Billie Jean

This article is about the Michael Jackson song. For the 1985 film, see The Legend of Billie Jean.

"Billie Jean"
Song
B-side	"It's the Falling in Love" "Can't Get Outta the Rain"

"Billie Jean" is a 1983 hit single from Michael Jackson's Thriller album. A number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, the song was also the number-one R&B single for nine weeks in the United States and is widely acknowledged as one of Jackson's most critically acclaimed songs. It was voted best single of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics' poll, and received two Grammy Awards in 1984 in the categories Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best New Rhythm & Blues Song. It was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, along with "Beat It", at the Grammy Awards of 1984. In 2005, Blender magazine recognized "Billie Jean" as the greatest song since 1980. It's also his best-selling single worldwide, with 5.25 million copies sold, and contributed to the immense sales of the album Thriller.

On March 6, 2006, "Billie Jean" was re-released as a single as part of Visionary - The Video Singles box set. It went on to become the highest charting UK Visionary single, reaching #11 on the UK Top 40.

Largely because of the impact of the video, and the live performance in which Jackson dressed in a black fedora, a sparkly black jacket and a single white sequin glove while performing his most famous dance step the moonwalk, and the overall haunting nature of the song itself, "Billie Jean" is regarded by some as his signature song.

History

Jackson undertook the composition of "Billie Jean" quite personally, drawing upon actual circumstances. In about 1981, during a Jacksons tour, a woman known later to be a stalker had accused Jackson of not claiming the paternity of one of her fraternal twins. She went so far as to call herself "Billie Jean Jackson", and to claim she was married to the singer. The woman, now 60 years old, was arrested in March of 2008 for tresspassing Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, claiming she was the rightful owner of the property .

He started writing the first demo of the song in his home in Wilson, North Carolina in the fall of 1981. When he presented the song to his co-producer Quincy Jones, Jones had problems with the title and wanted to call the song "Not My Lover". He thought when audiences heard it they would assume Jackson was referring to tennis superstar Billie Jean King. He also had complaints about the length of the song's intro, believing it was too long; Jackson replied that the long intro made him want to dance. Jackson won both arguments: he got to keep the title of the song and the intro.

The introduction of the character Billie Jean is foreshadowed by a four-line reference from the album's first track "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", another Jackson-penned song. In the third verse, it's evident that Billie Jean doesn't have the singer's best interests at heart, "tellin' lies and rubbin' shoulders," but her dismissal is casual: "So they called her mouth a motor." However, coupled with her appearance on the second side of the album, the listener is made privy to the earliest of Jackson's lyrics to deal with the subject of celebrity suspicion of those in their periphery (media, groupies, etc.). This marked a subtle but important occasional shift in the entertainer's material toward somewhat more adult themes.

Jackson is said to have recorded his lead vocal performance on the first take. But it was Jackson's arrangements and orchestration in "Billie Jean" that helped make the song unique. Jackson had wanted to write "the perfect bass line" and has said he worked on it for a couple of weeks until he succeeded with what became the basis of the final product. He had also arranged the drum and synthesizer lines into perfect order, and with help from co-collaborator Jerry Hey on the strings and horns and Jackson's mastery at multi-tracking his voice for background vocals, completed the final production on "Billie Jean" only weeks before Epic's scheduled release of the Thriller album on December 1, 1982. "Billie Jean" officially became the second single from Thriller when it was released in January 1983.

Critical reaction to the song was overwhelmingly positive.

With the passage of time, the song has gained legendary status and is often featured on "best of" lists. "Billie Jean" was ranked #58 in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (making it number four among songs of the 1980s). In 2005, Blender magazine declared that "Billie Jean" was the greatest song released after 1980.

Impact of song and music video

Upon its release, critics who had given mixed reviews to the album's lead-off single, "The Girl Is Mine", were praising "Billie Jean". The song soon dominated the top of both the Pop Singles Chart for seven weeks and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for nine weeks, both consecutively and respectively. But the hit song's impact wasn't limited to its chart success, and it would play a crucial role in defining Jackson's burgeoning crossover influence on pop culture. It also reached the top of the UK Singles Chart in 1983 (and #11 when re-released in both 1991 and 2006).

