Actors - HIStory

	Actors - HIStory

HIStory: Past, Present and Future - Book 1 was a double-disc album by Michael Jackson released in 1995.

The first disc (HIStory Begins) was a fifteen-track greatest hits album, while the second disc (HIStory Continues) contained fifteen brand new and original songs. The album received multiple Grammy Award nominations including the coveted Album of the Year award, which it did not win.

HIStory was the first album where Jackson showcased his instrumental abilities, playing keyboard and synthesizer, guitar, drums and percussion on the album, as well as lead and backing vocals. He was also more involved in the production of this album, collaborating with producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Dallas Austin, Bill Bottrell and R. Kelly.

The album was released with the full supported of Sony, who backed up the records promotion with a full out 40 million dollar advertisement and marketing campaign, the then largest budget ever set for an album. Fans and music critics alike were both shocked and worried about Sony seeing this new Michael Jackson album as nothing but a money maker and financial venture that they could cash in on. A long-term promotional campaign was drawn up for the album which included a full set of singles, numerous lavish videos, a massive world tour, and eventually a remix album, as well as a pulled-all-stops-out television and radio advertisement manifesto intended to cause maximum impact and interest.

Many people considered the album to be very bitter, angry and personal - a different style of music from what Michael Jackson was known for making, primarily because it was released in the wake of Jordie Chandler's sexual molestation allegations, which surfaced only 18 months previous. Michael showcased his feelings of the recent happenings by expressing his anger and frustration through his music, detailing and confirming that here was a different Michael Jackson. Since its release in 1995, HIStory: Past, Present and Future - Book 1 has sold over 18 million copies (36 million disks) worldwide, making it the biggest selling multiple-disc album of all-time.

The HIStory album is also noted as being Michael Jackson's fourth biggest selling album, the fifth best selling album worldwide in 1995, and the 70th best selling album of all time.

Scream

The first single from the album was "Scream"/"Childhood" released in May 1995, was a double a-side single. "Scream" was a duet between Michael and his younger sister Janet, and "Childhood" was the theme song for Free Willy 2. Both songs were partnered by a music video. "Scream" was a science-fiction-inspired music video which won a Grammy Award for Best Short-Form Music Video and an MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography in 1995, while "Childhood" was a Peter Pan inspired music video that showed Jackson singing in a forest with pirate ships floating above him. The double a-side single made history by debuting (and subsequently peaking) at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the highest chart position ever, breaking a 37 year record set by the Beatles with their single "Let It Be", which debuted at #6 in 1970 - however Michael would soon break this record. The single stayed in the US charts for 17 weeks, and by July 31st 1995 (6 weeks after release) had been certificated Platinum (for sales over 1 million). The single also reached #3 in the U.K., #2 in Australia and #1 in New Zealand, Finland, Spain, Hungary, Italy, France, and also in the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles Chart.

You Are Not Alone

The second single released from HIStory, "You Are Not Alone", written and produced by R. Kelly, was released in August 1995. It became the first ever single to debut at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and broke his previous record set with "Scream" a few months earlier - because of the success Michael received the "Billboard Hot 100 Achievement Award" in recognition of setting a Billboard first since the charts creation in 1958. The single remained in the U.S. charts for 20 weeks and within 8 weeks was certificated Platinum for selling over a million. It also went to #1 in the U.K., New Zealand, Ireland, France, Switzerland, and on the Eurochart (were it stayed for 6 weeks.) The music video was controversial in that it featured an almost nude Jackson and his ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley.

Earth Song

"Earth Song" was the third single released from the album in November 1995, except in the US, where it was released to radio along with the song "This Time Around." In the UK it debuted at #1, stayed there for 5 weeks and by doing so went on the become the UK Christmas #1 for 1995. It remained in the charts a total of 19 weeks, and is Michael Jackson's biggest U.K. hit. The single also reached #1 in Germany, Switzerland, Latvia and the Eurochart, - in total it reached the top 10 in 16 European countries. At the 1996 Brit Awards the song caused some controversy. Jarvis Cocker protested against Jackson's performance of the song, claiming Jackson was taking on a "Christ-like" image. Because of the performance and Cocker's protest, "Earth Song" leaped back up the UK charts (from #38 to #16). It went on to sell 3 million copies worldwide making it the most successful song on the album and Jackson's highest selling single. However it is felt the huge success of the single may have hindered the sales of the HIStory album.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for HIStory ]

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Actors - HIStory

Scream

You Are Not Alone

Earth Song

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