THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

191-Michael Jackson-Billie Jean.

1983-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 3.30. Up until this song came about the most famous Billie Jean was a 39 time Tennis Grand Slam titles winner.

‘Billie Jean’ was written by Michael Jackson, (see also best songs 812-511-249 and 137) and produced by Jackson, and Quincy Jones (see also best songs 1022-889-812-511-703 and 357.) ‘Billie Jean’ is Michael Jackson’s best selling single worldwide, with sales in excess of 10 million, and was the second of seven singles released from his sixth studio Album ‘Thriller’ from 1982, which is currently the best selling Album of all time, with sales in excess of 70 million worldwide.

The lyrics to ‘Billie Jean’ describe a woman who claims that the songs narrator is the father of her newborn son, which he denies. The idea for the song came from Jackson’s own personal experiences of when he used to tour with his brothers. He has said that many groupies would claim that the Jackson brothers were the father of their children. The song was also inspired by letters Jackson had received in 1981 from a woman claiming that he was the father of ‘one of her twins.’ The woman continued to send him more letters including a parcel containing her photograph, and a gun, this disturbed Jackson to the extent that he suffered nightmares. Jackson later discovered that the woman had been sent to a psychiatric hospital. Michael Jackson has said,’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 performed ‘Billie Jean’ on the television special ‘Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever,’ which was broadcast on May 15th, 1983. The performance is considered a watershed moment in Jackson’s career, as he performed on the programme in celebration of ‘Motown Records’ 25th anniversary, the label having been first launched in 1959. Jackson wore black trousers, leather penny loafers, a black sequined jacket, and a single white rhinestone glove. During the songs instrumental interlude, he performed a move that many believe sealed his status as a Pop icon. Jackson glided backwards to perform the moonwalk, before he spun on his heels and landed. It was the first time Jackson had performed the moonwalk in public, it is said that he had practised it in his kitchen prior to the show (see also best songs 581.) At the time Jackson stated that he was disappointed with his performance on the evening, but after all the accolades he later received it is said that he felt better in retrospect. Jackson received a phone call from his childhood idol Fred Astaire (1899-1987) (see also best songs 385) who commended him, while another childhood idol Sammy Davis Jr. (1925-1990) (see also best songs 567) who had also been impressed, was given by Jackson the black sequined jacket he had worn during the performance.

‘People always told me be careful of what you do, and don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts. And mother always told me be careful of who you love, and be careful of what you do, ’cause the lie becomes the truth.’