D.S. (song)

"D.S."
Song by Michael Jackson featuring Slash
from the album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
ReleasedJune 20, 1995 (1995-06-20)
Recorded1994
GenreHard rock
Length4:49
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Michael Jackson
Producer(s)Michael Jackson
Licensed audio
"D.S." on YouTube
Audio sample
"D.S."

"D.S." is a song by Michael Jackson, released on his 1995 album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It is a rock song that conveys themes such as bitterness, mistrust and corruption within law enforcement. It was written, composed and produced by Jackson and includes an instrumental accompaniment and guitar solo by Slash.

The song is a diss track; the lyrics are interpreted as an attack on Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon, whose name is similar to the subject of the song, Dom Sheldon. Sneddon controlled the investigation into Jackson following the 1993 accusations of child sexual abuse against him. Jackson was angered by the allegations, his perception of the frequent mistreatment of people of color by the police and media, and the negative effect on his health.

Background

In 1993, the relationship between Jackson and the press worsened when he was accused of child sexual abuse. Jackson was subject to intense media scrutiny while the criminal investigation took place. As part of the investigation, Jackson agreed to a strip search of his body at Neverland Ranch; the strip search was ordered by Thomas W. Sneddon Jr., the district attorney of Santa Barbara County, California, who led the investigation.[1][2]

Jackson was not charged and the police closed their investigation citing lack of evidence.[3][4][5] With his health improving, Jackson began work on his ninth album, HIStory, in 1994.[6][7][8] "D.S.", like several other HIStory tracks, was Jackson's response to recent events in his personal life.[9]

Composition

The song has a rock feel, with a guitar solo performed by Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, who had previously worked with Jackson on his Dangerous album.[10] In his HIStory album review, Entertainment Weekly's David Browne defines "D.S." as a hard rock song.[11] "D.S." contains an excerpt from the Yes single "Owner of a Lonely Heart".[10]

"D.S." has similar themes to the rest of HIStory.[12] The album's content focuses on the hardships and public struggles Jackson went through just prior to its production. In the new jack swing/funk rock efforts "Scream" and "Tabloid Junkie", along with the R&B ballad "You Are Not Alone", Jackson retaliates against the injustice and isolation he feels, and directs much of his anger at the media.[13] The lyrics describe the subject of the song as a man who wants him "dead or alive" and "really tried to take me down/By surprise".[8] The track ends with the sound of a gunshot.[14]

Originally titled "T.S.",[15] the song is interpreted as a veiled attack on Sneddon.[6][7][8] Fox News and CNN observed that, when sung, "Dom S. Sheldon" sounds close to "Thomas Sneddon".[6][7] The BBC suggested that the lyric's reference to a "B.S.T.A." sounds similar to "S.B.D.A.", meaning "Santa Barbara District Attorney". The Guardian and The New York Times expressed the view that Jackson suggests "Sheldon" has links to the CIA and the Ku Klux Klan and he just "wants your vote".[16][17] Sneddon's website states that Sneddon is "the only DA in the nation to have an angry song written about him by pop megastar Michael Jackson". Of the song, Sneddon said, "I have not—shall we say—done him the honor of listening to it, but I’ve been told that it ends with the sound of a gunshot".[14]

Critical reception

Although the album HIStory was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and had additional related Grammy nominations, hardly any mainstream music reviewers provided a critical analysis of "D.S." in their reviews of the album. Analysis of the song usually only covered the connection to Tom Sneddon and the song's genre.[16][12][13][18] However, Fred Shuster of the Daily News of Los Angeles described "D.S." as a "superb [slice] of organic funk that will fuel many of the summer's busiest dance floors".[19]

Ghosts

Although there was no music video made for "D.S.", the song's subject was referenced in the short film Ghosts. Released in 1996 and premiering at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival,[20] it was written by Jackson and Stephen King and directed by Stan Winston. The story was loosely based on the events and isolation Jackson felt after he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993.

