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''HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I'' (usually shortened to ''HIStory'') is the ninth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on June 16, 1995 by Epic Records. This is Jackson's first album on his own label, MJJ Productions, and consists of two discs: the first disc (''HIStory Begins'') is a compilation of some of his greatest hits from 1979 onward, while the second disc (''HIStory Continues'') is a studio album composed entirely of new material. The majority of the second disc's tracks were written and produced by Jackson, often in conjunction with collaborators. ''HIStory'' was Jackson's return to releasing music following the accusation of child sexual abuse in August 1993. Many of the 15 songs pertain to the accusations and Jackson's mistreatment in the media, specifically the tabloids. The songs' themes include environmental awareness, isolation, greed, suicide and injustice. ''HIStory'' is Jackson's most controversial album. Jackson was accused of using anti-Semitic lyrics in "They Don't Care About Us". Jackson stated that he did not mean any offense and on multiple occasions denied anti-Semitism. The dispute regarding the lyrics ended with Jackson re-recording them. R. Kelly was accused of plagiarizing one of the album's songs, "You Are Not Alone". In 2007 a judge ruled that the song was plagiarized and the song was subsequently banned from radio stations in Belgium. Six singles and two promotional singles were released from ''HIStory'': "Scream"/"Childhood", "You Are Not Alone", "Earth Song", "This Time Around", "They Don't Care About Us" and "Stranger in Moscow". "This Time Around" was released as a radio-only single, and "Earth Song", "They Don't Care About Us" and "Stranger in Moscow" were less successful within the United States, but were successful internationally; all three peaked within the top ten in multiple countries. The album was generally well received by music critics and was also commercially successful, debuting and peaking at number one in many counties, including the United States, Canada, Australia, France and the United Kingdom, as well as charting within the top ten in Spain, India and Mexico. The album was certified six times platinum by the end of 1996 in Europe, making it the best selling album of the year in the combined European market. The album was nominated for five Grammy Awards, winning one for Best Music Video – Short Form for "Scream". The greatest hits disc of the album was reissued as a single disc on November 13, 2001, under the name ''Greatest Hits: HIStory, Volume I'' and has reportedly sold four million copies worldwide as of early 2010.〔Chery, Carl: ''XXL: Michael Jackson Special Collector's Edition'', p. 100. American Press.〕 The second half of the album, consisting of 15 new songs, was finally released separately in selected European countries in 2011. ==Background and production== ''HIStory'' is primarily directed at the tabloid press. Starting in the late 1980s, Jackson and the press had a difficult relationship. In 1986, the tabloids ran a story claiming that Jackson slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, which Jackson stated was not true. It was reported that Jackson had offered to buy the bones of Joseph Merrick (the "elephant man"). Jackson described the story as "a complete lie".〔〔Taraborrelli, p. 355–361〕 These stories inspired the pejorative nickname "Wacko Jacko", which Jackson despised. He stopped leaking untruths to the press, so the media began making up their own stories.〔Taraborrelli, p. 370–373〕 In 1989, Jackson released the song and music video "Leave Me Alone", a song about his perceived victimization at the hands of the press.〔Taraborrelli, p. 365〕 The video shows Jackson poking fun not only at the press but also the situation he was in.〔Taraborrelli, p. 413〕 In 1993, the relationship between Jackson and the press crumbled entirely when he was accused of child sexual abuse. Although he was not charged with a crime, Jackson was subject to intense media scrutiny while the criminal investigation took place. Complaints about the coverage and media included: using sensational headlines to draw in readers and viewers when the content itself did not support the headline;〔Campbell (1995), p. 42–45〕 accepting stories of Jackson's alleged criminal activity in return for money;〔Campbell (1995), p. 77–80〕 accepting confidential, leaked material from the police investigation in return for money paid;〔Campbell (1995), p. 47–50〕 deliberately using pictures of Jackson's appearance at its worst;〔Taraborrelli, p. 500–507〕 a lack of objectivity;〔 and using headlines that strongly implied Jackson's guilt.〔 In 1994, Jackson said of the media coverage, "I will say I am particularly upset by the handling of the matter by the incredible, terrible mass media. At every opportunity, the media has dissected and manipulated these allegations to reach their own conclusions." Jackson began taking painkillers, Valium, Xanax and Ativan to deal with the stress of the allegations.〔Taraborrelli, p. 518–520〕 A few months after the allegations became news, Jackson had stopped eating.〔Taraborrelli, p. 514–516〕 Soon after, Jackson's health had deteriorated to the extent that he cancelled the remainder of his tour and went into rehabilitation.〔Campbell (1995), p. 89–93〕〔Taraborrelli, p. 524–528〕 Jackson booked the whole fourth floor of a clinic and was put on Valium IV to wean him from painkillers.〔〔 When Jackson left the United States to go into rehabilitation, the media showed Jackson little sympathy. In 1993, The ''Daily Mirror'' held a "Spot the Jacko" contest, offering readers a trip to Disney World if they could correctly predict where Jackson would appear next.〔 The same year, a ''Daily Express'' headline read, "Drug Treatment Star Faces Life on the Run", while a ''News of the World'' headline accused Jackson of being a fugitive; these tabloids also falsely alleged that Jackson had travelled to Europe to have cosmetic surgery that would make him unrecognisable on his return.〔 In early November 1993, Geraldo Rivera set up a mock trial, with a jury made up of audience members, even though Jackson had not been charged with a crime.〔Campbell (1995), p. 104–106〕 The new material on ''HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I'' was recorded from September 1994 to March 1995.〔''HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I'' liner notes Epic Records (1995).〕 Jackson co-wrote and co-produced a majority of the songs featured on the album. Aside from Jackson, other writers include Dallas Austin, The Notorious B.I.G., Bruce Swedien, R. Kelly and René Moore and other producers include David Foster and Bill Bottrell.〔 ''HIStory'' was Jackson's first studio album since his 1991 album ''Dangerous'' four years prior, and his first new material to be released since being accused of child sexual abuse in 1994.〔 ''HIStory'' was released as a two-disc album; disc one (''HIStory Begins'') contains already released material from Jackson, and the second disc (''HIStory Continues'') comprises new material. ''HIStory''s first disc had fifteen songs from Jackson's four previous studio albums, ''Off the Wall'' (1979), ''Thriller'' (1982), ''Bad'' (1987) and ''Dangerous'' (1991). Physically, the album was available on double gold CD, double cassette, and, due to the format's running time limitations, triple vinyl. Musically, ''HIStory''s themes are credited as, R&B, pop, rock, dance, urban, new jack swing, funk, and hip-hop.〔 ''HIStory'' was released on June 16, 1995 by Sony Music's Epic Records. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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