MOST People Don't REALIZE How STRANGE & SINISTER This 80s #1 HIT Really Is! | Professor of Rock
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- Coming up, it’s a massive smash hit that was inspired by not one, but multiple stalker encounters. And one of them was by one of the most demented groupies ever. This disturbed fan wrote letter after letter claiming she and this artist were meant to be together… and that he was the father of her baby! Then one day she sent him a package with a weapon… telling him that they should use it on themselves so they could be together in the afterlife. Whoa… talk about creepy. However, this incident, and others like it, fueled the lyrics of this dark and sinister 80s classic that could possibly be the biggest song to come from the decade... But you know what? Fans weren’t the only ones obsessed. In fact, this artist was so consumed by this song, he didn’t even notice that his car was on fire while driving down the freeway. Completely locked into this song, he almost died. It was so big it helped this artist sell over 100 million copies of 1 album. If you haven’t figured it out by now I’m talking about Billie Jean by Michael Jackson from his 1982 classic Thriller. The story of how Michael wrote this song and captivated the world with his performance on the Motown 25th anniversary special with his moonwalk. It’s an unbelievable story NEXT on the Professor of Rock.
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#classicrock #80smusic #vinylstory #80ssongs
Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. if you remember trying to figure out the fastest and best way to open a vinyl record, cassette tape or Compact Disc you’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia. make sure to, subscribe below right now. I promise that you are going to love this channel. We also have a Patreon you'll want to check out. There you’ll find an additional catalog of exclusive content and you can even become an honorary producer to help us curate this music history.
So it’s time for another edition of our series The New Standards. This show takes an in-depth look into songs that transcend genre, decade, and fads - songs that are landmark tracks in music history. On previous episodes, we have covered Careless Whisper by Wham!, Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper, and Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey. For today’s episode, we’re giving you the biggest song from the most successful studio album ever released, a commercial and cultural juggernaut… a song that was #1 for 7 weeks and may just be the most awarded hit of the 80s and it has one of the most compelling stories behind of any song we’ve done here… it’s Billie Jean from Michael Jackson’s 100 million mega album Thriller. The triumphant tale of Thriller begins not with victory, with bitter defeat… well, at least in the mind of Michael Jackson. On August 10, 1979, Jackson released his fifth solo album Off The Wall. And by most anyone's standards, the record was an enormous success. It was a smash hit on the charts, climbing to #3 in the US, #5 in the UK, #4 in Canada, and #1 in Australia. Within just a couple years it would sell nearly 10 million copies, eventually racking 20 million plus copies sold worldwide. Off the Wall also spawned four Top 10 hits, two of which went to #1 on the Hot 100: Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough and Rock With You.
It was a major breakthrough for Jackson who was trying to establish himself as a solo artist.
Poll: What is your pick for the 1 song that DEFINES the 1980s?
Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World
"Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles
The song turned out to be prophetic.
.....you want us to FIGHT again, 'eh, Prof.!?? ...ha-HAAA!! ....all right, I'll bite.....
...***NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP*** - Rick Astley...the Boy went a LONG way dinn'he!? ; )
A-ha, Take On Me
Down Under, Men At Work
I can't pick only one song as a definitive answer to that, but "Eighties" by Killing Joke comes to mind right away!
I graduated high school in '83...so it looms large in my memory. When my class, the class of '83 was graduating...they all assembled around my car with a new sound system...and the girl who I had a crush on since 7th grade danced on my hood to "Beat It." What a memory. Btw, she dented my hood.
In highschool in the 90s my buddy once hopped up on the roof of his own car and did some MJ moves, I think to bad or beat it, and probably left a few dents as well, but was well worth it, even though my story still doesn't even equal how great your story is. Hope you looked at that dent and it made you smile to the day you got a new car 👍
Oh no about the dented hood!
Did you dent her pootie poo? 😂
Hope you took it out in trade
I bet she put a lot of dents in other guys wallets as well and probably still is, all the while thinking of billy jean song
When boomers used to tell us certain songs from the 60's were "classics" from their era, "Bilie Jean" is definitely one of those from our Gen X generation. It doesn't get more nostalgic & classic than that!
Billie Jean is the Satisfaction of the 80s.
Thriller wasn’t chronologically distinct as either a Boomer or GenX album. It emerged at a crossover period, which definitely helped it, because everyone from the age of ten years old to forty years old bought that album and played it non-stop.
Personally, I had just entered college when Thriller came out that Fall, and every college student I knew owned Thriller. We were all Boomers. The music that you listen to you when you are in the middle of figuring out who you are and where you want to go in life becomes embedded as a part of you. Thriller!
@@starla. Yeah but yall were very late boomers, almost Gen Xers really.
@@johnsonmark65 If that makes me part of a younger generation, I’ll take it. 😁
@@starla. yeah, the real boomers were the hippies and later disco, Thriller and the 80s were Gen X.
What a glorious decade the 80’s was.
"Billy Jean" is such an amazing song. That baseline shuffle groove is outstanding.
Agreed.
The combination of Jeff Porcaro and David Hungate was a sure winner.
