Smooth Criminal

"Smooth Criminal" is a song on Michael Jackson's Bad album (1987). Intertwined with the fast-paced beats are Jackson's lyrics about a woman named Annie, who has been killed in her apartment by a suave hitman. The song was re-released on the CD Number Ones.

Related Topics:
Michael Jackson - Bad - 1987 - CD - Number Ones

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Smooth Criminal" was released as a single in 1988 and peaked at eight on the Billboard Hot 100 (Source).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The song was the centerpiece in Jackson's Moonwalker movie, in which an entire hour-long short film (featuring Joe Pesci) was produced around the song. In the film, Jackson plays with his young friends outdoors when they come upon a cave, which leads to a kind of dream world in which "Mr. Big" Frankie Lideo has been selling drugs to youths in order to get everyone hooked. In the dream world, Jackson must save a kidnapped girl named Katie from Mr. Big's soldier-like henchmen, which he does through the power of a "wishing star". In the process, he transforms into a super-fast car, a robotic man and even a spaceship before saving her life. "Smooth Criminal" was presented in a ten-minute long clip in which Jackson dances through a 1930s-style nightclub. The version of the song used in the clip is different from the album version — the background beats are different, there are several new lyrics, and the song is much longer overall. The version of the video most people see is three minutes long and is merely a sped up version of the clip from the movie.

Related Topics:
Moonwalker - Joe Pesci - 1930s

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Both the style of the clip and the clothes and mannerisms Jackson portrayed were reused in the arcade and Sega Genesis version of the video game adaptation of Moonwalker.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The song was performed live during the second leg of Jackson's 1987–88 Bad World Tour. The performance featured an exciting dance routine modeled after the scene from the Moonwalker movie. By the time the 1993 Dangerous World Tour came around, this spectacular performance became a regular on Jackson tours. This time Jackson had devised a way to perform the anti-gravity lean, which was featured in the Moonwalker video, on stage (shown above). Much like the robot move from "Dancing Machine" to the Moonwalk from "Billie Jean", this showcased Jackson's amazing talent for creating exciting things to enhance stage performances. This performance can be seen on the Bucharest Dangerous Tour performance which is included as a DVD in The Ultimate Collection boxed set.

Related Topics:
Bad World Tour - Dangerous Tour - The Ultimate Collection

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2000 the song was covered by alternative metal band Alien Ant Farm.

Related Topics:
2000 - Alternative metal - Alien Ant Farm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~