Behind The Music | 'Smooth Criminal' by Michael Jackson | the detail.

Michael Jackson's 'Smooth Criminal' was not only a musical triumph, but its associated video was renowned for its showbiz spectacle and its visual style became a signature for the King of Pop.
This is the story behind the inspiration, production and commercial reaction to one of pop history’s most iconic music releases. Michael Jackson’s 1988 hit, ‘Smooth Criminal’.
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Smooth Criminal Mix Courtesy of Azura Music | / azuramusic
🎵 MUSIC | Sourced from Epidemic Sound | share.epidemicsound.com/mlmwhk
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[@rockeygarcia5865]

Smooth criminal was a masterpiece of its own! Legendary Michael Jackson, the best of the best

[@NykkLaTenebra]

Ahahah Nope. Was the best of the Best just for you. What about Ghost (1997)?!?! With all of those graphics effects ..in the '90 years

[@jaajaarogers9101]

Not true he had people who bought ideas

[@mikebeidas1993]

@@jaajaarogers9101 can’t you see how involved he is in the creation, how perfectionist he is and his attention to details!

[@joshdaboss2365]

@@jaajaarogers9101 hater begone

[@elizabeth_7761]

@@jaajaarogers9101 lo más estupido es que ni si quiera viste el video 🤦🏻‍♀️🤡 verlo Michael coordinaba sus creaciones sus Thriller de suspenso y sabía mucho de suspenso

[@blueeyes4037]

The One and ONLY, Michael Jackson! He broke so many barriers,to this day he’s still the greatest of all time. Many, many, entertainers says that if it wasn’t for Michael they wouldn’t be where they are now. I was there to watch him grow up, and those days when he first got on MTV, which he made them what they were.! Smooth Criminal is spectacular, just like all of Michael’s work. We miss you Michael!

[@lienghung2007]

yes! The onlly one MichaelJackson

[@JustinTheVlogger]

"Don't write the music, let the music write itself." -Michael Jackson (KING OF POP)

[@chomeeghouri1306]

To those people in the media who were thinking that Michael Jackson was playing a criminal role in the Smooth Criminal video and encouraging people to become gangsters. They obviously had not seen the Moonwalker film. In the film it clearly shows that Michael is the hero and is only singing about the criminal in the movie and not himself as the criminal. Also in this video it says he is the narrator. He just dresses like a gangster and goes into a club for fun and fights all the bad guys that he comes across and saves the day and the film ends with him performing at a concert.

[@gametimewithhenry6230]

No comments let me fix that

[@alyssajones4368]

Michael was too sweet of a person to play a bad guy. He even played a nerd student in the full version of BAD ❤

[@DJDoubleCee]

Smooth Criminal is probably my favorite Michael Jackson song and I definitely loved the short film. I actually spent years practicing the dance choreography in the video.

[@MasterMCGS]

Same

[@Margie75]

It's my #1 favorite video from MJ❤

[@NykkLaTenebra]

There are so much beatiful songs that Michael created and you focus only on smooth criminal who frankly has nothing of what

[@MasterMCGS]

@@NykkLaTenebra let him have his damn opinion. If you think different, ignore him. Dont loose your time spreadinf hate

[@mikebeidas1993]

Where you able to do lean! 😜 that was one trick drove people crazy 🤣

[@catsara9114]

i don´t think any kid became a gangster after watching this back in the day 😂 but i´m sure many became dancers 😎

[@mikebeidas1993]

🤣

[@chomeeghouri1306]

MJ was actually the good guy in Smooth Criminal and just dressed like a gangster to have some fun at their club. He was not the gangster himself. If you watch Moonwalker you will see that he is the hero.

[@lisafink98]

So typical that the media criticized this video as embracing gangs and violence and totally missing the homage to Fred Astaire, etc. MJ was the single greatest entertainer of all time and he always will be, period.

[@chomeeghouri1306]

Also when you watch the Moonwalker film. It is clear that Michael is not actually a gangster but the good guy dressed like a gangster and fighting all the bad guys and saving the day and the film ends with him performing at a concert.

