CM reader Lilit Marcus mentioned the Michael Jackson song “Man in the Mirror” as the musical antidote to “Waiting for the World to Change.”(The Jackson YouTube.com link I’ve given you here gets particularly terrific when the gospel choir walks out on stage.) This song definitely ranks as one of my favorite getting-up-to-face-the-world songs. Here are some lyrics, and here’s a link to the whole piece as written and composed by Siedah Garrett and Glen Ballard.

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change!

You can hear the influence of Jackson’s friend and teacher Marianne Williamson. And hmmmm, seeing Jackson perform this powerfully dynamic number makes me a little sad I ever was compelled to write this. Oh, and have you heard? Jermaine Jackson is trying to get brother Mike to become a Muslim.