Smooth Criminal

"Smooth Criminal"
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Bad
Released	October 24, 1988 (1988-10-24)
Format	5" CD single, 3" CD single, 12" vinyl, 7" single and Cassette single
Recorded	1987
Genre	Funk, Dance-pop
Length	4:17 (album version) 4:10 (7" edit) 7:49 (12" edit)
Label	Epic
Writer(s)	Michael Jackson
Producer	Quincy Jones Michael Jackson (co-produced)
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Another Part of Me" (1988) "Smooth Criminal" (1988) "Leave Me Alone" (1989)
Bad track listing "Dirty Diana" (9) "Smooth Criminal" (10) "Leave Me Alone" (11) Audio sample file info · help

"Smooth Criminal" is the seventh single from Michael Jackson's 1987 Bad album . The song contains a fast-paced beat intertwined with Jackson's lyrics about a woman named Annie, who has been attacked in her apartment by a "smooth" assailant. It was released as a single on October 24, 1988 and peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[1] It was re-released on April 10, 2006 as a part of the Visionary: The Video Singles box-set. The re-released Visionary single charted at No. 19 in the UK. The piece is one of Jackson's signature songs, and has appeared on numerous greatest hits albums, including Number Ones, The Essential Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection, King of Pop and This Is It.

The song also serves as the theme song to Jackson's 1988 film Moonwalker.

Song information

"Smooth Criminal" was a song that almost didn't make it into the Bad album. With the final decision to include the song, Jackson originally decided to make the music video a western-styled short film. However, he later decided to change the style into a 1930s nightclub style.^[2]

An early version of the song was written by Jackson in 1985 and the original demo was recorded in 1986. The original title was "Al Capone". This version didn't make the album and was re-worked and re-written as "Smooth Criminal".

The style of both the clip and the clothes as well as mannerisms Jackson portrayed were reused in the arcade, the Sega Master System, the Sega Mega Drive and the Sega Game Gear adaptations of Moonwalker. The song itself serves as the soundtrack for the Club 30s stage, the nightclub from the movie, in all versions of the game.

The song was performed live during the second leg of Jackson's 1988–89 Bad World Tour. The performance featured a dance routine modeled after the scene from Moonwalker. By the time the 1992 Dangerous World Tour came around, this performance became a regular on Jackson tours, including his HIStory Tour. A spoken word and synth recording preceded the song on the second leg of the Bad tour and on the subsequent Dangerous World Tour, the same recording having been used as an intro for the song "This Place Hotel" on the first leg of the Bad tour. By the time of the Dangerous tour, Jackson had devised a way to perform the patented anti-gravity lean, which was featured in the Moonwalker video, on stage. Much like the robot move from "Dancing Machine" and the Moonwalk from "Billie Jean", this showcased Jackson's talent for creating unique moves 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.

Part of the song was also briefly used in the middle of the live version of the song "Dangerous" since Jackson's performance at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards. In the HIStory Tour, he used a small snippet of this song during his performance of "Dangerous". Jackson was also going to use it again in his "Dangerous" performance in This Is It, along with the full track, had the concert series not been canceled due to his sudden death.

Film adaptation

The song was adapted into a short film which was the centerpiece of the 1988 film Moonwalker starring Michael Jackson and Joe Pesci in the lead roles.

Plot

The film begins with three homeless children (Sean, Katie and Zeke) sneaking through a big city to see their friend Michael walk out of his store. As Michael stands in front of the door, he gazes at the night sky before he is attacked by mobsters with machine guns. The film then backtracks to show Michael and the children playing in a meadow in happier times. Their dog Skipper runs away, and as Michael and Katie look for him. they uncover the lair of Mr. Big (Joe Pesci). Mr. Big – whose real name is Frankie LiDeo, which is an anagram of Frank DiLeo – is a drug-dealing mobster with a disciplined private army at his command. He wants to get the entire population of Earth addicted to drugs, starting with children. He likes to eat nuts and leaves nutshells wherever he goes. He is obsessed with spiders, as displayed by their abundance at the entrance to his lair and his operation named "bugs and drugs". He also has them engulfing a model globe when making a speech about his burgeoning drug empire. They signify the spread of his proposed control of the world via drug dealing. Further, all his henchmen sport a spider crest on their uniforms. Katie screams when she sees a spider, and Mr. Big discovers them spying on his operation.