[@taotaostrong]

He was incredibly athletic. I love seeing him get credit for that. 💞

[@PHlophe]

its his breath control that's spectacular. like how can you make such elaborate performance that require so much energy , sync and focus . then sing live and not skip a beat .

[@RyanPente.]

One of his most iconic songs

[@jaajaarogers9101]

The video was more better than the song

[@RyanPente.]

@@jaajaarogers9101 it's still a good song, but the video is also great

[@fl3xc.]

@@jaajaarogers9101 that made no sense

[@larrymcdowdell274]

​@@fl3xc. Actually it does. Smooth Criminal the song did not hit number one on the Billboard charts along with Thriller the single. A lot of people said that Smooth Criminal isn't number 1 material which is not true plus a lot of people loved the music video and the Lean everybody wanted to do it

[@Rajalakshmi-oz8ol]

Fun Fact : Annie from "Annie Are You Okay" Is an emergency demo CPR kit The doll was called "Little Annie" That inspired MJ to ask "Annie Are You Okay"

[@emili0598]

They say this in the video

[@Rajalakshmi-oz8ol]

@@emili0598 yes😅 But I found out in BAD 25 I watched BAD 25 last month

[@appleheadslatte]

Fricking genius.

[@emili0598]

@@Rajalakshmi-oz8ol what? Thay say that in this video in the minute 2:55

[@elizabeth_7761]

Goat

[@mist9300]

he always wanted to achieve that dream on being a big popstar… years later he became/become the Biggest Entertainer that ever walked on this planet.

[@nyroneuk]

Greatest MJ video ever...better than Thriller.

[@mikebeidas1993]

Agree!

[@interplanetaryspecies9488]

Me to👍

[@willthomas2310]

I personally think it's the best music video ever period!

[@leelostickun5528]

You out yo dog mind bro....

[@aemxo]

Agreed!

[@riorange2083]

Smooth criminal is legendary.

[@spaceamundo9655]

I read the comments all the time and I don't think you guys get enough praise for all the research you do. It must be a humongous effort. Being a writer myself, I know that gathering information is a time sucker but very rewarding, and what is more important, you guys don't let that information remain unshared.

[@thedetail.]

Thank you! Its just me doing it all ✨

[@spaceamundo9655]

@@thedetail. Freaking impressive! 👏

[@annieluu4456]

@@thedetail. only one? not a team?

[@FlyAwayChi]

@@thedetail. No, I don't think you understand....you are a fuckin GENIUS. It's unreal smh

[@Elvisdrunk]

Have u heard the song doesnt it say something to the effect of youve been hit by a smooth criminal bloodstains in the carpet , coming in the window etc. etc. It sounds to me he kept the inspiration from everyone because it is clearly about Richard Ramirez the Night stalker . If u research richard ramirez had the long curly black hair & wore sunglasses and suits to court during his trial . I bet he was inspiration for more than just the song

[@marsanda1397]

Michael no one can replace you. You were a movement. A phenomenon. A legend. I LOVE YOU MICHAEL king of pop the one and only 👑🥰🐐

[@elizabeth_7761]

King forever😎😎🕴️

[@larquefausse3623]

My absolute favorite of his videos. Yes, more than Thriller.

[@i_purefear_i]

there’s also the lyrics that are present in the moonwalker version that states “every time i tried to find him, there were no clues they’re behind him, as they have no way of knowing of the suspect or what to expect”. a line that is now hidden and forgotten by most people/fans that isn’t in any tours or any single versions of the song… i wonder why they don’t even add it to anything. strange thing is, that michael did sing part of that line in one of the bad tour concerts but is the only time it has been mentioned since!

[@LiuKang7]

And he also used it in rehearsals for This Is It so he had plans to bring it back

[@mikebeidas1993]

Interesting! Where did he sing it? In the full version of moonwalked short film?

[@LiuKang7]

@@mikebeidas1993 Yeah or if you watch the 9 minute version!

