"Jam" is a single by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. The song is the fourth single from his 1991 albumDangerous, where it is the opening track. It also appears as the second track on his 2009 This Is It compilation album. The single was re-released in 2006 as part of Jackson's collection campaign, and it was remixed to the Cirque du Soleil's Immortal World Tour, releasing that remix on the soundtrack album. "Jam" is a new jack swing, pop, funk song whose bridge features a rap verse performed by Heavy D, though no credit to him appears on the album. The music video of the song featured NBAbasketball legend Michael Jordan. The song was also featured on the Chicago Bulls'—Jordan's team at that time—1992 NBA Championship video "Untouchabulls" and was also used in many promotional ads of the NBA in the said season. Despite this heavy form of promotion, the single only reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The song re-entered the UK Singles Chart in 2006, reaching number 22.
Reception
"Jam" was generally well received by music critics. Adam Gilham of Sputnikmusic in his review for Dangerous described the song as a perfect album opener and rated it "5/5". Allmusic editor Stephen T. E. wrote that there's a lot to be said for professional craftsmanship at its peak and he called this song blistering plus highlight on album. Alan Light praised the song: "Jam," the album's opener, addresses Jackson's uneasy relationship to the world and reveals a canny self-awareness that carries the strongest message on Dangerous. "Jam" features a dense, swirling Riley track, propelled by horn samples and a subtle scratch effect, and includes a fleet rap by Riley favorite Heavy D. Though it initially sounds like a simple, funky dance vehicle, Jackson's voice bites into each phrase with a desperation that urges us to look deeper. He is singing as "false prophets cry of doom" and exhorts us to "live each day like it's the last." The chorus declares that the miseries of the world "ain't too much stuff" to stop us from jamming. To Jackson, who insists that he comes truly alive only onstage, the ability to "Jam" is the sole means to find "peace within myself," and this hope rings more sincere than the childlike wishes found in the ballads."
Music video
The music video for "Jam" takes place within an abandoned indoor basketball court, where Michael Jackson teaches basketball legend Michael Jordan how to dance, and in return, Jordan teaches Jackson how to play basketball. Special effects have Jackson throwing a basketball through a window and scoring in the hoop in the opposite room, as well as Jackson scoring by tossing the ball behind him and kicking the ball into the hoop with his heel. The extended versions of the video include Jackson teaching Jordan how to do the physically complicated moonwalkdance technique. The rap groups Kris Kross and Naughty by Nature made a cameo appearance, as does Heavy D. The video was included on Dangerous – The Short Films and Michael Jackson's Vision. The music video was directed by David Kellogg and was filmed on April 20, 1992 in Chicago, Illinois. The music video premiered on FOX on June 19, 1992 at 9:30 p.m. EST.
Live performances
Jackson performed "Jam" as the opening number throughout his Dangerous World Tour. He also performed it at the Royal Brunei Concert in 1996, which turned out to be the last live performance of the song. A portion of the song was performed during the 1993 Super Bowl halftime show. The song was prepared for the This Is It concert series, with a snippet of "Another Part of Me", however the shows were cancelled due to Jackson's untimely death and it is not known if it were to have made the final setlist.