Jackson and Epic had planned to present the music video for the song to the executives of newly-formed cable network MTV, which was at the time not playing videos by black performers or even dance artists. Since its inception, the network's playlist was predominantly white and mainly featured videos by the top rock artists of the day such as Duran Duran, Peter Gabriel, The Clash, Blondie, Journey, Pat Benatar, Genesis, and Billy Idol. In 1983, Jackson and CBS Records President Walter Yetnikoff informed MTV's President that if the cable channel didn't play Jackson's video, CBS would not allow them to play any of their white artists who were getting exposure on the network (most notably Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Joel), and would denounce them publicly as racists . With that ultimatum, MTV finally bowed to pressure and premiered Jackson's "Billie Jean" video on March 10, 1983. This account was disputed by Les Garland, co-founder and originator of MTV, VH1, and The Box, saying "I called Bob (Pittman, MTV co-founder) to tell him, 'I just saw the greatest video I've ever seen in my life. It is off the dial it's so good.' We added it that day. How (the myth) turned into a story literally blew our minds."

Directed by Steve Barron (who would go on to feature films including the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film), the imaginative and cryptic video loosely followed the song's narrative. It featured Jackson as a lonely, elusive figure walking the streets while the ground glowed wherever he stepped, suggesting Jackson's stardom and fame . A trenchcoated "stalker", possibly a journalist, pursues Jackson, supposedly to get the scoop on the titular love-interest, missing his opportunity when Jackson seemingly vanishes beneath glowing bedsheets with his never-seen mystery lover. Jackson himself has said the following about the "Billie Jean" video: "It's kind of surreal and it's different. I didn't come up with that concept. It was — I think a British fellow — Steve Barron — and I thought he had wonderful ideas but I let him go with it. The only part I wrote in the piece was — I said: "I just want a section." I said: "Give me a section here I could dance on." 'Cause he said no dancing in the whole piece — so the whole section where you see this long street and this billboard of these two girls, one of them Billie Jean and I'm dancing — that's the only part I contributed."

The video, with its production values and dance performance by the star, was something completely new for MTV and quickly set an industry standard which even Jackson would emulate (and even more quickly re-define with the follow-up "Beat It").

Soon enough, MTV was airing the video in heavy rotation, thus making Jackson the first black performer to find stardom on the network. Producer Jones has said of the early relationship between Jackson and MTV: "...[they] rode each other to glory". Soon after, other black artists had videos on MTV, including Prince, The Pointer Sisters, Rick James, Lionel Richie and Run-DMC. Jackson was the first — and by most accounts, is still the greatest — pop megastar to emerge from the network, each benefitting by cross-interest from the other's respective audience. This paved the way for a multitude of artists like Prince, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and within a few years his own younger sister Janet Jackson, to also have their careers blossom in the new video arena. By the end of the year, numerous other competing outlets were also showcasing the medium, solidifying music videos as a specific form of entertainment and record promotion.

Motown 25 performance

File:Motown-25 Billie Jean.jpg

Jackson at Motown 25

On March 25, 1983, "Thriller"s popularity reached a larger audience when Jackson debuted "Billie Jean" before a live audience during taping of the tribute special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. Having reunited with the Jackson 5 for a medley of their hits, he remained onstage for a solo performance and as he addressed the crowd they began chanting for "Billie Jean". Dressed in a glittery black jacket, sparkling silver shirt, tight black pants cuffed high to showcase white spangled socks and black penny loafers, and a single sequined glove, Jackson signalled the start of his routine by grabbing his crotch and snapping a black fedora to his head. After doing some kicks with thigh slaps, Jackson threw his fedora towards the side of the stage, causing audience members to scream and shout. It was during this performance that Jackson also debuted a set of dance moves which included the "Moonwalk" (which was named by the media). The "moonwalk" followed by a tornado spin and an en pointe stance has since gone on to become Jackson's trademark dance piece, and is virtually synonymous with the song.

The performance sealed his position as a dance legend up against the likes of Fred Astaire, who called Jackson the next day to congratulate him, and it's also said to match the effect on popular culture that Elvis Presley and The Beatles had when they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. The move is not featured at any point during the music video. Despite Jackson lip-syncing his song (which he usually does when performing "Billie Jean" due to its exhausting dance moves), the audience rose to their feet giving an ovation, and it is often cited as one of the greatest live performances of all time. Upon its broadcast on May 16, over forty-seven million viewers witnessed Jackson's performance.