@mournblade1066....oh you mean that baseline he ripped off from Hall and Oates, I can't go for that ???
And Billy Ocean arguably sampled it for Caribbean Queen.
It is the most iconic bassline of the 80s.
We were poor and my dad said he would never pay for TV when he could watch it for free (over the air). I remember seeing MTV at a friend's house for the first time in '83. Thriller came on and I was speechless. "I didn't know man could build such things." (From Gladiator)
Thanks for sharing.
In the 1970s, our area didn't have cable yet, but you could pay for a monthly subscription to receive commercial-free, uncut movies and shows via microwave signal beamed from a tower.
My dad was an electrical engineer who specialized in microwave transmission and receiving. He made a weird-looking antenna on our roof out of a coffee can and something that looked like a ray gun from a 1950s sci-fi movie. He also built the receiver box which had two switches. It worked great!
I asked him if this was stealing. His take on it was that no one can own microwaves that are broadcast through the air, one can only own the means to intercept and use them. He built his own equipment so he doesn't pay rent for someone else's equipment. Sounded fair to me. That service was only around for @ 3 years anyway.
Still one of my favorite music videos.
❤
Billie Jean.
When this album dropped, it just simply exploded!
Billie Jean laid the groundwork for the rest of Thriller.
Let us also acknowledge the contributions of Quincy Jones to Michael's success.
Thanks Professor.
Have a great Hump Day.
Thanks Roger!
And Toto!
I remember back when the album was flying up the charts. My step-dad was stationed in Germany. I heard the drummer in our school band listening to Billie Jean. I was a country boy through and through, but in that moment my life changed. When I got home, I asked for the album. After listening to it (over and over to my mother's dismay) I found a love of all genres of music. Thriller has a touch of just about everything (no country haha)...I keep a copy of this album in my collection to this day...
Such an amazing talent. And that album was one that everybody owned a copy of - even all of the hard rock/metals heads. Appealed to the masses.
I can believe that 99% of households that listened to music owned a copy of "Thriller". I know all my friends did, even the metalheads.
This just reminded me of another record, 20 years before "Thriller", that I swear, ALL of our parents owned! My brother and I would even look for it when we visited friends and family, and it was always among the collections, even at our preacher wife cousin's house.
The album was by the Tijuana Brass and the album was called "Whipped Cream and Other Delights". The album cover got everyone's attention, but it was the great music that kept us listening to it. The cover has a beautiful woman wearing nothing but lots and lots of whipped cream, and she's enticingly licking cream from her index finger! I've always wondered why no one seemed offended by that sexy image back in 1965... maybe because the album was NOT rock and roll!?😜
I had given the album away after learning how he enticed young boys. I never thought about that album again until I watched this. That album signifies how he treated boys, borrowed content (music and dance...not the first to do the moonwalk) and lip synched through to the end of his career. He was strange and getting stranger by the end.
In 1984, Jackson played 3 sold out nights at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver for the Victory Tour. My dad was a police officer in New Westminster, a neighbouring city to Vancouver. His staff sargeant had heard Jackson was a soccer fan, so he invited him to come out and meet kids from the youth soccer club. Jackson accepted. He visited City Hall, and was made an honorary officer. He then decided to do a short video including the police... they had him walking down the hallway, saying 'come on boys, we have a job to do', then the officers, all wearing Jackson sun glasses and white gloves, coming out of the office doors as he passed, following single file behind Jackson. They then walked out the front doors of City Hall, following him down the front stairs. The scene caused traffic to stop on Royal Avenue. He never released or used the video, but photos were included in his Moonwalk biography. You can see them on Google Images. My dad is in there. 🙃
Great anecdote. Thanks for sharing. That is some story!
@@eightiesmusic1984 Cheers. The book also has a group photo with the Detroit police, so I guess he did something similar with them as well.
I remember Michael's debut performance of Billy Jean on the 25th Aniversary of Motown TV special. We saw him do the Moon Walk dance move. Such exciting times!
It took a long time to make Thriller. Quincy convinced the record company to give Michael more time. " This record is going to be big."
Thanks Catherine!
I remember seeing that special too! When he did the moonwalk my wife and I looked at each other and went "wow"!
@@steveayers1053 I think we did the same thing. Amazing dancer.
The moment he does the moonwalk and everyone screams is one of the defining moments of 1983.
Everyone seems to think the Moonwalk and the Backslide are the same thing. Michael Jackson popularized both, but they are completely different moves.
Being a 90s kid, Michael Jackson seemed to be all over MTV back in the day, and while I appreciate and even enjoy some of his early stuff, Bad is hands down peak MJ for me. Had that weird movie where MJ turned into a car and then a robot, Moonwalker was the title maybe, on VHS. Watched it at least once a week. Good times.
Thanks!
Believe me, during the 80’s, specially after the release of "Thriller" album was so big, really big. Nothing even come close to anything like it ever since, that mania was really crazy. Micheal Jackson was on everything. The release of Thriller MTV was so a big, it’s premiere was simultaneously shown internationally, worldwide at the same time. No people was on the street, everyone was all waiting patiently on their TV throughout the night to catch the first MTV premiere. Looking back now, it’s really crazy and mind blowing. Remember, this is the same time the 2nd British invasion, with legendary bands like Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Spandau ballet, plus many great US musicians like Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Hall and Oates… etc. Michael Jackson eclipse them all by many leagues.
