Heal the World

"Heal the World" is a song from Michael Jackson's hit album, Dangerous, released in 1991. The music video features children living in countries suffering from unrest. It is also one of only a handful of Michael Jackson's videos not to feature Jackson himself, the others being "Cry", "HIStory" and "Man in the Mirror". (The clips for "HIStory" and "Man in the Mirror" only feature Michael Jackson in archival footage).[1] Jackson performed the song in the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show with a 35,000 person flash card performance.

In a 2001 Internet chat with fans, Jackson said "Heal the World" is the song he is most proud to have created. He also created the Heal the World Foundation, a charitable organization which was designed to improve the lives of children. The organization was also meant to teach children how to help others. This concept of 'betterment for all' would become a centerpiece for the Dangerous World Tour. In the documentary Living with Michael Jackson, Jackson said he created the song in his "Giving Tree" at Neverland Ranch.

An ensemble performance of "We Are the World" and "Heal the World" closed Jackson's memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009. The song was performed as rehearsed by Jackson at the venue just days earlier, in preparation for his planned "This Is It" tour in London. Ciara, an R&B singer sung this song at the BET Awards 2009. Jennette McCurdy, is performing this duet with Brittany Hargest of Jump5 from her new album.

According to Jane Goodall, Jackson wrote the song, which he considered his most powerful to date, after discussions with her regarding the plight of wild chimpanzees, and Jackson's hope to promote more compassion towards wild animals. In a letter to Goodall, Jackson mentioned that despite the song having been inspired by chimpanzees, it ended up being about his hope for a better world for human children.[2]