The story returns to the shooting in front of Michael's store. Unknown to the gangsters, Michael has a lucky star, and using it, he escaped the gunfire. Upon realizing that Michael has escaped again, Mr. Big orders his henchmen to track him down with dogs. He is eventually cornered in an alley, where he uses his lucky star again to turn into a sportscar (the 1970 Lancia Stratos prototype) that mows down several of Mr. Big's henchmen. Michael is pursued through the city streets until he loses the henchmen. Meanwhile, the children scout out Club 30's, where Michael had told them to meet him, and find only an abandoned and haunted nightclub. As Michael arrives, Katie sees a silhouette of him turning back from a car into himself. The door of the club opens with a gust of wind, and Michael walks in to find it filled with zoot suiters and swing dancers. The children gather outside a window of the club and watch Michael dance to "Smooth Criminal."

The song used in the film is much longer than the album release, with several lyrics that clarify the story. There is also an interlude where Jackson joins the other dancers in a modern interpretive dance. At the climax of the song, Mr. Big lays siege to the club and kidnaps Katie. Michael follows them back to Big's lair and ends up surrounded by his henchmen. Mr. Big appears and taunts Michael by threatening to inject Katie with highly addictive narcotics. Katie breaks free for a moment, but Mr. Big grabs her again and starts kicking Michael. As Mr. Big stands over Michael and orders his henchmen to kill him and Katie, Michael looks up and sees his lucky star. He transforms into a giant robot and kills all of Mr. Big's soldiers, then turns into a spaceship. Mr. Big gets into a large hillside-mounted energy cannon, firing on the spaceship into a nearby ravine. The children are his next target, but the spaceship returns from the ravine just in time to fire a beam in the cannon with Mr. Big inside, killing him. The children watch the ship fly into the night sky with shower of light.

The children return to the city, believing that Michael is gone forever. As the boys talk about Michael, Katie walks away crying and clutching a paper star. As she sits in a corner wishing for him to come back, the paper star flies out of her hand and Michael walks out of the night fog. He takes them to Club 30's, where they find that the club has turned into the backstage area of a concert. Michael's stage crew return the children's missing dog and then escort Michael onto the stage where he performs "Come Together".

Reception

The short film received generally positive reviews by critics and fans alike. It is believed to be the best segment out of the entire Moonwalker film.

Personnel

• Written, composed, clap, vocal arrangement, solo and background vocals by Michael Jackson
• Produced by Quincy Jones
• Co-Produced by Michael Jackson
• Bill Bottrell, John Robinson, Bruce Swedien: Drums
• David Williams: Guitar
• Kim Hutchcroft, Larry Williams: Saxophones
• Gary Grant, Jerry Hey: Trumpets
• Kevin Maloney: Muted Steinway piano
• Christopher Currell: Synclavier
  • Certain synclavier effects by Denny Jaeger and Michael Rubini
• John Barnes, Michael Boddicker: Synthesizers
• Chief Of Police Announcement by Bruce Swedien
• Michael Jackson's heartbeat recording by Dr. Eric Chevlen; digitally processed in the Synclavier
• Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson and John Barnes
• Horn arrangement by Jerry Hey

Chart performance

Track listing

Music video

Jeffrey Daniel of the soul music group Shalamar co-choreographed the "Smooth Criminal" video. It was directed by special effects coordinator Colin Chilvers. The dance sequence of the video in the 1930s style lounge (and Michael's white suit and fedora) pays tribute to the Fred Astaire musical comedy film The Band Wagon. Currently there are four different versions of the video for "Smooth Criminal," as well as an additional vignette created for the 2009 This Is It concert series:

• Original Moonwalker Version - This is the version included in the Moonwalker film - while technically the whole "Smooth Criminal" segment is about 40 minutes long, the actual "Smooth Criminal" song section is only about ten minutes. It is generally the most complete version of the video and includes the unedited middle section of interpretive dance with the dancers but does not include the last six seconds where a flapper fans herself after the door is shut behind Michael. In comparison to the original song this version has two lines in the second stanza added: "Everytime I try to find him he's leaving no clues left behind him. And they have no way of knowing of the suspect, or what to expect".
• Moonwalker Edit - This version is included on History on Film, Volume II and it is basically an edited version of the ten minute song section from the "Smooth Criminal" segment in the film Moonwalker. It is essentially the same, however it has some minor changes including: different opening music and no dialogue, the middle section with the dancers chanting has been truncated (some of the chanting has been shortened) and ends similarly to the original where Michael exits the club but with the addition of the lead flapper fanning herself. Being a PAL to NTSC transfer (the Moonwalker DVD has only been released in PAL regions), this version suffers from blurred colors and other artifacts. Also, despite having almost a minute cut out from the middle section, this version is approximately the same length as the original video, due to the PAL speed-up phenomenon.
• Album Version - This is the version of the video that is on Michael Jackson's official website, as well as his YouTube channel. It also appears during the end credits for Moonwalker and was included on the "Visionary" single. It is essentially a lot of clips from the Original Moonwalker Version of the "Smooth Criminal" video, that have either been sped up, or slowed down, with an added blur effect, and some alternate angles. The video is four minutes and seventeen seconds long. Throughout the video, the regular version of the song is played. This version is also the version sold in the iTunes Music Store.
• Single Version - This unreleased version is edited to be in sync with the Single Mix taken from the "Smooth Criminal" single released October 24, 1988. It excludes the added lyric & interlude. This video is four minutes and three seconds long. It is considered an MTV Base video.
• This Is It Vignette - 2009 video, shot in black and white and intended to be shown during the London O2 concert series. It runs three minutes and forty-two seconds and features Jackson in a reprisal of his Moonwalker character, digitally inserted into the sets of various film noirs, including Gilda.

