fbpx
Wikipedia

Billie Jean

January 23, 2023

For the tennis player, see Billie Jean King. For the film, see The Legend of Billie Jean.

"Billie Jean" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson, released by Epic Records on January 2, 1983, as the second single from his sixth studio album, Thriller (1982). It was written and composed by Jackson and produced by Jackson and Quincy Jones. "Billie Jean" blends post-disco, rhythm and blues, 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.

"Billie Jean"
Side A of the US 7-inch vinyl single
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Thriller
B-side
ReleasedJanuary 2, 1983
Recorded1982
StudioWestlake Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)[1]
Genre
Length
  • 4:54 (album/single version)
  • 6:20 (12-inch version)
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Michael Jackson
Producer(s)
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"The Girl Is Mine"
(1982) 		"Billie Jean"
(1983) 		"Beat It"
(1983)
Music video
"Billie Jean" on YouTube

"Billie Jean" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, topped the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart within three weeks, and became Jackson's fastest-rising number one single since "ABC", "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There" in 1970, all of which he recorded as a member of the Jackson 5. Billboard ranked it as the No. 2 song for 1983. "Billie Jean" is certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It was also a number one hit in the UK, Canada, France, Switzerland and Belgium, and reached the top ten in many other countries. "Billie Jean" was one of the best-selling singles of 1983, helping Thriller become the best-selling album of all time, and became Jackson's best-selling solo single.

Jackson's performance of "Billie Jean" on the TV special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever won acclaim and was nominated for an Emmy Award. It introduced a number of Jackson's signatures, including the moonwalk, black sequined jacket, and high-water pants, and was widely imitated. The "Billie Jean" music video, directed by Steve Barron, was the first video by a black artist to be aired in heavy rotation on MTV. Along with the other videos produced for Thriller, it helped establish MTV's cultural importance and make music videos an integral part of popular music marketing. The spare, bass-driven arrangement of "Billie Jean" helped pioneer what one critic called "sleek, post-soul pop music".[2] It also introduced a more paranoid lyrical style for Jackson, a trademark of his later music.

"Billie Jean" was awarded honors including two Grammy Awards and an American Music Award. In a list compiled by Rolling Stone and MTV in 2000, the song was ranked as the sixth greatest pop song since 1963. Rolling Stone placed it at number 58 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004, and at number 44 in its 2021 update of the list. The song was also included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.[3] Frequently listed in magazine polls of the best songs ever made, "Billie Jean" was named the greatest dance record of all time by BBC Radio 2 listeners.

Background

There never was a real Billie Jean. The girl in the song is a composite of people my brothers have been plagued with over the years. I could never understand how these girls could say they were carrying someone's child when it wasn't true.

—Michael Jackson, Moonwalk (1988)[4]

Jackson said that "Billie Jean" was based on groupies he and his brothers encountered while they performed as the Jackson 5.[4][5][6] "They would hang around backstage doors, and any band that would come to town they would have a relationship with, and I think I wrote this out of experience [sic] with my brothers when I was little. There were a lot of Billie Jeans out there. Every girl claimed that their son was related to one of my brothers."[7]

According to Jackson's biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli, "Billie Jean" was inspired by letters Jackson received in 1981 from a woman claiming he was the father of one of her twins.[8][9] Jackson, who regularly received letters of this kind, had never met the woman and ignored those claims. However, she continued to send letters stating that she loved him and wanted to be with him, asking how he could ignore his own flesh and blood. The letters disturbed him to the extent that he suffered nightmares.[8]

Eventually, Jackson received a parcel containing a photograph of the fan, a gun, and a letter instructing him to die at a particular time. The fan would do the same once she had killed "their" baby, so they could be together in the "next life". The Jacksons later discovered that the fan had been sent to a psychiatric hospital.[8]

Production

Jackson said he felt "Billie Jean" would be a success as he was writing it: "A musician knows hit material. Everything has to feel in place. It fulfills you and it makes you feel good. That's how I felt about 'Billie Jean'. I knew it was going to be big when I was writing it."[4][2] He explained that, hearing it in his head while in his car, he was so absorbed that he did not realize his car had caught fire until a passing motorcyclist informed him.[4][2]

Jackson disagreed with the producer, Quincy Jones, about the song. According to some reports, Jones felt it was too weak to be included on Thriller, but Jones has denied this.[8][10][11] Jones disliked the demo and did not care for the bassline,[12] and wanted to cut Jackson's 29-second introduction.[2][13] Jackson, however, insisted that it be kept. According to Jones, he conceded when Jackson said it made him want to dance: "And when Michael Jackson tells you, 'That's what makes me want to dance', well, the rest of us just have to shut up."[2][14]

Jones also wanted to change the title to "Not My Lover", as he believed that people would think the song referred the tennis player Billie Jean King.[15][16] Jackson refused to change the title and asked Jones to give him co-producing credits for the track, as he felt that the finished product sounded close to his demo. In addition, Jackson wanted extra royalties. Jones granted him neither and the two fell out for several days.[8][12]

Jones had Jackson sing his vocal overdubs through a six-foot cardboard tube.[2] Jackson's lead vocal was performed in one take; he had received vocal training every morning throughout the production of the song.[5] Jazz saxophonist Tom Scott played the lyricon, an electronic wind instrument. Bassist Louis Johnson played his part on every bass guitar he owned, before Jackson settled for a Yamaha bass.[2]

Engineer Bruce Swedien mixed the song 91 times—unusual for Swedien, who usually mixed a song just once. The mixes grew progressively worse, and Jones asked Swedien to listen again to the second mix, which was much better. The second mix was the final version.[12] Instructed by Jones to create a drum sound with "sonic personality" that no one had heard before, Swedien constructed a platform for the drum kit with special elements including a flat piece of wood between the snare and hi-hat. He said: "There aren't many pieces of music where you can hear the first three or four notes of the drums, and immediately tell what the piece of music is. But I think that is the case with 'Billie Jean'—and that I attribute to sonic personality."[2][12]

Composition

 
"Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson
"Billie Jean", a number-one hit single in many countries and written and co-produced by Jackson, mixed uptempo funk and disco with the somber themes of paranoia and obsession.[17]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Billie Jean" blends post-disco,[18] rhythm and blues,[5][18][19] funk,[17][20] and dance-pop.[5] The song opens with a standard drum beat along with a standard hi-hat, and joined two bars later with a shaker. After two more bars, a repetitive bassline enters. Each time it passes through the tonic, the note is doubled by a distorted synth bass. This accompaniment is followed by a repetitive three-note synth, played staccato with a deep reverb. The defining chord progression is then established. Jackson's quiet vocals enter, accompanied by a finger-snap, which comes and goes during the verses, as the rhythm and chord progression repeats.[5] Greg Phillinganes, who played keys, said of the song: "'Billie Jean' is hot on every level. It's hot rhythmically. It's hot sonically, because the instrumentation is so minimal, you can really hear everything. It's hot melodically ... lyrically [and] vocally. It affects you physically, emotionally, even spiritually."[2]

According to Jones, Jackson "stole" notes from the Jon and Vangelis song "State of Independence";[21] Jones had produced Donna Summer's cover of the song, and Jackson had sung backing vocals.[22] According to Jon Anderson, "They took the riff and made it funky for 'Billie Jean' ... So that's kinda cool, that cross-pollination in music."[21] According to Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates, Jackson told him he had taken the "Billie Jean" groove from their 1981 track "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)".[23] Hall told him "Oh Michael, what do I care? You did it very differently."[23]

According to Inside the Hits, the lyrics refer to the commotion created by Billie Jean on a dance floor. She entices the crowd with a seductive come-on before luring the narrator to her bedroom, through the fragrance of her perfume. Jackson's vocal range spanned from a high baritone to a falsetto and he usually wrote melodies to show this range. However, in the verses of "Billie Jean", his vocals range from a tenor to a low falsetto. A four-note falsetto is showcased in the chorus and, during the last line, Jackson peaks at a full octave.[5] The song has a tempo of 117 beats per minute and is in the key of F♯ minor. Following the first chorus, a cello-like synth eases in at the beginnings of both the third, and later, the fourth, verses. Upon the announcement that the baby's eyes resemble the narrator's, a voice laments, "oh no". This is met with Jackson's signature falsetto "hee hee".[5] The bridge debuts the strings, and holds a pedal tone tonic with the exception of two lines and a chord leading into the chorus. Violins are then played, followed by a four-note minor guitar part. During the guitar part, vocal shouts, screams and laughs are added. Throughout this, the chord progression remains unaltered and is laced with Jackson's vocal hiccups. All the musical and vocal elements are then brought together in the final chorus. In the fade, Jackson repeats the narrator's denial of fathering Billie Jean's child.[5]

Reception

On November 30, 1982,[24] Thriller was released to critical and commercial success.[25] On January 2, 1983, "Billie Jean" was released as the album's second single; it follows Jackson's successful duet with Paul McCartney on "The Girl Is Mine".[26][27] The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 5, 1983.[28] Billboard ranked it as the No. 2 song for 1983.[29] "Billie Jean" topped the R&B chart within three weeks, and became Jackson's fastest-rising number one single since "ABC", "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There" in 1970, which he recorded as a member of the Jackson 5. It remained at number one for nine weeks on the R&B chart, being preceded by the Gap Band's "Outstanding", before the single was eventually succeeded by George Clinton's "Atomic Dog".[26] "Billie Jean" peaked at number 9 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[27] It was also number one in the UK Singles Chart. "Billie Jean" and Thriller topped both the singles and album charts in the same week. This occurred on both sides of the Atlantic simultaneously, a feat very few acts have ever achieved. The song was the third best-selling single of 1983 in the US and ninth in the UK.[26] "Billie Jean" also reached number one in Canada, Switzerland and Belgium, and the top ten in Austria, Italy, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden.[30][31]

In a Rolling Stone review, Christopher Connelly described "Billie Jean" as a "lean, insistent funk number whose message couldn't be more blunt: 'She says I am the one/But the kid is not my son'". He added that the track was a "sad, almost mournful song, but a thumping resolve underlies [Jackson's] feelings".[17] Blender stated that the song was "one of the most sonically eccentric, psychologically fraught, downright bizarre things ever to land on Top 40 radio". They added that it was "frighteningly stark, with a pulsing, cat-on-the-prowl bass figure, whip-crack downbeat and eerie multi-tracked vocals ricocheting in the vast spaces between keyboards and strings". Overall, the magazine described the track as "a five-minute-long nervous breakdown, set to a beat".[2] Stylus said of the song, "It's one of the best representations of film noir in pop music, ending with no resolution except a single mother and selfish, careless scumball."[32] In a review of Thriller 25, AllMusic observed that "Billie Jean" was "startling" in its "futuristic funk".[20] The track also won praise from Jackson biographers. Nelson George stated that Jerry Hey's string arrangement added danger to "Billie Jean", while J. Randy Taraborrelli added that it was "dark and sparse" by Quincy Jones' production standards.[8][33]

"Billie Jean" has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. At the 1984 Grammy Awards the song earned Jackson two of a record eight awards; Best R&B Song and Best R&B Male Vocal Performance. It won the Billboard Music Award for favorite dance/disco 12" LP, and the magazine's 1980's poll named "Billie Jean" as the "Black Single of the Decade". The American Music Awards recognized the track as the Favorite Pop/Rock Single, while Cash Box honored the song with the awards for Top Pop Single and Top Black Single. The track was recognized with the Top International Single award by the Canadian Black Music Awards and awarded the Black Gold Award for Single of the Year. "Billie Jean" has also been awarded for its sales. It won the National Association of Recording Merchandisers Gift of Music award for best-selling single in 1984. By 1989, the standard format single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments of at least one million units.[34][35] The digital sales of "Billie Jean" were certified gold in 2005, for shipments of at least 500,000 units.[36] In May 2014, a viral video of a high school-aged teenager imitating Jackson's Motown 25 performance of the song helped the song re-enter the Billboard Hot 100 at number 14, with much of its chart performance was 95% credited to streams of the viral video.[37] On August 29, 2022, the digital sales of "Billie Jean" were certified Diamond in US.[38]

"Billie Jean" enters the Billboard Global 200 chart where it peaked at 137 on the issue date January 15, 2022.[39]

Music video

 
Jackson landing on his toes and illuminating a tile in the music video for "Billie Jean".

