Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix
Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix is a remix album by the American singer Michael Jackson. It was released on May 20, 1997, by Epic Records, and is the second album also released by MJJ Productions, Jackson's own record label. The album comprises eight remixes of songs from Jackson's ninth studio album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995), and five new songs. Jackson was involved primarily with the production of the new material; the remixes were produced by other artists. Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix incorporates R&B, pop, industrial, hip hop, house, funk and new jack swing. It concerns themes such as drug addiction, sex, relationships, and paranoia.
Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix
May 20, 1997
1990–1997
- 75:55 (CD)
- 76:49 (LP)
Though Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix received minimal promotion by Jackson's standards, particularly in the United States, the short film Michael Jackson's Ghosts, two singles ("Blood on the Dance Floor" and "Ghosts"), a promotional single, and a music video were issued as promotion. Although initial sales in the United States were seen as disappointing for Jackson, the album peaked at number one in France, Belgium, Spain, and New Zealand. Michael Jackson's Ghosts, was premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, as part of Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix's promotion. The short film, also considered the official music video for "Ghosts", won the Bob Fosse Award for Best Choreography in a Music Video.[3]
Reviews at the time of Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix were largely mixed, with some critics feeling that Jackson had already explored these musical themes and others criticizing what they perceived as weak vocals. Other critics were more favorable, noting the album for its incorporation of genres Jackson previously had not explored, justifying the use of previous themes but with "brutal honesty". Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix has sold over six million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling remix album in history. On October 20, 2000, it was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Packaging, release and promotion[edit]
The 23-page album booklet contains the lyrics to "Blood on the Dance Floor", "Stranger in Moscow" and "HIStory". The eight remixes from HIStory are given additional titles such as "Flyte Tyme Remix" and "Tee's In-House Club Mix". The booklet contains many images from the HIStory World Tour and Ghosts film. Towards the end of the booklet, Jackson pays respect to friends such as Elizabeth Taylor and Elton John, his family, employees and fans.[11]
The album was released by Epic Records on May 20, 1997. HIStory on Film, Volume II was released on the same day—a video collection of Jackson's music videos and television performances from the HIStory era of 1995–1997.[12] By Jackson's prior standards, it was not widely promoted upon release.[4][3][6] The New York Times described the US promotional effort as "subdued", creating "hardly a sound" and "perplexing to many people in the industry". Jackson's label Epic Records, refuted allegations they were not promoting the album sufficiently in the United States, saying, "We are completely behind the album...Michael is certainly one of our superstars and is treated as such...We just went into this one with our global hats on". The New York Times acknowledged that promotion was stronger internationally, where Jackson had more commercial force and popularity. Jackson effectively no longer needed the US market to have a hit record. By June 1997, only ten percent of sales from Jackson's prior studio album came from within the United States.[13]
The singer released a film titled Ghosts, which he unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival, as part of the album promotion. It was released theatrically in the United States in October 1996; as for the United Kingdom, it debuted at the Odeon Leicester Square in May 1997. The UK event attracted fans, media and business organizations. It was released on cassette in most parts of the world.[4][3][14] The film was written by Jackson and Stephen King and directed by Stan Winston. The story was based loosely on the events and isolation Jackson felt after he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993. In the plot, the Maestro—played by Jackson—is nearly chased out of his town by the residents and the mayor—who deliberately looks very similar to Tom Sneddon—because they believe him to be a "freak". The film had similar imagery and themes to that of Thriller. It features many special effects and dance moves choreographed to original music, which Jackson himself authored. The film includes several songs and music videos from the albums HIStory and Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix. Ghosts is over thirty-eight minutes long and previously held the Guinness World Record for the world's longest music video. It won the Bob Fosse Award for Best Choreography in a Music Video.[3][14][15][16][17]
The album was also promoted with the singles "Blood on the Dance Floor" and "HIStory" / "Ghosts" as well as three corresponding music videos. The video for "Blood on the Dance Floor" premiered on Top of the Pops.[18] It centered on Susie seducing Jackson in a courtship dance, before opening a switchblade. The lead single peaked at number one in several countries, including the United Kingdom.[14][19] The double A-side "HIStory" / "Ghosts" was promoted with a video for each song. "HIStory" was set in a nightclub, in a futuristic era, and recalled Jackson's filmography. "Ghosts" was a five-minute clip taken from the much longer film Ghosts. The double A-side would become a top five hit in the United Kingdom, but did not chart as highly elsewhere.[14][20]
Commercial performance[edit]
Initial sales in the United States were seen as disappointing for Jackson. It peaked at number 24 on the US Billboard 200 chart and after four weeks the record had sold 92,000 copies. Despite this, long term sales were stronger, it was certified platinum in May 2000, for shipments of at least a million units.[21] It was certified Gold in Canada for a minimum of 50,000 shipments.[22]
In Europe the record has been certified for shipments of at least two million copies.[23] Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix debuted atop the UK album chart, by July 1997 it had sold 250,000 units in the United Kingdom and 445,000 units in Germany.[3][13] The album also peaked at number one in France, Belgium, Spain and New Zealand.[13][24] Since its debut, the album has sold an estimated six million copies worldwide, making it the best selling remix album ever released.[25]
Retrospective reception[edit]
A Jackson biographer, J. Randy Taraborrelli, gave a retrospective analysis of the album in the biography, The Magic & the Madness. He felt the album "contained...kick-ass dance remixes...Several of the other songs on Blood are also memorable...The collection was not a success in America; it was dismissed by critics and much of his audience, who seemed confused as to whether it was a new release or some kind of hybrid combination of songs". He felt that "Blood on the Dance Floor" was one of Jackson's best songs, but that the U.S. public was more interested in the controversial tabloid stories about his personal life.[15]
William Ruhlman of AllMusic, agreed that part of the blame for a perceived commercial disappointment in the United States could be attributed to the ongoing public interest in the singer's private life. Nonetheless, Ruhlman still felt the album was artistically disappointing.[38] In 2005, J T Griffith, of AllMusic, believed that in hindsight, "Blood on the Dance Floor" was a good song. He explained, "[it is] a second-rate mixture of 'Beat It' and 'Thriller' but Jackson's missteps are better than most pop music out there. This track showcases all the artist's trademarks: the ooohing, the grunts, and funky basslines. It is hard to hear 'Blood on the Dance Floor' and not want to moonwalk or dance like a ghoul".[44]