Smooth Criminal

A broken window shatters the silence before the first note hits, setting a scene of suspense for Annie, a woman attacked in her apartment. This opening sound effect anchors the narrative of "Smooth Criminal," a track that blends synth-funk urgency with R&B melodies to tell a story of crime and panic. Written and produced by Michael Jackson alongside Quincy Jones, the song captures a specific moment of tension using a sharp staccato bass line and a relentless drum machine pattern.

Released as the seventh single from the 1987 album Bad, the track arrived in the UK on October 13, 1988, followed by a US release on November 14. While technically a single, its commercial packaging often functioned as an extended play, particularly in vinyl and CD-maxi formats. These releases bundled four distinct versions totaling over twenty-one minutes of content, allowing fans to explore the intricate production layers, vocal ad-libs, and instrumental breakdowns beyond the standard radio edit.

The accompanying music video directed by Colin Chilvers introduced the world to the anti-gravity lean, a visual trick achieved through specially designed shoes with hooks that locked into the stage floor. This impossible forward tilt became a defining image of Jackson's career and was later featured in his 1988 film Moonwalker. Commercially, the song peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number eight in the UK, where it sold over 440,000 copies to earn a Gold certification. [편집]