Janet Jackson Says Performing Michael Jackson Duet ‘Scream’ Makes Her Think of ‘What He Was Going Through . Janet Jackson cherishes her memories of making music with her late brother Michael. In a recent interview, she reflected on her current Together Again tour and the emotional highlight of performing their hit duet “Scream.”
During the performance, Janet sings alongside video footage of Michael, who passed away in 2009. The news channel described this moment as one of the “most powerful” parts of her concert. Janet shared that she often gets emotional thinking of her brother, saying,”listening to him every night, seeing him, remembering us.”
Recalling the creation of “Scream,” Janet reminisced about writing the song with Michael in his New York apartment. She said,
“[I relive] that whole journey, listening to him sing it [and remembering] what he was going through at that time. And just me being his little sister, always by his side, and being that support system. That’s always been my role.”
The song, which addresses the intense public scrutiny and tabloid gossip Michael faced, was a significant part of his life during that period.
“Scream” was released following a turbulent time for Michael, marked by allegations, legal issues, financial troubles, and relentless media attention. The song resonated deeply with audiences, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and receiving critical acclaim. It won the Grammy for “Best Music Video” and earned a record 11 nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Janet and Michael’s collaboration on “Scream” and its iconic black-and-white music video came out in 1995, shortly after Michael had settled a 1994 lawsuit accusing him of child abuse. The song’s lyrics reflect Michael’s frustrations with fame, public harassment, and tabloid rumors: “I’m tired of injustice, I’m tired of the schemes Your lies are disgusting So, what does it mean, damn it?” At its peak, “Scream” reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 17 weeks on the chart. The single and video earned several accolades, including a 1996 Grammy for best music video, short form, and 11 nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards.
In a 1995 MTV interview, Michael expressed his gratitude for the song’s success, saying he felt “very, very honored” and adding, “And I’m sure Janet is, too. We worked hard on it. To reap the fruits of this type of thing is a wonderful achievement.” Janet’s 2022 Lifetime docuseries, Janet Jackson, provided an inside look at how she and Michael created their duet, showing old footage of them writing the song in his New York City apartment and recording in the studio with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Janet reflected on Michael’s state of mind during the recording, saying, “Mike was going through a lot, and I think it was taking its toll on him.”
Despite the fun appearance of the “Scream” music video, Janet revealed that the behind-the-scenes experience was quite different. “It was tough,” she remembered. “Michael shot nights; I shot days. His record company blocked off his whole set so that I couldn’t see what was going on. They didn’t want me on set. I felt like they were trying to make it very competitive between the two of us. That really hurt me because I felt I was there fighting the fight with him, not to battle him.
”Janet’s longing for the old times with Michael was evident as she continued with a hint of sadness,
“I wanted it to feel like old times between he and I, and it didn’t. Old times had long passed.”
