Smooth Criminal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
Editing of this article by new or unregistered users is currently disabled until August 8, 2009 due to vandalism. See the protection policy and protection log for more details. If you cannot edit this article and you wish to make a change, you can request an edit, discuss changes on the talk page, request unprotection, log in, or create an account. |
| "Smooth Criminal" | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||
| Single by Michael Jackson | |||||
| from the album Bad | |||||
| Released | October 24, 1988 | ||||
| Format | 5" CD single 3" CD single 12" vinyl 7" single Cassette single |
||||
| Recorded | 1987 | ||||
| Genre | Funk, Dance-Pop | ||||
| Length | Album Version: 4:17 7" Version/Single Mix: 4:10 Extended Dance Mix: 7:48 |
||||
| Label | Epic | ||||
| Writer(s) | Michael Jackson | ||||
| Producer | Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones | ||||
| Michael Jackson singles chronology | |||||
|
|||||
| Bad track listing | |||||
|
|||||
| Audio sample | |||||
|
|
|||||
"Smooth Criminal" is the seventh single from Michael Jackson's Bad album (1987). The song contains a fast-paced beat intertwined with Jackson's lyrics about a woman named Annie, who has been attacked in her apartment by an assailant. It was released as a single on October 24, 1988 and peaked at 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] It was re-released on April 10, 2006 as a part of the Visionary: The Video Singles box-set. The re-released Visionary single charted at #19 in the UK. In 2003, the song appeared on the Number Ones greatest hits album.
Contents |
Song information
The song was the centerpiece in Jackson's short film Moonwalker, featuring Joe Pesci. In the film, Jackson plays with his young friends outdoors when they come upon a cave, which leads to a kind of dream world in which "Mr. Big" Frankie Lideo has been selling drugs to youths in order to get everyone hooked. "Smooth Criminal" was presented in a ten-minute long clip in which Jackson dances through a 1930s-style nightclub (known in the film as "Club 30s"). The version of the song used in the clip is different from the album version: the background beats are different, there are several new lyrics (see below), and the song is much longer overall. The version of the video that is usually aired on network television is 4 minutes long and is merely a sped up version of the clip from the film. The ten minute long "Smooth Criminal" clip is reminiscent of the musical number known as "The Girl Hunt Ballet" which is featured as the final number in the 1952 musical film The Band Wagon starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. "The Girl Hunt Ballet" is a spoof of Mickey Spillane's hard-boiled detective novels.[2]
"Smooth Criminal" was a song that almost didn't make it into the Bad album. With the final decision to include the song, Jackson originally decided to make the music video a western-styled short film. However, he later decided to change the style into a 1930s nightclub style.[3]
An early version of the song was written by Jackson and John Barnes in 1985 and the original demo was recorded in 1986. The original title was "Al Capone". This version didn't make the album and was re-worked and re-written as "Smooth Criminal".
Both the style of the clip and the clothes and mannerisms Jackson portrayed were reused in the arcade, the Sega Master System, the Sega Mega Drive and the Sega Game Gear adaptations of Moonwalker. The song itself serves as the soundtrack for the first stage, in Club 30s, the nightclub from the movie, in all versions of the game.
The song was performed live during the second leg of Jackson's 1987–88 Bad World Tour. The performance featured a dance routine modelled after the scene from Moonwalker. By the time the 1992 Dangerous World Tour came around, this performance became a regular on Jackson tours. This time Jackson had devised a way to perform the patented anti-gravity lean, which was featured in the Moonwalker video, on stage. Much like the robot move from "Dancing Machine" to the Moonwalk from "Billie Jean", this showcased Jackson's talent for creating unique moves to enhance stage performances. This performance can be seen on the Bucharest Dangerous Tour performance which is included as a DVD in The Ultimate Collection boxed set.
Part of the song is also briefly used in the middle of the live version of the song Dangerous since the performance at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards.