[@showdownist]

@@LiuKang7 no he used in dangerous tour rehearsal

[@LiuKang7]

@@showdownist And This Is It too

[@12tribes61]

Decades ahead of its time this video and song!

[@UpTheAnte1987]

The reason Smooth Criminal only got to number 7 in the charts was largely due to the fact so many people owned the album by the time the single was released

[@thedetail.]

Very true

[@mikebeidas1993]

How does that affect the song ranking? Isn’t it supposed to be ranked separately? Or maybe at that time it was solely based on the whole album sales?

[@chomeeghouri1306]

@@mikebeidas1993 It is still based on single sales but some people don't buy the singles after they already own the album with that song on it unless they are a die hard fan or a collector.

[@nunyabiznes6243]

@@chomeeghouri1306 exactly

[@derekewart5017]

Can't believe people are saying Drake is overall better than MJ. I got to see his Dangerous concert live in 1992 in Scotland and I've never seen an artist get anywhere near what MJ could do. I saw people faint around me and grown men cry as he performed. A night I'll never forget

[@maghrebianka]

Don't worry, I don't even know who "Drake" is and have no interest in finding out ;)

[@Sadhrita2002]

Nobody says that i mean of they say it they probably failed to understand true music 🤣

[@marciabonny8892]

What is Drake hahahahah how can you even compare an ant to an elephant

[@marciabonny8892]

@@Sadhrita2002 no one ever said it. Is the PERSON INSANE. DO they know who Michael Jackson is

[@Sadhrita2002]

@@marciabonny8892 exactly like duh

[@BenJames_76]

Another well researched, well executed edit. The best Michael Jackson channel on KZbin, I’m always amazed how you continue to find new “details” to make videos on. 10/10

[@thedetail.]

Thanks for watching! ✨

[@DrewBrees7249]

@@thedetail. was michael the smooth criminal who attacked the girl

[@yklimpo81]

@@DrewBrees7249 no

[@ANtonio.j36]

I don’t know how some people live without Michael Jackson. Michael FOREVER ❤️❤️

[@young.nugget]

I still remember when this premiered on TV. It was at the same time on different music channels and the whole family was glued to the TV. I remember my grandma saying "ooooh he is bad!" with a big smile.

[@elianadobbs7603]

Heee heeee.

[@nomibe2911]

Granny was no fool

[@amanjohal305]

How this song didn't chart at #1 on the billboard is beyond me. Absolute masterpiece of a song.

[@noahjackson2]

This music video was so iconic and even adding the anti gravity lean

[@brandymj5229]

Smooth Criminal was one of the most creative videos ever, one of my favorites 🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@ssemwangaremmy7998]

Believe it or not this guy is a lifetime creative genius unmatched by no one....💘

[@screamar5665]

Smooth criminal is amazing , the song, the short film, the dance. One of my favorites of the King ♥️

[@Snyper1405]

Michaels best short film ever it has so much artistic flair

[@chrislawson5370]

My all time favorite song. Nobody will ever come close to MJ. 💯

[@lucky-belindaniko9732]

This is my most favorite short film of his! The noir theme, the costumes, the dancing, everything is just perfect! I also think the Western theme MJ came up with beforehand may have worked but the 1940s gangster theme works even better as it matches the dark lyrics. My goal is to one day have a Smooth Criminal themed birthday party 😂😂

[@JacksonsLegendary]

Do "Remember The Time" Behind the Music Next!!!! The only ones you've done were songs from the 80s

[@notme1892]

Yessssss

[@frederickifill3107]

And your point is ? Lol

[@JacksonsLegendary]

@@frederickifill3107 my point is, they often do this, they'll review his songs from Off The Wall-Bad and make it seem like Dangerous-Invincible doesn't exist. They pretty much only focus on his "Late 70s-80s" work if you check most of their videos. LOL

[@frederickifill3107]

@@JacksonsLegendary cause that’s when MJ was at his best but also they are going in order.....The black and white video should be next

[@appleheadsgirl7194]

True and Black or white too

[@drainedeyes4268]

4:08 is one of the most iconic shots of Michael, I love it every time I see it lol

[@marcelinomkenyanmj7305]

You killed it with this video.. The intro 💯💯

[@mikebeidas1993]

Indeed 😍

[@Yuzoboy]

An iconic video for the ages!

