Janet Jackson

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

In October 1994, recording for "Scream" began at the Hit Factory in New York City, followed by sessions in December 1994 at Flyte Tyme Studios in Edina, Minnesota. The project was born from a need to address the tabloid media's coverage of the 1993 child sexual abuse accusations against Michael Jackson. Janet stated that working with her brother again was "very fun," and she found seeing his work process "interesting." This collaboration incorporated elements of pop, R&B, electrorock, dance-pop, funk, and hip-hop. Michael played many instruments on the track, including keyboard, synthesizer, guitar, drums, and percussion. The resulting music video, directed by Mark Romanek, became one of the most critically acclaimed in history, winning three MTV Video Music Awards and a Grammy Award for Best Music Video. While listed in Guinness World Records as the most expensive video ever made at a cost of $7 million, Romanek later refuted this claim, noting two other videos from the era cost "millions more." The song debuted at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first single in the chart's 37-year history to enter the top five upon release.

In Their Own Story

The relationship between Michael Jackson and the press had deteriorated significantly by 1993. Tabloids ran stories claiming he slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber or offered to buy Joseph Merrick's bones, earning him the nickname "Wacko Jacko," which he despised. When accused of child sexual abuse in 1993 without being charged, Michael faced intense scrutiny and sensational headlines that implied guilt. He told reporters, "I will say I am particularly upset by the handling of the matter by the incredible, terrible mass media." The stress led him to cancel his tour and enter rehabilitation, where he lost approximately 10 lb (4.5 kg) and stopped eating. While the Daily Mirror held a "Spot the Jacko" contest, Janet stepped in to support him through "Scream." The song's music video features imagery reflecting this turmoil, including Michael's handwritten lyrics scrawled on a wall beside an image of a distressed child from Gottfried Helnwein's 1981 watercolor "Das Lied / The Song." The track was leaked early despite Epic Records' efforts to keep it off air until the May 29, 1995 release date, with stations in Los Angeles and Philadelphia playing it repeatedly before receiving cease-and-desist orders.

Reader's Guide

Janet Jackson's involvement in "Scream" provides a direct link between her own artistic evolution and Michael's response to media pressure. Fans can explore how the song blends aggressive lyrics—telling the media to stop misrepresenting the truth—with a sonic palette that mirrors Janet's acclaimed Rhythm Nation era, as noted by Jon Pareles of The New York Times. To understand the full context, look for the David Morales remix released in the UK on June 24, 1995, which peaked at number 43, and the "Scream Louder" (Flyte Tyme remix) from the 1997 album Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix, which features a rap verse by Treach of Naughty by Nature. The song also appears in the HIStory album booklet alongside a child's letter to President Bill Clinton asking him to stop negative press reports about Jackson. Michael performed "Scream" during his 1996–1997 HIStory World Tour, while Janet has kept the song alive in her setlists as a tribute, ensuring its legacy continues through performances on tours spanning from 2009 to 2024.

Did You Know?

• Janet described working with Michael on 'Scream' as 'very fun' and noted it was their first collaboration since 1984.
• The music video for 'Scream' cost $7 million, though director Mark Romanek claimed two other videos from the same era cost 'millions more'.
• 'Scream' became the first single in Billboard's 37-year history to debut in the top five, peaking at number five on the US Hot 100.
• The song was leaked to radio stations early and played once an hour in Los Angeles until Epic Records served a cease-and-desist order.
• Janet performed 'Scream' as a tribute to Michael Jackson on six separate occasions between 2009 and 2024, including her Las Vegas residency.