The Years 1994 to 1997
From the very beginning, the song appeared at number five on the U.S. best-sellers chart. During the 37-year history of the Hot 100 chart, this was the first time a song entered the chart at such a high position. Previously, in March 1970, the Beatles’ song “Let It Be” had entered the chart at number six. Now “Scream” had achieved an even higher spot than that. Later, Michael would break his own record.
On 14 June, Michael and Lisa did their first interview as a couple on the ABC prime-time program. Hosted by Diane Sawyer, the interview was broadcast live around the world and became the second most-watched interview of that time. [The most-watched interview to date is Oprah Winfrey’s 1993 interview with Michael Jackson.]
[Interview]
More information about this interview (click here)
In 1997, Barbara Walters’ interview with Monica Lewinsky ranked as the second most-watched interview, pushing the Lisa and Michael interview down to third place.
During the prime-time interview, the music video clip “Scream,” directed by Mark Romanek, was shown for the first time. The clip was made in an exceptionally modern way and brought Michael another record. With a budget of seven million dollars, “Scream” was registered as the most expensive music video in the history of music in the Guinness World Records.
[Scream clip]
With the “Scream” clip, Michael took the art of making music videos to a new stage. The clip brought a new path for creating animated computer music videos.
What the world had been waiting for for four years finally happened on 15 June 1995. “History,” the new album that had kept everyone waiting for a long time, was released worldwide. 150 minutes of music on an album consisting of two CDs: one included fifteen new songs, and the other included fifteen of Michael’s best previous songs.
A statue of Michael Jackson, made by his music recording company, was unveiled in many European cities during ceremonies so that it would match the cover design of the album.
Five days later, on 20 June, the album “History” took the top spot on the best-selling album charts in the United States and many countries around the world.
Considering everything Michael had gone through in 1993, there is no doubt that “History” is his most important album and also his most personal. In “History,” Michael tells the story of his life. He talks about past events, false accusations, lies, greedy people, local newspapers (tabloids), and the situation he found himself in.
While American critics called the album an unsuccessful effort by a finished artist, “History” was nominated for six Grammy Awards. And from the awards decision committee, it was considered an outstanding album. That “finished artist,” at the American Music Awards ceremony on 29 January 1996, won the award for Best Male Artist in the field of pop and rock music. This prize proved that what critics or journalists say should never be treated as divine revelation.
Across the world, this album achieved extraordinary successes. And it clearly answered the question, “Will he write history again, or has he already become part of history?” “HISTORY” once again proved why Michael Jackson is the greatest showman in the world and the undisputed king of pop.
Michael truly made history. The American network MTV reported that the album “HISTORY” had become the best-selling double album [including two CDs] of all time. The album also sold faster than Michael’s other albums. Seven million copies were sold—unprecedentedly—during only the first week of its release worldwide.
On this album, Michael collaborated with prominent producers such as David Foster [who had also worked with Michael on the album “Off The Wall”], Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Dallas Austin, and R. Kelly. In the late 90s, David Foster was chosen as the most successful producer of the decade. He also produced songs for Whitney Houston, Madonna, and Mariah Carey. On the album “HISTORY,” prominent figures such as Janet Jackson, Sheryl Underwood, Slash, Stevie Wonder, Steve Parkar, and the groups Notorious B.I.G. and Boyz II Men were present.
On 22 June 1995, Michael appeared on a special honor program of the VH1 network held in the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, to receive an award in recognition of his humanitarian activities from the hands of Morgan Freeman. After that, the award was renamed “The Michael Jackson Special Award.”
Before the award was presented, the group Boyz II Men performed a medley of two of Michael’s songs—“Heal The World” and “We Are The World”—which carry humanitarian themes, and Michael joined them in the final part of the performance.
After receiving the award, Michael said in his speech: “Thank you for your love and support. You have given me so many things. And this gave me the opportunity to offer part of this love to those whose problems require our attention and help. The statement recently released by the United Nations is a clear example of this claim. If we give third-world children vitamin pills three times a year, one to three million of them will be saved from death. The cost for each child is only six cents. That’s it. Therefore, we must unite to heal the Earth and share this beautiful Earth with love and joy. I love you very much.“
[Michael shows the victory sign with his fingers. He blows kisses toward the audience. He salutes and leaves the stage.]
On 28 July 1995, MTV arranged an interview with Michael. The host of this interview was Bill Bixby. The interview was part of a special 30-minute program titled “Michael Jackson Changes History,” produced by MTV and broadcast simultaneously on the ABC and MTV channels. The clip “You Are Not Alone” was shown for the first time after the interview.
More information about this interview (click here)
On 15 August 1995, “You Are Not Alone,” the second single from the album “HISTORY,” was released in America. “You Are Not Alone” was the first single that, immediately after release, took the very top spot on the U.S. Hot 100 chart. This had never happened in the history of the singles chart.
[CD cover of You Are Not Alone]
Thus, Michael broke the record he had achieved three months earlier with the song “Scream.” [Scream had entered the chart at number five. Before that, there was no history of a song entering the chart at such a high position.]