About The Song
“Smooth Criminal” is a song by the American pop singer Michael Jackson, released on November 14, 1988, from his seventh studio album, Bad (1987). It was written by Jackson and produced by Jackson and Quincy Jones. The lyrics describe a woman who has been attacked in her apartment by a “smooth criminal”.
The music video for “Smooth Criminal”, which premiered internationally on MTV on October 13, 1988, is the centerpiece of the 1988 film Moonwalker. The 1930s setting and Jackson’s white suit and fedora pay tribute to the Fred Astaire musical comedy film The Band Wagon. In the video, Jackson and the dancers perform an apparently physically impossible “anti-gravity lean”.
“Smooth Criminal” reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the sixth top-10 single from Bad. It reached number two on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It reached number one in Belgium, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Spain.
Retrospective reviews have described “Smooth Criminal” as one of Jackson’s best songs. Rolling Stone wrote that it was “his best blend of R&B groove and rock edginess, and a turning point in his shift toward darker, harder-edged material”. It has appeared on numerous greatest hits albums and was performed on all of Jackson’s solo tours. “Smooth Criminal” was re-released in 2006 as a single as a part of Jackson’s Visionary: The Video Singles boxset. In 2001, a version by Alien Ant Farm became an international hit.
“Smooth Criminal” evolved from an earlier song written by Jackson, “Al Capone” (named after real life gangster Al Capone), released on the 2012 reissue Bad 25. It is in the key of A minor, and Jackson’s vocal spans from G3 to C6. The lyrics describe a narrator who finds a bloodstained carpet and an unconscious body. The chorus refrain, “Annie, are you OK?”, was inspired by Resusci Anne, a dummy used in cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. Trainees learn to say “Annie, are you OK?” while practicing resuscitation on the dummy. The original mix of the song includes the sound of Jackson’s fast-thumping heart and heavy breathing, which travel from left to right thanks to Hugo Zuccarelli’s Holophonics system.
Video
Lyrics
As he came into the window
It was a 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
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’s a sound at the window that he struck you, a crescendo, Annie
He came into your apartment, and left the bloodstains on the carpet
Then you ran into the bedroom, you were struck down, it was your doom
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?
You’ve been hit by, you’ve been hit by, a smooth criminal
Ow!
So they came in to the outway
It was Sunday, what a black day
Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
Sounding heartbeats, intimidations
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’s a sound at the window that he struck you, a crescendo, Annie
He came into your apartment, and left the bloodstains on the carpet
And then you ran into the bedroom, you were struck down, it was your doom
Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
You’ve been hit by, you’ve been struck by, a smooth criminal
Ow!
Ow!
Annie are you okay? Will you tell us that you’re okay?
There’s a sound at the window, that he struck you, a crescendo, Annie
He came into your apartment, and left bloodstains on the carpet
Then you ran into the bedroom, you were struck down, it was your doom Annie
Annie are you okay? Will you tell us that you’re okay?
There’s a sound at the window, that he struck you, a crescendo, Annie
He came into your apartment, and left bloodstains on the carpet
And then you ran into the bedroom, you were struck down, it was your doom Annie