Jump to content

Smooth Criminal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by OneWeirdDude (talk | contribs) at 23:15, 1 July 2007 (→Trivia: Merged the two factoids into one.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"Smooth Criminal"
Song

"Smooth Criminal" is a song on Michael Jackson's Bad album (1987). Intertwined with the fast-paced beats are Jackson's lyrics about a woman named Annie, who has been attacked in her apartment by a suave hitman. The song was re-released on the CD Number Ones

"Smooth Criminal" was released as a single in 1988 and peaked at seven 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 #19 in the UK.

Song information

The song was the centerpiece in Jackson's film Moonwalker, in which an entire hour-long short film (featuring Joe Pesci) was produced around the song. In the film, Jackson plays with his young friends outdoors when they come upon a cave, which leads to a kind of dream world in which "Mr. Big" Frankie Lideo has been selling drugs to youths in order to get everyone hooked. In the dream world, Jackson must save a kidnapped girl named Katie from Mr. Big's soldier-like henchmen, which he does through the power of a "wishing star". In the process, he transforms into a super-fast car, a robotic man and even a spaceship before saving her life. "Smooth Criminal" was presented in a ten-minute long clip in which Jackson dances through a 1930s-style nightclub. The version of the song used in the clip is different from the album version — the background beats are different, there are several new lyrics, and the song is much longer overall. The version of the video that is usually aired on network television is 4 minutes long and is merely a sped up version of the clip from the film. For more information regarding the video see below.

Both the style of the clip and the clothes and mannerisms Jackson portrayed were reused in the arcade and Sega Genesis version of the video game adaptation of Moonwalker.

The song was performed live during the second leg of Jackson's 1987–88 Bad World Tour. The performance featured an exciting dance routine modelled after the scene from Moonwalker. By the time the 1992 Dangerous World Tour came around, this performance became a regular on Jackson tours. This time Jackson had devised a way to perform the anti-gravity lean, which was featured in the Moonwalker video, on stage. Much like the robot move from "Dancing Machine" to 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.

Music video

Smooth Criminal music video. Shows the anti-gravity lean as patented by Jackson.
File:Smooth criminal patent.png
An image of U.S. Patent No. 5,255,452 filed by Jackson describing the anti-gravity lean

Currently there are 4 different versions of the video for Smooth Criminal:

  • The Original Moonwalker Version - This is the version seen on the Moonwalker film - while technically the whole video is 39 minutes the actual "Smooth Criminal" song segment is aprox. 15 minutes. It includes the added lyric, a middle section of interperative dance with the dancers among other changes.
  • The "Moonwalker Version" - This version is included on History on Film, Volume II and is the song section of the "Smooth Criminal" segment from the film Moonwalker. It is essentially the same only with different opening music, and the middle section with the dancers chanting has been truncated (a shot of the cat is removed, the chanting has been shortened, fewer "Annie are you Okay?"s) and ends at the point in the original where Michael exits the club, and contains an added shot of one of the flappers fanning herself. It also contains the added lyric.
  • The Sped Up Video - This is commonly shown on music video stations and appears during the end credits for Moonwalker. It is essentially the "Smooth Criminal" video sped up, with an added blur effect, and some alternate angles. This version was included on the Visionary Video Single.
  • The Album Version - Also commonly shown on music video stations - it is the regular version of the video edited to be in sync with the original album version of the song. It excludes the added lyric, the middle section along with various other moments.

Anti-gravity lean

The anti-gravity lean technique was filed under United States patent law by Jackson in 1993 [2], and consisted of the dancers wearing special shoes which could be locked down onto clips attached to the stage. This allowed the performer to lean beyond their own center of gravity. The trick is over a century old, originating in Vaudeville shows, where it was known as simply "the lean". The Jackson patented version, U.S. Patent No. 5,255,452, uses a unique type of latch and a specially hidden support. Michael has actually fallen doing this in a performance, in which he got back up and continued dancing.

