It's been over 20 years...WHAT?! THRILLER - MICHAEL JACKSON *classical musician reacts/analyses*

[@SirHairless]

This was a fun trip down memory lane! 🧟‍♂ For a taste of something different, why not check out this reaction next? kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4iwfoVpjLybqq8 And in case anyone's wondering, this was recorded over a month ago; had to wait until now to upload because of copyright! If you want to see the VoicePlay cover, my reaction is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/epCqoZeqiLeYjZY

[@ralphmellor1909]

And you haven't yet reacted to Dimash's When I've Got You. Well I guess you just need to save that until October 2025...

[@vdoyne]

I thoroughly enjoyed your analysis of VoicePlay's cover of "Thriller." VoicePlay is so creative and never disappoints. Also, VP uploaded their November release today, "Stand by Me," also excellent and featuring Mykal Kilgore again (He was also their featured guest in their September release, "Be Prepared," that you have already reacted to.)

[@ttjoslin]

R.I.P. Vincent Price. He was a legend. Nothing you can say about MJ except, Damn son...never disappointed! R. I. P. Michael!

[@lkayh]

That maniacal laughter-bloody EPIC!!!

[@tammykiernan1839]

I absolutely love your facial expressions! I would stay away from any high stakes poker games if I were you The fact that you also analyzed the musical score was brilliant Another thing I found funny is when you broke down the chord progression @22:55 and remarked how much you liked it culminating to the "crunchy" chord. If you go way back to your Pentatonix R&A of The Evolution of MJ, @15:55 you had a very similar reaction It's things like these that make me look forward to your videos

[@judithL3100]

Wearing your boyfriend’s class ring, heavily wrapped in angora yarn to match your outfit of course, was indeed the tradition! 😁

[@lkayh]

That was more of a ‘50’s or ‘60’s thing, tho. I think the class ring thing lasted quite awhile longer but the angora and poodle skirt look didn’t last past then except at sock hops and other retro events.

[@judithL3100]

@@lkayh I graduated in ‘72 and it was still a thing then

[@brshep6098]

@@judithL3100 , yep, ditto but in 1979 too.

[@jessiestout240]

class of ‘87 here and wearing your boyfriend’s class ring was still a thing then too.

[@lkayh]

@ I said the class ring thing went on for awhile. The fashion, though-it was out, at least in my town, by at least the mid-‘70’s. Just saying the movie at the start, was based on some of those 50’s-60’s horror films.

[@pooftiger]

Special effects were done by Rick Baker, who did the film American Werewolf in London. He won many academy awards for his work.

[@angielofton6372]

Former engineer here, Bruce Swedien, the engineer of the music, since two 24 track machines together for, at the time, an incredible 48 tracks on the album. Yes, kids, there used to be tape machines. I know Michael was a big fan of old musicals, so he fashioned the dancing after the ballet sequences from Gene Kelly movies (See, Singing in the Rain and American in Paris). It was quite the production, and I remember not listening to any songs of this album on the radio because I wanted to enjoy the record in the future. Yes, kids, we had to wait to hear songs on the radio if you were too broke mto go buy the record. God, I feel old now.

[@DC-tm7ys]

M J is one of the greatest performers, in my opinion. Mentioning your bum was hilarious. This is why this video has 2 billion views. I really learn things from your assessments. Thanks for all that you know.

[@annek7262]