MTV initially refused to air the video for "Billie Jean", as the network's executives felt black music did not fit into "rock"-centered network.[40] Walter Yetnikoff, the president of Jackson's record company CBS Records, was enraged by their refusal to play the video in spite of Jackson's success as a musical artist. Yetnikoff threatened to go public with MTV's stance on racial discrimination: "I said to MTV, 'I'm pulling everything we have off the air, all our product. I'm not going to give you any more videos. And I'm going to go public and fucking tell them about the fact you don't want to play music by a black guy.'"[2] MTV relented and the "Billie Jean" music video debuted on March 10, 1983.[41] After the video was aired in heavy rotation, Thriller went on to sell an additional 10 million copies.[2][42] It was one of the first videos by a black artist to be aired regularly by the channel.[40]

Directed by Steve Barron, the video shows a photographer who follows Jackson. The paparazzo never catches him, and when photographed Jackson fails to materialize on the developed picture. He dances to Billie Jean's hotel room and as he walks along a sidewalk, each tile lights up at his touch.[40][43] After he performs a quick spin, Jackson jumps and lands, freeze framed, on his toes. Upon arrival at the hotel, Jackson climbs the staircase to Billie Jean's room. Each step lights up as he touches it and a burnt out "Hotel" sign illuminates as he passes. The paparazzo then arrives at the scene and watches as Jackson vanishes under the covers of Billie Jean's bed. Trailed by the police, the paparazzo is then arrested for spying on Billie Jean.[40] As the paparazzo is led away, he drops a tiger-print cloth – the one that Jackson produces and uses to polish his shoe earlier in the video. (On both occasions, the cloth briefly transforms into a tiger cub). Once the street is empty the paving tiles again light up in sequence, reversing Jackson's earlier progress.

Jackson sported a new look for the video; Jackson's clothes, a black leather suit with a pink shirt and a red bow tie, were copied by children around the US.[40] Imitation became so severe that, despite pupil protests, Bound Brook High School didn't allow students to wear a single white glove like Jackson had on during the performance of "Billie Jean" at Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever.[44][45]

The short film was inducted into the Music Video Producers Hall of Fame in 1992.[34] In a 2005 poll of 31 pop stars, video directors, agents, and journalists conducted by telecommunications company 3, the music video was ranked fifth in their "Top 20 Music Videos Ever".[46] The video was also ranked as the 35th greatest music video in a list compiled by MTV and TV Guide at the millennium.[47] On June 10, 2021, "Billie Jean" became the first 1980s clip by solo artist to reach 1 billion views on YouTube.[48]

Motown 25 performance

Main article: Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

Jackson performed "Billie Jean" on the television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, broadcast on May 15, 1983. The performance is considered a watershed moment in popular culture history. The special was recorded on March 25 as a celebration of Motown Records' twenty-fifth anniversary (Motown was launched in 1959). The event featured many popular Motown acts, past and present. Jackson initially refused an invitation to reunite with the Jackson 5 for a performance, but reconsidered after a visit from Motown founder Berry Gordy, whom Jackson respected. Jackson asked to also perform "Billie Jean", to which Gordy agreed.[49][50] Following performances by Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and Mary Wells, the Jacksons sang a medley of their early 1970s hits. Jermaine Jackson was on stage with the group, marking the first time that the original Jackson 5 lineup had performed together since they left Motown in 1975. After the group performed "I'll Be There", they left Michael alone on stage.[51]

Jackson wore black pants, leather penny loafers, a black sequined jacket, and a single white rhinestone glove. He addressed the audience, and then "Billie Jean" started playing. (Jackson lip-synced the entire song, because organizers feared that the evening's backing band could not replicate the sound of the recording.)[50] To begin his performance, Jackson snapped a fedora to his head and struck a pose—his right hand on his hat and his left leg bent. During an instrumental interlude, he executed a move that many believe sealed his status as a pop icon.[52][53] Jackson glided backwards to perform the moonwalk, before he spun on his heels and landed en pointe.[49] It was the first time Jackson had performed the moonwalk in public; he had practiced it in his kitchen prior to the show.[54]

Many, including Jackson biographer Steve Knopper, have speculated that Jackson's "Billie Jean" costuming and choreography were specifically inspired by a dance routine performed by Bob Fosse in the 1974 musical film The Little Prince.[50] In that film, Fosse, playing "The Snake", sings the song "A Snake in the Grass" and performs an accompanying dance that Fosse himself choreographed. The dance includes a variety of techniques that seemed to be echoed in Jackson's routine, including trademark Fosse elements such as hip thrusts, bent knees, shoulder isolations, jazz hands and kicks, as well a brief moonwalk.[50][55] Jackson openly acknowledged Fosse as a dance influence, having told Fosse himself that he had amassed a complete home collection of Fosse's choreography work in film and television, which he watched frequently.[55] However, Jackson never specifically cited the "Snake in the Grass" routine as an inspiration.[citation needed]

Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever was watched by 50 million people and Jackson's routine earned him an Emmy nomination.[56][57] With the performance, Jackson reached a new audience and increased the sales of Thriller, which eventually became the best-selling album of all-time.[54] The day after the show aired, Jackson was called by his childhood idol Fred Astaire, who commended him. Another childhood idol, Sammy Davis Jr., had admired Jackson's black sequined jacket during the performance and later received it as a gift.[54]

Jackson stated at the time that he was disappointed in his performance; he had wanted to remain on his toes longer than he had.[49] Jackson subsequently said that "Billie Jean" was one of his favorite songs to perform live, but only when he did not have to do it the way he had on Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. "The audience wants a certain thing—I have to do the moonwalk in that spot," he later said. "I'd like to do a different version."[34]

In a Top 100 list compiled by VH1 and Entertainment Weekly in 2000, Jackson's performance was ranked as the sixth greatest rock 'n' roll TV moment.[58] Five years later, Entertainment Weekly named Jackson's Motown 25 performance as one of the most important pop culture moments in history. "It was a moment that crossed over in a way that no live musical performance ever had. There was a messianic quality to it", Entertainment Weekly editor Steve Daly commented.[59] David Moynihan of NME wrote in 2009 that "Jackson's status as the world's biggest superstar was confirmed" by the Motown 25 performance.[60]

Pepsi commercials

In 1984, Pepsi sponsored the Jacksons' Victory Tour. In return, Michael and his brothers were to star in two commercials for the company.[61] Jackson had reworked "Billie Jean" for the commercial and titled it "Pepsi Generation". The song was used as the official jingle for the commercials and released as a 7" promo single. The launch of "The Choice of a New Generation" campaign in February 1984 was attended by 1,600 people who were issued with a programme and the 7" single.[62] During the filming of the second commercial, a firework in the rear of the set was prematurely detonated, setting Jackson's hair ablaze. The incident necessitated reconstructive surgery.[63][64][65] The commercials were premiered at the Grammy Awards, the same night he collected a record eight awards.[61][66]

Billie Jean 2008

"Billie Jean 2008 (Kanye West Mix)"
Song by Michael Jackson and Kanye West
from the album Thriller 25
ReleasedFebruary 8, 2008 (2008-02-08)
Length4:35
Songwriter(s)Michael Jackson
Producer(s)

Michael Jackson's original version of "Billie Jean" was remixed by Kanye West for Thriller 25, a 25th anniversary reissue of Jackson's Thriller. Titled "Billie Jean 2008", the remix garnered a mixed reception; most critics felt that it was impossible to improve upon the original. Pitchfork Media's Tom Ewing stated that the remix would have benefited from a guest verse by West, which "might have added dynamics to the mix's clumsy claustrophobia".[67]

Mike Joseph, in a review of Thriller 25 for PopMatters, described the track listing of the reissue as "pleasant" but that West's "lazy" remix was the only exception. He added, "You've been given the opportunity to remix the most iconic single from one of the most iconic albums of all time, and all you can do is stick a drum machine on top of the song's original arrangement?".[68] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone disliked the removal of the original bassline, and compared it to "putting Bobby Orr on the ice without a hockey stick".[69] IGN's Todd Gilchrist praised West's remix and stated that it was a "pretty great track". He added, "it almost overplays the track's originally understated drama, his additions enhance the song and demonstrate that in a contemporary context."[70]

Legacy

"Billie Jean" aided Thriller in becoming the biggest selling album of all time.[71][72]

It was popularly believed that "Billie Jean" was an autobiographical song, referring to someone who claimed Jackson was the father of her child. Based on this theory, Lydia Murdock wrote the song "Superstar", which was a minor hit in 1983, intending this song as a criticism of Jackson's purported denial of paternity.[73]

On his Late Night program in the 1980s, host David Letterman often played a recording of a song with the word "chair" replacing "kid" to create the mondegreen "the chair is not my son".[74]

Frequently listed in magazine polls of the best songs ever made, "Billie Jean" was named the greatest dance record of all time by BBC Radio 2 listeners.[75] In a list compiled by Rolling Stone and MTV in 2000, the song was ranked as the sixth greatest pop song since 1963.[76]

Rolling Stone placed the song at number 58 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004.[77] In the 2021 update of the list it had risen to 44.[78] "Billie Jean" was voted number 2 in The Nation's Favourite Number 1 Single, a British TV program airing on ITV on 21 July 2012. In a similar poll in 2015 the song was voted by the British public as the nation's second favorite 1980s number one.[79]

In an interview, Pharrell Williams stated that "Billie Jean" was one of his favorite songs. "It is hard to say if there is a greater song than 'Billie Jean'. I think there will never be a song like this one again, with this bassline, with this kind of effect, this eternalness, this perfection."[80] When re-released as part of the Visionary campaign in 2006, "Billie Jean" charted at No. 11 in the UK. It remained in the top 200 for over 40 weeks and was the most successful reissue by some distance.[47] According to Thriller 25: The Book (2008), "Billie Jean" is still in heavy rotation; it receives more than 250,000 spins per week in clubs around the world.[80]

Track listings

7" single (Epic EPCA 3084 (CBS))[30]

  1. "Billie Jean" – 4:55
  2. "It's the Falling in Love" – 3:46

7" single (Epic 15-06453)[30]

  1. "Billie Jean" – 4:50
  2. "Beat It" – 4:11

12" maxi (Epic 12-3084)[30]

  1. "Billie Jean" – 6:20
  2. "Billie Jean" (instrumental) – 6:20

Personnel

Credits adapted from Blender and the album Thriller 25.[2][81]

Charts

Weekly charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[143] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[144] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[145] 2× Platinum 180,000 
France (SNEP)[146] Platinum 1,000,000*
Italy (FIMI)[147] 2× Platinum 140,000 
Mexico (AMPROFON)[148] Diamond+2× Platinum 420,000 
New Zealand (RMNZ)[149] Gold 10,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[150] Gold 25,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[151] Gold 500,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[152] 3× Platinum 1,800,000 
United States (RIAA)[36] Diamond 10,000,000 
United States (RIAA)[36]
Mastertone 		Gold 500,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
  Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

The Bates version

"Billie Jean"
Single by the Bates
from the album Pleasure + Pain
Released1995
Length4:25
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Michael Jackson
Producer(s)
  • The Bates
  • Andi Jung
The Bates singles chronology
"A Real Cool Time"
(1995) 		"Billie Jean"
(1995) 		"Say It Isn't So"
(1995)

In 1995, German band the Bates covered "Billie Jean" on their album Pleasure + Pain.

Track listing

Maxi-CD

  1. Billie Jean – 4:25
  2. Tonight (Remix) – 3:45
  3. Love Is Dead (Part II) – 3:22
  4. Yeah (Acoustic Version) – 1:06

Charts

Chart (1995–1996) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[153] 68
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[154] 40
Germany (Official German Charts)[155] 21
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[156] 10
UK Singles (OCC)[157] 67

The Sound Bluntz version

"Billie Jean"
Single by the Sound Bluntz
Released2002
LabelKontor
Songwriter(s)Michael Jackson
Producer(s)Cory Cash

Canadian group the Sound Bluntz also recorded a cover which peaked at No. 17 on the Australian charts during March 2003.[158] It also reached No. 17 in Belgium, No. 14 in Finland, and No. 53 in the Netherlands.

Track listing

CD-Maxi Kontor 14305-5 (Edel)

  1. Billie Jean (Beat Radio Mix) – 4:00
  2. Billie Jean (Beat Clubb Mix) – 6:50
  3. Billie Jean (Full Effect Mix) – 7:34
  4. Dura Dura (Reprise) – 1:36

Charts

Chart (2002–2003) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[158] 17
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[159] 17
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[160] 24
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[161] 14
Germany (Official German Charts)[162] 74
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[163] 53
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[164] 93
UK Singles (OCC)[165] 32

Other cover versions

English musician Ian Brown took "Billie Jean" to number 5 on the UK charts in 2000. It was the B-side of "Dolphins Were Monkeys". Brown said, "I love Jackson. I want to do a Jackson EP with 'Thriller', 'Beat It', 'Billie Jean' and 'Rockin' Robin' or 'ABC' on it. Hopefully I'll get it done". Brown later covered "Thriller" on Golden Gaze, from his second solo album, Golden Greats.[47][166]

American rock musician Chris Cornell recorded "Billie Jean" for his Carry On album in 2007. Cornell said of his cover, "I didn't plan on it. It just sort of happened organically. I changed the music quite a bit, I didn't touch the lyrics." He added, "And it's not a joke. I took a completely different approach to it, musically."[167] Cornell had previously performed the song live in Europe, including an acoustic set in Stockholm, Sweden in September 2006.[47][167] He later said, "I was getting ready to do some acoustic shows on a promotional tour for Revelations and I just wanted to have fun with it."[168] The cover received favorable reviews from critics. MTV noted the "bluesier, more pained and impassioned feel" which stripped away "any pop elements of the original".[168] Los Angeles Times described the track as "a grim, spooky take" on Jackson's "Billie Jean", and added that it was "amusing enough, even if it sounds a lot more like Metallica's 'Nothing Else Matters'". The newspaper concluded that "Jacko's mega hit [survived] the stunt translation".[169] In 2008, Cornell's version was performed live by David Cook on the seventh season of American Idol,[170] and this version charted on Billboard's Hot 100 at No. 47.[171]

In 2011, Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump covered the song as part of an a cappella medley of Michael Jackson songs, in which he sang all the parts.[172]

In 2015, Irish musician EDEN released a remix of "Billie Jean" then separately released a cover of the song with his own vocals.[173]

Mashups and remixes

In 1983, Italian studio group Club House recorded what would now be known as a mashup of "Billie Jean" and the 1972 Steely Dan song "Do It Again", titled "Do It Again Medley with Billie Jean". The song was a top ten hit in Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands. American band Slingshot recorded a note-for-note remake of the song later that same year; this version hit number one on the Billboard Dance/Disco charts.[174]

A DJ named Linx created a mashup of "Billie Jean" and the 1987 Eric B. & Rakim song "I Know You Got Soul" from the original recordings, releasing it in 1997 as "Billie Jean (Got Soul)". This mashup peaked at number 34 in Sweden.[175]

Scottish bhangra group Tigerstyle's song "Nachna Onda Nei" includes the backing tracks of both "Billie Jean" and "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie, with new vocals by Kaka Bhaniawala.[176] In May 2011, dance act Signature used "Nachna Onda Nei" on Britain's Got Talent in their audition and again in their final performance.[177]

See also

References

Citations

  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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m . Blender. October 2005. Archived from the original on December 15, 2005.
  3. ^ . Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d Jackson 1988, pp. 192–194.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Wadhams 2001, pp. 418–422.
  6. ^ Guendelsberger, Emily (December 20, 2008). "Billie Jean files lawsuit saying that he is the one". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  7. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (July 6, 2009). "Michael Jackson Answers Fan Questions in 1996 Thailand Interview". MTV. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Taraborrelli 2004, pp. 223–224.
  9. ^ Murphy, Sport (January 27, 2008). . New York Post. Archived from the original on April 17, 2008. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  10. ^ Brandle, Lars (May 21, 2014). "Quincy Jones on Michael Jackson's 'Xscape': 'It's About Money'". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  11. ^ Daly, Susan (March 21, 2009). "The genius of Jacko". Irish Independent. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  12. ^ a b c d Halstead 2007, pp. 36–37.
  13. ^ Winterman, Denise (November 30, 2007). "Thrills and spills and record breaks". BBC News Online. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  14. ^ Glentzer, Molly (July 1, 2009). "The steps that made Michael Jackson great". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  15. ^ . San Jose Mercury News. April 21, 1988. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  16. ^ Jackson, Michael (May 1, 1988). . Toronto Star. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  17. ^ a b c Connelly, Christopher (January 21, 1997). . Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 5, 2007.
  18. ^ a b Makinde, Adeyinka (2009). . Black-history-month.co.uk. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  19. ^ Ripani, Richard J. (2006). The New Blue Music: Changes in Rhythm & Blues, 1950–1999. University Press of Mississippi. p. 146. ISBN 1-57806-862-2.
  20. ^ a b Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "The Funk of 25 Years: Thriller Hits the Quarter Century Mark". AllMusic. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  21. ^ a b O'Neill, Christina (July 20, 2016). "Jon Anderson on how Vangelis album inspired Thriller". Prog. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  22. ^ Marchese, David (February 7, 2018). "In Conversation: Quincy Jones". Vulture.com. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  23. ^ a b Simpson, Dave (April 2, 2018). "Hall and Oates: how we made I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)". The Guardian. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  24. ^ Greenberg, Steve (November 29, 2012). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' at 30: How One Album Changed the World". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  25. ^ Taraborrelli 2004, p. 222.
  26. ^ a b c Halstead 2007, pp. 37–38.
  27. ^ a b George 2004, p. 39.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ a b "Top 100 Hits for 1983". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  30. ^ a b c d e f "Michael Jackson – Billie Jean" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  31. ^ a b "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6203." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  32. ^ Rosenberg, Tal (June 19, 2007). . Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  33. ^ George 2004, p. 23.
  34. ^ a b c Halstead 2007, pp. 38–40.
  35. ^ George 2004, pp. 39–43.
  36. ^ a b c "Gold & Platinum – Michael Jackson – Billie Jean". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  37. ^ Trust, Gary; Caulfield, Keith (May 28, 2014). "Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' Returns to Hot 100; Legend Lands 50th Hit". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  38. ^ "Michael Jackson's Catalogue Garners Major New Gold & Platinum Awards". Recording Industry Association of America. August 23, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  39. ^ a b "Michael Jackson Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  40. ^ a b c d e Campbell 1993, p. 58.
  41. ^ Palmer, Tamara (March 10, 2013). "How the 'Billie Jean' Video Changed MTV". The Root. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  42. ^ Cocks, Jay (December 26, 1983). . Time. Archived from the original on August 20, 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  43. ^ Weitner, Sean (2001). . Flak Magazine. Archived from the original on March 6, 2003.
  44. ^ "School bans Michael Jackson attire". Lakeland Ledger. March 13, 1984. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  45. ^ "White gloves banned". Ottawa Citizen. March 14, 1984. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  46. ^ Smith, David (January 30, 2005). "Cash tops Thriller with best video ever". The Guardian. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  47. ^ a b c d Halstead 2007, pp. 39–41.
  48. ^ Daniels, Karu F. (June 17, 2021). "Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' music video hits 1 billion views on YouTube". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  49. ^ a b c Taraborrelli 2004, pp. 234–240.
  50. ^ a b c d "Inside Michael Jackson's Iconic First Moonwalk Onstage". Rolling Stone. October 5, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  51. ^ O'Connor, John J. (May 16, 1983). "TV: Sound of Motown Celebrated". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  52. ^ Leopold, Todd (June 6, 2005). "Michael Jackson: A life in the spotlight". CNN. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  53. ^ Cannon, Bob (March 25, 1994). . Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  54. ^ a b c Campbell 1993, pp. 65–68.
  55. ^ a b Wasson, Sam (2013). Fosse. Eamon Dolan/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 533. ISBN 978-0-54755-329-0.
  56. ^ . Fox News Channel. June 14, 2005. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  57. ^ Harris, Chris (January 14, 2008). "Michael Jackson, Akon Are 'Startin' Somethin' on Thriller 25 Track". MTV. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  58. ^ "Top Rock TV Moment A Really Big Show". CBS News. July 24, 2000. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  59. ^ "The 25 Most Important Pop Culture Moments". CNN. September 1, 2005. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  60. ^ Moynihan, David (June 26, 2009). "Michael Jackson: 1958-2009 – obituary". NME.
  61. ^ a b Taraborrelli 2004, pp. 279–289.
  62. ^ Halstead 2007, p. 205.
  63. ^ . Time. February 6, 1984. Archived from the original on January 23, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  64. ^ "Singer Has Operation To Repair Burn Scar". The New York Times. April 19, 1984. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  65. ^ Zoglin, Richard (February 13, 1984). . Time. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  66. ^ . Time. March 12, 1984. Archived from the original on November 6, 2010.
  67. ^ Ewing, Tom (February 15, 2008). "Michael Jackson – Thriller: 25th Anniversary Edition". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  68. ^ Joseph, Mike (February 10, 2008). "Michael Jackson: Thriller 25". PopMatters. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  69. ^ Sheffield, Rob (February 21, 2008). . Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 17, 2008.
  70. ^ Gilchrist, Todd (February 7, 2008). . IGN. Archived from the original on June 30, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  71. ^ "How Billie Jean changed the world". The Guardian. London. July 12, 2007. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  72. ^ Rayner, Ben (February 10, 2008). "The return of Michael Jackson's Thriller". Toronto Star. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  73. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 386. CN 5585.
  74. ^ "That song brings back memories: Billie Jean (the chair is not my son)". WBEZ. Chicago, IL. June 26, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  75. ^ "Billie Jean voted top dance song". BBC News Online. July 15, 2008. Retrieved February 21, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  76. ^ "Yesterday is top pop song". BBC News Online. November 17, 2000. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  77. ^ . Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 23, 2006.
  78. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time > Michael Jackson, 'Billie Jean'". Roling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  79. ^ Westbrook, Caroline (25 July 2015). "The Nation's Favourite 80s Number One: 12 more classic 80s chart-toppers which didn't make the cut". Metro. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  80. ^ a b Thriller 25: The Book 2008, p. 26.
  81. ^ Thriller 25 (liner notes). Michael Jackson. Epic/MJJ Productions/Legacy/Sony BMG. 2008. 88697 17986 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  82. ^ Kent, David (2003). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  83. ^ "Michael Jackson – Billie Jean" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  84. ^ . MusicSeek.info. Archived from the original on June 14, 2006.
  85. ^ a b Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Michael Jackson". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 113. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  86. ^ "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 80's". InfoDisc (in French). Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  87. ^ "Michael Jackson – Billie Jean" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  88. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Billie Jean". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  89. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved May 29, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Michael Jackson".
  90. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 9, 1983" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  91. ^ a b c "Michael Jackson – Billie Jean" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  92. ^ a b "Michael Jackson – Billie Jean". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  93. ^ a b c "Michael Jackson – Billie Jean". VG-lista. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  94. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (J)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  95. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  96. ^ a b c "Michael Jackson – Billie Jean". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  97. ^ a b c d "Michael Jackson – Billie Jean". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  98. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  99. ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  100. ^ a b c . AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 17, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  101. ^ . Cash Box. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012.
  102. ^ Halstead & Cadman 2003, p. 26.
  103. ^ a b c d "Michael Jackson – Billie Jean" (in French). Les classement single.
  104. ^ a b "Michael Jackson – Billie Jean". Top Digital Download. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  105. ^ a b c "Michael Jackson – Billie Jean" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  106. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  107. ^ "Michael Jackson – Billie Jean". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  108. ^ "50 Back Catalogue Singles – 25/07/2009". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  109. ^ "Michael Jackson – Billie Jean". Tracklisten. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  110. ^ . World Charts. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
  111. ^ "Michael Jackson: Billie Jean" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  112. ^ "lescharts.com – Français" (in French). Les classement de telechargement single. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  113. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 29, 2009" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  114. ^ . Billboard Türkiye (in Turkish). July 6, 2009. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
  115. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  116. ^ . Billboard. Archived from the original on July 6, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
  117. ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard. June 7, 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  118. ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  119. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  120. ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  121. ^ "Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 22, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
  122. ^ . Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  123. ^ "Jahreshitparade 1983" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  124. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1983" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  125. ^ "The Top Singles of 1983". RPM. Vol. 39, no. 17. December 24, 1983. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  126. ^ "TOP – 1983". Top-france.fr (in French). Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  127. ^ . Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015.
  128. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1983" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  129. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1983" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  130. ^ "End of Year Charts 1983". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  131. ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1983". Rock.co.za. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  132. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1983" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  133. ^ "The Top 40 Biggest Selling Singles of 1983". Official Charts. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  134. ^ . Billboard. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006.
  135. ^ . Cash Box. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012.
  136. ^ "ChartsPlusYE2006" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  137. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2009" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  138. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1983" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  139. ^ (in Swedish). Hitlistan. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013.
  140. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2009" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  141. ^ "ChartsPlusYE2009" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  142. ^ "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  143. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  144. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Michael Jackson – Billie Jean". Music Canada.
  145. ^ "Danish single certifications – Michael Jackson – Billie Jean". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  146. ^ "French single certifications – Michael Jackson – Billie Jean" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved November 9, 2021. Select MICHAEL JACKSON and click OK. 
  147. ^ "Italian single certifications – Michael Jackson – Billie Jean" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 18, 2021. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Billie Jean" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  148. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved April 26, 2022. Type Michael Jackson in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Billie Jean in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  149. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Michael Jackson – Billie Jean". Recorded Music NZ.
  150. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Michael Jackson – Billie Jean". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España.
  151. ^ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Billie Jean". British Phonographic Industry.
  152. ^ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Billie Jean". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  153. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 14 Jan 1996". ARIA. The HP column displays the highest peak reached. Retrieved July 20, 2017 – via Imgur.
  154. ^ "The Bates – Billie Jean" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  155. ^ "The Bates – Billie Jean" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  156. ^ "The Bates – Billie Jean". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  157. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  158. ^ a b "The Sound Bluntz – Billie Jean". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  159. ^ "The Sound Bluntz – Billie Jean" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  160. ^ "The Sound Bluntz – Billie Jean" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  161. ^ "The Sound Bluntz: Billie Jean" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  162. ^ "The Sound Bluntz – Billie Jean" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  163. ^ "The Sound Bluntz – Billie Jean" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  164. ^ "The Sound Bluntz – Billie Jean". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  165. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  166. ^ "Brown's Thriller killer!". NME. March 17, 2000. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  167. ^ a b Harris, Chris (November 8, 2006). . MTV. Archived from the original on February 1, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  168. ^ a b Harris, Chris (April 23, 2007). "Chris Cornell Ready to Carry On as Solo Artist: 'I'm Best in My Own World'". MTV. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  169. ^ Appleford, Steve (June 5, 2007). . Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 14, 2007.
  170. ^ "Cornell Chats 'Idol'/'Billie Jean' Performance". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  171. ^ "The Hot Spot > Who's Bad". Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 23. June 7, 2008. p. 53. ISSN 0006-2510.
  172. ^ Futterman, Erica (February 2, 2011). "Patrick Stump Pays Tribute to Michael Jackson in Awesome A Cappella Medley". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  173. ^ Nick (November 23, 2015). "[PREMiERE] EDEN - Billie Jean (Michael Jackson Cover) : Must Hear Cover [Free Download]". Thissongissick. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  174. ^ "Slingshot – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  175. ^ "swedishcharts.com – Linx – Billie Jean (Got Soul)". Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  176. ^ "BBC Asian Network Summer Sounds". BBC Online. August 2005. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  177. ^ donsachin. "Signature – Britain's Got Talent – Michael Jackson LL– Full HD". Metacafe. Retrieved August 28, 2011.

Bibliography

January 23, 2023
billie, jean, tennis, player, king, film, legend, song, american, singer, michael, jackson, released, epic, records, january, 1983, second, single, from, sixth, studio, album, thriller, 1982, written, composed, jackson, produced, jackson, quincy, jones, blends. For the tennis player see Billie Jean King For the film see The Legend of Billie Jean Billie Jean is a song by American singer Michael Jackson released by Epic Records on January 2 1983 as the second single from his sixth studio album Thriller 1982 It was written and composed by Jackson and produced by Jackson and Quincy Jones Billie Jean blends post disco rhythm and blues 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 Billie Jean Side A of the US 7 inch vinyl singleSingle by Michael Jacksonfrom the album ThrillerB side Can t Get Outta the Rain US It s the Falling in Love UK ReleasedJanuary 2 1983Recorded1982StudioWestlake Recording Studios Los Angeles California 1 GenrePost discorhythm and bluesfunkdance popLength4 54 album single version 6 20 12 inch version LabelEpicSongwriter s Michael JacksonProducer s Quincy JonesMichael JacksonMichael Jackson singles chronology The Girl Is Mine 1982 Billie Jean 1983 Beat It 1983 Music video Billie Jean on YouTube Billie Jean reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 topped the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart within three weeks and became Jackson s fastest rising number one single since ABC The Love You Save and I ll Be There in 1970 all of which he recorded as a member of the Jackson 5 Billboard ranked it as the No 2 song for 1983 Billie Jean is certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America RIAA It was also a number one hit in the UK Canada France Switzerland and Belgium and reached the top ten in many other countries Billie Jean was one of the best selling singles of 1983 helping Thriller become the best selling album of all time and became Jackson s best selling solo single Jackson s performance of Billie Jean on the TV special Motown 25 Yesterday Today Forever won acclaim and was nominated for an Emmy Award It introduced a number of Jackson s signatures including the moonwalk black sequined jacket and high water pants and was widely imitated The Billie Jean music video directed by Steve Barron was the first video by a black artist to be aired in heavy rotation on MTV Along with the other videos produced for Thriller it helped establish MTV s cultural importance and make music videos an integral part of popular music marketing The spare bass driven arrangement of Billie Jean helped pioneer what one critic called sleek post soul pop music 2 It also introduced a more paranoid lyrical style for Jackson a trademark of his later music Billie Jean was awarded honors including two Grammy Awards and an American Music Award In a list compiled by Rolling Stone and MTV in 2000 the song was ranked as the sixth greatest pop song since 1963 Rolling Stone placed it at number 58 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004 and at number 44 in its 2021 update of the list The song was also included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll 3 Frequently listed in magazine polls of the best songs ever made Billie Jean was named the greatest dance record of all time by BBC Radio 2 listeners Contents 1 Background 2 Production 3 Composition 4 Reception 5 Music video 6 Motown 25 performance 7 Pepsi commercials 8 Billie Jean 2008 9 Legacy 10 Track listings 11 Personnel 12 Charts 12 1 Weekly charts 12 2 Year end charts 13 Certifications and sales 14 The Bates version 14 1 Track listing 14 2 Charts 15 The Sound Bluntz version 15 1 Track listing 15 2 Charts 16 Other cover versions 17 Mashups and remixes 18 See also 19 References 19 1 BibliographyBackground EditThere never was a real Billie Jean The girl in the song is a composite of people my brothers have been plagued with over the years I could never understand how these girls could say they were carrying someone s child when it wasn t true Michael Jackson Moonwalk 1988 4 Jackson said that Billie Jean was based on groupies he and his brothers encountered while they performed as the Jackson 5 4 5 6 They would hang around backstage doors and any band that would come to town they would have a relationship with and I think I wrote this out of experience sic with my brothers when I was little There were a lot of Billie Jeans out there Every girl claimed that their son was related to one of my brothers 7 According to Jackson s biographer J Randy Taraborrelli Billie Jean was inspired by letters Jackson received in 1981 from a woman claiming he was the father of one of her twins 8 9 Jackson who regularly received letters of this kind had never met the woman and ignored those claims However she continued to send letters stating that she loved him and wanted to be with him asking how he could ignore his own flesh and blood The letters disturbed him to the extent that he suffered nightmares 8 Eventually Jackson received a parcel containing a photograph of the fan a gun and a letter instructing him to die at a particular time The fan would do the same once she had killed their baby so they could be together in the next life The Jacksons later discovered that the fan had been sent to a psychiatric hospital 8 Production EditJackson said he felt Billie Jean would be a success as he was writing it A musician knows hit material Everything has to feel in place It fulfills you and it makes you feel good That s how I felt about Billie Jean I knew it was going to be big when I was writing it 4 2 He explained that hearing it in his head while in his car he was so absorbed that he did not realize his car had caught fire until a passing motorcyclist informed him 4 2 Jackson disagreed with the producer Quincy Jones about the song According to some reports Jones felt it was too weak to be included on Thriller but Jones has denied this 8 10 11 Jones disliked the demo and did not care for the bassline 12 and wanted to cut Jackson s 29 second introduction 2 13 Jackson however insisted that it be kept According to Jones he conceded when Jackson said it made him want to dance And when Michael Jackson tells you That s what makes me want to dance well the rest of us just have to shut up 2 14 Jones also wanted to change the title to Not My Lover as he believed that people would think the song referred the tennis player Billie Jean King 15 16 Jackson refused to change the title and asked Jones to give him co producing credits for the track as he felt that the finished product sounded close to his demo In addition Jackson wanted extra royalties Jones granted him neither and the two fell out for several days 8 12 Jones had Jackson sing his vocal overdubs through a six foot cardboard tube 2 Jackson s lead vocal was performed in one take he had received vocal training every morning throughout the production of the song 5 Jazz saxophonist Tom Scott played the lyricon an electronic wind instrument Bassist Louis Johnson played his part on every bass guitar he owned before Jackson settled for a Yamaha bass 2 Engineer Bruce Swedien mixed the song 91 times unusual for Swedien who usually mixed a song just once The mixes grew progressively worse and Jones asked Swedien to listen again to the second mix which was much better The second mix was the final version 12 Instructed by Jones to create a drum sound with sonic personality that no one had heard before Swedien constructed a platform for the drum kit with special elements including a flat piece of wood between the snare and hi hat He said There aren t many pieces of music where you can hear the first three or four notes of the drums and immediately tell what the piece of music is But I think that is the case with Billie Jean and that I attribute to sonic personality 2 12 Composition Edit Billie Jean by Michael Jackson source source track Billie Jean a number one hit single in many countries and written and co produced by Jackson mixed uptempo funk and disco with the somber themes of paranoia and obsession 17 Problems playing this file See media help Billie Jean blends post disco 18 rhythm and blues 5 18 19 funk 17 20 and dance pop 5 The song opens with a standard drum beat along with a standard hi hat and joined two bars later with a shaker After two more bars a repetitive bassline enters Each time it passes through the tonic the note is doubled by a distorted synth bass This accompaniment is followed by a repetitive three note synth played staccato with a deep reverb The defining chord progression is then established Jackson s quiet vocals enter accompanied by a finger snap which comes and goes during the verses as the rhythm and chord progression repeats 5 Greg Phillinganes who played keys said of the song Billie Jean is hot on every level It s hot rhythmically It s hot sonically because the instrumentation is so minimal you can really hear everything It s hot melodically lyrically and vocally It affects you physically emotionally even spiritually 2 According to Jones Jackson stole notes from the Jon and Vangelis song State of Independence 21 Jones had produced Donna Summer s cover of the song and Jackson had sung backing vocals 22 According to Jon Anderson They took the riff and made it funky for Billie Jean So that s kinda cool that cross pollination in music 21 According to Daryl Hall of Hall amp Oates Jackson told him he had taken the Billie Jean groove from their 1981 track I Can t Go for That No Can Do 23 Hall told him Oh Michael what do I care You did it very differently 23 According to Inside the Hits the lyrics refer to the commotion created by Billie Jean on a dance floor She entices the crowd with a seductive come on before luring the narrator to her bedroom through the fragrance of her perfume Jackson s vocal range spanned from a high baritone to a falsetto and he usually wrote melodies to show this range However in the verses of Billie Jean his vocals range from a tenor to a low falsetto A four note falsetto is showcased in the chorus and during the last line Jackson peaks at a full octave 5 The song has a tempo of 117 beats per minute and is in the key of F minor Following the first chorus a cello like synth eases in at the beginnings of both the third and later the fourth verses Upon the announcement that the baby s eyes resemble the narrator s a voice laments oh no This is met with Jackson s signature falsetto hee hee 5 The bridge debuts the strings and holds a pedal tone tonic with the exception of two lines and a chord leading into the chorus Violins are then played followed by a four note minor guitar part During the guitar part vocal shouts screams and laughs are added Throughout this the chord progression remains unaltered and is laced with Jackson s vocal hiccups All the musical and vocal elements are then brought together in the final chorus In the fade Jackson repeats the narrator s denial of fathering Billie Jean s child 5 Reception EditOn November 30 1982 24 Thriller was released to critical and commercial success 25 On January 2 1983 Billie Jean was released as the album s second single it follows Jackson s successful duet with Paul McCartney on The Girl Is Mine 26 27 The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 5 1983 28 Billboard ranked it as the No 2 song for 1983 29 Billie Jean topped the R amp B chart within three weeks and became Jackson s fastest rising number one single since ABC The Love You Save and I ll Be There in 1970 which he recorded as a member of the Jackson 5 It remained at number one for nine weeks on the R amp B chart being preceded by the Gap Band s Outstanding before the single was eventually succeeded by George Clinton s Atomic Dog 26 Billie Jean peaked at number 9 on the Adult Contemporary chart 27 It was also number one in the UK Singles Chart Billie Jean and Thriller topped both the singles and album charts in the same week This occurred on both sides of the Atlantic simultaneously a feat very few acts have ever achieved The song was the third best selling single of 1983 in the US and ninth in the UK 26 Billie Jean also reached number one in Canada Switzerland and Belgium and the top ten in Austria Italy New Zealand Norway and Sweden 30 31 In a Rolling Stone review Christopher Connelly described Billie Jean as a lean insistent funk number whose message couldn t be more blunt She says I am the one But the kid is not my son He added that the track was a sad almost mournful song but a thumping resolve underlies Jackson s feelings 17 Blender stated that the song was one of the most sonically eccentric psychologically fraught downright bizarre things ever to land on Top 40 radio They added that it was frighteningly stark with a pulsing cat on the prowl bass figure whip crack downbeat and eerie multi tracked vocals ricocheting in the vast spaces between keyboards and strings Overall the magazine described the track as a five minute long nervous breakdown set to a beat 2 Stylus said of the song It s one of the best representations of film noir in pop music ending with no resolution except a single mother and selfish careless scumball 32 In a review of Thriller 25 AllMusic observed that Billie Jean was startling in its futuristic funk 20 The track also won praise from Jackson biographers Nelson George stated that Jerry Hey s string arrangement added danger to Billie Jean while J Randy Taraborrelli added that it was dark and sparse by Quincy Jones production standards 8 33 Billie Jean has been recognized with numerous awards and honors At the 1984 Grammy Awards the song earned Jackson two of a record eight awards Best R amp B Song and Best R amp B Male Vocal Performance It won the Billboard Music Award for favorite dance disco 12 LP and the magazine s 1980 s poll named Billie Jean as the Black Single of the Decade The American Music Awards recognized the track as the Favorite Pop Rock Single while Cash Box honored the song with the awards for Top Pop Single and Top Black Single The track was recognized with the Top International Single award by the Canadian Black Music Awards and awarded the Black Gold Award for Single of the Year Billie Jean has also been awarded for its sales It won the National Association of Recording Merchandisers Gift of Music award for best selling single in 1984 By 1989 the standard format single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of at least one million units 34 35 The digital sales of Billie Jean were certified gold in 2005 for shipments of at least 500 000 units 36 In May 2014 a viral video of a high school aged teenager imitating Jackson s Motown 25 performance of the song helped the song re enter the Billboard Hot 100 at number 14 with much of its chart performance was 95 credited to streams of the viral video 37 On August 29 2022 the digital sales of Billie Jean were certified Diamond in US 38 Billie Jean enters the Billboard Global 200 chart where it peaked at 137 on the issue date January 15 2022 39 Music video Edit Jackson landing on his toes and illuminating a tile in the music video for Billie Jean MTV initially refused to air the video for Billie Jean as the network s executives felt black music did not fit into rock centered network 40 Walter Yetnikoff the president of Jackson s record company CBS Records was enraged by their refusal to play the video in spite of Jackson s success as a musical artist Yetnikoff threatened to go public with MTV s stance on racial discrimination I said to MTV I m pulling everything we have off the air all our product I m not going to give you any more videos And I m going to go public and fucking tell them about the fact you don t want to play music by a black guy 2 MTV relented and the Billie Jean music video debuted on March 10 1983 41 After the video was aired in heavy rotation Thriller went on to sell an additional 10 million copies 2 42 It was one of the first videos by a black artist to be aired regularly by the channel 40 Directed by Steve Barron the video shows a photographer who follows Jackson The paparazzo never catches him and when photographed Jackson fails to materialize on the developed picture He dances to Billie Jean s hotel room and as he walks along a sidewalk each tile lights up at his touch 40 43 After he performs a quick spin Jackson jumps and lands freeze framed on his toes Upon arrival at the hotel Jackson climbs the staircase to Billie Jean s room Each step lights up as he touches it and a burnt out Hotel sign illuminates as he passes The paparazzo then arrives at the scene and watches as Jackson vanishes under the covers of Billie Jean s bed Trailed by the police the paparazzo is then arrested for spying on Billie Jean 40 As the paparazzo is led away he drops a tiger print cloth the one that Jackson produces and uses to polish his shoe earlier in the video On both occasions the cloth briefly transforms into a tiger cub Once the street is empty the paving tiles again light up in sequence reversing Jackson s earlier progress Jackson sported a new look for the video Jackson s clothes a black leather suit with a pink shirt and a red bow tie were copied by children around the US 40 Imitation became so severe that despite pupil protests Bound Brook High School didn t allow students to wear a single white glove like Jackson had on during the performance of Billie Jean at Motown 25 Yesterday Today Forever 44 45 The short film was inducted into the Music Video Producers Hall of Fame in 1992 34 In a 2005 poll of 31 pop stars video directors agents and journalists conducted by telecommunications company 3 the music video was ranked fifth in their Top 20 Music Videos Ever 46 The video was also ranked as the 35th greatest music video in a list compiled by MTV and TV Guide at the millennium 47 On June 10 2021 Billie Jean became the first 1980s clip by solo artist to reach 1 billion views on YouTube 48 Motown 25 performance EditMain article Motown 25 Yesterday Today Forever Jackson performed Billie Jean on the television special Motown 25 Yesterday Today Forever broadcast on May 15 1983 The performance is considered a watershed moment in popular culture history The special was recorded on March 25 as a celebration of Motown Records twenty fifth anniversary Motown was launched in 1959 The event featured many popular Motown acts past and present Jackson initially refused an invitation to reunite with the Jackson 5 for a performance but reconsidered after a visit from Motown founder Berry Gordy whom Jackson respected Jackson asked to also perform Billie Jean to which Gordy agreed 49 50 Following performances by Marvin Gaye Smokey Robinson and Mary Wells the Jacksons sang a medley of their early 1970s hits Jermaine Jackson was on stage with the group marking the first time that the original Jackson 5 lineup had performed together since they left Motown in 1975 After the group performed I ll Be There they left Michael alone on stage 51 Jackson wore black pants leather penny loafers a black sequined jacket and a single white rhinestone glove He addressed the audience and then Billie Jean started playing Jackson lip synced the entire song because organizers feared that the evening s backing band could not replicate the sound of the recording 50 To begin his performance Jackson snapped a fedora to his head and struck a pose his right hand on his hat and his left leg bent During an instrumental interlude he executed a move that many believe sealed his status as a pop icon 52 53 Jackson glided backwards to perform the moonwalk before he spun on his heels and landed en pointe 49 It was the first time Jackson had performed the moonwalk in public he had practiced it in his kitchen prior to the show 54 Many including Jackson biographer Steve Knopper have speculated that Jackson s Billie Jean costuming and choreography were specifically inspired by a dance routine performed by Bob Fosse in the 1974 musical film The Little Prince 50 In that film Fosse playing The Snake sings the song A Snake in the Grass and performs an accompanying dance that Fosse himself choreographed The dance includes a variety of techniques that seemed to be echoed in Jackson s routine including trademark Fosse elements such as hip thrusts bent knees shoulder isolations jazz hands and kicks as well a brief moonwalk 50 55 Jackson openly acknowledged Fosse as a dance influence having told Fosse himself that he had amassed a complete home collection of Fosse s choreography work in film and television which he watched frequently 55 However Jackson never specifically cited the Snake in the Grass routine as an inspiration citation needed Motown 25 Yesterday Today Forever was watched by 50 million people and Jackson s routine earned him an Emmy nomination 56 57 With the performance Jackson reached a new audience and increased the sales of Thriller which eventually became the best selling album of all time 54 The day after the show aired Jackson was called by his childhood idol Fred Astaire who commended him Another childhood idol Sammy Davis Jr had admired Jackson s black sequined jacket during the performance and later received it as a gift 54 Jackson stated at the time that he was disappointed in his performance he had wanted to remain on his toes longer than he had 49 Jackson subsequently said that Billie Jean was one of his favorite songs to perform live but only when he did not have to do it the way he had on Motown 25 Yesterday Today Forever The audience wants a certain thing I have to do the moonwalk in that spot he later said I d like to do a different version 34 In a Top 100 list compiled by VH1 and Entertainment Weekly in 2000 Jackson s performance was ranked as the sixth greatest rock n roll TV moment 58 Five years later Entertainment Weekly named Jackson s Motown 25 performance as one of the most important pop culture moments in history It was a moment that crossed over in a way that no live musical performance ever had There was a messianic quality to it Entertainment Weekly editor Steve Daly commented 59 David Moynihan of NME wrote in 2009 that Jackson s status as the world s biggest superstar was confirmed by the Motown 25 performance 60 Pepsi commercials EditIn 1984 Pepsi sponsored the Jacksons Victory Tour In return Michael and his brothers were to star in two commercials for the company 61 Jackson had reworked Billie Jean for the commercial and titled it Pepsi Generation The song was used as the official jingle for the commercials and released as a 7 promo single The launch of The Choice of a New Generation campaign in February 1984 was attended by 1 600 people who were issued with a programme and the 7 single 62 During the filming of the second commercial a firework in the rear of the set was prematurely detonated setting Jackson s hair ablaze The incident necessitated reconstructive surgery 63 64 65 The commercials were premiered at the Grammy Awards the same night he collected a record eight awards 61 66 Billie Jean 2008 Edit Billie Jean 2008 Kanye West Mix Song by Michael Jackson and Kanye Westfrom the album Thriller 25ReleasedFebruary 8 2008 2008 02 08 Length4 35Songwriter s Michael JacksonProducer s JacksonKanye WestAnthony KilhofferMichael Jackson s original version of Billie Jean was remixed by Kanye West for Thriller 25 a 25th anniversary reissue of Jackson s Thriller Titled Billie Jean 2008 the remix garnered a mixed reception most critics felt that it was impossible to improve upon the original Pitchfork Media s Tom Ewing stated that the remix would have benefited from a guest verse by West which might have added dynamics to the mix s clumsy claustrophobia 67 Mike Joseph in a review of Thriller 25 for PopMatters described the track listing of the reissue as pleasant but that West s lazy remix was the only exception He added You ve been given the opportunity to remix the most iconic single from one of the most iconic albums of all time and all you can do is stick a drum machine on top of the song s original arrangement 68 Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone disliked the removal of the original bassline and compared it to putting Bobby Orr on the ice without a hockey stick 69 IGN s Todd Gilchrist praised West s remix and stated that it was a pretty great track He added it almost overplays the track s originally understated drama his additions enhance the song and demonstrate that in a contemporary context 70 Legacy Edit Billie Jean aided Thriller in becoming the biggest selling album of all time 71 72 It was popularly believed that Billie Jean was an autobiographical song referring to someone who claimed Jackson was the father of her child Based on this theory Lydia Murdock wrote the song Superstar which was a minor hit in 1983 intending this song as a criticism of Jackson s purported denial of paternity 73 On his Late Night program in the 1980s host David Letterman often played a recording of a song with the word chair replacing kid to create the mondegreen the chair is not my son 74 Frequently listed in magazine polls of the best songs ever made Billie Jean was named the greatest dance record of all time by BBC Radio 2 listeners 75 In a list compiled by Rolling Stone and MTV in 2000 the song was ranked as the sixth greatest pop song since 1963 76 Rolling Stone placed the song at number 58 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004 77 In the 2021 update of the list it had risen to 44 78 Billie Jean was voted number 2 in The Nation s Favourite Number 1 Single a British TV program airing on ITV on 21 July 2012 In a similar poll in 2015 the song was voted by the British public as the nation s second favorite 1980s number one 79 In an interview Pharrell Williams stated that Billie Jean was one of his favorite songs It is hard to say if there is a greater song than Billie Jean I think there will never be a song like this one again with this bassline with this kind of effect this eternalness this perfection 80 When re released as part of the Visionary campaign in 2006 Billie Jean charted at No 11 in the UK It remained in the top 200 for over 40 weeks and was the most successful reissue by some distance 47 According to Thriller 25 The Book 2008 Billie Jean is still in heavy rotation it receives more than 250 000 spins per week in clubs around the world 80 Track listings Edit7 single Epic EPCA 3084 CBS 30 Billie Jean 4 55 It s the Falling in Love 3 467 single Epic 15 06453 30 Billie Jean 4 50 Beat It 4 1112 maxi Epic 12 3084 30 Billie Jean 6 20 Billie Jean instrumental 6 20Personnel EditCredits adapted from Blender and the album Thriller 25 2 81 Michael Jackson lead and backing vocals Yamaha CS 80 synthesizer songwriting vocal rhythm synthesizer and string arrangements Michael Boddicker E mu Emulator Leon Ndugu Chancler drums Louis Johnson bass guitar Greg Phillinganes Rhodes piano synthesizer Tom Scott lyricon Greg Smith synthesizer David Williams guitar Bill Wolfer synthesizer synthesizer programming Jerry Hey string arrangement Jeremy Lubbock string conducting Bruce Swedien mixing engineerCharts EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1983 PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report 82 1Austria O3 Austria Top 40 30 2Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 83 1Canada Top Singles RPM 31 1Europe Eurochart Hot 100 84 1Finland Suomen virallinen singlelista 85 2Finland Jukebox Suomen virallinen singlelista 85 2France IFOP 86 1Germany Official German Charts 87 2Ireland IRMA 88 1Italy Musica e Dischi 89 1Netherlands Dutch Top 40 90 2Netherlands Single Top 100 91 4New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 92 2Norway VG lista 93 5South Africa Springbok Radio 94 2Spain AFYVE 95 1Sweden Sverigetopplistan 96 2Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 97 1UK Singles OCC 98 1US Billboard Hot 100 99 1US Billboard Adult Contemporary 100 9US Billboard Hot Black Singles 100 1US Cash Box 101 1Zimbabwe 102 3Chart 2006 PeakpositionFrance SNEP 103 45Ireland IRMA 88 11Italy FIMI 104 7Netherlands Single Top 100 91 22Spain PROMUSICAE 105 1UK Singles OCC 106 11Chart 2008 PeakpositionNorway VG lista 93 17Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 97 95 Chart 2009 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 107 7Austria O3 Austria Top 40 30 13Belgium Back Catalogue Singles Flanders 108 1Canada Hot Canadian Digital Singles 100 6Denmark Tracklisten 109 8Europe Eurochart Hot 100 110 9Finland Suomen virallinen lista 111 11France SNEP Download Chart 112 1Italy FIMI 104 3Netherlands Dutch Top 40 113 3Netherlands Single Top 100 91 3New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 92 15Norway VG lista 93 5Spain PROMUSICAE 105 4Sweden Sverigetopplistan 96 3Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 97 2Turkey Turkiye Top 20 114 9UK Singles OCC 115 10US Billboard Hot Digital Songs 116 4Chart 2010 PeakpositionSpain PROMUSICAE 105 41Sweden Sverigetopplistan 96 52Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 97 58Chart 2012 PeakpositionFrance SNEP 103 132Chart 2013 PeakpositionFrance SNEP 103 166Chart 2014 PeakpositionFrance SNEP 103 161US Billboard Hot 100 117 14US Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 118 6Chart 2018 PeakpositionPoland Polish Airplay Top 100 119 63Chart 2020 PeakpositionJapan Japan Hot 100 120 762021 2022 weekly chart performance for Billie Jean Chart 2021 2023 PeakpositionGlobal 200 Billboard 39 137 Year end charts Edit Chart 1983 RankAustralia Kent Music Report 121 122 4Austria O3 Austria Top 40 123 9Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 124 4Canada Top Singles RPM 125 9France IFOP 126 6Germany Official German Charts 127 11Netherlands Dutch Top 40 128 12Netherlands Single Top 100 129 13New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 130 9South Africa Springbok Radio 131 15Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 132 7UK Official Charts Company 133 8US Billboard Hot 100 29 2US Billboard Hot Black Singles 134 2US Cash Box 135 3Chart 2006 RankUK Singles OCC 136 233Chart 2009 RankNetherlands Dutch Top 40 137 85Netherlands Single Top 100 138 56Sweden Sverigetopplistan 139 39Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 140 62UK Singles OCC 141 1782022 year end chart performance for Billie Jean Chart 2022 PositionGlobal 200 Billboard 142 197Certifications and sales EditRegion Certification Certified units salesAustralia ARIA 143 Platinum 70 000 Canada Music Canada 144 2 Platinum 200 000 Denmark IFPI Danmark 145 2 Platinum 180 000 France SNEP 146 Platinum 1 000 000 Italy FIMI 147 2 Platinum 140 000 Mexico AMPROFON 148 Diamond 2 Platinum 420 000 New Zealand RMNZ 149 Gold 10 000 Spain PROMUSICAE 150 Gold 25 000 United Kingdom BPI 151 Gold 500 000 United Kingdom BPI 152 3 Platinum 1 800 000 United States RIAA 36 Diamond 10 000 000 United States RIAA 36 Mastertone Gold 500 000 Sales figures based on certification alone Shipments figures based on certification alone Sales streaming figures based on certification alone The Bates version Edit Billie Jean Single by the Batesfrom the album Pleasure PainReleased1995Length4 25LabelVirginSongwriter s Michael JacksonProducer s The BatesAndi JungThe Bates singles chronology A Real Cool Time 1995 Billie Jean 1995 Say It Isn t So 1995 In 1995 German band the Bates covered Billie Jean on their album Pleasure Pain Track listing Edit Maxi CD Billie Jean 4 25 Tonight Remix 3 45 Love Is Dead Part II 3 22 Yeah Acoustic Version 1 06Charts Edit Chart 1995 1996 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 153 68Austria O3 Austria Top 40 154 40Germany Official German Charts 155 21Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 156 10UK Singles OCC 157 67The Sound Bluntz version Edit Billie Jean Single by the Sound BluntzReleased2002LabelKontorSongwriter s Michael JacksonProducer s Cory CashCanadian group the Sound Bluntz also recorded a cover which peaked at No 17 on the Australian charts during March 2003 158 It also reached No 17 in Belgium No 14 in Finland and No 53 in the Netherlands Track listing Edit CD Maxi Kontor 14305 5 Edel Billie Jean Beat Radio Mix 4 00 Billie Jean Beat Clubb Mix 6 50 Billie Jean Full Effect Mix 7 34 Dura Dura Reprise 1 36Charts Edit Chart 2002 2003 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 158 17Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 159 17Belgium Ultratop 50 Wallonia 160 24Finland Suomen virallinen lista 161 14Germany Official German Charts 162 74Netherlands Single Top 100 163 53Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 164 93UK Singles OCC 165 32Other cover versions EditEnglish musician Ian Brown took Billie Jean to number 5 on the UK charts in 2000 It was the B side of Dolphins Were Monkeys Brown said I love Jackson I want to do a Jackson EP with Thriller Beat It Billie Jean and Rockin Robin or ABC on it Hopefully I ll get it done Brown later covered Thriller on Golden Gaze from his second solo album Golden Greats 47 166 American rock musician Chris Cornell recorded Billie Jean for his Carry On album in 2007 Cornell said of his cover I didn t plan on it It just sort of happened organically I changed the music quite a bit I didn t touch the lyrics He added And it s not a joke I took a completely different approach to it musically 167 Cornell had previously performed the song live in Europe including an acoustic set in Stockholm Sweden in September 2006 47 167 He later said I was getting ready to do some acoustic shows on a promotional tour for Revelations and I just wanted to have fun with it 168 The cover received favorable reviews from critics MTV noted the bluesier more pained and impassioned feel which stripped away any pop elements of the original 168 Los Angeles Times described the track as a grim spooky take on Jackson s Billie Jean and added that it was amusing enough even if it sounds a lot more like Metallica s Nothing Else Matters The newspaper concluded that Jacko s mega hit survived the stunt translation 169 In 2008 Cornell s version was performed live by David Cook on the seventh season of American Idol 170 and this version charted on Billboard s Hot 100 at No 47 171 In 2011 Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump covered the song as part of an a cappella medley of Michael Jackson songs in which he sang all the parts 172 In 2015 Irish musician EDEN released a remix of Billie Jean then separately released a cover of the song with his own vocals 173 Mashups and remixes EditIn 1983 Italian studio group Club House recorded what would now be known as a mashup of Billie Jean and the 1972 Steely Dan song Do It Again titled Do It Again Medley with Billie Jean The song was a top ten hit in Belgium Ireland and the Netherlands American band Slingshot recorded a note for note remake of the song later that same year this version hit number one on the Billboard Dance Disco charts 174 A DJ named Linx created a mashup of Billie Jean and the 1987 Eric B amp Rakim song I Know You Got Soul from the original recordings releasing it in 1997 as Billie Jean Got Soul This mashup peaked at number 34 in Sweden 175 Scottish bhangra group Tigerstyle s song Nachna Onda Nei includes the backing tracks of both Billie Jean and Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie with new vocals by Kaka Bhaniawala 176 In May 2011 dance act Signature used Nachna Onda Nei on Britain s Got Talent in their audition and again in their final performance 177 See also EditList of number one singles in Australia during the 1980s List of Billboard Hot 100 number singles of 1983 List of Cash Box Top 100 number one singles of 1983 List of number one singles of 1983 Canada List of European number one hits of 1983 List of number one singles of 1983 France List of number one singles of 1983 Ireland List of number one hits Italy List of number one R amp B singles of 1983 U S List of number one singles of 1983 Spain List of number one singles of the 1980s Switzerland List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1980sReferences EditCitations Roberts Randall August 29 2012 Michael Jackson s Human Nature An NYC classic on his birthday Los Angeles Times Retrieved December 6 2019 a b c d e f g h i j k l m The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born Number 1 Blender October 2005 Archived from the original on December 15 2005 Experience the Music One Hit Wonders and the Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Archived from the original on May 9 2012 a b c d Jackson 1988 pp 192 194 a b c d e f g h Wadhams 2001 pp 418 422 Guendelsberger Emily December 20 2008 Billie Jean files lawsuit saying that he is the one Philadelphia Daily News Retrieved March 8 2019 Vena Jocelyn July 6 2009 Michael Jackson Answers Fan Questions in 1996 Thailand Interview MTV Retrieved March 13 2010 a b c d e f Taraborrelli 2004 pp 223 224 Murphy Sport January 27 2008 Man in the moonwalk New York Post Archived from the original on April 17 2008 Retrieved February 15 2009 Brandle Lars May 21 2014 Quincy Jones on Michael Jackson s Xscape It s About Money Billboard Retrieved March 13 2010 Daly Susan March 21 2009 The genius of Jacko Irish Independent Retrieved March 13 2010 a b c d Halstead 2007 pp 36 37 Winterman Denise November 30 2007 Thrills and spills and record breaks BBC News Online Retrieved March 13 2010 Glentzer Molly July 1 2009 The steps that made Michael Jackson great Houston Chronicle Retrieved March 13 2010 Moonwalker everything everyone already knows about Michael Jackson is in his fluffy autobiography San Jose Mercury News April 21 1988 Archived from the original on March 5 2016 Retrieved March 13 2010 Jackson Michael May 1 1988 Thriller of a Lifetime Toronto Star Archived from the original on February 10 2013 Retrieved March 13 2010 a b c Connelly Christopher January 21 1997 Rolling Stone s Thriller review Rolling Stone Archived from the original on February 5 2007 a b Makinde Adeyinka 2009 The Legacy of Michael Jackson Black history month co uk Archived from the original on March 3 2016 Ripani Richard J 2006 The New Blue Music Changes in Rhythm amp Blues 1950 1999 University Press of Mississippi p 146 ISBN 1 57806 862 2 a b Thomas Erlewine Stephen The Funk of 25 Years Thriller Hits the Quarter Century Mark AllMusic Retrieved January 13 2014 a b O Neill Christina July 20 2016 Jon Anderson on how Vangelis album inspired Thriller Prog Retrieved September 18 2016 Marchese David February 7 2018 In Conversation Quincy Jones Vulture com Retrieved February 8 2018 a b Simpson Dave April 2 2018 Hall and Oates how we made I Can t Go for That No Can Do The Guardian Retrieved March 3 2018 Greenberg Steve November 29 2012 Michael Jackson s Thriller at 30 How One Album Changed the World Billboard Retrieved December 26 2016 Taraborrelli 2004 p 222 a b c Halstead 2007 pp 37 38 a b George 2004 p 39 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 a b Top 100 Hits for 1983 The Longbored Surfer Retrieved January 13 2014 a b c d e f Michael Jackson Billie Jean in German O3 Austria Top 40 Retrieved July 16 2013 a b Top RPM Singles Issue 6203 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved February 10 2010 Rosenberg Tal June 19 2007 Michael Jackson Thriller The Diamond Stylus Magazine Archived from the original on March 20 2015 Retrieved February 21 2009 George 2004 p 23 a b c Halstead 2007 pp 38 40 George 2004 pp 39 43 a b c Gold amp Platinum Michael Jackson Billie Jean Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved May 13 2016 Trust Gary Caulfield Keith May 28 2014 Michael Jackson s Billie Jean Returns to Hot 100 Legend Lands 50th Hit Billboard Retrieved May 29 2014 Michael Jackson s Catalogue Garners Major New Gold amp Platinum Awards Recording Industry Association of America August 23 2018 Retrieved September 9 2018 a b Michael Jackson Chart History Global 200 Billboard Retrieved July 12 2022 a b c d e Campbell 1993 p 58 Palmer Tamara March 10 2013 How the Billie Jean Video Changed MTV The Root Retrieved March 27 2019 Cocks Jay December 26 1983 Sing a Song of Seeing Time Archived from the original on August 20 2009 Retrieved February 15 2009 Weitner Sean 2001 Michael Jackson A Life in Film Flak Magazine Archived from the original on March 6 2003 School bans Michael Jackson attire Lakeland Ledger March 13 1984 Retrieved March 13 2010 White gloves banned Ottawa Citizen March 14 1984 Retrieved March 13 2010 Smith David January 30 2005 Cash tops Thriller with best video ever The Guardian Retrieved February 15 2009 a b c d Halstead 2007 pp 39 41 Daniels Karu F June 17 2021 Michael Jackson s Billie Jean music video hits 1 billion views on YouTube New York Daily News Retrieved July 25 2021 a b c Taraborrelli 2004 pp 234 240 a b c d Inside Michael Jackson s Iconic First Moonwalk Onstage Rolling Stone October 5 2015 Retrieved February 3 2018 O Connor John J May 16 1983 TV Sound of Motown Celebrated The New York Times Retrieved October 5 2020 Leopold Todd June 6 2005 Michael Jackson A life in the spotlight CNN Retrieved February 15 2009 Cannon Bob March 25 1994 A Giant Step for Jackson Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on April 21 2009 Retrieved February 15 2009 a b c Campbell 1993 pp 65 68 a b Wasson Sam 2013 Fosse Eamon Dolan Houghton Mifflin Harcourt p 533 ISBN 978 0 54755 329 0 A Glance at the Career of Michael Jackson Fox News Channel June 14 2005 Archived from the original on October 25 2012 Retrieved February 15 2009 Harris Chris January 14 2008 Michael Jackson Akon Are Startin Somethin on Thriller 25 Track MTV Retrieved February 15 2009 Top Rock TV Moment A Really Big Show CBS News July 24 2000 Retrieved February 15 2009 The 25 Most Important Pop Culture Moments CNN September 1 2005 Retrieved February 15 2009 Moynihan David June 26 2009 Michael Jackson 1958 2009 obituary NME a b Taraborrelli 2004 pp 279 289 Halstead 2007 p 205 Milestones Feb 6 1984 Time February 6 1984 Archived from the original on January 23 2011 Retrieved February 15 2009 Singer Has Operation To Repair Burn Scar The New York Times April 19 1984 Retrieved February 15 2009 Zoglin Richard February 13 1984 Too Much Risk on the Set Time Archived from the original on October 11 2011 Retrieved February 15 2009 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 Joseph Mike February 10 2008 Michael Jackson Thriller 25 PopMatters Retrieved February 21 2009 Sheffield Rob February 21 2008 Michael Jackson Thriller 25 Deluxe Edition Rolling Stone Archived from the original on February 17 2008 Gilchrist Todd February 7 2008 Michael Jackson Thriller 25th Anniversary Ed IGN Archived from the original on June 30 2009 Retrieved February 21 2009 How Billie Jean changed the world The Guardian London July 12 2007 Retrieved February 21 2009 Rayner Ben February 10 2008 The return of Michael Jackson s Thriller Toronto Star Retrieved February 21 2009 Tobler John 1992 NME Rock N Roll Years 1st ed London Reed International Books Ltd p 386 CN 5585 That song brings back memories Billie Jean the chair is not my son WBEZ Chicago IL June 26 2009 Retrieved August 11 2022 Billie Jean voted top dance song BBC News Online July 15 2008 Retrieved February 21 2009 permanent dead link Yesterday is top pop song BBC News Online November 17 2000 Retrieved February 21 2009 The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 1 500 Rolling Stone Archived from the original on October 23 2006 The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time gt Michael Jackson Billie Jean Roling Stone September 15 2021 Retrieved September 20 2021 Westbrook Caroline 25 July 2015 The Nation s Favourite 80s Number One 12 more classic 80s chart toppers which didn t make the cut Metro Retrieved 27 July 2015 a b Thriller 25 The Book 2008 p 26 Thriller 25 liner notes Michael Jackson Epic MJJ Productions Legacy Sony BMG 2008 88697 17986 2 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Kent David 2003 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Michael Jackson Billie Jean in Dutch Ultratop 50 Retrieved July 16 2013 UK Eurochart Billboard amp Cashbox No 1 Hits MusicSeek info Archived from the original on June 14 2006 a b Pennanen Timo 2021 Michael Jackson Sisaltaa hitin 2 laitos Levyt ja esittajat Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1 1 1960 30 6 2021 PDF Helsinki Kustannusosakeyhtio Otava p 113 Retrieved May 29 2022 Toutes les Chansons N 1 des Annees 80 s InfoDisc in French Retrieved May 13 2016 Michael Jackson Billie Jean in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved July 16 2013 a b The Irish Charts Search Results Billie Jean Irish Singles Chart Retrieved July 13 2013 Classifiche Musica e Dischi in Italian Retrieved May 29 2022 Set Tipo on Singoli Then in the Artista field search Michael Jackson Nederlandse Top 40 week 9 1983 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved July 16 2013 a b c Michael Jackson Billie Jean in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved July 16 2013 a b Michael Jackson Billie Jean Top 40 Singles Retrieved July 16 2013 a b c Michael Jackson Billie Jean VG lista Retrieved July 16 2013 South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 1989 Acts J Rock co za Retrieved May 31 2013 Salaverri Fernando September 2005 Solo exitos ano a ano 1959 2002 in Spanish 1st ed Spain Fundacion Autor SGAE ISBN 84 8048 639 2 a b c Michael Jackson Billie Jean Singles Top 100 Retrieved July 16 2013 a b c d Michael Jackson Billie Jean Swiss Singles Chart Retrieved July 16 2013 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved July 13 2013 Michael Jackson Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved September 9 2021 a b c Thriller Awards AllMusic Archived from the original on January 17 2015 Retrieved May 31 2013 CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending MARCH 12 1983 Cash Box Archived from the original on September 11 2012 Halstead amp Cadman 2003 p 26 a b c d Michael Jackson Billie Jean in French Les classement single a b Michael Jackson Billie Jean Top Digital Download Retrieved July 16 2013 a b c Michael Jackson Billie Jean Canciones Top 50 Retrieved July 16 2013 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved July 13 2013 Michael Jackson Billie Jean ARIA Top 50 Singles Retrieved July 16 2013 50 Back Catalogue Singles 25 07 2009 Ultratop Hung Medien Retrieved July 16 2013 Michael Jackson Billie Jean Tracklisten Retrieved July 16 2013 European Top 50 Singles compiled by Europarade Week Ending 18 07 09 World Charts Archived from the original on July 14 2014 Michael Jackson Billie Jean in Finnish Musiikkituottajat Retrieved July 16 2013 lescharts com Francais in French Les classement de telechargement single Retrieved February 20 2014 Nederlandse Top 40 week 29 2009 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved July 16 2013 Billboard Turkiye Top 20 Billboard Turkiye in Turkish July 6 2009 Archived from the original on March 5 2009 Retrieved March 9 2010 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved July 13 2013 Digital Songs Week of July 11 2009 Billboard Archived from the original on July 6 2014 Retrieved March 9 2010 The Hot 100 Billboard June 7 2014 Retrieved 9 September 2021 Michael Jackson Chart History Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard Retrieved May 29 2014 Listy bestsellerow wyroznienia Zwiazek Producentow Audio Video Polish Airplay Top 100 Retrieved November 19 2018 Michael Jackson Chart History Japan Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved January 24 2020 Kent Music Report National Top 100 Singles for 1983 Kent Music Report Retrieved January 22 2023 via Imgur com Forum ARIA Charts Special Occasion Charts Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts 1980s Australian charts com Hung Medien Archived from the original on October 6 2014 Retrieved January 17 2014 Jahreshitparade 1983 in German Austriancharts at Hung Medien Retrieved January 17 2014 Jaaroverzichten 1983 in Dutch Ultratop Hung Medien Retrieved January 17 2014 The Top Singles of 1983 RPM Vol 39 no 17 December 24 1983 Retrieved May 13 2016 TOP 1983 Top france fr in French Retrieved May 13 2016 Jahrescharts 1983 Offiziellecharts de in German GfK Entertainment Charts Archived from the original on May 9 2015 Top 100 Jaaroverzicht van 1983 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved March 8 2019 Jaaroverzichten Single 1983 in Dutch Single Top 100 Hung Medien Retrieved January 17 2014 End of Year Charts 1983 Recorded Music New Zealand Retrieved May 16 2016 Top 20 Hit Singles of 1983 Rock co za Retrieved January 17 2014 Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1983 in German Hitparade ch Hung Medien Retrieved January 17 2014 The Top 40 Biggest Selling Singles of 1983 Official Charts Retrieved October 30 2022 Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs 1983 Billboard Archived from the original on October 20 2006 The CASH BOX Year End Charts 1983 Cash Box Archived from the original on September 11 2012 ChartsPlusYE2006 PDF UKChartsPlus Retrieved November 12 2021 Top 100 Jaaroverzicht van 2009 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved March 8 2019 Jaaroverzichten Single 1983 in Dutch Single Top 100 Hung Medien Retrieved January 17 2014 Arslista Singlar Ar 2009 in Swedish Hitlistan Archived from the original on July 3 2013 Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2009 in German Hitparade ch Retrieved January 17 2014 ChartsPlusYE2009 PDF UKChartsPlus Retrieved May 16 2020 Billboard Global 200 Year End 2022 Billboard Retrieved December 2 2022 ARIA Charts Accreditations 2009 Singles PDF Australian Recording Industry Association Canadian single certifications Michael Jackson Billie Jean Music Canada Danish single certifications Michael Jackson Billie Jean IFPI Danmark Retrieved November 5 2020 French single certifications Michael Jackson Billie Jean in French InfoDisc Retrieved November 9 2021 SelectMICHAEL JACKSONand clickOK Italian single certifications Michael Jackson Billie Jean in Italian Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana Retrieved October 18 2021 Select 2021 in the Anno drop down menu Select Billie Jean in the Filtra field Select Singoli under Sezione Certificaciones in Spanish Asociacion Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas Retrieved April 26 2022 TypeMichael Jacksonin the box under theARTISTAcolumn heading andBillie Jeanin the box under theTITULOcolumn heading New Zealand single certifications Michael Jackson Billie Jean Recorded Music NZ Spanish single certifications Michael Jackson Billie Jean El portal de Musica Productores de Musica de Espana British single certifications Michael Jackson Billie Jean British Phonographic Industry British single certifications Michael Jackson Billie Jean British Phonographic Industry Retrieved September 2 2022 The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart Week Ending 14 Jan 1996 ARIA The HP column displays the highest peak reached Retrieved July 20 2017 via Imgur The Bates Billie Jean in German O3 Austria Top 40 Retrieved July 16 2013 The Bates Billie Jean in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved July 16 2013 The Bates Billie Jean Swiss Singles Chart Retrieved July 16 2013 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved July 16 2013 a b The Sound Bluntz Billie Jean ARIA Top 50 Singles Retrieved July 16 2013 The Sound Bluntz Billie Jean in Dutch Ultratop 50 Retrieved July 16 2013 The Sound Bluntz Billie Jean in French Ultratop 50 Retrieved July 16 2013 The Sound Bluntz Billie Jean in Finnish Musiikkituottajat Retrieved July 16 2013 The Sound Bluntz Billie Jean in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved July 16 2013 The Sound Bluntz Billie Jean in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved July 16 2013 The Sound Bluntz Billie Jean Swiss Singles Chart Retrieved July 16 2013 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved July 16 2013 Brown s Thriller killer NME March 17 2000 Retrieved February 21 2009 a b Harris Chris November 8 2006 Chris Cornell Tackles Gospel And Michael Jackson On Solo LP MTV Archived from the original on February 1 2009 Retrieved February 21 2009 a b Harris Chris April 23 2007 Chris Cornell Ready to Carry On as Solo Artist I m Best in My Own World MTV Retrieved February 21 2009 Appleford Steve June 5 2007 Pop Album Review Chris Cornell Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on November 14 2007 Cornell Chats Idol Billie Jean Performance Billboard Retrieved August 28 2011 The Hot Spot gt Who s Bad Billboard Vol 120 no 23 June 7 2008 p 53 ISSN 0006 2510 Futterman Erica February 2 2011 Patrick Stump Pays Tribute to Michael Jackson in Awesome A Cappella Medley Rolling Stone Retrieved May 10 2011 Nick November 23 2015 PREMiERE EDEN Billie Jean Michael Jackson Cover Must Hear Cover Free Download Thissongissick Retrieved February 3 2018 Slingshot Awards AllMusic Retrieved February 2 2013 swedishcharts com Linx Billie Jean Got Soul Swedishcharts com Hung Medien Retrieved July 16 2013 BBC Asian Network Summer Sounds BBC Online August 2005 Retrieved August 28 2011 donsachin Signature Britain s Got Talent Michael Jackson LL Full HD Metacafe Retrieved August 28 2011 Bibliography Edit Campbell Lisa 1993 Michael Jackson The King of Pop Branden ISBN 0 8283 1957 X George Nelson 2004 Michael Jackson The Ultimate Collection booklet Sony BMG Halstead Craig Cadman Chris 2003 Jacksons Number Ones Authors OnLine ISBN 978 0 7552 0098 6 Halstead Craig 2007 Michael Jackson For the Record Authors OnLine ISBN 978 0 7552 0267 6 Jackson Michael 1988 Moon Walk Doubleday ISBN 0 385 24712 5 Taraborrelli J Randy 2004 The Magic and the Madness Headline ISBN 0 330 42005 4 Thriller 25 The Book ML Publishing Group 2008 ISBN 978 0 9768891 9 9 Wadhams Wayne 2001 Inside the Hits Berklee Press ISBN 0 634 01430 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Billie Jean amp oldid 1135184526, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.