Michael Jackson is the best musician in the music industry as he was named the "King of Pop" and one of the songs that sealed his name into the pillars of the legendary status was his 1983 song "Billie Jean." Take a look at the track's success 40 years after its release.
Released on January 2, 1983, the song was the second single from the pop star's "Thriller" album. Written and composed by the singer himself, he got help from Quincy Jones to be one of the project's producers.
Its post-disco and dance-pop became a classic hit that is still making waves even to the newer generation in recent years.
"Billie Jean" became the reason why his studio record became the biggest-selling album of all time. The track revolves around the story of Jackson denying that he fathered a child. A theory by Lydia Murdock, the songwriter of "Superstar" later intended the song as a criticism of the singer's denial.
Throughout the decades, the track amassed massive success, being named as BBC Radio 2 listeners' greatest dance record of all time, became the sixth greatest pop song since 1963 in 2004 by Rolling Stone and MTV (updated to 44 in 2021) and more.
The song also bagged numerous awards and recognitions including two Grammys and an American Music Award. By 1989 it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America after selling a whopping one million units.
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'Billie Jean' Had a 'Dark' Backstory?
According to Jackson's autobiography titled "Moonwalk," released in 1988, the King of Pop explained that there was never really a Billie Jean.
The true meaning behind the track was about him and his brothers combined as they "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," he wrote. (via LAD Bible)
However, J. Randy Taraborrelli, the singer's biographer, claimed in his book "The Magic and the Madness" that the musician received letters from a woman that she was carrying twins and Jackson was the father.
In addition, there was also a woman who identified as Billie Jean Jackson, saying the pop star asked her hand for marriage and they had children together.
Her obsession with Jackson was taken to court as she was subjected to a court order to keep her distance from the "Thriller" hitmaker. She was later arrested after violating the law and reportedly continued to harass the singer until he died in 2009.
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