23rd November 1991 - Michael Jackson had his fourth UK #1 single with ‘Black or White’ which featured Slash on guitar. Also a #1 hit in the US. “Black or White” is the lead single from Michael Jackson’s Dangerous album, released in November, 11 1991. “Black or White” is a mix of rock, and dance-pop.
Written, composed, and arranged by Jackson with the rap lyrics by Bill Bottrell, it is a song that promotes racial harmony. The song’s introduction and main riff are performed by guitarist Slash and Bill Bottrell. “Black or White” made an extraordinary and amazing debut in the UK, where it became the first single by an American to go into the singles chart at #1 since 1960, when “It’s Now Or Never” by Elvis Presley did in the same manner.
The single also stormed into Billboard’s Hot 100 at #35. A week later it shot up to #3 and on its third week, December 7, 1991, it ascended to #1, making it the fastest chart topper since the Beatles’ “Get Back” in 1969. It achieved the year at #1, and remained at the top of the singles chart into 1992, for a total of 7 weeks, making Michael Jackson the first artist to get #1 popular hits in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
Around the world, Black Or White hit #1 in 22 countries including US, UK, Mexico, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the Euro Chart Hot 100 and #2 in Germany and #3 in Holland. It reached #1 on many singles charts in 1991.
The single was certified platinum in the US, selling over one million copies as well as becoming the second-best selling single of 1991. Actually, the hard rock “Black or White” is considered one of the greatest rock songs of the 1990s and the meaning behind the lyrics is rock solid in this song.
