"Smooth Criminal" is a song by Michael Jackson released as the tenth track from the Bad album. It was released as a single on November 14, 1988, serving as the seventh single from the album. It is generally considered to be one of Jackson's best and biggest songs.[1]
Background[]
The idea came to Michael's mind in 1984. The track was recorded between 1985-87. It evolved from another crime-themed song by Jackson, "Al Capone", whose melodies resemble the ones in "Smooth Criminal".
Michael mentioned, the track almost didn't make it on Bad.
- "Every time I do an album, I write nearly 100 or over 100 songs so we have to cipher them down and Smooth Criminal almost did not make it on the album."
- — Michael Jackson for Michael Jackson's Private Home Movies, 2003[2]
Michael based this song on mafia and criminal movies from the 1940-1950s. The phrase "Annie, are you okay?" repeated in the song's refrain references a "training practice used in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (commonly known as CPR) classes. Resusci Annie is a widely-used practice mannequin throughout English-speaking countries, and students are taught to assess the condition of the recipient of CPR before performing the technique; this is commonly done by instructing trainees to ask the question, "Annie, are you okay?" prior to administering CPR in order to determine whether or not the patient is conscious and responsive. During the recording of Bad, Michael was known to have taken a CPR class.
Music video[]
The video was released on October 13, 1988, directed by Colin Chilvers. It features MJ in a 1930s gangster club, wearing a Fred Astaire-inspired white suit and fedora. Michael performs the iconic "lean" dance move, which isn't physically possible, however for the illusion, cables and a harness were used.
Michael originally wanted to make the video Western themed:
- "I went on the ranch, on the property, and I had a cameraman to pretty much shoot me coming up with ideas of how I wanted this thing to be. I wanted hats, I wanted the wind and I wanted just a lot of attitude. Some quick cuts, some big shot, long shot. At the last minute, I said: "nah, I don't wanna do it as a Western, it should be like hot summer night in Chicago, 1945 and underground kind of thing going on."
- — Michael Jackson for Michael Jackson's Private Home Movies, 2003[3]
Live performances[]
The track has made it on all of Michael's tours. The last time "Smooth Criminal" would be performed took place on June 23, 2009 during the This Is It rehearsals.
To perform the antigravity lean, specially designed shoes were used that hooked onto pegs that rose up from the stage.
Charts[]
This song charted at #2 on the R&B singles chart and #7 on the Hot 100 in the US. This song also charted at #8 in the UK, where it gave Michael a record seventh Top 30 hit from one album.
Audio[]
On January 27, 2023, a 1985 demo of "Smooth Criminal" leaked online due to the Brad Sundberg laptop theft. The leak isn't complete, skips most of the pre-chorus and cuts off a minute and a half in.
- Demo - (
listen)
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Ow!
Cha!
Shoo-ca-choo-ca!
[Verse 1]
As he came into the window
Was a sound of a crescendo
He came into her apartment
He left the bloodstains on the carpet
She ran underneath the table
He could see she was unable
So she ran into the bedroom
She was struck down, it was her doom
[Pre-Chorus]
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
[Chorus]
Annie, are you okay?
Will you tell us that you're okay?
There's a sound at the window
Then he struck you, a crescendo, Annie
He came into your apartment
Left the bloodstains on the carpet
And then you ran into the bedroom
You were struck down
It was your doom
[Post-Chorus]
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
[Refrain]
You've been hit by—
You've been hit by—
A smooth criminal
Ow!
[Verse 2]
So they came into the outway
It was Sunday, what a black day
Every time I tried to find him
He's leaving no clues, left behind him
And they have no way of knowing
Of the suspect or what to expect
Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
Sounding heartbeats, intimidations
[Pre-Chorus]
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
Annie, are you okay? Are you okay?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
[Chorus]
Annie, are you okay?
Will you tell us that you're okay?
There's a sound at the window
Then he struck you, a crescendo, Annie
He came into your apartment
Left the bloodstains on the carpet
And then you ran into the bedroom
You were struck down
It was your doom
[Post-Chorus]
Annie, are you okay? Annie, are you okay?
Are you okay, Annie?
[Refrain]
You've been hit by—
You've been struck by—
A smooth criminal
[Interlude]
Choo-cha, choo-cha
Ow!
Okay, I want everybody to clear the area right now!
[Breakdown]
Ow!
Hoo!
Hoo!
Hoo!
Hoo!
Ow!
[Chorus]
Annie, are you okay? (I don't know)
Will you tell us that you're okay? (I don't know)
There's a sound at the window (I don't know)
Then he struck you, a crescendo, Annie (I don't know)
He came into your apartment (I don't know)
Left bloodstains on the carpet (I don't know why, baby)
And then you ran into the bedroom (Help me)
You were struck down
It was your doom, Annie (Dag gone it)
Annie, are you okay? (Dag gone it, baby)
Will you tell us that you're okay? (Dag gone it, baby)
There's a sound at the window (Dag gone it, baby)
Then he struck you, a crescendo Annie (Hoo! Hoo!)
He came into your apartment, (Dag gone it)
Left bloodstains on the carpet (Hoo!)
And then you ran into the bedroom (Hoo! Hoo!)
You were struck down (Dag gone it)
It was your doom, Annie (Ow!)
[Outro]
Ow!
Ow!
Shoo-cha-choo, shoo-cha-choo!
Ow!
Ow!
[Verse 1]
As he came into the window
Was a sound of a crescendo
As he's leaving her apartment
He left the bloodstains on the carpet
She ran underneath the table
He could see that she's unable
[Pre-Chorus]
...Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
[Chorus]
Annie, are you okay?
Will you tell us if you're okay?
There's a sound at the window
Was the sound of, a crescendo, Annie
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na
It was your doom
[Post-Chorus]
Annie, are you okay?
Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
[Refrain]
You've been hit by—
You've been struck by—
A smooth criminal, ooh!
Ow!
Gallery[]
![Vinyl back cover[4]](/wiki/File:Smoothcriminalvinylback.jpg "Smoothcriminalvinylback.jpg (83 KB)")
![Vinyl[4]](/wiki/File:Smoothcriminalvinyl.jpeg "Smoothcriminalvinyl.jpeg (100 KB)")
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"Look deep within yourself, and you'll find something amazing." To view the Smooth Criminal gallery, click here. |
Trivia[]
- Among others, the song was famously covered by Alien Ant Farm in 2001, turning it into a metal track.[5]
- The track made multiple appearances in pop culture and media over the years.
References[]
- ↑ https://www.classicrockhistory.com/top-10-michael-jackson-songs/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sub513rj8c
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sub513rj8c
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.discogs.com/master/35039-Michael-Jackson-Smooth-Criminal
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDl9ZMfj6aE&pp=ygUPc21vb3RoIGNyaW1pbmFs