Michael Jackson - Billie Jean Review

Quincy Jones had objections to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean." The veteran composer/arranger/producer thought that the title would be confusing, leading listeners to think that the title referred to pro tennis player Billie Jean King. It was suggested that the title be changed to "Not My Lover." Actually, the song's title character was based on all the women who'd brought maternity suits against Jackson and his brothers when they were known as the Jackson 5. The session list for "Billie Jean" listed drummer Leon "Ndugu" Chancler,Brothers Johnson bassist Louis Johnson,Michael Boddicker on the Emu Emulator sampling keyboard, and synth players Greg Phillinganes, Bill Wolfer, and Greg Smith. Tom Scott blows an interwoven lyricon line throughout the track. As the follow-up to "The Girl Is Mine," the first single from Thriller,"Billie Jean" sold more than two million copies, staying at number one R&B for nine weeks and number one pop for seven weeks in early 1983. Who can forget Jackson's sensational performance of the song during the May 1983 NBC broadcast of the Motown 25 special which boasted the first public showing of his gravity-defying moonwalk dance? Or the song's stylish, trend-setting music video. Ironically around the time of "Billie Jean"'s release,Jackson was slapped with a paternity suit.