It was thirty-five years ago today that Michael Jackson released his seminal single ‘Billie Jean’.
Written and composed by Jackson and longtime producer-collaborator Quincy Jones, the song topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic and became one of the biggest-selling singles of all time.
Allegedly about groupies Jackson encountered, the track was mixed by audio engineer Bruce Sweden a grand total of 91 times before it was finalised – although it is reportedly the second mix that made the final cut.
The song’s video broke down racial barriers in that it was the first by a black artist to be aired by MTV in heavy rotation. It also spawned the King of Pop’s infamous ‘moonwalk’, with the star premiering the move while singing the track on TV.
Happy Birthday, ‘Billie Jean’.