The video won Best Music Video at the 1989 Brit Awards.

Anti-gravity lean

"Smooth Criminal" music video. Shows an anti-gravity lean performed by Jackson.

A seemingly impossible distance was achieved without the use of cables. A patent was applied for a hitching device built into the floor of the stage and the performers' shoes. The props needed for their technique were patented in the United States by Jackson in 1993,^[11] and consist of pegs that rise from the stage at the appropriate moment, and special shoes with ankle supports and cutouts in the heels which can slide over the pegs and be thereby attached to the stage temporarily. These allow the performers to lean without needing to keep their centers of mass directly over their feet. The anti-gravity lean is inspired by the Tin Man's walk in The Wizard of Oz. Click here to view us patent 5255452

Covers

Alien Ant Farm cover

"Smooth Criminal"
Single by Alien Ant Farm
from the album Anthology
Released	July 24, 2001
Format	CD
Recorded	2001
Genre	Alternative metal Funk metal Punk rock
Length	3:29
Label	SKG Music
Writer(s)	Michael Jackson
Producer	Jay Baumgardner
Alien Ant Farm singles chronology
"Smooth Criminal" (2001) "Movies" (2001)

In 2001, Alien Ant Farm released a cover of "Smooth Criminal" as their debut single from their album Anthology. According to the band members, they would play a few riffs of the Jackson song while warming up before gigs and audience members would request them to play the entire song. This positive feedback encouraged them to record their own rendition of "Smooth Criminal" and include it on Anthology. It became a number one hit on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart and was also a number one in Australia. The song was also featured in the 2001 film American Pie 2, during a scene where Jason Biggs' character Jim superglues his hand to his crotch. Also in the album Greatest Hits (1999) is a "hidden track" named "Slick Thief", which is in fact an early version of "Smooth Criminal".

This version was featured on the video games Karaoke Revolution and Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades. It was released as downloadable content for the Rock Band series of video games.

Music video

Dvd Side: Smooth Criminal (Music video) The music video depicts the band performing in a wrestling ring at a house backyard. It also features numerous references to Michael Jackson:

• The video for the original "Smooth Criminal" is referenced when the band members do the video's anti-gravity lean. The anti-gravity lean is inspired by the Tin Man's walk in The Wizard of Oz.
• Various objects and sidewalk panels lighting up is a reference to the video for "Billie Jean." Additionally, an editing technique utilizing several split screens and freeze frames mirrors a similar sequence in "Billie Jean."
• The scene where lead singer Dryden Mitchell stands on the roof of an AMC Pacer and screams while its windows explode is taken from the controversial ending of the video for "Black or White".
• Just prior to the van's windows exploding, one can see a flag with Michael on it hanging from the house.
• Several references are made to "Thriller", including the dance by the old men, the werewolf mask worn by the girl jumping into the pool, and the end of the video where a man turns to the camera with cat's eyes.
• The chimpanzee is a reference to Jackson's pet chimp Bubbles. In addition to that, the chair Mitchell is sitting on during the scenes with the chimp is shaped like a white gloved hand.
• The Japanese school girls in uniforms holding the sign reading "We love AAF" is a reference to Jackson's idol status in Japan.
• Lead singer Mitchell rips a ventilation shaft grill from the ground, releasing steam. This is a combined reference to the video for the song "Bad", in which Jackson pulled a grill from a subway wall as well as another scene from the controversial ending of the video for "Black or White" where Jackson danced in steam rising from the ground (not to mention the huge gust of steam coming out of the grill when Michael Jackson sings 'I'm tired of this devil...' in his live version of the song).
• Michael Jackson-like vocalizations can be heard, including a high-pitched "Whoo!" several times in a row.
• The lead singer Mitchell pulls up his pants to expose his socks, much like Jackson.
• Drummer Mike Cosgrove wears one white studded glove.
• Bobby Edner performs a dance similar to the moves of Jackson. He wears an E.T. shirt, a reference to the E.T. storybook album narrated by Jackson. In an alternate version of the video, he is wearing a surgeon's mask, as Jackson often did in public.
• One man has a tattoo of Elizabeth Taylor on his back. In 1989, Taylor proclaimed Jackson as the King of Pop. The same man also sports lizard and/or cat like eyes, the same as Michael from the end of the Thriller video.

