Billie Jean

PopR&BSynth-pop 4:54 Iconic Synth Pop & MTV Era

AlbumThriller

LabelEpic

Jackson's paranoid masterpiece about paternity claims, built on a bass line that producer Quincy Jones tried to cut before Jackson insisted on keeping it. Its music video, in which Jackson first performed the moonwalk, was the first video by a Black artist played in heavy rotation on MTV.

Musical Significance

The Thriller era made Jackson the first Black artist to break the color barrier on MTV, transforming both pop music and music video. Quincy Jones said it was the perfect record: 'The bass line is what makes it.'

Historical Context

Released in 1983, when MTV was 18 months old and playing almost exclusively white artists. Jackson and his manager forced MTV's hand by threatening to pull Columbia's entire video catalog.