That epic video for Bad is ingrained in my head forever.
Tried so hard to ignore the Michael Jackson hype, he was just too much "pop". When I heard Beat It, I could hear a crack in my defenses but I quickly patched that up, thought I was strong. But lo and behold, that intro to Billie Jean started to shake my foundation, I held strong but then my feet started to move and I couldn't control it anymore, damn if that's got to be the best dance tune i have ever heard, its a tsunami of a song with a groove right up your spine and into your brain and heart ❤!
I read Michael's memoir MoonWalk and he makes it pretty clear that his perceived snub by the Grammy's for Off The Wall not only hurt him but made him very angry. He said that many in the industry told him that were shocked by it not getting Record Of The Year as well considering how critically acclaimed and commercially successful it had been. He was determined that the next album would be so amazing it couldn't and wouldn't be ignored. His mantra was " Next time !" , "They won't be able to ignore this one !" He didn't like that albums by great artists contained a few great A side songs with the rest being filler B sides . On Thriller and subsequent albums he wanted every song to be a killer A side worthy single that could stand on its own as a release. He achieved everything he wanted and more with Thriller. Forget the Grammys or even the industry... the whole world couldn't ignore Michael's groundbreaking masterpiece album. The perfection of that album combined with his electric performances and groundbreaking videos solidified him as the King Of Pop indeed.
"All Killer No Filler"
@@fnjesusfreak Yes that sums up Michael totally.
I'd love to see a show on the song Thriller, especially featuring the mini-movie music video directed by John Landis and also featuring the legendary Vincent Price (IMHO, the best part of the entire song!)
I always thought that he hit his peak in the Off The Wall days. It was before all of the surgery, before all the scandals. The songs were great, his dancing style was a little newer then, so a little more shocking in its brilliance.
I preferred that period too; I annoyed a coworker recently when I told a customer buying the "Off The Wall" album that I liked it better than the "Thriller" album.
Off The Wall is a perfect album!
Off the Wall was great dance music. Disco was fading and the clubs needed something to play. Off the Wall filled the void.
Wrong. Good argument, but wrong, wrong, wrong ...
Off the wall was a fantastic album. I was in junior high when it came out. It's still one of my favorites.
I’m glad you included the word “major” when referencing MJ being the first black artist on MTV. I’ve tried to look it up, but can’t find a clear answer anywhere. However, I vividly remember watching the Electric Avenue video by Eddy Grant on MTV in 1981 two years before Billie Jean came out.
Electric Avenue didn't come out until 1983, and I don't recall ever seeing the video on MTV, despite the fact that it was one of that year's biggest pop hits. In fact, MTV didn't even play black artists until MJ's Thriller blew up, and that was only because CBS Records, which was MJ's label at the time, threatened to pull all their artists' videos off MTV if they didn't play his videos. Since MTV was still a growing company at the time, they had no choice but to cave in.
As a kid who watched MTV in the mid-'80s, I can tell you MTV rarely played black artists at the time, because the then-head of MTV didn't consider them rock 'n roll enough to be on there. Which is really ridiculous, considering that it was black people who helped invent rock n' roll in the first damn place. MTV didn't even acknowledge that rap existed until 1988,and only after that then-head of MTV left the company.
@@alondathomas293 I was wrong about the release date of Electric Avenue. It was released in April 1983, but I did see the video on MTV during that time. I've tried to look up who was the first black artist on MTV because I was curious. The answer always goes something like this: "MJ was the first black artist in heavy rotation on MTV," or "MJ was the first major black artist on MTV." There's always a qualifier which makes me think that he wasn't the first. It shouldn't be so hard to find an answer to this question, but I MTV probably didn't keep records of the videos they played then.
Fantastic episode! I hope you do every song on this landmark album. I remember before this album came out I couldn't picture myself at a MJ concert after I absolutely had to see it. Amazing story behind it and a great deep dive into Billy Jean!
I remember when he performed this live and he did the moon walk for the first time on TV. Kids at school were blown away and I was one of the first to have Thriller. One girl was all over me because of it. I ended up getting another copy and gave her the original. That turned out to be a bad decision because she only wanted the album and not really me. It's ok though you live you learn you move on.
I was 9 when this album hit. I love it so much It's my favoriye album from the 80.s one of those rare albums with no bad songs.
Thriller was unbelievable. The talent on this album was a guarantee to success. To have the band Toto play the music on the album was a genius move. Then, to top it off, Eddie Van Halen played the solo on beat it, which is still my favorite. To be honest, it was like a greatest hits album. Michael was the Elvis of my generation, and sadly, his life ended in a similar manner. Fame has it's dark side, but we still have the music.
The album had star power.
