A 1982 Michael Jackson single built on a distinctive bass riff, addressing a fan who claimed he had fathered her child, and a landmark in pop dance production.
Composition
Billie Jean was written by Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones for the album “Thriller.” The track is built around a sustained bass riff by Louis Johnson, brisk drums by Ndugu Chancler, and Jackson’s tightly arranged vocal phrasing.
Reception
Released in January 1983, the single reached number one in the United States and the United Kingdom and became one of the best-selling singles of the decade. Jackson debuted the moonwalk dance step while performing the song at the “Motown 25” television special.
Music Video
The video, directed by Steve Barron, was among the first by a Black artist to receive heavy rotation on MTV, an outcome cited as a turning point in the network’s early programming.
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