Growing up in the 1980’s there was only one music star that was above all other music artists. And that was Michael Jackson. The music he was making in the eighties was the best and is timeless. You can turn on the radio today and his music fits right in, as if it were created today.
Yes I had the black and red thriller jacket and the white sparkling glove. And I wore it everywhere. No shame here. My first album was the “Thriller” album. Yes millennial’s and generation “Z”. An album. Those large circle disk things. It required a needle to scroll across the disk and the music would play. That is how we listened to music back then. By the way. I am thankful for todays technology. A much better listening experience.
A song that had, and still has a strong message that he came out with in 1987 was “Man in the Mirror”. I am not sure if I really understood the message at the time. I was only eight or nine years old. I do remember watching the music video. Even at the young age, it evoked a response in my heart and in my head. It really drew on the emotions of anyone who watched it.
It showed racism, it showed death of some of our countries best leaders and presidents, it showed homelessness, oppression, etc. It also showed, great leaders men and women, who were interested in making a change. It showed Martin Luther King, Jr., and John F. Kennedy, and numerous other people like Mother Theresa, who made it their cause to make it a change in whatever the cause was.
The music video, the lyrics to the song, and how Michael Jackson put all of his heart and soul into singing the song pulls a lot of emotion out of anyone who listens to it. What I appreciate most about the song is the message that is contained within it as well as the title. It is a simple, but a very clear one.
The lyrics are below as well as a link to the actual music video.
Here is what I want to say though. The song and the video are tackling a lot of the bigger worldwide issues that are very important. Many of those issues that are in the video are still around thirty years later and were around before the video as well.
But remember, that every change starts with the man or woman in the mirror. No matter how big or small the issue is. One person can make a change if they decide to.
You can decide today to change your personal life. You can decide today to make a career change. You can decide today to make a life changing decision. You can decide today to serve others. You can decide today to give to the homeless. Give blood. You name it.
Everything begins and ends with the man or woman in the mirror.
So as you look at yourself in the mirror today ask yourself “What are you going to do to make a difference in your life, someone else’s life, or make the world a better place?” You can’t make changes with anything else or someone else until you are willing to make a change with yourself first.
You can watch the official music video here
I’m gonna make a change, for once in my life
It’s gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right…
As I turn up the collar on my favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin’ my mind
I see the kids in the street, with not enough to eat
Who am I, to be blind? Pretending not to see their needs
A summer’s disregard, a broken bottle top
And a one man’s soul
They follow each other on the wind ya’ know
’Cause they got nowhere to go
That’s why I want you to know
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
(If you wanna make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself, and then make a change)
(Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah)
I’ve been a victim of a selfish kind of love
It’s time that I realize
That there are some with no home, not a nickel
to loan
Could it be really me, pretending that they’re
not alone?
A willow deeply scarred, somebody’s broken heart
And a washed-out dream
(Washed-out dream)
They follow the pattern on the wind, ya’ see
’Cause they got no place to be
That’s why I’m starting with me
(Starting with me!)
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
(Ooh!)
I’m asking him to change his ways
(Ooh!)
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
(If you wanna make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself and then make a change)
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
(Ooh!)
I’m asking him to change his ways
(Change his ways – ooh!)
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
(If you wanna make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself and then make that…
(Take a look at yourself and then make that…)
Change!
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
(Man in the mirror – Oh yeah!)
I’m asking him to change his ways
(Better change!)
No message could have been any clearer
(If you wanna make the world a better place)
(Take a look at yourself and then make the change)
(You gotta get it right, while you got the time)
(’Cause when you close your heart)
You can’t close your…your mind!
(Then you close your…mind!)
That man, that man, that man, that man
With that man in the mirror
(Man in the mirror, oh yeah!)
That man, that man, that man
I’m asking him to change his ways
(Better change!)
You know…that man
No message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
(If you wanna make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself and then make a change)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah
(Oh yeah!)
Gonna feel real good now!
Yeah yeah! Yeah yeah! Yeah yeah!
Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah
(Ooooh…)
Oh no, no no…
I’m gonna make a change
It’s gonna feel real good! Come on!
(Change…)
Just lift yourself
You know
You’ve gotta stop it. Yourself!
(Yeah! – Make that change!)
I’ve got to make that change, today!
Hoo!
(Man in the mirror)
You got to
You got to not let yourself… brother…
Hoo!
(Yeah! – Make that change)
You know – I’ve got to get that man, that man…
(Man in the mirror)
You’ve got to
You’ve got to move! Come on! Come on!
You got to…
Stand up! Stand up! Stand up!
(Yeah! – Make that change)
Stand up and lift yourself, now!
(Man in the mirror)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Aaow!
(Yeah! – Make that change)
Gonna make that change…come on!
You know it!
You know it!
You know it!
You know…
(Change…)
Make that change.
Written by Siedah Garrett, Glen Ballard • Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group
To your success and your future.
Leave a Reply