His ambition was obsessive and it played out. There was zero escape from MJ in the 80’s. Thriller was eclectic to every musical taste on at least one track. Stations had multiple vinyls due to wear. The wild thing is that the entire album is gold, but rarely heard due to media overplay of Thriller and Billie Jean. Thanks Adam.
Yes, I was a young mom during that time and pop was definitely not my taste in music but you couldn't escape it. There was one song I enjoyed a bit, I can't recall the title but I do remember turning up the sound and singing along
This channel is so underrated. Love the insight and engaging delivery.
Professor, you missed a moment there: the kid in the Pepsi commercial was Alfonso Ribeiro, who grew up to costar with Will Smith in the Fresh Prince of BelAire, and later won his season of Dancing With the Stars. He was already a great dancer even at the very young age of 12 or 13 when he made the commercial with the Jacksons, who were gracious enough to walk away smiling and let him have the spotlight at the end.
I'm also surprised the Professor missed Alfonso, and during that little segment of the video, I thought.... wonder why they calls us GenX when we could have been called the Pepsi Generation.
@@chestrockwell8328 Oh good one!!
You left out Silver Spoons.
It really gets overshadowed, but I forgot just how good Off the Wall was. Thank you for that little refresher. Yeah, Thriller had it all. I remember my friend getting it as a gift and being mad about it because it was "Pop music, bubblegum junk" and throwing the cassette against the wall, smashing the case. I took the tape. Not long after that he heard the actual "Thriller" single and wondered whatever happened to his cassette of it. I gave it back and said something along the lines of he must have left it in the tape deck in the car at some point. Sorry, don't know what happened to the case. You can't explain that era without either MJ and I am thankful I was there for it.
Off the Wall is magic!
I hope she has grown to appreciate it with age.
Off The Wall and Thriller are double edged swords. All that creativity earned MJ the rewards he deserved. Unfortunately it also drew too many yes men into his sphere. In my opinion they were more interested in lining their pockets than truely taking care of MJ. RIP Michael, we miss you and your talent.
Back then, I followed the papers each week to see if Thriller was going to surpass Saturday Night Fever in total album sales. It did and eclipsed it.
BY a long way! Thanks for sharing!
Even Travolta was blown away by MJ’s moonwalk!
I had previously purchased many 45s and a few cassettes. Thriller was the very first vinyl lp I ever owned. I still have it!🖖🏼
Body-popping dancing was part of the early hip-hop scene in the early 80s, the moonwalk was one of the stock moves incorporated into it. The ex-Soul Train dancer Jeffrey Daniel of Shalamar, the US soul-disco group introduced us in the uk to body popping and the moonwalk in 1982 when he did a routine to their hit Night To Remember on Top of the Pops. Paul McCartney saw Daniel on that show and gave him a part in his movie Give My Regards To Broad Street as a robotic dancer, McCartney who was close to Jackson around the time Thriller was being made introduced him to Daniel who taught him the moonwalk. Jackson always gets the credit but it was the creation of anonymous urban street dancers.
Thanks for this info, and it had to be ST and the clubs or the streets and studios before it. You know, I can still moonwalk… in socks. The amazing part is not doing it, though, but coming up w/it in the first place.
@@laurat1129 It caused a real buzz when Jeffrey Daniel did the moonwalk on Top of the Pops. It was a year or so before break dancing, poppin or the emerging hip hop scene started to be acknowledged by the mainstream.
You put a lot of quality into your videos. I'm not so much into a lot of the music in the 80s, but this was really well done.
Love Michael... and I was a metalhead in the late 80s
Always loved Mike, though, then took acid. My music ears were open, n into dead n floyd but still loved Mike n be came a Techno dj.
Thriller got to everybody. The order those singles were released was pure genius with every song better than the last one. Massive record is an understatement it defined radio for almost 3 years.
Agreed! Thanks!
THE LADY IN MY LIFE, was NEVER released technically, off Thriller...and that song got heavy airplay on the radio too.
I always listen to the songs in order.
The bass line/groove. Definitely Hall & Oates. I thought so at the time. But he didn’t steal it note for note. It’s just the way it makes you move. Both brilliant songs.
There's a video about this very thing with the baseline, there's about 6 songs that it mentions which share a very similar sound. Hall and Oats is very similar to a Curtis Mayfield track
I went to the Victory tour opening date in Kansas City. Got to see Michael Jackson and his brothers perform this live. Still the best concert I've ever been to. I was 9.
My parents and grandparents went to that one. They just didn't tell me. 😢
I listened to Casey Kasem ever week back then. And I was amazed how Billie Jean kept turning up at #1 week after week after week. And then "Every Breath You Take" went #1 for EIGHT weeks. Summer of '83. Both songs are similarly dark and sinister!
Billy Jean is better though.
In P.O.R. we trust!
Ha ha! Thanks!
I never knew how dark BillieJean was until I heard Chris Cornell sing his version of it which is just amazingly Dark and somber! Give it a listen.
Never heard CC’s version myself, better go listen to it.
"Billie Jean" was a monster hit in heavy rotation in the radio. The only other songs that came vaguely close to that level of play were "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "1999". MJ ruled the radio in the early 80s.
Yes he did!
