Billie Jean

written by Michael Jackson in 1980 or 1981

This songs was inspired by several periods in Michael's life such as female fans accusing Michael and his brothers of fathering
their children. Another was when a woman accused Michael of being the father of one of her twins. Another is well documented in
MJ bio "The Magic and The Madness" of a fan who would break into The Jacksons' Hayvenhurst estate. She was later arrested when
she sent Michael a suicide note complete with a gun to kill himself.

Quincy Jones wasn't impressed with the first demo(included on the 2001 Special Edition), as he didn't like the bass.
He also didn't like the title of the song and suggested that they rename it to "Not My Lover"
There is also another demo that is over six minutes, slightly faster in tempo, and has alternate vocals and adlibs.
Engineer Bruce Swedien, who usually did one mix of a song, did 91 mixes of Billie Jean until the second mix was finally chosen.

The single topped the R&B singles chart in just three weeks- the fastest rising #1 single since 1970 when The Jackson 5ive scored a
hat trick of equally quick #1 singles ABC, The Love You Save, and I'll Be There. It went to #1 just one week after The Gap Band's "Outstanding"
topped The Girl Is Mine for the top spot. Billie Jean stayed at #1 for 9 weeks.
Went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 7 weeks and in the UK for one.
Billie Jean and the album topped the singles and albums charts on both sides of the Atlantic in the same week.
The video was directed by British director Steve Barron and premiered on MTV on March 2, 1983, becoming the first
video by a black artist to be added on the MTV playlist.

Michael insisted to Berry Gordy that he perform the song on "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, and Forever" instead of one of his solo Motown songs(like Got To Be There and Ben)
and would be the only non-Motown song on the show. The performance is considered one of the greatest ever and voted the second
greatest music on television by TV Guide, especially when he "moonwalked" in public for the first time, helping start
the Bboy/Breakdancing phemonenom in the mainstream of the 80s. The performance earned Michael a Emmy Award nomination, Best Individual Performance on
a Variety or Music Program.

The next day after Motown 25, Fred Astaire personally called Michael to praise him, starting a friendship between
the two.

US Hot 100:#1
US R&B:#1
US Single Sales:#1
US SIngle Airplay:#1
Canada:#1
UK:#1
Australia:#1
Austria:#2
Belgium:#1
France:#1
Holland:#4
Japan:#49
South Africa:#2
Germany:#2
Ireland:#1
Spain:#1
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