Michael Jackson, In the Closet | Throwback Vibez

In the 168^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2025), we recollect and reflect on “In the Closet” by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez! Throwback Vibez is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 168^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2025), we recollect and reflect on “In the Closet” performed by Michael Jackson.  

Unless you live under a rock, you understand what the late, great King of Pop, Michael Jackson (1958 – 2009), is getting at in the chorus of “In the Closet”. It’s giving S-E-X. “In the Closet” is the third track from Jackson’s 1991 album, Dangerous. It also marked his third top 10 pop single from the album, reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100.  Jackson penned and produced “Closet” with Grammy-winner Teddy Riley (b. 1967). Fun fact: it features vocals by Princess Stéphanie of Monaco (b. 1965). Notably, she performs the intro, concluding, “I’m so humble / Touch me, don’t hide our love / Woman to man.” “In The Closet” was NOT the MJ of old.

“In The Closet” was very much characteristic of the 1990s, New Jack Swing era. The keys and most of all, the distinct, rhythmic, boxy drums go full force.  As always, Michael Jackson infuses ample personality into his vocal performance.  Michael is cool but also embraces the edginess of the theme and lyrics. In the first verse, he concludes, “You cannot cleave it or put it in the furnace / You cannot wet it, you cannot burn it.” Why? “She wants to give it,” of course, and Jackson seems to want to receive it. Love… lust… sex, in this context.  In the second verse, the lustful feelings, specifically hers, continue to be strong and hard to contain. So, where does the closet come into play? Well, during the refrain, Jackson admits “There’s somethin’ about you, baby / That makes me want to give it to you.” In an interlude preceding the third verse, he addresses her, stating, “For now, we’ll make a vow to just keep it in the closet.” Living in the closet, in secret, in anything is difficult.  In the third verse, one line in particular raises eyebrows, performed by Princess Stéphanie: “‘Cause if it’s achin’, you have to rub it.” Ooh-wee! All said and done, “In the Closet” marks another epic Michael Jackson joint.  While it is edgier than his work of the past, this closet-driven cut is still tamer than the music of some of his contemporaries (Prince and Madonna, specifically), as well as the full-blown explicitness of pop and R&B in the 21^st century. 

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Michael Jackson » Dangerous » MJJ Productions Inc. » 1991

Michael Jackson, In the Closet: Throwback Vibez No. 168 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; MJJ Productions Inc.; AcatXlo, OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]

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