The immediate result was unprecedented sales of his Thriller album, which as of November 2006 has sold over 104 million copies. The "Billie Jean" single has since sold over 5 million copies worldwide and became Jackson's top-selling single.

Choreography

Despite the fact that Jackson usually does not close his shows with the song, "Billie Jean" is generally regarded as the pinnacle of most Jackson performances and stage shows. The song has been the key feature of every concert, from the Victory tour through to the 30th Anniversary Performance at Madison Square Garden in 2001.

The structure of the live "Billie Jean" routine has remained consistent; fans have even named moves that are regularly performed. These include the "Sidewalk" (where Jackson appears to "moonwalk" sideways along the stage, by slightly raising and crossing his feet whilst sliding them sideways), the "Four-corner Moonwalk" (where Jackson rotates his heels and moonwalks in a circle), and spot spins. The most famous move that Jackson performs is his "moonwalk", which occurs always at the bridge in the song. This move is generally never performed in any other song, although slight "moonwalk" variations are also found in "Stranger in Moscow" and "Smooth Criminal". Jackson also usually displays his tapping ability during a "Billie Jean" set.

In concert, "Billie Jean" is almost always extended for an extra two to four minutes with just the beat and sometimes the bass line, whilst Jackson improvises an array of dance steps. Often it starts out with the beginning dance style followed by a spotwalk and a moonwalk. In most concerts, Jackson hops while pointing to each side and alternating while the back-up singers yell "hoo! hoo!" This is followed by Jackson spinning and doing the four-corner moonwalk. After some time of more dance steps, Jackson throws his fedora to the crowd while saying "Billie Jean is not my lover." In most of HIStory World Tour concerts and the first of the two 30th Anniverary concerts, Jackson also ended the song with with beatboxing or scat singing prior to singing the last line and throwing the fedora. Most fans consider this to be why "Billie Jean" rates as a favorite above other song routines, as Jackson "freestyles" the moves to an extent. Videos of "Billie Jean" performances are readily available on the internet, and on some released VHS/DVDs.

Also, upon live renditions, some of the introductions upon the song have changed. On the Dangerous World Tour, the stage has two levels: an upper and lower level. On the set list, Michael usually performed Thriller before Billie Jean. For the Thriller performance, the lower level was used. At the end of the performance, a back-up dancer appearing as Michael with a mask is put into a glass coffin, which is then covered with a white sheet. The dancers lift the coffin and march with it until the end of the song, where the sheet is pulled off, revealing the disappearance of both the coffin and "Michael." Jackson is not in the coffin but actually changing for Billie Jean. A few seconds after the end of Thriller (where Vincent Price's voice fades out), the beginning notes of Billie Jean are heard, whereas spotlights reveal Michael to be on the upper level, as it lowers onto the main platform. The last and more recent incarnation of the song (as shown on the 30th Anniversary Special) contains a sort-of reminiscing moment from Michael's standpoint: Michael is seen walking across a stage with a piece of luggage in hand, looking around as if he is conjuring up old memories of performing. He stops in the middle and places the luggage on top of a stool, opening it to remove the contents. It is unclear in what order the contents are removed, as each performance differs (Michael also opened Billie Jean this way during his HIStory World Tour); however, the articles remain the same: the trademark glove, jacket, and fedora. Michael would then move aside the stool and briefcase (which is later lowered through an elevator platform), and then snap his fingers, to which a spotlight comes on, shining onto a microphone stand.

It is important to note that the actual choreography of "Billie Jean" has not changed much since the Motown 25 performance, but has been enhanced through continual performance and improvement.

Track listing

Visionary single

CD side

1. "Billie Jean" - 4:10
2. "Billie Jean" (12" version) - 6:23

DVD side

1. "Billie Jean" (Music video)

Mixes

1. Album Version – 4:53
2. 12" Version / Long Version – 6:23
3. Instrumental – 6:20
4. Tony Moran Mix (Unreleased)
5. Four On The Floor Remix / 1982 Radio Edit Remix - 4:43
6. Billie Jean 2008 (Kanye West remix) - 4:34
7. Underground Mix - 6:42
8. 1982 Club Remix - 6:28
9. Pepsi Version - 1:00