In the plot, the Maestro (played by Jackson) is nearly chased out of his town by the mayor (also played by Jackson wearing heavy prosthetic makeup to deliberately look very similar to Sneddon) and the residents because they believe him to be a "freak". It features many special effects and dance moves to original music, composed and choreographed by Jackson. The film includes several songs and music videos from the albums HIStory and Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix. The video for Ghosts is over thirty-eight minutes long and previously held the Guinness World Record for the world's longest music video.[21][22][23][24]

Aftermath

The child sexual abuse allegations of 2003 resulted in a long trial two years later. Sneddon was the lead investigator again, as well as the trial prosecutor. The trial ended with Jackson being acquitted on all counts.[25] The two investigations controlled by Sneddon drew complaints that he was motivated by a "vendetta" against Jackson; evidence to support these claims include Sneddon joking about Jackson's greatest hits album being released on the same day as his arrest and sarcastically saying, "Like the sheriff and I really are into that kind of music", calling Jackson "Wacko Jacko" and shouting "we got him, we finally got him" to the media when he had only just begun an investigation and had gathered limited evidence.[25][26] "D.S." was sung outside the courtroom by a group of Jackson's fans every day the trial took place.[27]

In January 2019, as a response to the controversial Leaving Neverland documentary, Jackson's fans created an unofficial, fan-made version titled "Wade Robson Is a Cold Man" (alternatively titled "W.R."); the lyrics are identical with the exception of "Dom Sheldon" being replaced by "Wade Robson".[28]

Personnel

References

  1. ^ Campbell (1995), p. 16
  2. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 534–540
  3. ^ "1993: Michael Jackson accused of child abuse". BBC. February 8, 2003. Retrieved November 11, 2006.
  4. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 540–545
  5. ^ "Jackson's 'past' allowed in court". BBC. March 25, 2005. Retrieved July 12, 2008.
  6. ^ a b c "Michael Jackson sings of D.A. on previous album". CNN. November 20, 2003. Retrieved August 11, 2008.
  7. ^ a b c Jacko Song About D.A. May Haunt Him Archived 2009-09-07 at the Wayback Machine, FOXNews.com, 19 November 2003. accessed November 5, 2006.
  8. ^ a b c "Tom Sneddon: Dogged prosecutor". BBC News. January 31, 2005. Retrieved August 11, 2008.
  9. ^ Pinkerton, Lee (1998). The Many Faces of Michael Jackson. Music Sales Distribution. p. 34. ISBN 0-7119-6783-0.
  10. ^ a b Jackson, Michael. HIStory booklet. Sony BMG. p 50
  11. ^ Browne, David (June 23, 1995). "Michael Jackson HIStory Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
  12. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen. "Michael Jackson HIStory Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved June 15, 2008.
  13. ^ a b Hunter, James (August 10, 1995). "Michael Jackson HIStory". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
  14. ^ a b "In Profile:Thomas W. (Tom) Sneddon, Jr". National District Attorneys Association. February 2003. Archived from the original on January 2, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2008.
  15. ^ "Michael Jackson handwritten lyrics to "T.S."". juliensauctions.com. Julien's Auctions. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Pareles, Jon (June 25, 1995). "POP VIEW; Michael Jackson Is Angry, Understand?". The New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  17. ^ Campbell, Duncan (November 22, 2003). "'Mad Dog' believes he finally has his quarry on the run". The Guardian. Retrieved August 11, 2008.
  18. ^ Farley, Christopher (June 19, 1995). "History and Hubris". Time. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2008.
  19. ^ Shuster, Fred (June 18, 1995). "Jackson attempts to rewrite 'history'". Daily News of Los Angeles. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
  20. ^ "Reuters Archive Licensing". Reuters Archive Licensing. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  21. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 610–611
  22. ^ Lewis, p. 125–126
  23. ^ Guinness World Records 2004
  24. ^ George, p. 48–50
  25. ^ a b "Who Is Tom Sneddon?". CBS. December 18, 2003. Retrieved May 29, 2007.
  26. ^ Moss, Corey (November 20, 2003). "Why Is The DA In The Michael Jackson Case Smiling?". MTV. Archived from the original on November 22, 2003. Retrieved November 7, 2007.
  27. ^ Glasister, Dan (June 13, 2005). "Driving force who was 'motivated by grudge'". The Guardian. Retrieved August 11, 2008.
  28. ^ "Michael Jackson - Wade Robson Is A Cold Man (Audio HQ)". YouTube. March 8, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  29. ^ Lecocq, Richard; Allard, François (October 23, 2018). Michael Jackson All The Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. Cassell. p. 471. ISBN 978-1788400572.
Bibliography

