Today's song is from a long awaited follow up album to one of the best selling albums of all time from one of the biggest names in musical history. He was so big in fact, that when this smash song’s video came out, it was shocking that he was NOT in the video! Instead, it featured a montage of various news events and famous people. An alternative video WAS used as the opening to this singer’s movie Moonwalker, featuring several live performances.
It also featured a montage of clips of children in Africa, Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Jesus Christ, kids in Graduation, and other historical figures.
It was the fourth consecutive number one from his 'Bad' album in the US and this pop icon added background vocals from Garrett, The Winans and the Andraé Crouch Choir. The choir would also appear on Madonna's 'Like a Prayer'.
The choir vibe really fits the vision of this song, which is about making a change and realizing that it has to start with you. Today’s singer and his producer Quincy Jones chose the song for 'Bad' after looking for "an anthem", that as Jones said would spread some "sunshine on the world." He invited songwriters from his publishing company to present songs, and they chose this. Today’s singer, who died in 2009, later said it was one of his favorite songs.
Rolling Stone has said that today’s song stands among the half dozen best things this singer had done, "On "{this song}," a song he did not write, [this singer] goes a step further and offers a straightforward homily of personal commitment: "I'm starting with the man in the mirror/I'm asking him to change his ways/And no message could have been any clearer/If you wanna make the world a better place/Take a look at yourself and then make a change."
The instrumental introduction to the song was played at the end of this superstar’s memorial service in 2009, while his casket was being carried out; followed by the appearance of a spotlight shining on a microphone on an empty stage. After a closing prayer that incorporated themes from the song, the spotlight remained shining on the lone microphone.