These slightly over 4.5 minutes we have here are the music video starring the legendary Michael Jackson for the song "They Don't Care About Us" and this one is more known than your average music video not just because of the artist, but also because the director is 2-time Oscar nominee Spike Lee. There's actually 2 versions of this one and we will talk about the prison version on another occasion. This is the Brazil version that has MJ perform in the streets of Rio and the people love him and occasionally try to join him partying, but the police keep them away against the will of Jackson, so yes the enemy, the "they", in here are the police, but also the better more wealthy parts of society. This one here is for the simple guy really and emphasizes especially those part where the gap between the few rich and the many many poor is as large as it gets. Brazil is just one example. To make it work, we also don't see the most spectacular dance moves this time as he is one of us and we can't perform them either. Okay anyway, Spike always delivers a bit of a victim and oppressed mentality with his works and media presence in general and regardless of him being correct about what he says, this music video fits in nicely. But does it really make a difference? I would not say so. The video is really harmless compared to what it could have been going along with the lyrics. The song is really good though. The chorus and the lines leading to it are amazing, but it's perhaps enough to listen to the record and you don't really need to see the Brazil version. Still a thumbs-up thanks to the very convincing audio. Go check it out.
Michael Jackson: They Don't Care About Us
(1996 Music Video)
We still care about Michael
24 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers