Billie Jean

"Billie Jean"
"Billie Jean"
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Thriller
B-side	"Can't Get Outta the Rain" (US); "It's the Falling in Love" (UK);
Released	January 2, 1983
Recorded	1982
Studio	Westlake (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Post-disco; R&B; funk; dance-pop;
Length	4:54 (album/single version); 6:20 (12-inch version);
Label	Epic
Songwriter(s)	Michael Jackson
Producer(s)	Quincy Jones; Michael Jackson;
Michael Jackson singles chronology
Music video
	"Billie Jean" on YouTube

"Billie Jean" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson. It is a song on his 1982 album, Thriller. The song was released as a single on January 2, 1983. "Billie Jean" was one of many hits by the singer. It was number one on the Billboard Hot 100.^[2] The song blends post-disco, R&B, funk, and dance-pop. The lyrics describe a woman, Billie Jean, who claims that the narrator is the father of her newborn son, which he denies. Jackson said the lyrics were based on groupies' claims about his older brothers when he toured with them as the Jackson 5.

At the 1984 Grammy Awards, Jackson was given awards for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Male Vocal Performance for the song.^[3] In 2008, Kanye West remixed the song for Thriller 25. This was a new version of Thriller made for its 25th anniversary.^[4]

It is well-known for it's notable music video, directed by Steve Barron, was the first video by a black artist to be aired in heavy rotation on MTV. Jackson's performance of "Billie Jean" on the TV special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever was nominated for an Emmy Award. It introduced a number of Jackson's signatures, including the moonwalk, rhinestone glove, black sequined jacket, and high-water pants, and was widely imitated.

The song was performed live in all of Jackson's world concert tours.

References

↑ Roberts, Randall (August 29, 2012). "Michael Jackson's 'Human Nature': An NYC classic on his birthday". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
↑ Trust, Gary (March 6, 2018). "Rewinding the Charts: In 1983, Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' Moonwalked to No. 1 on the Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
↑ "People: Mar. 12, 1984". Time. March 12, 1984. Archived from the original on November 6, 2010.
↑ Ewing, Tom (February 15, 2008). "Michael Jackson – Thriller: 25th Anniversary Edition". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 21, 2009.

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[1] Roberts, Randall (August 29, 2012). "Michael Jackson's 'Human Nature': An NYC classic on his birthday". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2019.

[2] Trust, Gary (March 6, 2018). "Rewinding the Charts: In 1983, Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' Moonwalked to No. 1 on the Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2020.

[3] "People: Mar. 12, 1984". Time. March 12, 1984. Archived from the original on November 6, 2010.

[4] Ewing, Tom (February 15, 2008). "Michael Jackson – Thriller: 25th Anniversary Edition". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 21, 2009.

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v t e Michael Jackson songs
Singles Songs
1970s	"Got to Be There" "Ain't No Sunshine" "I Wanna Be Where You Are" "Rockin' Robin" "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" "You've Got a Friend" "Ben" "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" "My Girl" "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" "We've Got a Good Thing Going" "With a Child's Heart" "Morning Glow" "All the Things You Are" "Happy" "Too Young" "Doggin' Around" "Music and Me" "We're Almost There" "Just a Little Bit of You" "You Can't Win" "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" "Rock with You" "Working Day and Night" "It's the Falling in Love"
1980s	"Off the Wall" "Girlfriend" "She's Out of My Life" "One Day in Your Life" "The Girl Is Mine" "Billie Jean" "Beat It" "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" "Human Nature" "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" "Thriller" "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" "Lonely Teardrops" "That's What Love Is Made Of" "Farewell My Summer Love" "Girl You're So Together" "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" "Bad" "The Way You Make Me Feel" "Speed Demon" "Liberian Girl" "Just Good Friends" "Another Part of Me" "Man in the Mirror" "Dirty Diana" "Smooth Criminal" "Leave Me Alone" "Twenty-Five Miles"
1990s	"Black or White" "Jam" "In the Closet" "Remember the Time" "Heal the World" "Who Is It" "Give In to Me" "Will You Be There" "Gone Too Soon" "Dangerous" "Come Together" "Scream" "Childhood" "They Don't Care About Us" "Stranger in Moscow" "This Time Around" "Earth Song" "D.S." "You Are Not Alone" "Tabloid Junkie" "HIStory" "Smile" "Blood on the Dance Floor" "Ghosts" "Is It Scary" "On the Line"
2000s	"Speechless" "You Rock My World" "Heaven Can Wait" "Butterflies" "Cry" "One More Chance" "Cheater" "(I Like) The Way You Love Me" "Fall Again" "This Is It"
2010s	"Hold My Hand" "Hollywood Tonight" "(I Can't Make It) Another Day" "Behind the Mask" "Don't Be Messin' 'Round" "I'm So Blue" "Price of Fame" "Love Never Felt So Good" "Chicago" "Loving You" "A Place with No Name" "Slave to the Rhythm" "Blue Gangsta"
2020s	"She's Trouble"
Other	"We Are the World" "Mind Is the Magic" "What More Can I Give" "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" "Blood on the Dance Floor x Dangerous" "Diamonds Are Invincible"
Featured	"Ease on Down the Road" "A Brand New Day" "Night Time Lover" "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" "State of Independence" "Muscles" "Say Say Say" "Somebody's Watching Me" "Don't Stand Another Chance" "Centipede" "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)" "Eaten Alive" "Get It" "2300 Jackson Street" "Do the Bartman" "Whatzupwitu" "Why" "I Need You" "We Be Ballin'" "Girls, Girls, Girls" "All Eyez on Me" "All in Your Name" "There Must Be More to Life Than This" "Low" "Don't Matter to Me"
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