This is the original, long-form video. Michael had really, really wanted to do a short film type of video, so he got John Landis (who directed "American Werewolf in London) to help him. The more typical music video that was more commonly shown later was the song only, rather than this film version. Michael apparently had an absolutely wonderful time, he'd wanted to be transformed into a were-creature, so he got to do that in the film-within-the-film, though he said the makeup and transformation parts were uncomfortable. There were a fair number of behind-the-scenes bits shot and apparently Michael was very silly, and again, had an absolutely wonderful time. He and John Landis got along very well, and he asked Landis to come back to direct another of his long-form videos, the one for "Black or White". They had an actual team of movie makeup artists and costumers. I vaguely recall hearing or reading that the reason Michael was un-zombified for the singing portions was because the facial appliances wouldn't stay stuck on his face while he was going through the singing portions. His face moved too much and the appliances back in the 80s were far less flexible and mobile than the ones now. You generally had either full latex (stretchy and flexible, but shiny and hard to mattify to look like real skin), or foam rubber (I think foam latex came later, sorry, I am not a makeup historian. Foam rubber and even foam latex, don't move as well as latex does, though they can be made to look more like real skin.) The budget for this video was huge for the time. (And sorry, I think this video still looks infinitely better than a lot of newer videos that use a metric ton of CGI.) If you want to take a look at something semi-related to Thriller, and lots of fun with some faces you'll recognize, check out Pattycake Productions "Bump in the Night" (kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWbEdXitppJ3gKM&pp). Pattycake is the studio that Layne Stein from Voiceplay co-owns with former Voiceplay member Tony Wakim.

[@pooftiger]

Rick Baker too, who did the effects and makeup.

[@SirHairless]

Thanks for the info!

[@marcusscarterr33]

The original song is 5 minutes 58 seconds with a "normal" song structure, verse chorus verse chorus bridge verse chorus, but they needed to adjust it to fit the concept of the short film.

[@jill9837]

I blanked out everything after "that made my bum tingle", damn I love your reactions

[@SirHairless]

[@judithL3100]

Me, too!

[@Badger77722]

@jill9837 You too?!? I'm glad it wasn't just me!

[@EllaSilentDragon]

😂👍❤️

[@lauriereinertsen]

@@jill9837 ditto!😂

[@NaiyaBladesinger]

ah vincent price.... still my favorite part of the long form of this song

[@lovesmusic0845]

They made a documentary about how they made this groundbreaking (at the time) music video. It may not be available outside the US. It’s all part of music video. Michael wanted to make it long form and he loved the idea of turning into a werewolf as an intro to Thriller.

[@christinabrown8399]

Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones and Vincent Price, along with John Landis, are/were geniuses. I was in my late teens when this came out and MTV ONLY showed music videos and was brand new. The early days of cable television. In my day, the boy would give the girl his class ring to wear as a sign of going steady. Yes, I’m getting up there a bit, I even remember watching man’s first landing on the moon. (I was just past 4 1/2 years old.)

[@susanleigh7618]

I will never get tired of watching this. I loved it when it came out and I still love it. Great reaction!!

[@Laura_Martin42]

Michael was such a genius. I still miss having him in the world. He was just a few years older than me, so I pretty much grew up with him. There are other talented musicians, but none are more talented than Mikey. Thank you for your reaction.

[@mistique77]

Yes, it was tradition to 'show' everyone that you were exclusively together ❤️...but not as an engagement.

[@loriray2720]

When this came out Michael had won almost every award available to him. He and his brothers even had an animated Saturday morning cartoon! The reason behind the 13 minute production, as well as Vincent Price and all the theatrics was to qualify for cinema status! He was gunning for an Oscar! Hahaha

[@betsyvondracek6039]

Vincent Price, a very famous horror movie star(yes, he did play Dracula), did the speaking with his deep voice and maniacal laugh. Watching that was way too much fun! ❤R/A🎼

[@kristenoliver2140]

In the first Movie part they are dressed in 50's clothes and giving a ring was what happened then. I was 16 in California when this came out and I do not remember giving rings being a thing. But I remember everyone being blown away when this came out. The Thriller album was everything everywhere all at once.

[@gailw415]

They did a really good job. This was filmed in the early 1980’s before CGI. Good make up. You should check out “the making of thriller “. It shows how everything was set up and the monster make up techniques. Really interesting

[@taritorrez3506]

An excellent nod to the older horror movies like "Night of the Living Dead" and Lon Chaney Jr.s "The Wolfman". Of course it was Vincent Price doing the narration. He was THE voice of the horror genre in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Great reaction!! I remember when it premiered on MTV (Yes I'm that old!🤣) The world was awestruck.

