MOREHOUSE COLLEGE CLASS OF 2013
black male excellence
Michael Jackson - Morphine [1997] [Prod. By Michael Jackson]
“She never cook for me
She never bump, baby
I’ve gotten what, baby?
You’re just a rival!
A razor blade, Daddy
Right up your leg, baby
You’re throwing shade, Daddy
So undeserving!…”
“You just sit around
Just talkin’ nothin’
And taking Morphine! (Honey…)”
“Somethin’s goin’ down baby ….You’re talking Morphine!!!”
Michael listened to all types of music. For example, during the HIStory sessions he was listening to two albums frequently, the first being “Ready to Die” by Biggie Smalls & the second (which he was a big fan of) “The Downward Spiral” by Nine Inch Nails.
Morphine the haunting and gritty masterpiece is basically Heavy Metal & deeply influenced by Nine Inch Nails, one of the most innovative acts of that time. Michael wrote the song discussing a very disturbing & personal subject, drug addiction.
The relentless funky beat crashing like metal waves and pressurized gas synthesizer sounds hissing with Slash’s & Michael’s aggressive guitar riffs (yea, MJ plays guitar on this) make this Gothic pop at its finest and one of Michael’s most experimental songs ever, lyrically and sonically. Something that would have made Nine Inch’s front man Trent Reznor proud; Michael even uses an audio clip from David Lynch’s “The Elephant Man” (who Michael related with on some level). “You heard what the doctor said….go on…take it and….” from Matron Mothershead to the Merrick character played by John Hurt.
But it’s not just the subject matter but how it was conveyed and expressed. Michael’s lashes out in anger and pain, almost screaming in the verses then transcending into a calm but creepy, paranoid state … “relax, this won’t hurt you” before switching back with a grunting “Ohhh!!!”, as if he’s experiencing violent mood swings of some kind and physiological reaction on and off drugs (Demerol and Morphine).
I had no idea he played guitar on this … nothing this man couldnt do. No one like him.
Today I did something out of my element.Such an empowering feeling it is
