🎶 Man in the Mirror

Siedah's words ..

Q:How did the song Man In The Mirror come to life?
A: Two years before I wrote the song, I was in a writing session with composer John Beasley. In the heat of our session, he decided to answer an incoming call, and responded as if he really wasn’t busy at all. I was seething. I then heard him say ”The man? What man? Oh, the man in the mirror.” That phrase stuck in my mind, and I wrote it down in my lyric book of random ideas. Two years later, I was signed to Quincy Jones as one of his songwriters, and Q called us together to describe the type of song they needed to complete MJ’s BAD album. I later got together with my main writing partner at the time, Glen Ballard, and as he began to search for sounds on his keyboard, I began to flip through my lyric notebook for a random idea. The phrase “Man In The Mirror”, which I had written in the book two years earlier, just popped out at me. I began writing on that theme, and the lyrics began to flow. Within 15 minutes we had the first verse and the chorus of the song. We split up to work on our respective assignments, Glen the music and me the melody and lyrics, and two days later we completed the demo.

Q:What was Michael’s approach to the song when he first heard it?
A: After Michael and Quincy accepted “Man In The Mirror”, Michael wanted to record it in a lower key more comfortable for him, and Quincy called me to come to the studio to re-record the song. When I met MJ, I remember him being really down-to-earth. As I re-sang the demo in the new key, Michael was holding a video camera recording my performance. When I asked him why, he responded that he loved my voice and my energy, and that he wanted to sing it just like me.

Why I consider it as the most meaningful song...

Man in the Mirror serves as a powerful source of inspiration, highlighting that real change starts from within. It encourages us to recognize that transforming the world begins with each individual, starting with the person we see in the mirror every day. Meaningful change is rooted in honest self-reflection. While the song cautions against being “a victim of a selfish kind of love,” I believe, it also speaks to those moments when we are overly self-critical—times when we may judge ourselves harshly, those moments when all we need is a supportive “Hi-5” boost to lift our spirits.

Honest self-reflection is essential for making positive strides toward becoming our best selves. This journey begins with a thoughtful self-examination for growth and improvement. The song delivers a timeless message, inspiring us to believe in our power to make a positive difference in the world by transforming ourselves.

Siedah’s touching words, brought to life by Michael Jackson, who poured his heart, energy, and passion into the song, along with the uplifting musical arrangement and melody, make "Man in the Mirror" a timeless message for humanity.