful of Michael Jackson's videos not to feature Jackson himself, the others being "Cry", "HIStory" and "Man in the Mirror". (The clips for "HIStory" and "Man in the Mirror" only feature Michael Jackson in archival footage).[1] The version of the video included on Dangerous - The Short Films and Michael Jackson's Vision contains an introductory video that features a speech from Jackson taken from the special "spoken word" version of the track. This version was not included on Video Greatest Hits - HIStory featuring the music video. Jackson performed the song in the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show with a 35,000 person flash card performance.
In a 2001 Internet chat with fans, Jackson said "Heal the World" is the song he was most proud to have created. He also created the Heal the World Foundation, a charitable organization which was designed to improve the lives of children. The organization was also meant to teach children how to help others. This concept of 'betterment for all' would become a centerpiece for the Dangerous World Tour. In the documentary Living with Michael Jackson, Jackson said he created the song in his "Giving Tree" at Neverland Ranch.
An ensemble performance of "We Are the World" and "Heal the World" closed Jackson's memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009. The song was performed as rehearsed by Jackson at the venue just weeks earlier, in preparation for his planned "This Is It" tour in London along with "Dirty Diana". R&B singer Ciara sung the song as a tribute to Jackson at the 2009 BET Awards.
The song was played at the funeral of James Bulger,[2] and Jackson also donated the song to be used as the anthem for the charity the James Bulger Red Balloon Center, a school for children to go to if they are being bullied or have learning difficulties.[3]
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The song reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1992, kept off the #1 position by Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You". It peaked #27 on the Billboard Hot 100.
| Country | Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Gold[10] | 250,000 |
| New Zealand | Gold[11] | 7,500[12] |
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