Credits

• Written, arranged and composed by Michael Jackson
• Produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson
• Lead and background vocals by Michael Jackson
• Drums by Leon "Ndugu" Chancler
• Bass by Louis Johnson
• Guitar by David Williams
• Emulator by Michael Boddicker
• Rhodes & Synthesizer by Greg Phillinganes
• Synthesizer by Greg Smith
• Synthesizer & Synthesizer Programming by Bill Wolfer
• Vocal, Rhythm and Synthesizer Arrangement by Michael Jackson
• String Arrangement by Jerry Hey
• Strings Conducted by Jeremy Lubbock
• Mixed by Bruce Swedien

Thriller 25 version

"Billie Jean"
Song

As part of Thriller 25 (a 25th anniversary edition of Thriller), a remix of "Billie Jean", entitled "Billie Jean 2008 - Kanye West Mix" was included. Kanye West performs backing vocals over Jackson's original ones, and the song is slower than the original with heavy drums and beats. West was praised for respecting the original while giving the song a new feel. The song has charted in some countries from download sales/radio airplay, though it is not a single.

Credits

• Original song written by Jackson
• Original recording produced by Jones/Jackson
• Remix engineered and mixed by Kilhoffer/Dromgoole/Hertwech/Wheeler/Houge
• Remix keyboards: Bhasker/Kilhoffer/Caruso
• Remix produced: Jackson/Jones/West/Kilhoffer
• Remix recorded in November 2007

Chart performance

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Germany	91

Covers and remixes

Template:Sample box start Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end Template:Sample box end As a Michael Jackson standard, the song has been covered by several artists. German punk band The Bates released their cover of "Billie Jean" as a single in 1995, accompanied by a video based on Alfred Hitchcock's film, Psycho. Ian Brown released the song as a single, as well as the song "Thriller". Northern Irish singer-songwriter Foy Vance recorded a live version for his EP Live Sessions and the Birth of the Toilet Tour, and is known to perform the song at all of his shows. Boy band BLACKstreet have their own R&B version of the song. Chris Cornell debuted his version of "Billie Jean" during his Unplugged concert in Stockholm, Sweden as part of the promotional tour of the then-new Audioslave album Revelations. He significantly changed the arrangement, slowing the song down, using grittier vocals and applying an alternative-rock instrumentation. A studio version of the cover (featuring a full rock band) appears on Cornell's 2007 solo album, Carry On. It was also included on his Yahoo! internet-only album "Nissan Live Sets: Chris Cornell" with an accompanying video at Yahoo! Music. Dance groups "King of House" (France/2002) and Starzoom (Nederlands/2007) covered the song and released their cover as a single. Turkish group Dolapdere Big Gang covered the song on their first album, Local Strangers (2006). The Martini Lizards play a jazzy version of the song and released it on their album Into The Lounge (Germany/2006) with various cover songs. David Cook performed the Chris Cornell version on the Top Ten week of American Idol on March 25, 2008.

The song's instrumentals were remixed with Eminem's vocals by Paul B making the remix, "Without Billie Jean". It is popular on P2P and file-sharing networks. There is also a version with DMX |vocals making the remix, "No Love for Billie Jean". P. Diddy also made a remix of the song featuring vocals from The Notorious B.I.G.. In 1983, Italian dance act Clubhouse released "Do It Again / Billie Jean", a precursor of the mashup genre mixing "Billie Jean" with Steely Dan's 1972 song "Do It Again". This was a hit record in Europe. Slingshot had a similar success in the U.S. The song was unofficially remixed by Bushwacka! in 2001, becoming a dance floor favorite after a rare CD copy was eventually pressed on bootleg white label vinyl. The rockabilly band The Moonlight Cruisers also covered this using their original instruments

Sources

• Moonwalk — by Michael Jackson, Edited by Jackie Onassis (Doubleday 1988, ISBN 0-385-24712-5)
• The Michael Jackson Story — by Nelson George (Dell 1983, ISBN 0-440-15592-4)
• Trapped: Michael Jackson and the Crossover Dream — by Dave Marsh (Bantam 1985, ISBN 0-553-34241-X)
• Thriller – Special Edition (Epic Records, 2001 — Selected Interviews)
• Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection (Epic Records, 2004 — Liner Notes)
• Michael Jackson Visionary (http://www.mjvisionary.com/mjvisionary.html)
• UK singles chart (http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/c/uk/single_charts.html)
• Single Information (http://jacksonstreet.nl/site/content.php?page=33&search=billie+jean)

External links

• Michael Jackson "Billie Jean" Collection - Jacksonstreet