Meaning of Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson & The Story Behind

Have you ever wondered how Michael Jackson performed his famous “anti-gravity tilt”? Although it was immediately clear to any sane person that the laws of physics apply even to great artists, many fans of The King of Pop have long insisted on his exceptional physical abilities. Later it turned out that Michael was fooling the public with the help of a contraption, which he even patented, but the trick went down in history forever.

Jackson first showed it in the video for the song Smooth Criminal. Let’s remember how the famous composition was written. At the same time, we will find out what helped Michael to keep the body at such an acute angle to the earth’s surface.

The story of the creation of the song Smooth Criminal

In the first half of the eighties, the artist had the idea of a track about a gangster. He first recorded a demo of the song Chicago 1945, dedicated to the spirit of Chicago in the forties.

Excited, Jackson composed the song Al Capone (“Al Capone”). It was later included on the anniversary edition of Bad 25 and The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection.

From a song named after the legendary bandit, Smooth Criminal was born. It was even going to be the album’s title track, but Quincy Jones insisted on the Bad version.

The meaning of the song Smooth Criminal

What is the famous composition of Michael Jackson? Researchers of the artist’s work agree that the words of the Smooth Criminal song have nothing to do with the musician’s life and are fiction from beginning to end.

The text refers to a certain Annie, whose body in a pool of blood is discovered by the protagonist. Interestingly, the verses are performed in the third person, and in the chorus, Michael Jackson refers to the girl in the first person, which makes the listeners feel like eyewitnesses of what is happening.

The effect of being at the scene of the crime is enhanced by the sounds of the artist’s heartbeat and breathing, which sound at the beginning of the track.

Annie’s name comes from the Resusci Anne manikin, which paramedics use to teach CPR. Matt Forger recalled that such a doll lay in the Westlake recording studio, where Michael Jackson worked on the Bad album. The phrase “Annie, are you okay?” (Annie, are you OK?) is traditionally said by students when they practice skills in practical classes.

Release and achievements

On October 21, 1988, Smooth Criminal was released as a single from the album Bad. It peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number two on the US R&B/Hip-Hop charts. The track topped the charts in Iceland, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Michael Jackson included Smooth Criminal in the program of all his solo concerts.

Video Smooth Criminal – Michael Jackson

Jackson was going to shoot a music video in the spirit of “Western”. But then he saw the movie The Godfather and preferred the gangster style.

The video was filmed in late winter/early spring 1987 while working on the musical film Moonwalker. This episode was directed by Colin Chilvers and choreographed by Vincent Paterson.

Chilvers later recalled:

I showed Michael the film The Third Man. I thought it fit the theme of the video. He really liked the noir style, so we asked the cinematographer to do similar lighting. The dance is a tribute to Fred Astaire. In fact, he wears a suit very similar to the one Fred was wearing in the movie Band Wagon.

Rolling stone

The Smooth Criminal video premiered on MTV on October 13, 1988. The video was awarded the People’s Choice Awards and Brit Awards.

Michael Jackson’s anti-gravity tilt

In the video for Smooth Criminal, Jackson demonstrates a technique called the anti-gravity lean. The performer and his dancers deviate from the vertical axis by forty-five degrees, keeping their backs and legs straight, which is contrary to the laws of physics.

Colin Chilvers explained the trick:

That tilt can be considered a legacy from my Superman days. We held Michael on the straps and pinned his feet to the ground so he could do the famous tilt. I fixed their heels into the holes in the floor to keep them in place. If you watch the video, you will see: when they get up, they shuffle their feet back. So they are freed from attachment to the ground.

Rolling stone

Performing an anti-gravity tilt required serious physical preparation from the dancers.

Cover versions

Alien Ant Farm’s version of Smooth Criminal was a major hit in 2001. The song was featured on the soundtrack of the movie American Pie 2. A video was filmed for it.

A beautiful instrumental version of Smooth Criminal was played by 2CELLOS cellists.

Smooth Criminal was also performed by Naya Rivera and Grant Gustin.

Interesting Facts

The voice of the police officer in the song belongs to the sound engineer Bruce Swedien.
After filming the Smooth Criminal video, Jackson was expelled from the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The rules of this organization forbid members of the community from holding weapons, and Michael appears in the video with a gun.
The song became the main musical composition of the soundtrack for the video game Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker.

Smooth Criminal Lyrics by Michael Jackson

As he came into the window
It was the 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

chorus:
Annie, are you ok?
So, Annie are you ok
Are you ok, Annie
Annie, are you ok?
So, Annie are you ok
Are you ok, Annie
Annie, are you ok?
So, Annie are you ok?
Are you ok, Annie?
Annie, are you ok?
So, Annie are you ok, are you ok Annie?
(Annie are you ok?)
(Will you tell us that you’re ok?)
(There’s a sign in the window)
(That he struck you – a crescendo Annie)
(He came into your apartment)
(He left the bloodstains on the carpet)
(The you ran into the bedroom)
(You were struck down)
(It was your doom)
Annie, are you ok?
So, Annie are you ok?
Are you ok, Annie?
Annie, are you ok?
So, Annie are you ok?
Are you ok, Annie?
Annie, are you ok?
So, Annie are you ok?
Are you ok, Annie?
You’ve been hit by
You’ve been hit by
A smooth criminal

So they came into the way
It was Sunday – what a black day
Every time I tried to find him
There were no clues, they’re behind him
And they end up never knowing
Who’s the suspect or what to expect
Mouth to mouth resuscitation
Sounding heartbeats – intimidation

Chorus

Okay, I want everybody to clear
The area right now!

Chorus

Writer/s: MICHAEL JACKSON
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

“Smooth Criminal” Lyrics – Michael Jackson Alternate

When he came to the window
It was the sound of a crescendo.
He entered the apartment
He left blood stains on the carpet.
She crawled under the table.
He realized that she was helpless
So she ran into the bedroom.
She was knocked down, she was doomed

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?
(Annie, are you okay?)
(Will you tell us that you’re okay?)
(There was a trace on the window.)
(From hit you – crescendo, Annie.)
(He entered your apartment.)
(He left blood stains on the carpet.)
(Then you ran to the bedroom.)
(You’ve been knocked down.)
(You’ve come to an end.)

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?
hit you,
hit you
Slick criminal

They approached the exit.
It was Sunday, what a rainy day.
Every time I tried to find him
There was no evidence, there was no time for him.
In the end, they never figured out
Who is the suspect, what to expect next.
artificial respiration mouth to mouth
The sound of a heartbeat is fear.

Chorus

I want everyone to leave
room right now!

Chorus