During the recording of Jackson's sixth studio album The Velvet Rope, the singer reportedly suffered from depression, which became a central theme to the album among other subjects including domestic abuse, low self-esteem, sadomasochism, homophobia and sexual orientation.
The album's second single "Together Again", a hit in several countries, became an homage to loved ones Jackson has lost to AIDS,[REF] as well as an elegy to AIDS victims and their families worldwide [REF].