Trivia

  • The lines, "Every time I try to find him/he's leaving no clues/left behind him/And they had no way of knowing/of the suspect/or what to expect", are included in the Moonwalker music video but not on the original album version of the song or any other version. These lines were added to the video to help clarify the message of the song. Some people were misinterpreting it as a play on CPR training in which the first thing you do is ask the dummy (referred to as Annie) if it is OK.
  • Katie, the girl with the teddy bear in the Michael Jackson Moonwalker game, can be seen peering into the window of the nightclub in some scenes.
  • In one scene, Michael can be seen moonwalking in place very briefly before being obstructed by a background dancer. This is a move he usually reserves for "Billie Jean."
  • The "45 degree lean", one of Jackson's dance moves is featured in this video. This is a move in which Michael Jackson and his back-up dancers keep their feet stationary as they lean the rest of their bodies towards the ground. In the music video, wires were used to perform the move but in live performances Michael Jackson uses a patented "Anti-Gravity Illusion" device. Error in Webarchive template: Empty url.

Track listing

Original release

UK 7" single
  1. "Smooth Criminal" – 4:16
  2. "Smooth Criminal" (instrumental) – 4:16
UK 12" single
  1. "Smooth Criminal" (extended dance mix) – 7:46
  2. "Smooth Criminal" (dance mix - dub version) – 4:45
  3. "Smooth Criminal" (acapella) – 4:12

Visionary single

CD Side
  1. "Smooth Criminal" (7" Version) - 4:10
  2. "Smooth Criminal" (Extended Dance Mix) - 7:46
DVD Side
  1. "Smooth Criminal" (Music Video) -9:35

Mixes

  1. Album Version – 4:17
  2. Album Version #2 4:17 - Some backgrounds are panned differently
  3. Album Version #3 4:17 - Same as #2, except the breathing at the beginning is removed.
  4. 7" Version – 4:10
  5. Instrumental Version – 4:10
  6. Extended Dance Mix – 7:46
  7. Extended Dance Mix Radio Edit – 5:23
  8. "Annie" Mix – 5:36
  9. Dance Mix - Dub Version – 4:47
  10. A Cappella – 4:13
  11. Ben Liebrand Remix – 6:51 - Recently re-released on DMC Commercial Collection 291

Credits

  • Written and composed by Michael Jackson
  • Solo and background vocals and clap: Michael Jackson
  • Drums: Bill Bottrell, John Robinson and Bruce Swedien
  • Guitar: David Williams
  • Saxophones: Kim Hutchcroft and Larry Williams
  • Trumpets: Gary Grant and Jerry Hey
  • Muted Steinway: Kevin Maloney
  • Synclavier: Christopher Currell
  • Certain Synclavier effects by Denny Jaeger and Michael Rubini
  • Synthesizers: John Barnes and Michael Boddicker
  • Chief of Police announcement by Bruce Swedien
  • Michael Jackson's heartbeat recording by Dr. Eric Chevlan digitally processed in the synclavier
  • Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson and John Barnes
  • Horn arrangement by Jerry Hey
  • Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson

References

  1. ^ "Smooth Criminal" at australian-charts.com
  2. ^ http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=5255452.PN.&OS=PN/5255452&RS=PN/5255452

Alien Ant Farm version

"Smooth Criminal"
Song

In 2001, Alien Ant Farm released a remake of "Smooth Criminal" as their debut single from their album ANThology. It became a number one hit on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.

The music video featured numerous references to Michael Jackson:

  • The video for the original "Smooth Criminal" is referenced when the band members do that video's choreographed lean.
  • 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 a car and screams while it's windows explode is taken from the controversial ending of the video for "Black or White".
  • 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 Michael 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 gloved hand.
  • The Japanese school girls in uniforms holding the sign reading "We love AAF" is a reference to Michael 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 Michael Jackson dances in steam rising from the ground.
  • 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 Michael Jackson.
  • Drummer Mike Cosgrove wears one white studded glove.
  • A boy performing a dance similar to the dance moves of Michael Jackson. In addition to that, he is wearing a surgeon's mask.
  • [2] Link to US Patent applied for by Jackson describing the "anti-gravity lean".
Preceded by ARIA (Australia) number one single (Alien Ant Farm version)
November 4 2001 - December 23 2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single
August 25, 2001 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Smooth_Criminal&oldid=141894834"