Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 Gary, Indiana—June 25, 2009 in Los… Read Full Bio ↴Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 Gary, Indiana—June 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California), was an American singer, songwriter and dancer. Dubbed the King of Pop, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest entertainers of all time. He was also known for his philanthropy, charitable fundraising, and lifestyle, residing in a private amusement park he called Neverland Ranch and often becoming the focus of tabloid scrutiny. Jackson's contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. Through his group, solo, and family work, he became one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He was also inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame as the first (and currently only) dancer from the world of pop and rock 'n' roll. Jackson's other achievements include 39 Guinness World Records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—13 Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Legend Award and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 26 American Music Awards, 16 World Music Awards and the estimated sale of up 750 million units worldwide. Winning countless awards for his humanitarian endeavors, the singer has been honored by two Presidents of the United States. He has also been named as the artist of "the Decade", "Generation", "Century", and "Millennium" and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. Jackson has also won hundreds of other awards, making him the most awarded recording artist in the history of popular music. He is also credited for popularizing many physically complicated dance moves, such as the robot and the moonwalk, and has influenced and spawned a whole generation of a wide variety of artists including Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, and The Weeknd, among others.

Jackson's musical career began in 1967 as lead singer of The Jackson 5, when the group made their first recording with a local label before signing up with Motown Records in 1968. He made his first solo recordings in 1971 while still a member of the group. But it was Off the Wall (1979) which marked the start of his full-fledged solo career, and he formally parted with his siblings in 1984. In his solo career, Jackson recorded and co-produced the best-selling album of all time, Thriller (with worldwide sales over 100 million), received thirteen Grammy awards and charted thirteen #1 singles in the U.S. Throughout his four-decade career, Michael Jackson has been awarded numerous honors, including the World Music Awards Best-selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium. He is also a double-inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1997, and in 2002 as a solo artist. He is also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In the mid-1980s, TIME magazine described Jackson as "the hottest single phenomenon since Elvis Presley". He has had a notable impact on music and culture throughout the world while also tearing down racial barriers and paving the way for modern pop music.

From 1988 to 2005, Jackson lived on his Neverland Ranch property, on which he built an amusement park and private zoo for the enjoyment of economically disadvantaged and terminally ill children. In 1993 and 2003, separate accusations of child molestation that allegedly occurred in Neverland were made against Jackson, which drew intensely negative media coverage. While he was never charged for the first case, Jackson was tried and vindicated in 2005 of the latter allegation, but moved out of the US shortly thereafter. He later returned to Las Vegas in early 2007.

In the years following his acquittal, (2005-2009) Jackson made numerous public appearances including MTV Japan's VMA awards where he accepted the legends award; the World Music Awards where he accepted the Diamond Award for selling over 100 million records; James Brown's funeral where he paid tribute and delivered a sermon; and a fan appreciation event in Tokyo, Japan, where he greeted troops at US Army base Camp Zama. In early 2008, Jackson issued Thriller 25th Anniversary, a critical and commercial success that was the second-biggest selling album of 2008 with over 2.1 million copies sold worldwide.

On June 25, 2009, Jackson collapsed at a rented home in Holmby Hills in Los Angeles, California. The cause of death is currently believed to be cardiac arrest. At the time of his death, Jackson was scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts to over one million people, at London's O2 arena, from July 13, 2009, to March 6, 2010. During a press conference, Jackson made suggestions of possible retirement.

In the hours following Jackson's death, his record sales increased dramatically. His seminal album Thriller climbed to number one on the American iTunes music chart, while another eight made it into the top 40. In the UK, where Jackson would have performed less than three weeks after his death, fifteen of his albums occupied the top 15 spots on the Amazon music chart. Social music network website Last.fm also saw a dramatic increase in Michael Jackson plays per hour after the announcement of his death.

On December 10, 2010, a compilation album of previously unreleased material, simply entitled Michael, was released posthumously. Featuring guest performances by Akon, 50 Cent and Lenny Kravitz, the album was certified Platinum in 18 countries but received mixed reviews from most critics. This was followed in November 2011 by Immortal, a remix album; in September 2012 by Bad 25, a 25th anniversary reissue of Jackson's 1987 hit album Bad; and by Xscape, a second compilation album released in May 2014.

Official Website: http://www.michaeljackson.com

Burn Tonight
Michael Jackson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Read you from a mile away
Lips that make it easy to adore
A taste of me let the fountain pour
Girl, I'm in a state of sin
Ooh I want to taste your skin
Ooh I want to, girl I kinda wonder
If we can drown again

If you can, touch me again say we will dance
Light fire to my skin we burn again

Girl, I want to touch the fire
Oh come on, and let me light the fire
We can make it burn tonight
Baby come on, and let me light the fire
You can let me touch the fire
Girl, come on and let me light the fire
And you can make me burn tonight (Fly)
Rain and thunder when we burn tonight!

I can't believe we're standing in Heaven now
Feel the fire
We're burning like Hell came tonight
My sole desire
I can't let nobody stop the thing we got
It makes you wonder
A friend of mine? Sexy wine?
Baby why play me like a toy?