[@tired3740]

Finally, I've been wondering. Hope you include the Fred Astaire inspo. When I was 14, I thought this was the best choreo ever. Where do you people get this information. We won't tell.

[@alexandria62753]

I love Smooth Criminal ❤️🙏🎼🕺👑🥰❤️

[@mjhedgehog873]

My favourite short film

[@garfieldharrison510]

When I first heard Smooth Criminal back in 1987. It took some warming up too. I didn't understand what he meant by Annie are you OKAY? But, in my mind its Michael being different. Blood Stains on the carpet.. I like the cinematic feel to the song. Michael was bigger than Pop music. The concept was great, from the The Third Man. Then he used the tribute to Fred Astaire's Band Wagon.. Brilliant move. When I first saw it back in 88. It was so invigorating to watch the dynamic moves and look of the Dancers ,plus the visuals. Robert Dinero I heard was on the set checking out the filming. He was groundbreaking. The conservatives was concerned. That is so silly. The hardcore criminals are the ones who are passing law in Government. Facts: To be concerned about Michael Jackson short film about a fantasy version of what America made famous way before Michael existed was just pity. Star Wars was much darker than Michael's short film. America needs to vet their crooked senators in the GOP. Smooth Criminal is a pioneer doing his thing. Legacy.

[@VEILCHEN25]

Smooth Criminal was is and will always be my favorite song.

[@rhishitashedge7064]

His music videos were ahead of his time.

[@dannyupthereds4729]

greatest music video ever

[@joshuaj-force9334]

The moonwalk from Michael Jackson is a “smooth criminal” move

[@mikebeidas1993]

Love love love love it! Thank you for the great work! Michael mentioned that smooth criminal is his favourite music video (or shirt film like he preferred calling it 😍) what surprised me is that it didn’t ranked number one on charts like other singles from the bad albums at first, and then with time people valued it more which telling us how deep is Michael Jackson vision was, he sees and does what took people years to see and value later! He is the greatest entertainer of all times! RIP MJ! And thank you so much for the great work MR. The Details 😍

[@vitormanoel1368]

My favorite song and music video!

[@mjinspiringstories2766]

Smooth Criminal is definitely one of the best short film ever❤️❤️❤️❤️ Thx for keeping mj's legacy alive💜💜💙💙💕💕💕💕

[@artvision2175]

Smooth criminal classic masterpiece!!

[@tmalone2530]

My favorite MJ video. He truly went all out for this and it paid off. Smooth Criminal (and the Moonwalker video) is a masterpiece. Damn this man was good.

[@JO24499]

The One and ONLY, Michael Jackson! videos. As fan of the 1920s,1930s and 1940s, I just love everything about this video. And Michael in this outfit: absolutely breathtaking🥰

[@thiagoteixeira6537]

My favorite music video of his!

[@bboykiddblack]

Finally! Been waiting for you to make this, well done!

[@joshua2k526]

The lean was the most fascinating part of the video especially when he winked at the lil girl before the intermission came into play..when I first saw this video as a kid on Alvin the chipmunks starring micheal jackson I thought he was really leaning 🤣 🤣 🤣

[@dnydny7436]

I still watch it as I watch it for the first time couse it is full of artistry endless magic of Micheal Jackson!

[@dailyhunter3683]

It was fantastic to see him perform this track live though. Quick question, is Annie OK? It's been more than 30 years now, enquiring minds wants to know.

[@tea-time3773]

😂😂😂😂

[@nickcastrellon909]

MJ made many great videos but this one, Smooth Criminal, was his masterpiece.

