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Why everybody hates Cry?

Masonh

Masonh

Invincible
Joined
Apr 8, 2025
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Poland
I actually like, that this is the only song from Invincible, that touches war and worldwide conflicts theme.

Unlike History, which had a lot of "change the world" songs, Invincible has only Cry. Which is actually pretty calm and harmonious.

People used to say, that Cry is basically just cheap attempt to copy Man In The Mirror and it was written by R.Kelley, who is/was a criminal.

But is that really enough for you to hate this song? Why can't we just all agree how sweet and peaceful it is?

I think, this song had to be performed live! It could be perfect choice for some 9/11 charity event. This song had so many potential, unfortunately it only ended up being a regular single with insignificant music video
 
If you ignore the fact that the song was written by a criminal, you can say that "Cry" sounds good. I think the message—that crying, as a form of catharsis, is actually something positive in a world full of cruelty—is too complex. Heal the World and Man in the Mirror are simpler in this respect and perhaps more effective for that reason.
 
'Cry' is also a cheap attempt to imitate R. Kelly's 'I Believe I Can Fly' major hit which was released few years before.

Also, it did not look good the fact that Michael Jackson kept projecting a Messianic image in his songs.

From a musical point of view, many listeners noted that 'Cry' does not have rich instrumentation.
 
not a big fan of the song (especially the vocals on it) but I never felt it's as horrible as everyone always says honestly, it's just reeeaaally fine
 
Masonh said:
People used to say, that Cry is basically just cheap attempt to copy Man In The Mirror an
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The ending does sound way too much like the one of 'Man In The Mirror' imo.

Also the lyrics don't make any sense to me: we should all cry at the same time? And that will change the world..? And he can't do it on his own..? Do I have to be a native speaker to understand this?
 
mj_frenzy said:
Also, it did not look good the fact that Michael Jackson kept projecting a Messianic image in his songs.
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It was part of his image. And it suited him well. After Bad Michael started to represent himself as a savior for sick children
 
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Victorious said:
The ending does sound way too much like the one of 'Man In The Mirror' imo.

Also the lyrics don't make any sense to me: we should all cry at the same time? And that will change the world..? And he can't do it on his own..? Do I have to be a native speaker to understand this?
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You didn't really understand. In Cry song Michael suggests people to stop doing their daily routine and turn on some emotions! By Cry he ment our soul. If people could let go doing anything just for few minutes, look at all worldwide problems and catastrophes and cry, world would become better. Because Cry - is a key of understanding, that we have to do something. Cry is compassion - and this is what our world lacks for most

At least, that's how I undertand this song
 
The song's message isn't necessarily appealing to the masses, as it requires a bit of thinking outside the box, and even then, it's not entirely clear what the song really means. Really good pop songs have to click immediately. What More Can I Give would have had this quality.
 
Masonh said:
You didn't really understand. In Cry song Michael suggests people to stop doing their daily routine and turn on some emotions! By Cry he ment our soul. If people could let go doing anything just for few minutes, look at all worldwide problems and catastrophes and cry, world would become better. Because Cry - is a key of understanding, that we have to do something. Cry is compassion - and this is what our world lacks for most

At least, that's how I undertand this song
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Yeah I can I understand that view. But like Hot_Street mentioned it's all a bit too vague to make a strong impact..
I like the melody though and it's one of the few songs on Invincible where MJ stil sounds like MJ imo
 
Hot_Street said:
The song's message isn't necessarily appealing to the masses, as it requires a bit of thinking outside the box, and even then, it's not entirely clear what the song really means. Really good pop songs have to click immediately. What More Can I Give would have had this quality.
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Yes! It boggles my mind why they never released the solo version of WMCIG..
 
It has that same campy, cringey, cheesy vibe as all of r kellys sentimental songs.

I also hate I believe I can fly. And You're are not alone is one of my least favorite mj songs.
 
Masonh said:
It was part of his image. And it suited him well. After Bad Michael started to represent himself as a savior for sick children
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Actually, it was part of his narcissist image.

It can also be said that Michael Jackson had delusions about being Jesus Christ, not only for sick children but also for sick people in general.

Watch, for example, his 'Earth Song' performance at the 1996 Brit Awards, where supposedly sick people on stage wanted to touch him in order to be cured.
 
It's a very poor man's "Man in the Mirror" and R. Kelly sucks. Releasing it as a single was a stupid decision, too.

I don't necessarily dislike the song, but it's below MJ's standard. "We've Had Enough" should have been included on the album instead.
 
