Heal The World

"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]

Reception


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.

Charts


Chart (1992/1993) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart 20
Austrian Singles Chart 4
Canadian Singles Chart 9
Dutch Singles Chart 4
Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2
French Singles Chart 2
German Singles Chart 3
Irish Singles Chart 2
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart 3
Norwegian Singles Chart 3
Spanish Singles Chart 1
Swedish Singles Chart 15
Swiss Singles Chart 5
UK Singles Chart 2
US Billboard Hot 100 27
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 62
US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 9
Chart (2006) Peak
position
Dutch Singles Chart 40
French Singles Chart 60
Spanish Singles Chart 1
Italian Singles Chart 13
Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart 26
Austrian Singles Chart 22
Danish Singles Chart 7
Dutch Singles Chart 46
European Hot 100 Singles[4] 24
French Digital Singles Chart[5] 6
German Singles Chart 18
Irish Singles Chart 22
New Zealand Singles Chart 19
Norwegian Singles Chart 3
Swedish Singles Chart 18[6]
Swiss Singles Chart 9[7]
UK Singles Chart 44[8]
US Billboard Hot Digital Songs[9] 60
Chart (2011) Peak
position
Japan Hot 100 22


Certifications



Country Certification Sales
Germany Gold[10] 250,000
New Zealand Gold[11] 7,500[12]

Track Listing


7" Single and Cassette Single:[13]
Heal the World (7" Edit) - 4:32
She Drives Me Wild - 3:41
DualDisc-Single:[13]
CD side
Heal the World (single version) - 4:32
Will You Be There- 7:39
DVD side
"Heal the World" (Music video) - 7:31
12" Single:[13]
Heal the World (Album Version) - 6:25
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (Brothers In Rhythm House Mix) - 7:40
Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough (Rogers Underground Solution) - 6.18
Rock with You (Masters At Work Remix) - 5.29
CD-Maxi:[13]
Heal the World (7" Edit) - 4:32
Heal the World (7" Edit with Intro) - 4:55
Heal the World (LP Version) - 6:25
She Drives Me Wild (Album Version) - 3:41
CD Promo:[13]
Heal the World (7" Edit) - 4:32
Heal the World (7" Edit with Intro) - 4:55

Personnel


Written and composed by Michael Jackson
Produced by Michael Jackson
Co-Produced by Bruce Swedien
Recorded and mixed by Bruce Swedien and Matt Forger
Michael Jackson: Solo and background vocals
Christa Larson: Ending solo vocal
Ashley Farrell: Playground girl
Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson
Orchestra arranged and conducted by Marty Paich
Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson and John Bahler
Choir arrangement by John Bahler, featuring the John Bahler Singers
David Paich and Brad Buxer: Keyboards
Michael Boddicker, David Paich and Steve Porcaro: Synthesizers
Jeff Porcaro: Drums
Bryan Loren: Percussion
Prelude composed, arranged and conducted by Marty Paich

Cover Versions


Brazilian singer Xuxa recorded a Spanish version of the song called "Curar el Mundo", in 1992.
The song was covered as "Heal Massa God World" in a reggae style by Jamaican artist Wayne Wonder on his 2006 album Don't Have To.
Japanese R&B singer Misia covered the song on her 2011 album Misia no Mori: Forest Covers.
Filipino singers Lea Salonga & Charice Pempengco sang "Heal The World" as a tribute to Michael Jackson on the show A.S.A.P on July 5, 2009.