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
Stranger In Moscow
Michael Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mask of life, feelin' insane
Swift and sudden fall from grace
Sunny days seem far away
Kremlin's shadow belittlin' me
Stalin's tomb won't let me be
On and on and on it came
Wish the rain would just let me
How does it feel? (How does it feel?)
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
When you're alone
And you're cold inside?
Here abandoned in my fame
Armageddon of the brain
Kgb was doggin' me
Take my name and just let me be
Then a beggar boy called my name
Happy days will drown the pain
On and on and on it came
And again, and again, and again
Take my name and just let me be
How does it feel? (How does it feel?)
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
How does it feel? (How does it feel? Now)
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
When you're alone
And you're cold inside?
How does it feel? (How does it feel?)
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
How does it feel? (How does it feel? Now)
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
When you're alone
And you're cold inside?
Like a stranger in Moscow (Lord have mercy)
Like a stranger in Moscow (Lord have mercy)
We're talkin' danger
We're talkin' danger, baby
Like a stranger in Moscow
We're talkin' danger
We're talkin' danger, baby
Like a stranger in Moscow
I'm livin' lonely
I'm livin' lonely, baby
Stranger in Moscow
In Michael Jackson's song "Stranger in Moscow", he portrays a feeling of isolation, loneliness, and the pain of being forgotten. The lyrics depict the singer wandering in the rain, feeling disconnected from society, and unable to find comfort in anything. The opening line, "I was wandering in the rain, mask of life, feeling insane" indicates that the singer is trying to hide his true feelings or emotions from others. He feels like he has fallen from grace as he is ignored by the Kremlin's shadow, and Stalin's tomb, which shows he is struggling to adjust to the changes in his life. The lyric "On and on and on it came, Wish the rain would just let me" emphasizes how he feels helpless and hopeless.
The second verse of "Stranger in Moscow" talks about the singer being in a state of Armageddon, while the KGB is dogging him, making him feel hated and alone. But he finally hears a boy calling his name, offering him some comfort and relief from his pain. However, despite this comfort, the feeling of isolation and loneliness continues, as indicated in the repeated question, "How does it feel?". The closing of the song references Moscow, and how the singer is living lonely, just like a stranger in Moscow. The song expresses a sense of vulnerability, despair, and the pain of isolation, which is something most people can relate to at some point in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I was wandering in the rain
I was aimlessly walking around in the rain
Mask of life, feelin' insane
Despite presenting a facade of normalcy, I am feeling mentally unstable
Swift and sudden fall from grace
I experienced a sudden and severe loss of status
Sunny days seem far away
I feel hopeless and unable to see any positive aspects of my life
Kremlin's shadow belittlin' me
The powerful and imposing presence of the Kremlin is making me feel small and insignificant
Stalin's tomb won't let me be
The looming presence of the tomb of a notorious dictator is haunting me and making me feel trapped
On and on and on it came
These negative feelings and overwhelming thoughts keep recurring endlessly
Wish the rain would just let me
I wish that circumstances would change and allow me some respite from my overwhelming thoughts
How does it feel? (How does it feel?)
I am asking a rhetorical question about the feeling of isolation and loneliness
When you're alone
And you're cold inside?
I am emphasizing the feeling of being alone and weighed down by negative emotions
Here abandoned in my fame
Despite my fame, I feel deserted and alone
Armageddon of the brain
My mind is consumed by catastrophic thoughts and emotions
Kgb was doggin' me
I felt pursued and threatened by a powerful organization
Take my name and just let me be
I am asking for privacy and anonymity despite my fame
Then a beggar boy called my name
A small gesture of kindness from an unexpected source gave me hope
Happy days will drown the pain
I hope that good times will help alleviate my emotional suffering
And again, and again, and again
Despite moments of hope, my negative thoughts and feelings keep returning
Like a stranger in Moscow (Lord have mercy)
I feel like an outsider in this city and am in need of divine assistance
We're talkin' danger
Like a stranger in Moscow
Feeling that even the most mundane activities can be perilous
I'm livin' lonely
Stranger in Moscow
I am living a lonely existence in this unfamiliar place
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Michael Joe Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vishalchoudhary6811
I was wandering in the rain
Mask of life, feelin' insane
Swift and sudden fall from grace
Sunny days seem far away
Kremlin's shadow belittlin' me
Stalin's tomb won't let me be
On and on and on it came
Wish the rain would just let me be
How does it feel? (How does it feel?)
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
When you're alone
And you're cold inside
Here abandoned in my fame
Armageddon of the brain
KGB was doggin' me
Take my name and just let me be
Then a begger boy called my name
Happy days will drown the pain
On and on and on it came
And again, and again, and again...
Take my name and just let me be
How does it feel? (How does it feel?)
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
How does it feel? (How does it feel now?)
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
When you're alone
And you're cold inside
How does it feel? (How does it feel?)
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
How does it feel? (How does it feel now?)
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
When you're alone
And you're cold inside
Like a stranger in Moscow
Lord have mercy
Like a stranger in Moscow
Lord have mercy
We're talkin' danger
We're talkin' danger baby
Like a stranger in Moscow
We're talkin' danger
We're talkin' danger baby
Like a stranger in Moscow
I'm livin' lonely
I'm livin' lonely baby
A stranger in Moscow
@michelleking9662
Michael Jackson wrote that song in a hotel room in Moscow. He was inspired by a sense of loneliness he felt in his hotel room in spite of thousands of fans chanting his name outside. The song portrays the emotions of disillusionment, alienation, isolation, betrayal, anguish and loneliness. It is a song of struggle and triumph. This ethereal, lavishly mellodic, haunting ballad was produced out of chaos in Michael Jackson’s life written in response at the time he was being accused of child sex abuse. The song is about a man who is trying to have his voice heard while he is being crucified by the media.
@eduardojesu3232
⚘♥️olá
@surajs5266
One of my most favourite MJ songs. Thanks for this comment ❤️
@mzEnergiez
💞💞💞
@viencellprice9532
Only M.J. could have still produced beauty in the "Wake" of trial's and Tribulations" love ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ beautiful M.J. and muchos gracious to the one who shared these great and see inspiring song's R.I.P. M.J. May you find peace in the afterlife
@Milkers777
*False Allegations (might I add)
@bayoustate9481
I do not understand why this wasn't a hit in America. God bless his soul. Billions miss the King of Pop
@peacelovenessab
I love this song. It's definitely one of his best.
@oliviernga6080
Because, it was released after his first allegation in 1993(1995), his reputation was tainted
@Chasingtails24
He damn neAr wasn't supposed to be a stranger In Moscow, they was tight thinking he was going to pull the political asylum, but I don't think he was having fun there n I'm certain the food was super mid