Other versions and pop culure

• The band ApologetiX has recorded a parody of "Smooth Criminal" called "Smooth Grandmama".^[12] The song's instrumentation is a parody of the Alien Ant Farm version.
• Violinist David Garrett recorded an instrumental cover of "Smooth Criminal." It is released on his album "Encore".
• J.Viewz, stage name of Israeli musician Jonathan Dagan and his band, recorded an easy-listening/jazz cover of "Smooth Criminal", which was released on the Besides EP.
• South Korean boyband TVXQ's 3rd Japanese album T has a track called TRICK that features Smooth Criminal's pre-chorus ("Are you okay, Annie?" is changed to "Are you okay, honey?")
• Lucky Boys Confusion performed a cover as a staple of their live performances but declined to record it for their major label debut.
• Video game Saints Row 2, contains a dance part from "Smooth Criminal" that can be used as a taunt against enemies.
• In the Alvin and the Chipmunks video special Rockin' with the Chipmunks, part of the music video is shown, but with animation of Alvin inserted.
• Singer Shakira pays homage to Jackson by doing an anti-gravity lean in her "She Wolf" music video.
• German comedian Otto Waalkes parodies the video in his movie Otto - der Außerfriesische. In a scene he enters a bar, flips a coin into a waitress' cleavage and does a short dance routine, including moonwalking back and forth, to a beat, closely resembling the song.^[13]

References

External links

• J.Viewz cover of Smooth Criminal at YouTube
• Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal (Radio Edit) at YouTube
• Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal at YouTube
• Smooth Criminal (Movie version) 1987 HD at YouTube
• Method and means for creating anti-gravity illusion

Michael Jackson singles Got to Be There "Got to Be There" · "Rockin' Robin" · "I Wanna Be Where You Are" · "Ain't No Sunshine" Ben "Ben" Music & Me "With a Child's Heart" · "Music and Me" · "Happy" Forever, Michael "We're Almost There" · "Just a Little Bit of You" · "One Day in Your Life" The Wiz "Ease on Down the Road" · "You Can't Win" · "A Brand New Day" Off the Wall "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" · "Rock with You" · "Off the Wall" · "She's Out of My Life" · "Girlfriend" Thriller "The Girl Is Mine" · "Billie Jean" · "Beat It" · "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" · "Human Nature" · "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" · "Thriller" Bad "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" · "Bad" · "The Way You Make Me Feel" · "Man in the Mirror" · "Dirty Diana" · "Another Part of Me" · "Smooth Criminal" · "Leave Me Alone" · "Liberian Girl" Dangerous "Black or White" · "Remember the Time" · "In the Closet" · "Jam" · "Who Is It" · "Heal the World" · "Give In to Me" · "Will You Be There" · "Gone Too Soon" HIStory "Scream/Childhood" · "You Are Not Alone" · "Earth Song" · "They Don't Care About Us" · "Stranger in Moscow" Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix "Blood on the Dance Floor" · "HIStory/Ghosts" · "Is It Scary" Invincible "You Rock My World" · "Cry" · "Butterflies" Number Ones "One More Chance" Thriller 25 "The Girl Is Mine 2008" · "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" Michael "Hold My Hand" Collaborations/Promos and album tracks "Night Time Lover" · "Muscles" · "Say Say Say" · "Somebody's Watching Me" · "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)" · "Centipede" · "We Are the World" · "Eaten Alive" · "Twenty-Five Miles" · "Get It" · "2300 Jackson Street" · "Speed Demon" · "Come Together" · "Do the Bartman" · "Dangerous" · "Whatzupwitu" · "D.S." · "Tabloid Junkie" · "This Time Around" · "Smile" · "Why" · "I Need You" · "On the Line" · "Cheater" · "Speechless" · "What More Can I Give" · "Fall Again" · "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008" · "Beat It 2008" · "Billie Jean 2008" · "This Is It · " "A Place with No Name" · "(I Can't Make It) Another Day" · "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" · "Mind Is The Magic" · "Breaking News" · "Behind the Mask" Book · Category · Portal · WikiProject