Give In to Me

"Give In to Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the seventh single from his eighth studio album, Dangerous (1991). Released in February 1993 by Epic Records, the song peaked at number one in New Zealand for four consecutive weeks and at number two on the UK Singles Chart. The track was written and produced by Jackson and Bill Bottrell, and features Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. Several critics wrote that the song has an aggressive sexual flavor. It was released in Europe, Australia and New Zealand only. The single release's B-sides include the album versions of "Dirty Diana" and "Beat It".

Composition
This song is written in the key of E minor. Jackson's vocals spans from G3 to B4. It has a moderately slow tempo of 87 beats per minute. Stylistically, "Give In to Me" is a hard rock and heavy metal  ballad.

Critical reception
"Give In to Me" received positive reviews from contemporary music critics. Entertainment Weekly editor David Browne praised Jackson's delivery, writing, "when his voice isn't competing with drum machines, it's menacing on the creepy 'Give In to Me' (his best-ever shot at hard rock)." In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, that with "Who Is It" and "Black or White", the single "is one of the few tracks on the album that represent Jackson at his very best and not stifled by machines."

Alan Jones from Music Week described it as "a moody ballad which unfurls slowly before reaching a fine climax, neatly juxtaposed by Slash's wailing guitar solo." He added that it "will be a substantial and deserved hit." Alan Light of Rolling Stone felt that "Give In to Me" "flirts with something more disturbing as Jackson sings, Don't try to understand me/Just simply do the things I say in a grittier, throaty voice while Slash's guitar whips and soars behind him."

Music video


The music video for "Give In to Me" features Jackson performing the song on stage at an indoor rock concert with ex Living Colour bassist Muzz Skillings, Guns N' Roses guitarists Slash and Gilby Clarke, as well as the band's touring keyboardist Teddy Andreadis and legendary session drummer Tony Thompson. Loud explosions are later heard with visuals of stylized electrical arcs and Jackson dancing as they run down his body. The last scene shows one electrical arc running down Jackson's body, an unintentional effect that was left in. The video is featured on the video albums: Dangerous: The Short Films and Michael Jackson's Vision.

It was shot on June 25, 1992, in Munich, Germany, just two days before the opening concert of the Dangerous World Tour on June 27, 1992. The pyrotechnics appearing on the video are computer-generated and were added later on. It was later made available on YouTube in 2009 and has amassed nearly 152 million views as of July 2023.

Track listing

 * Austria CD single
 * 1) "Give In to Me" – 5:28
 * 2) "Dirty Diana" – 4:52
 * 3) "Beat It" – 4:17


 * UK CD single
 * 1) "Give In to Me" (vocal version) – 4:42
 * 2) "Dirty Diana" – 4:52
 * 3) "Beat It" – 4:17


 * 7-inch single
 * 1) "Give In to Me" – 5:28
 * 2) "Dirty Diana" – 4:52

Personnel

 * Written, composed, and produced by Michael Jackson and Bill Bottrell
 * Recorded, mixed, bass, drums, mellotron, and guitar by Bill Bottrell
 * Guitars recorded by Jim Mitchell; assisted by Craig Brock
 * Special guitar performance by Slash
 * Solo and background vocals by Michael Jackson
 * Guitar by Tim Pierce

Cover versions

 * In 2000, Eminem used the sample of "Give In to Me" in his song "Under the Influence" from the album The Marshall Mathers LP.
 * In 2009, Allison Iraheta performed the song on the eighth season of American Idol, and a studio recording was released on iTunes.
 * In 2012, Three Days Grace included a cover of this song on their album Transit of Venus, and was recorded the day after Jackson's death in June 2009.
 * In 2023, Lord of the Lost included a cover of this song on their album Weapons of Mass Seduction.