In the Closet

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For other uses, see In the closet.

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"In the Closet"
Original album artwork by Mark Ryden
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Dangerous
ReleasedApril 13, 1992 (1992-04-13)
RecordedMarch–May 1991[1]
GenreNew jack swing[2][3]
Length
  • 6:31 (album version)
  • 4:49 (single version)
LabelEpic
Songwriters
Producers
  • Michael Jackson
  • Teddy Riley
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Remember the Time"
(1992) 		"In the Closet"
(1992) 		"Jam"
(1992)
Music video
"In the Closet" on YouTube

"In the Closet" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released on April 13, 1992, by Epic Records, as the third single from his eighth album, Dangerous (1991). The song was intended as a duet between Jackson and Madonna, and features female vocals by "Mystery Girl", who was later revealed to be Princess Stéphanie of Monaco. Written and produced by Jackson and Teddy Riley, it became the album's third consecutive Top 10 pop single, reaching number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also became its second number 1 R&B single. In Europe, the song peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart, while reaching number 1 in Greece and number 2 in both Italy and Spain. In 2006, the song re-entered the UK chart, peaking at number 20.[4] Its accompanying music video was directed by Herb Ritts and features British supermodel Naomi Campbell.

Background

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The song, written and composed by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley, is about keeping a relationship secret between lovers. "In the closet" is an English idiom used when one is not open about an aspect of one's life, particularly in regard to sexual orientation. Despite the song's suggestive name, its lyrics do not allude to hidden sexual orientation but rather a concealed relationship; "Don't hide our love / Woman to man." The New York Times stated, "Only Jackson would use that title for a heterosexual love song..."[5] The song's female vocal was credited to "Mystery Girl" who was later revealed to be Princess Stéphanie of Monaco.[6]

Collaboration with Madonna

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"In the Closet" was conceived as a duet between Jackson and Madonna. She stated in a 1992 interview that she worked on some lyrical ideas for the song but when she presented them to Jackson, he decided they were too provocative and they decided not to continue with the project.[7]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarHalf starFile:Star empty.svgFile:Star empty.svg[8]

In a retrospective review, Chris Lacy from Albumism described "In the Closet" as a "hormone-soaked dance track".[9] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that this song is fine and there's a lot to be said for professional craftsmanship at its peak and he highlighted it.[10] Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard magazine felt the third single from Dangerous "proves to be his strongest single to date." He added, "Jackson's signature whoops and whispers are put at home within an intense and unusual jack-swing/funk arrangement. The track is brightened by an immediately memorable, sing-along chorus. Of course, much speculation surrounds the identity of the "mystery girl" who chats and groans in the background. Any ideas?"[11] Clark and DeVaney from Cash Box commented, "Okay, we heard this song when the album first came out, except it only was the one mix, this CD single contains seven mixes of various lengths totaling almost 45 minutes of the same whispering, whining, heavy breathing and mouth noises that seem to make perfect sense when considering it's Michael Jackson doing a song called 'In the Closet'. To find out what the hell it's all about, we'll have to watch the video premiere on Fox after The Simpsons."[12]

American essayist and music journalist Robert Christgau observed of the parent album, "he's hawking the most credible sex-and-romance of his career. 'In the Closet' implores his mystery woman to keep their—get this—'lust' behind closed doors. Soon he's going wild, or fabricating desperate nostalgia for their used-to-be."[13] The Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith called it a "tongue-firmly-in-cheek hit".[14] Pan-European magazine Music & Media stated that the song "is aimed at fast footwork reminiscent of his sister Janet's style."[15] A reviewer from People Magazine complimented the "catchy chorus" as an "appealing element".[16] Alan Light of Rolling Stone said "we get repressed lust in the titillatingly titled (and determinedly heterosexual)" song. He added that it has a "snaky, unexpected bridge."[17]

Music video

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The accompanying sepia colored music video for "In the Closet" was directed by Herb Ritts and features Jackson performing sensual dance routines with supermodel Naomi Campbell. Princess Stéphanie of Monaco doesn't appear in the video. The short film was shot in late February and early March 1992 just northwest of Bombay Beach a small town on the Salton Sea in the Colorado Desert of California, and premiered on April 23, 1992.[18][19] The video was later published by Vevo on YouTube in 2010.[20]

Formats and track listings

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Personnel

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Personne are adapted from the album Dangerous.[28]

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications and sales
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[70] Gold 35,000^
United States (RIAA)[71] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release dates and formats
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United Kingdom April 13, 1992
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Epic [72]
Australia April 1992
  • CD
  • cassette
 [73]
Japan May 8, 1992 Mini-CD [74]
June 21, 1992 3× remix CDs [75][76][77]

See also

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References

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  4. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
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  8. ^ In the Closet at AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
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  30. ^ "Michael Jackson – In The Closet" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  31. ^ "Michael Jackson – In The Closet" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  32. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2144." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  33. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2153." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
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