Billie Jean

A 1982 Michael Jackson song about a woman who claims he fathered her child. Its bass-driven arrangement and music video helped make it one of the defining tracks of Thriller.

Billie Jean bassline: The recurring low-register musical phrase that anchors the arrangement of “Billie Jean.” Its repeated two-bar pattern supplies the track’s persistent pulse and identity.
Thriller: Michael Jackson’s 1982 album, featuring “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and its title track. The song became a central single from the album and helped define its sound.
Billie Jean music video: The music video for Michael Jackson’s 1983 single, directed by Steve Barron. Its noir imagery and performance helped establish Jackson’s visual persona.
Billboard Hot 100: A United States record chart ranking the most popular songs across formats. “Billie Jean” reached number one on the chart in March 1983.
Beat It: A 1983 Michael Jackson song from Thriller, featuring a guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen. Its guitar-driven rock arrangement contrasts with “Billie Jean’s” bass-led minimalism.
Drum machine: An electronic instrument that produces or sequences percussion sounds. The song’s tightly controlled percussion contributes to its steady, economical groove.
Off the Wall: Michael Jackson’s 1979 album, produced by Quincy Jones and featuring “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough.” Its success set the musical and commercial context for the Thriller sessions.
MTV: An American cable television channel launched in 1981, initially focused on music videos. MTV’s rotation of the video helped bring Jackson to a wider television audience.
Grammy Award for Best R&B Song: A Grammy Award recognizing excellence in songwriting for an R&B song. “Billie Jean” won the award at the 1984 Grammy Awards.
Thriller (song): A 1982 Michael Jackson song from Thriller, accompanied by a horror-themed music video. Its theatrical horror story contrasts with the intimate accusation in “Billie Jean.”

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Verse–chorus formRelated: Its verses and chorus recur over a tightly controlled, repeating groove.