An odd thing about Prince's song "1999" is it initially missed the U.S. top 40 Billboard pop chart...then upon reissue it reached #12 in the US.
Thanks!@@shiroibasketshoes
@@ProfessorofRock You're welcome!
Hungry Like the Wolf gets me hyper!
I was 3 when I was introduced to both Michael and the *Thriller* album. I enjoyed every song on it, and:"Billie Jean" was no exception. For some reason, "Billie Jran" was the song that got my brother and me trying to cop the turns Michael did on-stage and on video. Thirty-three years later, I was covering the song live with the NYC subway buskers I've mentioned before, and the ordinarily-nonchalant singer (who conveniently happens to be an African American named Michael) refused to let the bassline be played wrong. I was trying to duplicate it on a synthesizer when we couldn't keep a bass player, but this guy brought in a bass player who resisted taking directions.
Thanks Eric!
I cannot even dance half as good, but am glad you tried!
Billies Jean is an absolute classic. It truly showcases Michael's talent as not just a singer but a phenomenal songwriter as well.
...and don't forget as a dancer!
My favorite Michael Jackson song even today - I wore out my Thriller tape as a kid playing Billie Jean so many times - and I got so excited when the music video came on MTV - this was in 1983 to 1984 - cool 😎 memories
Thanks!
This song brings back memories. When this song came out, the girl I was dating loved it. I was into hard rock, and my girlfriend challenged me to learn the song. I took the challenge, and learned the bass line. Great memories.
I love this song, especially now because of the funny family memory attached to it.
My mom loved Michael Jackson, his music but especially his dancing. She was a dancer herself in her younger days, winning jitterbug contests dancing to hep cats like Cab Calloway and Louis Jordan.
It was @ mid 80s and My dad and I were waiting in the car for Mom to join us so we could go out to eat. We waited... finally I told my dad I'd check and see if she needs help. I walk in the door and hear noises in the kitchen, her crackly 1950's Philco radio at full volume, and an odd scraping noise on the floor.
Oh no! Has mom had a stroke?! What's happening!? I run into the kitchen to see my 65 year old Mom _moonwalking_ to this song, "Billie Jean". Other than being noisy at it, she was _nailing it!_
😃
I went back to the car to let Dad know, "It was a Michael Jackson song on the radio and Mom is dancing. She'll be right out!" Dad just grinned and shook his head. They were together 40 years until death did they part. He understood her need for happy feet when the mood strikes!
I love Adam's shows, all of them, but I especially love when he talks about how important his dad was to teaching him about music and how to be a good man. He and his mom did a great job at raising Adam!
@@LazyIRanch❤❤❤
This song changed the game.
I have been a Michael Jackson fan since I was seven I'm almost 40 now if you've been nervous to handle Michael Jackson you did a very nice job his fans are not going to come for you most of them should compliment you on this thanks for doing it
Great album one of the reasons why 1983 is my favorite year of the 1980's.
Mine's 1984 but 83 is up there! Thanks Wayne!
I agree, Wayne. For me it’s 1984, then 1983
I was a headbanger when this album came out. Michael was our sworn enemy, or so we led each other to believe so.
Years later I found out that like me, each of my buddy’s had this album at home as well.
Some works of art, and that’s what this album was at the time, transcends genres. Yes, even Metal. Lol.
Didn't hurt any that EVH played a blistering solo on Beat It. 😉
Billie Jean will always have a place in my life. It was #1 when my oldest daughter was born. MJ and J5 will bring great memories. Thank you for a great story. Question. How many Grammy's in '84?
He was nominated for 12 grammys and he won 8 grammys
I was a dj at a skating rink at this time, the young kids wore me out requesting songs off of Thriller , Billie Jean and Beat It was requested probably 10 to 20 times a night each . There's no telling how many spins on the turntable I done of this Album . 1000s I'm sure . So many that I began to hate it after awhile, but I got over it soon . This Album along with many many others from the 80s make this the greatest decade of all time in music history. There's no denying that!!!
Micheal was a once in a life time singer and performer. I say I cannot stop till I get enough. Billie Jean was the start of this singer to the big time. I am sure he did have the top three songs on NZ hit chart at the same time. He died too young. The world stopped when he died.
Agree 💯!
Well said. 👍 👍👍
He was a pdf file though.
The man was a musical genius BUT he had a lot of personal demons. I think you know what I mean...
Watched him growing up. What a talent. Still love the music and his style. Wished I could dance like that. Smooth .
The greatest album of all time from the greatest singer of all time in the greatest decade.
Great video for a great song, Prof, but there's a couple of notable omissions... Billie Jean was one of the best tracks on the GTA Vice City soundtrack and was later covered brilliantly by Chris Cornell. All these years later, though, the original still sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Great video!
the talent of michael jackson cannot be topped
Thriller was so big that my contrarian self refused to buy the album that “everyone has”… well now I wish I had my very own vintage copy. I feel so dumb 🤦🏻♀️😂
I hope ProfessorofRock had a great xmas with his family… making them listen to The Kinks “Father Christmas”, The Eagles “Please Come Home for Christmas” and The Pogues “Fairytale of New York”.
