As an avid (and iconic) performer of his own music,Michael Jacksonplayed a wide variety of his songs live on various tours, TV performances, and other special occasions, but there was one song theKing of Popwas only able to play live once - and it’s only become even more difficult for others to do so in retrospect. Jackson’s music was often a vessel for him to speak out on the topics and issues closest to his heart, ranging from his tumultuous childhood to the treatment he got from tabloids. He did this more and more with time.
Sometimes, Jackson got very personal, and he crafted and recorded songs meant as deep tributes. This was the case with his recording of “Gone Too Soon”, included on his 1991Dangerousalbum. “Gone Too Soon” would go on to become not just a cover Jackson recorded and performed live once for a meaningful reason, but it would also gain its own legacy in the years following his own tragic passing in 2009.
Why Michael Jackson Recorded “Gone Too Soon”
It Was A Tribute To His Late Friend
Jackson’s recording of “Gone Too Soon” was actually a cover of Dionne Warwick’s Janis Joplin and Karen Carpenter live tribute from 1983, written by Larry Grossman and Buz Kohan.It memorializes the life of Jackson’s young friend Ryan White, who tragically passed away after a battle with AIDS in 1990. White would go on to be featured on the single cover for “Gone Too Soon” with Jackson, which was released along with a short film that highlighted their friendship.
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To top it all off,“Gone Too Soon” was released as a single on the 5th annual World AIDS Day, a day of awareness and remembrance for those who lost their lives to AIDS. This truly helped it to function as a meaningful tribute to White, going beyond a simple memorial of Jackson’s own friend. Because of this personal attachment to the recording, however, it was understandably difficult for Jackson to ever perform the song live - although he did so on one crucial occasion.
Michael Jackson Only Played “Gone Too Soon” Once, But For An Important Reason
He Used His Performance As A Call To Action
Jackson’s only live performance of “Gone Too Soon” took place at Bill Clinton’s presidential inauguration gala in 1993, functioning as a tribute to White, but also as something more important for Jackson.The entertainer used his performance of the song as a plea for Clinton to fund AIDS research, to hopefully prevent more tragic deaths like White’s from taking place. The best way Jackson knew how to do this was by song, and so he summoned the strength to perform this powerful ballad in a medley with his song “Heal The World.”
It’s a very brave move to ask for something from the soon-to-be President of the United States in real time while performing at his inaugural gala, but it wasn’t something Jackson shied away from.
This performance is quite an example of how Jackson often tried to use his music for good. It’s a very brave move to ask for something from the soon-to-be President of the United States in real time while performing at his inaugural gala, but it wasn’t something Jackson shied away from. He made his only performance of this song a memorable one, though it would be the second live performance of this song, not by Jackson himself, that would cement just how difficult this song really is to play.
The Other Most Famous Performance Of “Gone Too Soon” Was Hard To Watch
The Song Was Performed At Jackson’s Own Memorial
Jackson would never perform “Gone Too Soon” again, but it would be performed as a part of his own memorial service in 2009. Usher would deliver an utterly emotional and unforgettable rendition of Jackson’s own tribute, giving this song a newer, more heartbreaking legacy. It was a full-circle use of the song itself;it was originally written to memorialize the lives of late singers, and Usher’s performance of it at Jackson’s own memorial once again returned to its original intent.
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It never gets easier to perform songs that were written in tribute, and that remains the case even if the writer or recording artist of the song itself isn’t the one performing it. Jackson sung this song live for the right reasons, using it not only as a tribute but also as a call to action, and Usher’s rendition of it memorialized Jackson’s legacy for being unafraid to embrace even the most difficult of emotions.Michael Jacksonalways loved to perform, but this song would prove to be a challenge even for him - and many others in retrospect.