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mj_frenzy said:
Actually, it was part of his narcissist image.

It can also be said that Michael Jackson had delusions about being Jesus Christ, not only for sick children but also for sick people in general.

Watch, for example, his 'Earth Song' performance at the 1996 Brit Awards, where supposedly sick people on stage wanted to touch him in order to be cured.
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Only Motown can be to blame for this.
 
mj_frenzy said:
Actually, it was part of his narcissist image.

It can also be said that Michael Jackson had delusions about being Jesus Christ, not only for sick children but also for sick people in general.

Watch, for example, his 'Earth Song' performance at the 1996 Brit Awards, where supposedly sick people on stage wanted to touch him in order to be cured.
Click to expand...

Although it might be a bit more over the top than before I believe it's part of the 'act'. If you look at his life as a whole I don't think he was ever actually delusional and thought he was Jesus or anything, although in a sense his work and mere presence did heal people in a way... It's clear that he wanted to imitate Jesus and also be a positive role model; so those two are kinda intertwined I guess.

When I think of it: that performance at the Brit Awards which so many people don't like might actually be the most quintessential Michael Jackson performance ever and it wouldn't surprise me if he saw it as one of his best performances and also wouldn't understand why people would hate it.. thoughts?
 
It's just a poor song, that's all. A poor concept that is poorly executed, with a poor video. Probably the worst song on a mediocre album.

The only thing going for it is the quality of the CD single (ie 2 decent B-sides, plus Michael's only CD-ROM video!) Probably the best value we ever got.

kelley said:
It has that same campy, cringey, cheesy vibe
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And this, I guess
 
Rubbish song and very much a poor man’s man in the mirror , I cringe at the ending change the world….it was done so much better with make that change.

All these saccharine filled songs got worse with each attempt and trying to recapture Man in the mirror’s magic and failing miserably.

Terrible music video and written by a convicted criminal, what’s not to love? 😂
 
Setting aside the whole R. Kelly-ness of it all, it’s not necessarily a bad song in my opinion. It’s serviceable. If anyone else recorded it, it probably would’ve gotten a stronger response. But it’s hard to be impressed by this song when it came from the same man who wrote “Earth Song” and immortalized “Man in the Mirror.”

I guess it has the same issue most of Invincible has: if it’s the first MJ music you ever hear, it’s mind blowing. If not, it’s just… fine. I’ve always thought “We’ve Had Enough” was severely overrated by the fan base, but that song obliterates “Cry” and it’s crazy that it didn’t make the cut.
 
I personally like the song (R. Kelly aside). Michael still put his mark on that song and I would like to think he had some input. I had my friend learn the words to "Cry" because I assumed he was gonna sing it at "United We Stand." I went to that Benefit concert but he sung "What More Can I Give," which I absolutely love.
 
kelley said:
It has that same campy, cringey, cheesy.
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Cringey? Really? I don't see any cringey moments

For me cringey moments in MJ songs are, for example, "mamasay mama sa mama cusa" from WBSS (because it sounds like a chorus of savages)

or choir intro of Who Is It and Hollywood Tonight. These 2 song are about 2 girls, being dirty for some reasons, why would he used medieval Christian chants for songs like this? I have no idea
 
mj_frenzy said:
Actually, it was part of his narcissist image.

It can also be said that Michael Jackson had delusions about being Jesus Christ, not only for sick children but also for sick people in general.

Watch, for example, his 'Earth Song' performance at the 1996 Brit Awards, where supposedly sick people on stage wanted to touch him in order to be cured.
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Does it really matter? He helped lots of people and children. That gives you the right to call him narcissist?
 
I do believe that Cry is a pretty track with a good message, but it feels like a step back from the fresh sound MJ aimed for on Invincible. Lyrically, it's nothing new, and it doesn’t add much beyond what his past anthems did. The biggest issue for me is MJ’s vocal delivery—it sounds restrained and lacking energy, especially when the choir comes in.
 
I love Invincible, but this track is a skip for me. I just don't like it.
 
It’s a pretty wild thing to say about such a great song. 😐

The chanting about a minute into this always reminded me of Startin’ Somethin’.
 
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mj_frenzy said:
Actually, it was part of his narcissist image.

It can also be said that Michael Jackson had delusions about being Jesus Christ, not only for sick children but also for sick people in general.

Watch, for example, his 'Earth Song' performance at the 1996 Brit Awards, where supposedly sick people on stage wanted to touch him in order to be cured.
Click to expand...
Get off this platform, you are clearly an MJ hater. Michael said himself he is not Jesus!
 
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