This song is linked in most people's minds with Michael Jackson. In fact Man in the Mirror was written and composed by Glen Ballard, who also worked on the album Thriller, and singer songwriter Siedah Garrett, who worked with both of them on the album Bad (her voice can be heard on the song along with others in the background). Man in the Mirror was part of Bad, and reached No. 1 when it was released in 1988. It was also nominated for Record of the Year in 1988, though it didn't win. After Jackson's death the song had another huge surge in popularity.

One reason the song is so popular is the simple yet powerful message contained in the lyrics - that if you want to make the world a better place, you have to start with 'the man in the mirror' and ask him to change his ways: ie, change yourself.