The Girl Is Mine
| "The Girl Is Mine" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"The Girl Is Mine" was a hit duet by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney in 1982. Fully written and composed by Michael Jackson and released as the first single from Jackson's biggest selling album, Thriller, the song was about two men fighting over the love of one woman, each claiming that he can love the woman better than the other. It leads into a spoken debate near the end of the song by the two singers with Jackson giving his now famous line: "Paul, I think I told you - I'm a lover, not a fighter." The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Soul Singles Chart in the winter of 1982-83 before Jackson's second single from Thriller ("Billie Jean") took over its spot the next month. On the Adult Contemporary chart, it was the first Michael Jackson single to reach #1; he would not top the AC chart again until "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" in 1987.
Jackson and McCartney recorded other duets: "Say Say Say" and "The Man" in 1983, which were included on Paul's 1983 album Pipes of Peace.
Cover versions
The song was covered by other artists, most famously by R&B singers Brandy and Monica in the 1998 hit, "The Boy Is Mine". While not a cover of "The Girl Is Mine" per se, "The Boy Is Mine" had a similar premise, and also featured a spoken debate between Brandy and Monica at the beginning of the song. A parody by lounge act Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine, featuring an "impersonated" Stephen Hawking, appeared on the 2005 album Aperitif for Destruction. It is also covered by Umphrey's McGee, often intertwined with verses of the song "Jane Says" by Jane's Addiction.
Track listing
- CD single
- "The Girl Is Mine" – 3:42
- "Can't Get Outta the Rain"
Credits
- Written and composed by Michael Jackson
- Produced by Quincy Jones
- Rhodes: Greg Phillinganes
- Piano: David Paich
- Synthesizer: David Foster
- Synthesizer programming: Steve Porcaro
- Guitar: David Parks and Steve Lukather
- Bass: Louis Johnson
- Drums: Jeff Porcaro
- Vocal: Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
- Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones
- Rhythm arrangement by Quincy Jones and David Paich
- Synthesizer arrangement by David Foster
- Strings arranged and conducted by Jerry Hey
- Concertmaster: Jerry Vinci
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