Earth Song Quotes

“Social anthems and protest songs had long been part of the heritage of rock—but not like this. “Earth Song” was something more epic, dramatic, and primal. Its roots were deeper, its vision more panoramic. It was a lamentation torn from the pages of the Old Testament; a “sorrow song” in the tradition of slave spirituals; an apocalyptic prophecy with echoes of Blake, Yeats and Eliot. It conveyed musically what Picasso’s masterful painting, Guernica, conveyed in art. Inside its swirling scenes of destruction and suffering were voices—crying, pleading, shouting to be heard. (“What about us?”)”
― Joseph Vogel, Earth Song: Michael Jackson and the Art of Compassion

“In terms of cultural impact, one parallel for “Earth Song” is John Lennon’s classic, “Imagine.” Both songs became global anthems with instantly identifiable piano hooks and choruses. Both ask listeners to try to care for the world we have, rather than simply be placated by the thought of an afterlife. Yet where “Imagine” makes a subdued, elegant statement, “Earth Song” is epic, intense, and visceral. This, indeed, is one reason “Imagine” is more palatable to the average music listener. Its radical ideas can be softened by its ethereal sound. “Earth Song,” in contrast, seeks to shatter indifference, as it demands accountability. Radio can’t do it justice. It is a song that was created to blast out of speakers if it couldn’t be seen in person.”
― Joseph Vogel, Earth Song: Michael Jackson and the Art of Compassion