The last one’s been my favourite for 20 years. RIP Shane McGowan and Kirsty McColl.
I'll always remember the Summer of '83 when MJ's BJ had taken over the cultural zeitgeist to the point where an Italo-Disco act called 'Clubhouse' had taken his hit track and did an infectious mashup cover version with Steely Dan's classic 'Do It Again'. After 1st hearing it on multiple boombox radios @The Jones Beach Boardwalk (likely Z100), I immediately went to my local Sam Goody's and picked up the 45 'Do It Again Billie Jean (which I still have along with MJ's original release of Thriller). Truly the stuff of legend..
This song, along with the entire Thriller album is imprinted in my childhood. I was 5 when it came out. I remember Mom always stopped to listen to it on the radio and we eagerly caught every new video Michael came out with, marveling at his innovations. A singular talent, for sure.
So, glad you added the Steve Martin bit. So many people don't know it exists. Thanks, Professor!
Thriller was the 1st album I ever bought. I was 8 years old. Myself and all of my friends tried like hell to do the moonwalk. Freakin awesome!
How many of us remember owning the Thriller album LP? I remember the sheet of lyrics of each song that came with it. On the back side, there was a picture of Michael and Paul McCartney on either side of a lady, tugging at her. That was the story of The Girl is Mine.
The day I learned how to play Billie Jean front to back on bass was the day I felt like a real bassist and I had been playing for 10 years already. We were playing a show and the crowd just wasn't in it so I started to play that and the rest of the band joined in not only shocking the the crowd but myself as well because we had never talked about doing it let alone practiced it. I'm not going to lie and say it was a perfect tribute to MJ but it was good enough. It was more like a scene from a movie minus it probably sounded like shart if I listened to it now but in the moment it felt so unreal. I wish diabetes didn't mess me up or I'd be still out there ❤
Professor I know it doesn’t fit our Gen x mold exactly but the song “Possession” by Sarah McLachlan is about the very scary dude who stalked her for years and years and constantly engineered ways to “meet” her - like suing her for “stealing song lyrics” from his brain (he removed himself from the world). The song is pretty; the lyrics are *terrifying.*
One of the greatest songs ever. Also, ignore Quincy, he makes up all sorts of nonsense these days, sneak dissing Legends.
This was MJ's best album. The intro to that song makes you want to jump out of your chair and start dancing, and meant to be played Loud!
So, just what was it about MJ that defined his popularity? Was it his writing, his outstanding dance ability (everybody started copying it), his singing, or his different life style? Well, it was all three, and you picked up on what you liked best.
I was never much of a fan, but without a doubt, he was the KING of POP. I still can't figure out the "Moon Walk".
Adam, you always ask us to have a conversation with you. I hope that, that is what I'm doing. I go back to the very beginnings of rock (Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis on the Ed Sullivan Show)., so I do have some insight. Another great video on the back story of a great tune. ;-)
I was lucky enough recently to get two original vinyl copies of Thriller. One with the misprinted album cover, and one corrected. Have always loved this album. MJ's music was amazing. Can't imagine the 80's without him.
Michael Jackson was a very talented man who brought me many years of joy, first with the Jackson 5 and then as a solo artist. But his traumatic childhood kept getting in his way and he could never find a way to defeat his demons. I hope he found peace.
It's hard to reconcile the music, the man, and the allegations. Possibly the most talented entertainer of our time.
Do the research. The allegations are lies. There’s nothing to reconcile.
I remember the music video for the track "Thriller" had premiere on tv. Living in Denmark that ment staying up all night to watch it. Those were the days...
Indeed!
All day, all night!
I remember when I was around 6 yrs old, my brother and I got Thriller on vinyl as a Christmas gift, along with a Gap Band album, and Synchronicity by The Police. No wonder I became a musician. 😂
Great video, professor!🎵🎶
Wow. I lived through that time. Amazing. Thank you
Michael Jackson understood music so well. There's a great story about him, Queen, and Another One Bites the Dust. "That's the Gravy"...😊
Good morning friend. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and passion with us every day! 🎸 🎵
Good morning! Thanks!
Billy Jean has always been my favorite! Thriller is amazing and I'm so glad you featured it today. Michael Jackson did something special almost every year of my own life. He's immortal! Hail to the King.
THriller is so great. What an album.
How old are you?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I'm almost 61. I've been listening to the Jackson 5 and MJ for nearly my whole life.
@@theresayockim3750 So have I. I’ll be 18 next week.
I can't imagine a world without MJ and his music 💜
Can remember being about 11 years old and some of the boys doing the moon rock in the local shop. Great catchy tune, absolutely nothing like it in today's music. MJ was a talented entertainer in every way.
Now you need to talk about the only album that ran neck and neck with Thriller in sales at the time: ZZ Top's Eliminator!
Will do!
I still have my Eliminator t-shirt from the 80s, the one where the car's headlights just happen to be located where my boobs used to be! We used to turn heads in the 80s! Now, if I wore that shirt in public, I'd turn stomachs. Time is cruel like that.
