A video featuring dancers around the world, including in Dubai, is reintroducing Michael Jackson’s 1991 classic Black or White to a whole new generation — and it’s gone viral.
More than two million people have seen the video on Facebook four days after it was uploaded, and it’s got an additional 120,000 views on YouTube.
Conceptualised by Tobias Ellehammer, who works with London-based AMCK Dance, the video shows dancers from Paris to Barcelona to Sydney and Tokyo, dancing to Jackson’s megahit in front of global landmarks. Ellehammer features in all of the clips.
The video was first uploaded on Jackson’s birthday (August 29) on YouTube.
“Today we celebrate the king of pop and everything he did for us. Michael wanted to spread good in our world trying to change the bad and heal the world for some of its problems. Unfortunately the world is still in a troubling state,” says a message posted along with the video. “In these times many people look at various links on social media and unfortunately react with fear, hatred and immediately close their arms. Instead we should open up our arms and look to solve the problems together.
“There should be room for everyone in this world. No matter what you look like, what religion you have or where you come from. We are all one. That’s the purpose of this video. To remind all of us how incredibly important love and freedom is and to put something good out into this world.”
Jackson’s original video featured him with dancers around the world, from Russia to India and Thailand. It was directed by John Landis, who directed the history-making Thriller video.
Black or White, off Jackson’s eight studio album Dangerous, debuted at No 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and shot to No 1 after three weeks. It stayed on top for seven weeks, making Jackson the first artist to have number one popular hits in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