Read other articles:

Etika kerja Protestan

Sampul asli Etika Protestan dan Semangat Kapitalisme edisi Jerman. Etika kerja Protestan atau etika kerja Kalvinis[1] atau etika kerja Puritan[2] adalah sebuah konsep etika kerja dalam teologi, sosiologi, ekonomi, yang menekankan bahwa kerja keras, disiplin, dan hemat adalah hasil dari seseorang yang menerapkan nilai-nilai Protestanisme, terkhusus Kalvinisme.[3] Istilah ini pertama kali dipakai oleh Max Weber dalam bukunya Etika Protestan dan Semangat Kapitalisme (1905...

 

Холокост на Украине

Часть серии статей о Холокосте Идеология и политика Расовая гигиена · Расовый антисемитизм · Нацистская расовая политика · Нюрнбергские расовые законы Шоа Лагеря смерти Белжец · Дахау · Майданек · Малый Тростенец · Маутхаузен ·&...

 

Gereja Ortodoks Georgia

Lambang Gereja Ortodoks GeorgiaBahasabahasa GeorgiaKantor pusatSameba, Tbilisi, GeorgiaDaerahGeorgiaKepemilikanRusia, Eropa Barat, Turki, Azerbaijan, Australia, dan ArmeniaPendiriSanto Andreas (wilayah Kolkhis); Santa Nino (wilayah Iberia atau Kartli).Kemerdekaandari Antiokia: bervariasi antara tahun 467-491 Masehi dan 1010 Masehi; dari Gereja Ortodoks Rusia: pada 1917 dan 1943PengakuanGereja Ortodoks TimurSitus web resmi Patriarkat Georgia Gereja Ortodoks Otosefalus Kerasulan Georgia (bahasa...

أغيوس باولوس (ثيسالونيكي)

أغيوس باولوس    خريطة الموقع تقسيم إداري البلد اليونان  [1] خصائص جغرافية إحداثيات 40°38′26″N 22°57′48″E / 40.640555555556°N 22.963333333333°E / 40.640555555556; 22.963333333333   الارتفاع 140 متر  السكان التعداد السكاني 6086 (resident population of Greece) (2021)8192 (resident population of Greece) (2001)7440 (resident population...

 

Синелобый амазон

Синелобый амазон Научная классификация Домен:ЭукариотыЦарство:ЖивотныеПодцарство:ЭуметазоиБез ранга:Двусторонне-симметричныеБез ранга:ВторичноротыеТип:ХордовыеПодтип:ПозвоночныеИнфратип:ЧелюстноротыеНадкласс:ЧетвероногиеКлада:АмниотыКлада:ЗавропсидыКласс:Пт�...

 

Saint-Manvieu-Norrey

Saint-Manvieu-Norrey La chapelle seigneuriale. Administration Pays France Région Normandie Département Calvados Arrondissement Caen Intercommunalité Caen la Mer Maire Mandat Léonie Angot-Hastain 2020-2026 Code postal 14740 Code commune 14610 Démographie Gentilé Manoreys Populationmunicipale 2 078 hab. (2021 ) Densité 251 hab./km2 Géographie Coordonnées 49° 10′ 50″ nord, 0° 30′ 05″ ouest Altitude Min. 59 mMax. 91 m Supe...