Both albums are pretty sharp dressed. 😜
@@LazyIRanch Those were the days!😃🎶
Sir, you do a terrific job telling and explaining all of these on your sight. I often think, “22 minutes? I don’t know . . . “ then I’ll hit of button, and I’m caught up in everything you’re telling me about music/performers I’ve heard during all of my 74 years. I hope anyone who loves the music of their lives finds you in order to learn the facts they they never knew. Like the real mental girl who got MJ to write/perform “Billie Jean”. Thanks.
I couldn't have guessed this mystery song at the start if I had a thousand tries. Mr. Professor, you truly are the master of knowledge when it comes to music. Where do you get access to that much deep info. You're a legend in your own time sir and I appreciate all your hard work. I'm gonna shop for some merch. soon. P. S. I was wondering how many music related t-shirts you own? P.S.S. " Hey Michael!! pick up line 2, Fred Astair wants to holla at you !😎🕺. ☮️🐸
It's difficult to come up with completely original music. Whatever Jackson borrowed and stole, he made it his own, fathering new sounds, styles, and moves that affected almost everyone and everything at the time.
Okay, most people don't focus on this part of the video, but your ad read for Zenni was amazing. They are getting their money's worth, no question. Well done 👍
To me, Billie Jean is not just the greatest song of the 80's, but I believe it is the greatest pop song of all time.
Billie Jean, will forever remain timeless and iconic for years and decades to come. RIP MJ
😂😂😂
Definitely one of the very best ... ever. My sister's name is Billie Jean. My brother and I used to torment her endlessly with this song. LOL (We were so mean back then). You know how siblings can be. Good vid! :)
Those who are not familiar with the Billie Jean's bassline alone meant that they've missed a lot
That video was iconic on MTV never knew Eddie Van Halen worked on it for free . That's crazy .money he lost .
I think you mean Beat It?
@@ProfessorofRockDid he do it for free or did he just get session rates?
Free. @@DneilB007
No, he played on Beat It
Since you briefly mentioned The Simpsons you could make a video about Michael and the Simpsons and how they had to use a sound alike for Lisa It's Your Birthday which Michael wrote and and recorded a demo for or the controversy surrounding the E.T. story book album that Michael did (and won a Grammy for)
Thanks!
That sounds like a fascinating deep dive! I didn't know Michael recorded an E.T. storybook album but I'd love to hear it. Why was it controversial?
@@LazyIRanch1. Michael was signed to Epic but E.T. was being released by Universal so the album was going to be released by MCA Records which Universal owned
2. Michael and Quincy began to work on it after being asked by Steven Spielberg in the middle of the Thriller album recording sessions. Epic didn't want the E.T. story book album to overshadow Michael's newest album since E.T. was the highest grossing film of all time. Epic and Universal/ MCA eventually came to an agreement. Michael would record an audio book as well as record a new song called Someone In The Dark (which is a beautiful song) and I think Thriller had to come out before the E.T. album
3. But Universal/ MCA got too excited and didn't listen and released it into stores as well as giving copies to radio stations. Epic Records got really mad since there was a breach in contract. They made sure the story book album was pulled from stores and couldn't be played on radio so the story book and has became a pretty rare item
4. Epic then sued Universal/ MCA
5. Michael was very upset with Epic (I usually know the name of the guy who was the head of Epic Records at the time but I've forgotten ATM) so in order to try and get Michael to forgive him they allowed Michael to own his masters
6. Michael and Quincy won a Grammy for the story book album in the Best Recording For Children (or something like that??) Category during the same night when Michael won a recording breaking 8 (or 9 - I forgot) records in one night
@@KD-cd2ck I wish I'd known about this back then! I would have bought that storybook recording for all my nieces and nephews (and one for me).
I just listened to "Someone in the Dark", that is a beautiful song, with beautiful lyrics:
"...When somewhere in your heart you can feel the glow
A light to keep you warm when the night winds blow
Like it was written in the stars, I knew
My friend, my someone in the dark, was you..."
I think I got something in my eye.
Thank you so much for this information, I really appreciate it!
@@LazyIRanch my pleasure! There's two versions of the story book album one is the vinyl version and the other is the cassette version. I have the cassette one and I hope I get the vinyl edition one day. The album comes with a little story book that you read as you play your cassette/ record and a poster of Michael with E.T.
Michael Jackson is the greatest entertainer of all time and no can/will ever come close
Prince may disagree!
@@ProfessorofRock Nah Michael will always be at the top
Prince waited to release Purple Rain because he couldn't compete with Thrller@@KD-cd2ck
@@KD-cd2ck you need to expand your horizons
@@jacobus57 i have and Michael trumps them all
Still wildly popular today... how many millennials can instantly identify a song from the '80s like this one? I thought PYT was the best off Thriller with its infectious groove....
Agreed! IMHO, PYT should have been a single!
Thanks Flave! My favorite was Human Nature. What do you think of that song?
PYT was my favorite as well! I turned 21 in 1983, so I was danc8ng to it on nights out. Had to request it, though. 😊
@@ProfessorofRock It's smooth, with an impressive vocal performance by MJ!
