The Complete Guide To Billie Jean By Michael Jackson

Saturday, 27 June 2009 02:24 News Common

Michael Jackson, a genius of pop music is gone who joined black and white music culture, made MTV happen, created an own dance style and music. His live performance was already legendary before his death. Enough said. Rest in peace.

Original

I picked Billie Jean and want to demonstrate the greatness of his song. Even Syl Johnson - one of the most greatest soul singer, producer and songwriter - said that Billie Jean is the best song ever (interview in austria). Everybody knows the groove, the easy and simple drumloop which was not a prerecorded drumkit but a live recorded drumset by a drummer called N'dugu Chancler. Here is the original song - by the way the first Moonwalk ever made live by Michael Jackson.

Technical background - mixing and recording

But I don't know that much like Bruce Swedien at gearslutz.com does. You know what I mean when you read his REAL story on "Billie Jean" - recording and mixing. The drum and the bass-synthesizer lead loop are the most distinctive elements of Billie Jean which is demonstrated on a ukulele in this video tutorial.

Transcription

To make the start easy for your very own Billie Jean remake/cover/mix you may need this:

Transcription of Billie Jean (1983) from Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The song sold 5.25 million of copies was double Grammy awarded in 1984: click here for detail and song facts: the drum track was programmed by Michael Jackson on his drum machine and played by Leon ‘Ndugu’ Chancler, one of the most renewed studio drummer.

You can download the PDF-file here.

Influence

Even Madonna - another last iconic of modern pop - played the loop in her show in the song "Like a Virgin" and embedded it into the song text like madonna used to.

Remixes/Remakes/Covers

If you make a remake you don't need always the drumloop and the keyboard loop - you can do an accoustic version too which is demonstrated at it's best here:



Or an oriental version?



What ever kind of Billie Jean you want to produce you may think that the original is the best - and to say my personal opinion... yes, it is the best version ;) Accompanying a single with a high-production music video was groundbreaking, and introduced white viewers to black music. Watch more of these creative versions of Billie Jean anyway.

Facts

Billie Jean...

• was written, arranged and composed by Michael Jackson
• was released in January 2nd, 1983
• has a length of 4:54 minutes
• was produced by Quincy Jones
• is track number 6 on the Thriller album
• was sold over 5 Million times (Singles)
• was the first music video ever shown on MTV
• got 2 Grammys in the categories "Best RnB Song" and best "Male Vocal Performance"

Thank you Michael Jackson for all your great music which will survive many generations through the great work of composing, songwriting and of course remixing and sampling to honour the work of the King of Pop

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