Quote - ...The song had originally been recorded with lyrics that included the phrase "Jew me, sue me", and "Kick me, kike me".

Now, I'm not responding to this with the intent of starting trouble. It's just that... I understand where David is coming from. I remember when that controversy erupted; as a lifelong Michael Jackson fan, I was confused and appalled when the media brought attention to those words.

But later, I read a response Michael gave to a reporter regarding the intent of those lyrics. The meaning he said he was trying to portray fell in line with everything he 'preached', so to speak:

Quote - Mr. Jackson gave a statement to The New York Times this afternoon...
The idea that these lyrics could be deemed objectionable is extremely hurtful to me, and misleading. The song in fact is about the pain of prejudice and hate and is a way to draw attention to social and political problems. I am the voice of the accused and the attacked. I am the voice of everyone. I am the skinhead, I am the Jew, I am the black man, I am the white man. I am not the one who was attacking. It is about the injustices to young people and how the system can wrongfully accuse them. I am angry and outraged that I could be so misinterpreted.

As an artist and songwriter, after I read that, it made perfect sense to me. Sometimes the singer takes on a "roll", much as an actor does. Especially because of Michael's own explanation, this rings a very true bell with me. Anybody ever heard John Lennon's song "Woman is the Nig*er of the World"? It's the same thing, you know... Using a well known epithet to speak out against the treatment of a specific group of people. As a minority of mixed racial background, AND a woman -- I love that song.

AnyHOO, I felt the need to address this because.... well, I really did empathize with David. One of the most awful things we can experience as human beings is when we feel we, or those we love, have been attacked (I'm referring to how David considered the lyrics, not to forum responses) -- yet others seem to turn a blind eye to it or brush it away. I ought to know; I've experienced similar things my entire life.

That having been said, I'm very grateful for this thread.
I grew up loving Michael Jackson's songs, dancing, artistry in general...
My younger years flashed before my eyes when I heard about his passing. May his family and loved ones be comforted.

God bless!