@@linda.christie At the clubs and adult nights at the roller rinks, always waited for this one!
Back in 81 & 82 I was in my early 20's and going to school 45 minutes from my hometown, living in a different city. The first time I heard this song and that beat I was hooked. I went out and brought the album. I love this song so much and I thought it was the best song on the album, which Thriller was a killer album. I remember playing Beat It at a dance while D.J.ing and one of my school mates flipped out yelling, Eddie Van Halen. I said no that's Michael Jackson and he said yes but that's Eddie Van Halen playing guitar. When you mentioned that Billi Jean Michael Jackson the first Black Artist to appear on MTV in heavy rotation , you forgot to mention that Michael Jackson had revived the record buying industry which was suffering economically after the lackluster 70's years. People were now being drawn back to record shops which was a thing back then. Hanging out at the record shop especially on Fridays when New albums would be released ( you call it dropped) . I Love the 80's and I love this Song .
Wearing a Bauhaus shirt while discussing MJ! The Professor celebrates eclectic styles, which is a great character trait.
Thanks!
I am waiting for a feature on Bela Lugosi’s Dead.
But there was a song called I'm Billie Jean by Lydia Murdock in 1984. Most people assumed she was just exploiting the popularity of the Thriller album.
Another great clip and killer t-shirt bro. Love MJ from Jackson 5 and solo stuff of course. Bauhaus are ridiculous, Peter Murphy with his preternatural voice and the music is beyond words. Thanks again for a great breakdown and insight. Didn't know Hall & Oates inspired the song, both songs are legendary. Danka
May 16, 1983, was the day that Michael Jackson was sent to take over the Universe. As a sophomore in high school, I was sitting in my childhood home and being a fan of Motown I watched the show. When the Jackson's finished their medley, the bass line of Bille Jean came on. It was a normal television special when he was singing. We had seen his dance moves on the video but when he did the Moonwalk, the world changed. His performance I believe changes the celebrity landscape for artists, actors and singers. His influence on the world lasts to this
day. MTV was the catalyst and the world ate it up. Michael Jackson took over the Universe and we had a front seat to watch the show.
It was actually May 16
@@tarikremila794 My apologies. You are correct.
AWESOME shirt there, Professor! Such a great album. Such a great group. Have you done anything on Bauhaus?
Not yet. Maybe an interview?
@@ProfessorofRock I once unknowingly walked in on a Peter Murphy interview at a station where I used to work; he'd be an interesting interview for you, too!
@@ProfessorofRock Yeah, if you're going to interview Peter Murphy especially, time's probably ticking. It's amazing he's even still alive, from everything I've heard about him over the years.
Very cool!@@shiroibasketshoes
@@ProfessorofRock Thanks; Peter was down to earth and friendly in person. No black halo of doom hovering over him, haha. This was around 1990 when "Cuts You Up" was on modern rock stations.
I was never into Michael Jackson but my sisters were. I remember them talking about "Billie Jean" when it came out. I didn't know what the big deal was...until I saw the video. Now, that video was made in the early days of MTV and was a bit "simplistic" compared to his later videos. It was a good video though and when I heard it, all I though was, "He's going to make a TON of money on this one!" The rest of history of course. On a side note, the moonwalk debuted on my birthday. I didn't watch it, but I heard about it! One thing I will say about Jackson is that he didn't need autotune!!
Thanks Greg!
So you were born on March 25?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980, I thought he said in May...geez, I was off!
@@gregwasserman2635 Wait, sorry, I might have mixed it up. It was recorded on March 25, 1983 and released on May 16.
Interesting story that MJ told Oprah. After the performance where he did the moonwalk for the first time he was very depressed. He felt he did a bad job at it. Afterwards, he exited the hall through the back door to enter his limo. There was a Jewish Orthodox kid waiting there for him and ran over to the car. Before MJ could close the door the boy excitedly told him how assume that move was that he did. That changed MJ whole mood for the rest of the night!
@10:55 Love him or hate him Michael Jackson did respect the intelligence of his audience, that's a good point. No wonder he sold so many records.
Thriller was such a great album. Beat It was my favorite song because of the Eddie Van Halen solo but Billie Jean has a great bass riff.
Michael Jackson will forever be the King of Pop. There was no-one quite like him, and there never will be again. I never realised how out of control crazy his fanbase could get, he'd be justified in taking out a restraining order!
Wow, you don't realize much .
Nobody was bigger in the 80s
Even Elvis would give Thriller accolades.
Great job, best one so far.
As big as “Thriller” was, and we all waited for these videos to come out and Michael to do the moonwalk on TV, I can’t believe I never knew the real story behind “Billie Jean”. I just thought it was a typical popstar tale or a song of the times, given what a topical issue teen pregnancy and sex ed was in the early ‘80s, afterschool specials and all.😂
Billy Jean was definitely my first song going into my teens with the obligatory need for music. From the moment that polished shoe touched the square and lit it up I was entranced. The story, the video, the moves, the guy himself. The phenomenon of MJ is why it’s more than music or albums that got him to the top and why he stayed there.