[@angelaunuane701]

He is , was and will forever be the king of Pop

[@whitsundaydreaming]

Mike’s work transcended traditional video and turned him into an other-worldly phenomenon. BAD was not an album but an era of mind blowing creativity and sound never equaled again. The MJ/QJ trilogy were the soundtrack of my youth.

[@user-vt4ss7ic1u]

I've been watching Michael's video for the third year now and every time something new. I have a feeling that there will be enough archival records to study for the rest of my life

[@mariadorosarioleal8244]

He was always ahead of his time 💖 pure genius 👏👏👏

[@jtotheroc]

This to me, will always be the best video and song Michael ever released. I remember when I was a kid I learned the entire dance and would sit there with the video on for hours and just dance to it. You got Michael interrupting the dice gambling, smashing the cue ball with his hand, blowing the dust in the other gangsters face, dancing up the stairs, pulling a gun from his jacket holster and shooting another gangster through the wall, the breakdown, and then the anti gravity lean (which I tried doing over and over and over, faceplanting alot) which leads into the 2nd half of the dance break. It was amazing.

[@7wolfman78]

It's tied with Thriller for my favorite MJ short film ❤️

[@FDNProductions]

The best MJ Music Video and my favourite song, Smooth Criminal

[@tatianalowery9371]

My first movie of Michael that i bought have been moonwalk.....i used to put it up every day...it. amasing....congratulations for this video XXX

[@tj112286]

I could've sworn this single was #1 in America. I remember growing even in college reading that it was a #1 single.

[@cheryleprentis4956]

Again talented. Michael was the epitome of Artistic expression in everything he created even himself an some folks just didn't get him because he was so grand and so committed to artistic expression and creation in every part of his life. Wow what a man.❤❤❤💯

[@rhishitashedge7064]

Smooth Criminal is literally a Masterpiece and one of my favorite mv.

[@tawilliamson83]

Wait, how do the CPR people not capitalize on this? People would've been learning that in drives based on Smooth Criminal. I'm not sure how, but this could have been a boon for people who learned this.

[@DangerousMoonwalkerOfficial]

Absolutely Amazing you never cease to amaze me The Detail. I can not wait for you to get to The Review Of Who Is It

[@MrEthanYves]

The Smooth Criminal video is full of hermetic symbolism, which when deciphered, makes the video the most important video of the millennium. What is omitted to be mentioned is the fact that the intro of Another Part of Me is included when the big spin starts, at which point Michael stops the song. We hear the whistle from West Side Story of tritone, signifying the Devil has come!!! The dancers gather energy and let the “Devil” pass (the black cat) and return back to normal. Also the entrance to the room is teleportation and the anti-gravity moves show that Michael was perhaps dealing with secrecy outside of the planet Earth! :-) And also not to overlook - there is the woman that looks like the Statue of Liberty that is constantly watching MJ and is behind his back! In the Devil section she sits down and waits annoyingly!

[@dangerous6168]

Ого !!! Коммент.😨. В смысле содержания.

[@MasterMCGS]

Best MJ music

[@joshua2k526]

I love the song and music video

[@roxy8534]

Michael is an inspiration for everyone. I'm working Into a music studio and was propulse to music industry since 8 years old by him. Who cant respect so much talent. Love u my man **I mean He made me love music so hard I can't live without music **

[@isaiahthegrate7]

Smooth criminal has to be my favorite Michael Jackson song. I knew who Michael Jackson was but didn't care much of him. But after listening to this song, I became a huge fan. The music video is awesome as well. I have a Michael Jackson style Fedora which is my favorite hat. This song is just great.

[@LuzMaria95]

My favorite song and video/short film of all time.

[@tala1497]

Thank you for this channel thank you for sharing facts about Michael thank you for keeping Michael’s legacy alive thank you for defending Michael thank you thank you thank you ❤️moonwalkers never die❤️

[@mangos2888]

I'm sorry everyone, Smooth Criminal is the best video he's ever done. Not #5. Not #6. It's #1.