When you say, take me again
When that we dance
We passionately stop to burn again

Girl, I want to touch the fire (O oh)
Oh come on, and let me light the fire (Girl)
We can make it burn tonight (We make it burn)
Baby come on and let me light the fire
(I tell you, we make it burn)
You can let me touch the fire (Hee hee)
Oh come on, and let me light the fire
(Hee hee) we can make it burn tonight
Rain and thunder when we burn tonight!
(I tell you, we make it)

Burn Tonight!

Girl, I want to touch the fire (Aah, yeah)
Oh come on, and let me light the fire
(You're making it)
And you can make me burn tonight
(You're making it burn)
Baby come on, and let me light the fire
(We make it burn)
You can let me touch the fire
(Burn burn burn)
Oh come on, and let me light the fire
(Burn burn burn)
And you can make me burn tonight
Rain and thunder when we burn tonight!
(Just let it burn)
Girl, I want to touch the fire (Just let it)
Oh come on, and let me light the fire
(Just let it burn)
We can make it burn tonight (Hee hee)
Baby come on, and let me light the fire
(Aah, yeah) you can let me touch the fire
(We make it burn)
Oh come on, and let me light the fire
(We make it burn)

We can make it burn tonight
Rain and thunder when we burn tonight!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Michael Jackson's song "Burn Tonight" depict a passionate and intense desire between two individuals. The singer is captivated by the person they are addressing, recognizing their irresistible beauty and charm from a distance. They long to taste the other person and to feel their touch, expressing a sense of sin and forbidden desire. The lyric "If we can drown again" suggests that they have previously experienced this intense connection and are longing to feel it once more.

Throughout the song, the imagery of fire and burning is used as a metaphor for their desire and the intensity of their connection. The singer wants to ignite the fire between them and experience that consuming passion. The repeated refrain "Girl, I want to touch the fire, oh come on, and let me light the fire" emphasizes their eagerness and enticement, urging the person to join them in this fiery experience.

The lyric "Rain and thunder when we burn tonight" suggests that this connection will be powerful and explosive, akin to a storm. The singer acknowledges that their love may be unconventional or misunderstood, but they refuse to let anyone come between them. They are determined to embrace this intense passion and not let anything or anyone extinguish the flame they have ignited.

Overall, "Burn Tonight" delves into the intoxicating allure of a forbidden desire and the willingness to embrace passion and intensity, no matter the consequences.

Line by Line Meaning

Read you from a mile away
I can see and understand your intentions and desires without even being close to you

Lips that make it easy to adore
Your irresistible lips make it effortless for me to worship and admire you

A taste of me let the fountain pour
Experiencing a part of me will ignite a fountain of emotions and desires within you

Girl, I'm in a state of sin
I am completely consumed by sinful thoughts and temptations because of you

Ooh I want to taste your skin
I have an intense desire to feel the touch and sensation of your skin on mine

Ooh I want to, girl I kinda wonder
I can't help but imagine and speculate if we can indulge in our passionate desires once again

If we can drown again
I wonder if we can immerse ourselves in the overwhelming intensity of our love once more

If you can, touch me again say we will dance
If you are able to touch me once more, it signifies our agreement to engage in a passionate dance of love

Light fire to my skin we burn again
Ignite the flames of desire within me, so we can experience the intoxicating burn of love once more

Girl, I want to touch the fire
I yearn to feel the intense passion and heat between us

Oh come on, and let me light the fire
Please, allow me to be the one who ignites the intense flames of desire within us

We can make it burn tonight
Together, we have the ability to create a passionate and unforgettable experience tonight

Baby come on, and let me light the fire
My love, please give me the chance to ignite the passionate fire between us

You can let me touch the fire
You have the power to allow me to experience the intense and passionate connection we share

And you can make me burn tonight (Fly)
You have the ability to spark a fiery passion within me and make me experience the exhilarating burn of love tonight (metaphorically soaring)

Rain and thunder when we burn tonight!
Our intense love and passion will create a storm of emotions and sensations when we ignite our desires

I can't believe we're standing in Heaven now
I am overwhelmed with joy and amazement that we have reached a state of blissful happiness and fulfillment

Feel the fire
Experience the intense passion and desire that burns between us

We're burning like Hell came tonight
Our love is so intense and passionate that it feels like hell has been unleashed upon us tonight

My sole desire
You are the only thing I desire with all my heart and soul

I can't let nobody stop the thing we got
I will not allow anyone to interfere or prevent us from experiencing the incredible connection and love we share

It makes you wonder
Our love and passion are so powerful that it leaves others in awe and curiosity

A friend of mine? Sexy wine?
Are you just a friend of mine? Or are you the intoxicating and alluring elixir of passion and desire in my life?

Baby why play me like a toy?
My love, why do you treat me like a mere toy, toying with my emotions and desires?

When you say, take me again
When you express your desire for us to reunite and engage in passionate love once more

When that we dance
As we engage in a passionate dance of love

We passionately stop to burn again
In the midst of our passionate dance, we pause to reignite the intense flames of desire between us

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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