Capiz

Capiz merupakan sebuah region di Filipina. Ibu kotanya ialah Roxas City. Provinsi ini terletak di region Visayas Barat. Provinsi ini memiliki luas wilayah 2.5.94,64 km² dengan memiliki jumlah penduduk 701.664 jiwa (2007). Provinsi ini memiliki angka kepadatan penduduk 270 jiwa/km². Pembagian wilayah Secara politis provinsi Capiz terbagi menjadi 16 munisipalitas dan 1 kota, yaitu: Cuartero Dao Dumalag Dumarao Ivisan Jamindan Ma-ayon Mambusao Panay Panitan Pilar Pontevedra President Rox...

 

Tokyo Polytechnic University

Private university in Honchō, Nakano, Tokyo Tokyo Polytechnic University東京工芸大学TypePrivateEstablishedFounded 1923,Chartered 1966PresidentNobuyuki KobayashiLocationTokyo, JapanCampusNakano, Tokyo, Atsugi, KanagawaWebsitewww.t-kougei.ac.jp/e/ Tokyo Polytechnic University (東京工芸大学, Tōkyō Kōgei Daigaku) is a private university in Honchō, Nakano, Tokyo. Its nickname is Shadai (写大). It was formerly known as Tokyo College of Photography (東京写真大学, Tōkyō Sha...

 

Verónica Castro

Mexican actress and singer For her eponymous album, see Verónica Castro (album). For the Spanish Olympic gymnast, see Verónica Castro (gymnast). For the neighborhood, see Verónica Castro, Mexico City. In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sáinz and the second or maternal family name is Castro. Verónica CastroCastro in December 2017BornVerónica Judith Sáinz Castro (1952-10-19) 19 October 1952 (age 71)Mexico City, D.F., MexicoOther namesVero, La Chaparr...

Football at the 1999 South Asian Games

1999 South Asian GamesTournament detailsHost country NepalDates24 September – 4 OctoberTeams6 (from 1 confederation)Venue(s)1 (in 1 host city)Final positionsChampions Bangladesh (1st title)Runners-up   NepalThird place IndiaTournament statisticsMatches played13Goals scored45 (3.46 per match)Top scorer(s) I. M. Vijayan (7 goals)Best player(s) I. M. Vijayan← 1995 2004 → All statistics correct as of 4 October 1999.International football ...

 

Universitas Fudan

Universitas Fudan复旦大学Nama sebelumnyaSekolah Umum Fudan Perguruan Tinggi Fudan Universitas Nasional Fudan Universitas Fudan SwastaMoto博学而笃志，切问而近思 (Scientia et studium, quaestīo et cogītātīo)[1]Moto dalam bahasa IndonesiaKaya pengetahuan dan gigih demi cita-cita, bertanya dengan kesungguhan dan berefleksi dengan praktik sendiri.[2]JenisNegeriDidirikan1905PresidenXu Ningsheng (许宁生)Sekretaris PartaiJiao Yang (焦扬)Staf akademik2.700St...

 

Tehri Garhwal district

Tehri Garhwal redirects here. For the former princely state, see Garhwal Kingdom. For the Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency, see Tehri Garhwal (Lok Sabha constituency). District of Uttarakhand in IndiaTehri GarhwalDistrict of UttarakhandClockwise from top-left: Formation of Ganga river at Devprayag, Surkanda Devi Mandir, mountains near Dhanaulti, View of Himalayas from Nag Tibba, Tehri DamLocation in UttarakhandCoordinates: 30°23′N 78°29′E / 30.38°N 78.48°E ...

Notre-Dame-des-Anges

Pour les articles homonymes, voir Notre-Dame-des-Anges (homonymie) et Notre-Dame. Notre-Dame-des-Anges Aile de l'infirmerie du Précieux-Sang de l'Hôpital général de Québec Administration Pays Canada Province Québec Région Capitale-Nationale Statut municipal Municipalité de paroisse Maire Sœur Aline Plante Constitution 1er juillet 1855 Démographie Population 241 hab. (2021) Densité 6 025 hab./km2 Géographie Coordonnées 46° 49′ 00″ nord, 71°...

