Fun Music Facts - Is that Michael???!!!

Twenty-five years ago this week, Michael Jackson was topping the charts with “Billie Jean.” This is it. Jackson’s most successful single ever. Over 5.25 million units sold. It also nabbed two Grammys in 1984 – for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song. Sales aside, most critics agree that “Billie Jean” is Jackson’s creative high-water mark. In 2005, Blender magazine named “Billie Jean” the greatest song since 1980, and Rolling Stone ranked it at #58 on its list of the “500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.” The song is based on a true story. Around 1981, a woman accused Jackson of denying being the father of her child, and also claimed to be married to the pop star, calling herself “Billie Jean Jackson.” The same woman, now 60, was nabbed by police earlier this month for trespassing at Neverland Ranch.
Producer Quincy Jones was not happy about the title of the song, and wanted it changed to “Not My Lover.” He was concerned that listeners would assume Jackson was singing about tennis great Billie Jean King. (Which would certainly, uh, change the song’s meaning.) Legend has it that Jackson nailed the lead vocal on the first take. However, Jackson was probably proudest of composing the intricate and haunting bass line, which he worked on for weeks. During a televised performance of “Billie Jean” in 1983 at a Motown tribute special, Jackson premiered his “Moonwalk.” Minutes later, half of America tried (and failed) to recreate it at home in their sock-feet.