Smooth Criminal

“Smooth Criminal” was an idea Michael had in 1984. Originally, it was to be a Western Musical, with Michael being a gunslinger. When he didn’t like the original sketching of the concept, he decided to make it a gangster scene instead. From there he wrote basic lyrics to go along with the idea he had for the musical hook. There have been some critics who state that it’s overly simplistic. They, as usual, miss the entire point. It was meant to be a song with a hook and a basic story and nothing more. It was created from the beginning as a pure video song. “Smooth Criminal” was an international smash hit, topping the chart in Spain, Belgium & The Netherlands and reaching the top 10 in several others including a #7 peak in the US. The song is also remembered for the dance routine in its music video, which includes an “anti-gravity lean” with the help of anchors in the floor that the dancers' shoes locked into. Smooth Criminal is the seventh single from Michael Jackson's 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 suave hitman. It was released as a single in 1988 and peaked at seven on the Billboard Hot 100. It has since become one of Jackson's most popular songs. The video itself is one of the most famous of all times due to its incredible dance routines, including pretty much all the famous moves, such as the robot, the glide, and the inhuman lean. The rock band Alien Ant Farm covered this song in 2001.

Smooth Criminal Lyrics Michael Jackson Release Date November 14, 1988 From The Album Bad (1987) [Intro] Ow! Cha! Shoo-cha-choo-cha! [Verse 1] As he came into the window Was a sound of a crescendo He came into her apartment He left the bloodstains on the carpet She ran underneath the table He could see she was unable So she ran into the bedroom She was struck down, it was her doom [Pre-Chorus] Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? [Chorus] Annie, are you okay? Will you tell us that you're okay? There's a sound at the window Then he struck you — a crescendo, Annie He came into your apartment Left the bloodstains on the carpet And then you ran into the bedroom You were struck down It was your doom [Post-Chorus] Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? [Refrain] You've been hit by— You've been hit by— A smooth criminal Ow! [Verse 2] So they came into the outway It was Sunday, what a black day Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation Sounding heartbeats, intimidations [Pre-Chorus] Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? Annie, are you okay? Are you okay? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? [Chorus] Annie, are you okay? Will you tell us that you're okay? There's a sound at the window Then he struck you — a crescendo, Annie He came into your apartment Left the bloodstains on the carpet And then you ran into the bedroom You were struck down It was your doom [Post-Chorus] Annie, are you okay? Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? [Refrain] You've been hit by— You've been struck by— A smooth criminal [Interlude] Choo-cha, choo-cha Ow! Okay, I want everybody to clear the area right now! [Breakdown] Ow! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Ow! [Outro] Annie, are you okay? (I don't know) Will you tell us that you're okay? (I don't know) There's a sound at the window (I don't know) Then he struck you, a crescendo, Annie? (I don't know) He came into your apartment (I don't know) Left bloodstains on the carpet (I don't know why, baby) And then you ran into the bedroom (Help me) You were struck down It was your doom Annie (Dag gone it) Annie are you okay? (Dag gone it, baby) Will you tell us that you're okay? (Dag gone it, baby) There's a sound at the window (Dag gone it, baby) Then he struck you, a crescendo Annie (Hoo! Hoo!) He came into your apartment, (Dag gone it) Left bloodstains on the carpet (Hoo!) And then you ran into the bedroom (Hoo! Hoo!) You were struck down (Dag gone it) It was your doom Annie (Ow!) [Outro] Ow! Ow! Shoo-cha-choo, shoo-cha-choo! Ow! Ow! Written By Michael Jackson Recorded At Westlake Audio (Los Angeles)