You Rock My World

"You Rock My World" was recorded by Michael Jackson for his studio album, Invincible (2001). The song was co-written and composed by Michael Jackson with Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and produced by Jackson and Jerkins. "You Rock My World" was officially released as the lead single from the album in mid-August 2001, by Epic Records. Prior to the single's official release it had been leaked to two New York radio stations on Friday, August 17. Immediately after the song's radio airplay the radio stations had received "a herd of [radio] callers asking for more." "You Rock My World" was first played on WTJM at 6 p.m., on a Friday, with WKTU airing the song 45 minutes later. Both stations had played the single every two hours until around 6 p.m. of the next day (Saturday). That Saturday (day after first spins), Jackson's record label, Epic Records, called the program director for both stations, Frankie Blue, who was also a friend of Jackson, and asked him to stop. Blue later recalled, "They informed me of the dangers of playing a song too early." He refused to say how the song came into his possession. ==Composition==

"You Rock My World" is credited as being an uptempo post-disco and R&B song with vocal harmonies. The chord progression in the song is Em7–Am7–D–Em7. Chris Tucker voices the vocal introduction of the song, while all the instruments heard on the track were played by Jackson and Rodney Jerkins. Lyrically, the song is about being in love, as well as the effect that it can have, as evident in the opening line: "My life will never be the same, 'cause, girl, you came and changed the way I walk, the way I talk; I cannot explain". ==Critical reception==

Praise was mainly directed at the song's composition, while dissatisfaction towards the song was expressed by critics because they felt that the track was not Jackson's best material. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic listed "You Rock My World" as being a highlight for the Invincible album. Reviewer Andrew Hamilton, also of AllMusic, stated that, "If anybody other than Michael Jackson had released 'You Rock My World' with the tons of publicity and promotion it was accorded, it would have slam dunked the charts and been a multiple award winner. It sold well and got play everywhere, but too many critics panned the song and the album it came from as not being good enough for an artist on Jackson's level." James Hunter of Rolling Stone praised the song's vocal rhythms as being "finely sculpted" and "exquisite". Mark Beaumont, a writer for NME, described the song as being a "disco classic". Catherine Halaby of Yale Daily News stated that the song "showcases the best of 'classic Michael'", and described the song as being "funky, catchy, upbeat, not too creepy". "You Rock My World" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 44th Grammy Awards, but it lost the award to James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight". ==Chart performance==

"You Rock My World" was commercially successful, generally charting within the top 10 on music charts worldwide. The song was one of Jackson's last hit singles in the United States in the final years of his career. "You Rock My World" charted in the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 15, 2001. It became Jackson's highest-charting single since his 1995 number-one single, "You Are Not Alone". "You Rock My World" also charted at numbers seven and thirteen on Billboards Mainstream Top 40 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts, respectively. The song also peaked at number two on the Canadian Singles Chart. "You Rock My World" debuted on the United Kingdom Singles Chart at number two, which was its peak position in the country, on October 20. "You Rock My World" debuted on the Finnish Singles Chart on the 41st week of 2001, at its peak position, number two. The song debuted at its peak position, number two, in Norway in the 42nd second week of 2001. The song remained on the chart for six consecutive weeks, charting within the top 20. "You Rock My World" debuted on the Australian Singles Chart at its peak position, number four. The song peaked at number two and four on the Belgium Flanders and Walonia charts in 2001. After Jackson's death in June 2009, "You Rock My World" re-entered music charts worldwide and re-entered Billboard charts for the first time in almost eight years. The song also peaked at number 62 on Billboards Digital Songs chart on July 11, 2009. ==Promotion==

In late August 2001, Jackson and Sony Music began a promotional campaign for "You Rock My World". Jackson only performed "You Rock My World" twice. The only performances of "You Rock My World" was during two concerts in early September 2001, which was to celebrate Jackson's 30th year as solo artist, at Madison Square Garden. Tucker, who is part of the song's dialogue and video, was part of the live performance. Footage of the second concert on September 10 was shown in a two-hour television special, titled Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, which was aired on CBS in November of the same year. ==Music video==

The music video for "You Rock My World" was directed by Paul Hunter and produced by Rubin Mendoza. The video was filmed from August 13 to 21, 2001, in Los Angeles, California, and was also released in 2001. The video, which is over thirteen minutes long, was described as being a short film. The video consists of Jackson's and Tucker's characters trying to gain the affection of a woman (Kishaya Dudley) by subsequently following her around the neighborhood. Ultimately, a fight breaks out between Jackson and the gang members in a bar, who are ordered by their leader (Michael Madsen) to get rid of Jackson. Jackson, who had begun to perform before the woman, walks up the stage where his backup dancers have arrived. The gang leader causes a disruption by smashing a bottle across the counter, one of the gang members (Billy Drago) proceeds to taunt Jackson, challenging him. A dance scene begins, as a man lights his lighter and one of the gang members uses a knife on Jackson, but Jackson tosses him down. Jackson then punches him in the face, who knocks over a lamp, starting a fire. As the fire spreads, Jackson screams for Tucker, who had been dancing to the song, and he knocks out some of the gang members. During the escape, the woman who met Jackson approaches him outside the bar. The two share a kiss, and Tucker quickly rolls in with a low rider, signaling for Jackson and his new lover to escape, leaving the bar which is consumed in flames. "You Rock My World" was thought to be the last music video to feature any participation from Jackson before the video for "One More Chance" was unearthed (his following videos would consist of archive footage of himself and others). It has been compared to Jackson's previous 1980s music videos for his singles "Smooth Criminal" (which also was inspired by The Band Wagon), "Bad" and "The Way You Make Me Feel", all from his 1987 studio album, Bad. In the video, Jackson can be seen wearing a blazer and his traditional hat. The video features appearances from Marlon Brando, Michael Madsen and Billy Drago. The short version of the music video appears on Number Ones, and the long version appears on ''Michael Jackson's Vision''. ==Remix==

A remix of the song produced by the Trackmasters was included on Jay-Z's 2003 S. Carter Collection mixtape. ==Live performances==

"You Rock My World" was performed live twice, during the 30th Anniversary Celebration concerts, which took place in late 2001. At the end of the second concert, Jackson was joined by Usher and Chris Tucker, who danced with him. ==Track listing==

Credits adapted from Invincible album liner notes. • Written and composed by Michael Jackson and Darkchild • Produced and all musical instruments performed by Michael Jackson and Rodney Jerkins • Lead and background vocals by Michael Jackson • Intro by Chris Tucker and Michael Jackson • Recorded by Brad Gilderman, Rodney Jerkins, Jean-Marie Horvat, Dexter Simmons and Stuart Brawley • Digital editing by Harvey Mason Jr. and Stuart Brawley • Mixed by Bruce Swedien, Lyndell Fraser and Rodney Jerkins • Starring Michael Jackson, Chris Tucker, Marlon Brando, Michael Madsen, Billy Drago, introducing Kishaya Dudley • Directed by Paul Hunter ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications==