Chart Rewind [Hot 100]: Michael Jackson Jam ‘In the Closet’ Peaked This Week in 1992

Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective segments, ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay,’  allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind serves as a variation of our Retro Rewind assay to salute an entire era of music history.

This week, we dive in to ‘In the Closet’ – a fan favorite of King of Pop Michael Jackson.

The third single from his chart-topping eighth album, ‘Dangerous,’ ‘In the Closet’ stood as a stunning departure from Jackson’s previous work in a number of ways – the most obvious being the increased showcase of sexuality (sonically and visually via its accompanying music video).  A lane the then-33-year-old largely avoided up to that point, the Herb Ritts-directed visual served as his answer to inquiries regarding his own sexual orientation as well as arguably buckling to the pressure of the changing music industry around him.

Elsewhere, a notable difference came via its overall presentation.  Jackson – highly revered for theatrical, cinema-worthy music videos with elaborate costumes and choreography – swapped out the bells and whistles for a California-desert backdrop with sexy supermodel Naomi Campbell being the only co-star.

The ‘less is more’ approach obviously worked as ‘Closet’ peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 where it was found this week in 1992, becoming his third consecutive top 10 hit from the LP.

Going on to be certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the tune aided its parent project to worldwide sales of 32 million, making it one of the best-selling efforts of all time.

Look below to see who joined MJ in the top 25 this week 28 years ago.

Hot 100 This Week in 1992

Hot 100 This Week

Click here to read this week’s full TGJ Chart Check: Hot 100.

Fun fact:  The song was originally intended as duet between the King of Pop and reigning Queen of Pop Madonna.  However, word has it he decided to replace her vocals once she submitted lyrics that he found to be too risqué.