It was Access Hollywood and it showed Janet and Michael collaborating on the lyrics for Scream. He wanted to use the phrase “The system is fucked.”
She made him change it to “The whole system sucks, damnit”
It was interesting seeing them interact. My antennae pricked up. All these documentaries lately. Playboy bunnies, The Jacksons, ... and what next?
I didn’t remember the song so I grabbed the lyrics and will put them in a comment. Song has serious clues in it, even to this black and white engineer!
Scream" (feat. Janet Jackson)
[Michael:] Tired of injustice Tired of the schemes The lies are disgusting So what does it mean? Damn it
Kicking me down I got to get up As jacked as it sounds The whole system sucks Damn it
[Janet:] Peek in the shadow Come into the light You tell me I'm wrong Then you better prove you're right You're sellin' out souls, But I care about mine I've got to get stronger And I won't give up the fight
[Michael:] With such confusions don't it make you wanna scream?
[Janet:] Make you wanna scream
[Michael:] Your bash abusin' victimize within the scheme
[Janet:] You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize
[Both:] Somebody, please have mercy 'Cause I just can't take it
Stop pressurin' me Just stop pressurin' me Stop pressurin' me Make me wanna scream Stop pressurin' me Just stop pressurin' me Stop pressurin' me Make you just wanna scream
[Michael:] Tired of you tellin' The story your way It's causin' confusion You think it's OK Damn it
[Janet:] You keep changin' the rules While I keep playin' the game I can't take it much longer I think I might go insane
[Michael:] With such confusion don't it make you wanna scream?
[Janet:] Make you wanna scream
[Michael:] Your bash abusin' victimize within the scheme
[Janet:] You find your pleasure scandalizin' every lie
[Both:] Oh, Father, please have mercy 'Cause I just can't take it
Stop pressurin' me Just stop pressurin' me Stop pressurin' me Make me wanna scream Stop pressurin' me Just stop pressurin' me Stop fucking with me Make me wanna scream
[Janet:] "Oh, my God, can't believe what I saw as I turned on the TV this evening I was disgusted by all the injustice, all the injustice"
[Michael:] "All the injustice"
[News Man:] "A man has been brutally beaten to death by police after being wrongly identified as a robbery suspect. The man was an 18 year old black male..."
[Michael:] With such collusions don't it make you wanna scream?
[Janet:] Make you wanna scream
[Michael:] Your bash abusin' victimize within the scheme
[Janet:] You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize
[Both:] Oh, brother, please have mercy 'Cause I just can't take it
Stop pressurin' me Just stop pressurin' me Stop pressurin' me Make me wanna scream Stop pressurin' me Just stop pressurin' me Stop pressurin' me Make me wanna scream
Stop pressurin' me Just stop pressurin' me Stop pressurin' me Make me wanna scream Stop pressurin' me Just stop pressurin' me Stop pressurin' me Make me wanna scream