Chart performance
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart [4] | 29 |
| Belgian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Danish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Dutch Top 40 [5] | 1 |
| French Singles Chart | 4 |
| German Singles Chart | 9 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 4 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 6 |
| Israeli Singles Chart | 1 |
| Spanish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 5 |
| UK Singles Chart | 8 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 7 |
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 16 |
| Danish Singles Chart | 31 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 14 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 37 |
| UK Singles Chart | 13 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs[6] | 12 |
Music video
Jeffrey Daniel of the soul music group Shalamar choreographed the "Smooth Criminal" video. It was directed by special effects coordinator Colin Chilvers. Currently there are four different versions of the video for "Smooth Criminal":
- The Original Moonwalker Version - This is the version included in the Moonwalker film - while technically the whole short film is 39 minutes, the actual "Smooth Criminal" song chapter on the DVD is 9 minutes 21 seconds. It is generally the most complete version of the video and includes the unedited middle section of interpretive dance with the dancers but does not include the last six seconds where a flapper fans herself after the door is shut behind Michael. In comparison to the original song this version has two lines in the second stanza added: "Everytime I try to find him he's leaving no clues left behind him. And they have no way of knowing of the suspect, or what to expect".
- The "Moonwalker Version" - This version is included on History on Film, Volume II and is an edited song section of the "Smooth Criminal" segment from the film Moonwalker. It is essentially the same, however it has some minor changes including: different opening music and no dialogue, the middle section with the dancers chanting has been truncated (some of the chanting has been shortened) and ends at the point in the original where Michael exits the club with an added shot of the lead flapper fanning herself. Being a PAL to NTSC transfer (the Moonwalker DVD has only been released in PAL regions), this version suffers from blurred colors and other artifacts. Also, despite having almost a minute cut out from the middle section, his version is approximately the same length as the original Moonwalker segment, due to the PAL speed-up phenomenon.
- The Sped Up/Moonwalker Credits Version - This is commonly shown on music video stations, appears during the end credits for Moonwalker and was included on the "Visionary" single. It is essentially the "Smooth Criminal" video sped up, with an added blur effect, and some alternate angles. This version is also the version being sold in the iTunes Music Store
- The Album Version - Also shown on some music video stations - it is the regular version of the video edited to be in sync with the original album version of the song. It excludes the added lyric, the middle section along with various other moments. However, commonly the Sped Up/Moonwalker Credits version is used rather than this version.
The video won Best Music Video at the 1989 Brit Awards.
In the Alvin and the Chipmunks video special Rockin' with the Chipmunks, part of the music video is shown, but with Alvin inserted.
Anti-gravity lean
The effect in the video when Jackson and the dancers lean forward a seemingly impossible distance was achieved using special harnesses with wires and magnets. It was desired to replicate this effect for Jackson's stage show, but it would have been more obvious and cumbersome to use wire harnesses in a live performance. Jackson and his team devised an alternative way to achieve the effect on stage. The props needed for their technique were patented in the United States by Jackson in 1993,[7] and consist of pegs that rise from the stage at the appropriate moment, and special shoes with ankle supports and cutouts in the heels which can slide over the pegs and be thereby attached to the stage temporarily. These allow the performers to lean without needing to keep their centers of gravity directly over their feet. According to Patent Storm, the patent expires on June 29, 2012.
Credits
- Written and composed by Michael Jackson
- Lead and background vocals and clap: Michael Jackson
- Drums: Bill Bottrell, John Robinson and Bruce Swedien
- Guitar: David Williams
- Saxophones: Kim Hutchcroft and Larry Williams
- Trumpets: Gary Grant and Jerry Hey
- Muted Steinway piano: Kevin Maloney
- Synclavier: Christopher Currell
- Certain Synclavier effects by Denny Jaeger and Michael Rubini
- Synthesizers: John Barnes and Michael Boddicker
- Chief of Police announcement by Bruce Swedien
- Michael Jackson's heartbeat recording by Dr. Eric Chevlen digitally processed in the synclavier
- Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson and John Barnes
- Horn arrangement by Jerry Hey
- Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson
Covers
Alien Ant Farm cover
| "Smooth Criminal" | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||
| Single by Alien Ant Farm | |||||
| from the album ANThology | |||||
| Released | July 24, 2001 | ||||
| Format | CD | ||||
| Recorded | 2001 | ||||
| Genre | Alternative metal | ||||
| Length | 3:29 | ||||
| Label | SKG Music | ||||
| Writer(s) | M. Jackson | ||||
| Producer | Jay Baumgardner | ||||
| Alien Ant Farm singles chronology | |||||
|
|||||
In 2001, Alien Ant Farm released a cover of "Smooth Criminal" as their debut single from their album ANThology. According to the band members, they would play a few riffs of the Jackson song while warming up before gigs and audience members would request them to play the entire song. This positive feedback encouraged them to record their own rendition of "Smooth Criminal" and include it on ANThology. It became a number one hit on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart and was also a number one in Australia. The song was also featured in the 2001 film American Pie 2, during a scene where Jason Biggs' character Jim superglues his hand to his crotch.
