Stranger in Moscow – The Journey (Irony) of Life

I have been reflecting on this track ever since I heard it back in 1997. There are times in your life when you feel all alone while the rest of the world seems to walk out on you. There are times in life when you feel the loneliest even as you’re surrounded by everybody & everything you’d once wished you could be with so much. It’s the irony of the human life.

For Michael, Stranger in Moscow was not just a lyrical composition or musical treatment; it was more of a reflection of his own self, which portrayed the extreme loneliness in his own heart. Stranger in Moscow evokes his deepest emotions as movingly as does Childhood, another touching and emotional rendition of Michael.

According to Michael Jackson: The Solo Years (pg. 139) authored by Craig Halstead and Chris Cadman, the duo who have crafted five epic music books (four of which are about Michael Jackson), Stranger is Moscow was written in a hotel room in Moscow, possibly between September 13-16, 1993, while Jackson was on his Dangerous World Tour. The song would be released as the final single off the HIStory album in November 1996. It is perhaps Jackson’s most personal song, as his lyrics are direct and in the first person.

Jackson’s biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli, has stated that the video is based on Jackson’s real life. The singer used to walk alone at night looking for new friends, even at the peak of his musical popularity. The 1980s saw the singer become deeply unhappy; Jackson explained,

“Even at home, I’m lonely. I sit in my room sometimes and cry. It’s so hard to make friends …I sometimes walk around the neighborhood at night, just hoping to find someone to talk to. But I just end up coming home”

The Video: The song’s music video, directed by Nick Brandt, and shot in Los Angeles, is focused around six unrelated people living in a cityscape while the rest of the world moves around them in slow motion. The first half of the video introduces these figures. They are a man looking down at the city from his bedroom window, a woman sitting alone in a coffee shop, a homeless man lying on the damp street, a lone figure feeding pigeons, a boy ostracized from a game of baseball, and Jackson himself is the sixth figure, seen walking the city streets. Special effects are used to show birds and wasps flying, glass breaking and coffee spilling, all in slow motion.

In the second half of the scenario, heavy rain descends on the city and the citizens try to flee, all again seen in slow motion. From the safety of shelter, the six “strangers” watch everyone’s futile attempts to avoid the sudden change in weather. Eventually they decide to go outside, where they look up at the sky and allow the rain to soak them. The video ends with Michael whipping his hair. During this scene, you hear a voice speaking softly in Russian, a reference to Moscow.

In the chorus of Stranger in Moscow, Jackson repeatedly asks the listener a question he has been asked so many times, regarding his fame, fortune, talent and celebrity. However, Jackson suggests, it all means nothing, when you feel isolated, disconnected, alone.

Deemed a criminal, a forsaken man, Jackson repeatedly asks the media to separate his celebrity persona, from his true self. Jackson is asking for privacy and for the public and media to understand, behind his image, he is a man.

Stranger in Moscow concludes with lyrics spoken in Russian. The lyrics, spoken by an unnamed individual, lend to the feeling of paranoia, despair, fear and isolation of Stranger in Moscow, a ballad about a man, merely trying to have his voice heard, while by being crucified by the press.

I was wandering in the rain, mask of life, feelin’ insane
Swift and sudden fall from grace, sunny days seem far away

Right from his childhood days, Michael was a very a shy and private person, someone who rose to fame so early that he couldn’t realize the beauty of childhood. While the first verse talks about him wondering in the rain, he appears to be referring the lonely times where he would be all alone with an empty heart, looking to decipher the depth of the irony of life and fame. He seems to be describing the short-lived fame as a “mask of life” which began to wear off towards the late 90’s in his career when the press would descend upon his life like the devil.

While many interpret the line, “swift and sudden fall from grace…” as Michael’s reference to his fall in career, it’s a very simplistic observation of Michael’s life. Michael never lived for money, fame or success; he lived for a purpose, music being his soul and a way to make a difference in the lives of the less privileged. However, the press portrayed him in a very negative light before the world, and it hurt him to no end. It came out of nowhere. Michael wanted to live in the heart of his fans for his music and good intentions, but the press wouldn’t let him be. Thus, he describes it as a “swift and sudden fall from the grace….”

Kremlin’s shadow belittlin’ me, Stalin’s tomb won’t let me be
On and on and on it came, wish the rain would just let me

Michael’s references to some Russian figures such as Kremli’s shadow and Stalin’s tomb, apparently, are symbolic of the a deep emotional state he was undergoing. It’s a mix of loneliness and pressure from facing the ignominy created by the press against him. His references to the line, “wish the rain would just let me be” wears a forlorn yearning to lead a normal life as others, away from the mess created by the press. The rain could be the symbol for his deep-rooted fantasy to earn back the respect & recognition the world owes him. Tom Molley of the Associated Press described it as “a ethereal and stirring description of a man wounded by a ‘swift and sudden fall from grace’ walking in the shadow of the Kremlin”.

How does it feel, how does it feel, how does it feel
When you’re alone, and you’re cold inside
Here abandoned in my fame, Armageddon of the brain
KGB was doggin’ me, take my name and just let me be

Although many interpret the first line of the above stanza as Michael’s reference to the lost fame in the wake of the false allegations from the press, it may not be completely correct. Especially, when he refers to “Armageddon of the brain”, he maybe refereeing the unspeakable psychological suffering triggered by the bad name which had been given to him by the press. It is quite hard decipher what he exactly meant by “Armageddon of the brain”, but apparently he may also be referring to the pain of betrayal by his so-called loyal friends who were after his money. KGB could carry the symbolism of both the press and a section of the world that were after him and his success out of sheer jealousy to bring him down. Michael was so disheartened with glamour, fortune and popularity (as strange as it may sound) that he says “take my name and just let me be”. If he could, I’m certain he would’ve been happy to trade all that he had to live in peace, happiness and simplicity.

Then a beggar boy called my name, happy days will drown the pain
On and on and on it came, and again, and again, and again
Take my name and just let me be

The ‘beggar boy’ is the one who first came to Michael for help. The boy came to Michael with cancer and needed help, which Michael did and let him stay in Neverland. He might also be referring the less privileged kids across the world whom he helped and reached out to. The line “happy days will drown the pain” might be in reference to the days he would be happy with helping kids smile through his help, love and affection.

How does it feel, how does it feel, how does it feel
When you’re alone, and you’re cold inside
How does it feel, how does it feel, how does it feel
When you’re alone, and you’re cold inside

The chorus has earned the song critical acclaim with Michael’s frequent reference to his inner feelings of destitution, sadness and solitude. In a way, Michael’s experiences akin to the troubles of millions of children suffering from poverty and loneliness. Patrick Macdonald of The Seattle Times described “Stranger in Moscow” as “a pretty ballad interspersed with sounds of rain

Like stranger in Moscow, Lord have mercy
Like stranger in Moscow, Lord have mercy
We’re talkin’ danger, we’re talkin’ danger, baby
Like stranger in Moscow
We’re talkin’ danger, we’re talkin’ danger, baby
Like stranger in Moscow
I’m live in lonely, I’m live in lonely, baby
Stranger in Moscow

The above lines are extremely moving and vividly represent the depth of sadness Michael was going through. Michael’s reference to a “stranger in Moscow” and “We’re talkin’ danger” bears a soulful semblance of his solitude and sadness perpetrated by his enemies from which he pleads the Lord to free himself. The best thing about this song is that it relates to one of the deepest sorrows of human life- feeling rejected and lonely. The tunes in the song and the chorus complemented with Michael’s soulful rendition makes the listening an emotional journey.

Courtesy: Wikipedia.org, suite101.com, lyricinterpretations.com

Rant MJ