[@johnsamsjr8670]

Al Capone was an absolute banger 🔥

[@TheAllnPttrsn]

We honestly love and miss You Michael Joseph Jackson! Man I feel like crying knowing you had to go through hell for two decades with those 100% false allegations and charges because District Attorneys hated you and people just wanted easy money from you. Long live the King of Pop. The one and only entertainer this earth will never see again... Michael Jackson!

[@amlsuleman2075]

Very good 👏 smooth criminal 👍✌✌ Love Michael Jackson king of pop

[@haniflawson9225]

I don’t get the whole “negative influence” thing. The song is grieving the fact that Annie was hurt by this smooth criminal. The short has Michael beat up and gun down killers, swindlers, and thugs.

[@Nafeels]

I know this song gets meme'd these days, but THIS is my favourite music video of all time, and one of my favourite songs of all time. I remember vividly as a 10-year old me losing my mind over how cool the music video was when my dad first showed it, all in its grainy pixelated glory. In fact, just like the King of Pop himself my obsession for this song were beyond the roof as I basically lived the life of the guy in white suit; desperately trying my hardest to not only mastering the choreograph to woo my crush in middle school (to no avail), but also trying to sing the wacky lyrics in a way only a perfectionist like him could. Not to mention, my entire fashion up to this point included a white fedora as part of my defining accessory that only my closest friends and family knew the intent fully. In a way, this video helped me close a part of my childhood as I uncover some of this music video's production history, and honestly I'm a bit sad that this song wasn't as popular as MJ hoped when it first went live. Maybe because it doesn't have the same thrill as Thriller, Billie Jean or Beat It, but I'll be damn sure I'm glad MJ decided to let his obsession be turned into a timeless homage to 40's mafia movies. Thanks for the detailed breakdown of this incredible music video!

[@thedetail.]

Thank you for watching and sharing your story! ✨

[@Pedr4m]

Thanks for the background info. This remains my favourite MJ song and video to this day. I was mesmerized and in awe when I first saw the video. Still the best dance choreography ever in a video in my opinion. It's also fun to finally know the connection between this and Al Capone. I always thought they sounded very similar.

[@onlymichaeljacksonloveyoum1026]

WOW EAST OR WEST MJ IS THE BEST KING OF POP FOREVER LOVE YOU MR SIR MICHAEL GAVE YOU ME AND PEOPLE INSPIRATION

[@salmanmussa6866]

Ever since i was 5 yrs old i have loved smooth criminal its my number one so g music video from mj….freaking love the beat the dance moves its a masterpiece

[@user-mn5xz5zr3q]

這部短片拍的很精緻很華麗藝術價值極高麥可更是無與倫比無懈可極

[@themoonwalkermjfan317]

This is my top fav song. I am madly obsessed with it❤

[@drethewriter4761]

Classic ass song, still listening too it❤❤much love

[@Winnerizzy]

FINALLY!

[@admiremoyo6829]

One of my favorites MJ song, great video

[@legendkiller0]

Finally this is the video I have been waiting for 👍👍

[@jelyenek5517]

when it comes to Michael i love the detail so much

[@biggiesmalls3377]

0% law breaker 100% record breaker

[@v.nikkijohnson]

I guess that you could say "how could I NOT," but I'm so glad that you mentioned the Moonwalker movie. I've loved it for over 30 years 💗.

[@Swat-ed5bt]

King of Pop 👑🇬🇧

[@frederickifill3107]

About damn time this detail video came out for THE GREATEST MJ MUSIC VIDEO EVER......SMOOTH CRIMINAL

[@wjazz1949]

Thanks for sharing Smooth Criminal the best short films of Michael Jackson I love it. 👌♥️🌹

[@jarvisjackson8138]

The best that EVER DID IT

[@Justakidthatrantsisapimp]

Greatest song ever composed.

[@user-wk2qp8cp8x]

Lololololololololol

[@myrose5439]

We Love you MJ 👑❤️💙🌹✨

[@jola3198]

mike know what the outcome should be, he want everything of his work to be perfect