This version was featured on the video games Karaoke Revolution and Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades. It was released as downloadable content for the Rock Band series of video games.
Track listing
- "Smooth Criminal" - 3:29
- "Orange Appeal" - 4:45
- "Denigrate" - 4:15
- "Smooth Criminal" (Video)
Music video
The music video depicts the band performing in a wrestling ring at a house backyard. It also features numerous references to Michael Jackson:
- The video for the original "Smooth Criminal" is referenced when the band members do the video's anti-gravity lean.
- Various objects and sidewalk panels lighting up is a reference to the video for "Billie Jean." Additionally, an editing technique utilizing several split screens and freeze frames mirrors a similar sequence in "Billie Jean."
- The scene where lead singer Dryden Mitchell stands on a car and screams while its windows explode is taken from the controversial ending of the video for "Black or White".
- Several references are made to "Thriller", including the dance by the old men, the werewolf mask worn by the girl jumping into the pool, and the end of the video where a man turns to the camera with cat's eyes.
- The chimpanzee is a reference to Jackson's pet chimp Bubbles. In addition to that, the chair Mitchell is sitting on during the scenes with the chimp is shaped like a gloved hand.
- The Japanese school girls in uniforms holding the sign reading "We love AAF" is a reference to Jackson's idol status in Japan.
- Lead singer Mitchell rips a ventilation shaft grill from the ground, releasing steam. This is a combined reference to the video for the song "Bad", in which Jackson pulled a grill from a subway wall as well as another scene from the controversial ending of the video for "Black or White" where Jackson danced in steam rising from the ground.
- Michael Jackson-like vocalizations can be heard, including a high-pitched "Whoo!" several times in a row.
- The lead singer Mitchell pulls up his pants to expose his socks, much like Jackson.
- Drummer Mike Cosgrove wears one white studded glove.
- Bobby Edner performs a dance similar to the moves of Jackson. He wears an E.T. shirt, a reference to the E.T. storybook album narrated by Jackson. In an alternate version of the video, he is wearing a surgeon's mask, as Jackson often did in public.
- One man has a tattoo of Elizabeth Taylor on his back. In 1989, Taylor proclaimed Jackson as the King of Pop. The same man also sports lizard and/or cat like eyes, the same as Michael from the end of the Thriller video.
| Preceded by "Because I Got High" by Afroman |
ARIA (Australia) number one single November 4, 2001 - December 23, 2001 |
Succeeded by "Get the Party Started" by Pink |
| Preceded by "Fat Lip" by Sum 41 |
Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single August 25, 2001 |
Succeeded by "How You Remind Me" by Nickelback |
Other versions
- The band ApologetiX has recorded a parody of "Smooth Criminal" called "Smooth Grandmama".[8] The song's instrumentation is a parody of the Alien Ant Farm version.
- Violinist David Garrett recorded an instrumental cover of "Smooth Criminal." It is released on his album "Encore".
- J.Viewz, stage name of Israeli musician Jonathan Dagan and his band, recorded an easy-listening/jazz cover of "Smooth Criminal", which was released on "The Besides EP."
On the video game Saints Row 2, part of the dance from Smooth Criminal can be used as a taunt aginst your enemies.
References
- ^ http://mjjsource.com/main/index.php?option=content&task=category§ionid=3&id=67&Itemid=28
- ^ soundtrack
- ^ Michael Jackson's Private Home Movies, 2003
- ^ "Smooth Criminal" at australian-charts.com
- ^ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 51, 1988". http://www.radio538.nl/web/show/id=44685/chartid=4899. Retrieved on 2008-03-27.
- ^ [1]
- ^ US patent 5255452
- ^ ApologetiX's official site album information
External links
- Michael Jackson version (Sped-Up version)
- Alien Ant Farm - "Smooth Criminal": MTV Mask version
- Smooth Criminal video on Youtube
- Smooth Criminal lyrics
|
||||||||||||||