 

Ryongju station

Railway station in Ryongchon, North Korea Ryongju룡주Korean nameHangul룡주역Hanja龍州驛Revised RomanizationYongju-yeokMcCune–ReischauerRyongju-yŏk General informationLocationInhŭng-ri,Ryongch'ŏn County,North P'yŏngan ProvinceNorth KoreaOwned byKorean State RailwayHistoryElectrifiedyesServices Preceding station Korean State Railway Following station Ryongch'ŏntowards Dandong (China) P'yŏngŭi Line Naejungtowards P'yŏngyang Ryongju station is a railway station in Inhŭng-ri, Ry...

 

Joon Lee

Korean-American rapper For other people with the same name, see Lee Jun (disambiguation). Joon LeeJoon Lee at the Solid fifth studio album, Into the light, launch party on March 21, 2018, in Seoul, South KoreaBornJoon Lee(1972-03-23)March 23, 1972 (age 52)Seoul, South KoreaOther names DJ Akshon DJ Action EducationUniversity of Southern CaliforniaOccupation(s)Rapper, singer, entrepreneurYears active1993–1997, 2018–presentMusical careerGenres R&B Hip hop Instrument(s) Vocals T...

Multivox

Multivox was an American-based synthesizer company since the mid-1970s until the 1980s. Originally it was founded in the mid-1940s as the guitar and amplifier manufacturing subsidiary of Peter Sorkin Music Company (Sorkin Music), a New York-based retailer/wholesaler. Then eventually it established separate corporate identity, and after the close of Sorkin Music in the mid-1970s, it continued in existence for fourteen years, according to the Blue Book of Guitar Values.[1] In addition t...

 

Vares: The Path of the Righteous Men

2012 film Vares: The Path of the Righteous MenFilm posterFinnishVares – Kaidan tien kulkijat Directed byAnders EngströmWritten byAnders EngströmMika KarttunenKatariina SouriProduced byJukka HelleMarkus SelinStarringAntti ReiniCinematographyJean-Noel MustonenRelease date 6 January 2012 (2012-01-06) Running time97 minutesCountryFinlandLanguageFinnish Vares: The Path of the Righteous Men (Finnish: Vares – Kaidan tien kulkijat) is a 2012 Finnish crime film directed by Anders ...

 

American Psychiatric Association

Professional organization of US psychiatrists For the general psychology organization also known as APA, see American Psychological Association. 38°52′47″N 77°01′30″W / 38.879713°N 77.025061°W / 38.879713; -77.025061 American Psychiatric AssociationAbbreviationAPAFormationOctober 16, 1844; 179 years ago (1844-10-16)[1]FoundersWilliam Maclay AwlLuther V. Bell, Amariah BrighamJohn S. ButlerNehemah CutterPliny EarleJohn M. GaltThomas ...

Maasai language

Eastern Nilotic language Maa language redirects here. For the Southeast Asian language, see Maa language (Vietnam). For the mixed language, see Maʼa language. Maasaiɔl MaaNative toKenya, TanzaniaRegionCentral and Southern Kenya and Northern TanzaniaEthnicityMaasaiNative speakers1.5 million (2009 census – 2016)[1]Language familyNilo-Saharan? Eastern SudanicSouthern EasternNiloticEastern NiloticAteker–Lotuko–MaaLotuko–MaaMaaMaasaiLanguage codesISO 639-2masISO 639-3ma...

 

Lakh Mazar

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Lakh Mazar – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Lakhmazar History of Greater Iran Pre-IslamicBCE / BC Prehistory Kura–Araxes culture c. 3400 – c. 2000 Proto-Elamite civilization 3200–2800 E...