[@57Gauloises57]

The one you saw is the full version (there are 4) and the narrator is Vincent Price whose name appears when they exit the cinema. The album's producer was Quincy Jones and the director of the clip was John Landis who had filmed An American Werewolf in London and who inspired Michael for the character. With these names it couldn't have been anything but a success. It's true, 40 years have passed, but remains a pop icon and the album is one of the best-selling ever. Thanks.

[@joyrobinson4585]

OMG, the memories. My two youngest boys LOVED this video. The youngest wore his Halloween costume, the jacket and the glove, for weeks. Believe it or not I didn't get sick of it and must admit to doing some dancing when it played. Thanks for this. Such fun. Awoooo!

[@SirHairless]

Thanks for sharing! 🕺🏽🎶

[@bethcoussou]

Love this flashback! A Michael classic!

[@mikemabrey2182]

You say over 20 years... Yeah, it's actually been over 40 years. Great reaction/analysis. Love your take on all of the music.

[@wuguay5526]

The zombies are such great dancers.

[@marcusscarterr33]

The intro with the girl and the ring, it's a promise ring and it was supposed the be in the 50s in the way they dress and it was common when someone oficially dated, the high school guy with the jacket etc, then it cuts to them in the present (1980s) with a more modern feel

[@kajsa78kajsa]

This music video is so iconic, it was fun to hear your analysis of it and the song. MJ RIP.

[@drogna3905]

It's just a classic, isn't it. You can tell how much fun Michael had making this.

[@sandrak.robbins6305]

People 'went steady' when I was growing up. You got your boyfriend's class ring and often you used angora thread (fuzzy) and you wrapped the ring so that you could wear it. Or you hung it around your neck on a chain or thread or whatever. I was born in the 50's and this was common in my teenage years. Thank you, this was fun! I haven't seen this one for years and it was fun to experience it again. Since then, I've seen the zombie dance at weddings, on football fields during half time, and more. And having Vincent Price is really a wonderful thing!

[@Discobiscuit372]

I remember staying up late to watch the first broadcast of this in the UK.

[@SharonfromTexas]

Hey Sir Hairless (aka Eye Candy)! I really enjoyed your reaction to Thriller! I'm older than you & I was hooked on MTV back then, so I watched this a lot!! I know all the words and the dance moves! What a joy the 80's was back in my late teens, early 20's!

[@agustinalamour6925]

El mejor video de la historia,el rey del pop , gran artista completísimo.unico👏👏👏👏❤️♥️ MICHAEL. JACKSON ❤

[@deborahbeatty]

I so miss Vincent Price. And this was a classic! There are events where you can go to do the Thriller dance with about 100 of your new friends.

[@JustMe-vk4fn]

Back in the day, musicians recorded songs and AM radio stations preferred those songs to be around three minutes long so it would fit into their traffic reports, news and commercial schedule. Hearing Mr. Price's voice after all these years is very enjoyable. He scared our socks off when my cousins and I went to to watch one of his scary black & white movies along with a segment on world news and a couple of cartoons for 50 cents. :D

[@rorysnap7026]

I haven't seen this in years so thank you, it was fun. I was around for the premiere on MTV and just loved it. MTV played it over and over that night and my friends and i stayed with it for many repeats. It was also the premiere of the song and we could not get enough. Both the song and the video were just so unique at the time. Thanks for the memories

[@andreagradilone934]

Greetings and FTI from the Class of '72. When a boy gave his High Schook ring, you were "going steady"..... that was a very desirable status

[@annmariemitchell2532]

Love this reaction, I wish it was 20years ago. I was married in 1982 soooo long ago lol. 🤪

[@lkayh]

My mom thought this video was “demonic.” She was going thru her fundie phase at the time. LOL.

[@elainecourteau6231]

Thanks for the memories. 🤗

[@pjb3583]

This was so fun to see again! If I’m remembering correctly, MTV played it every hour on the hour when it was first released, and we were glued to the TV set to see it again and again. The “film” they were watching in the beginning could have been titled “I Was a Teenage Superstar Werewolf,” something that didn’t occur to me at the time. Those kind of simulated monster transitions were common in the horror films back then. As always, I loved watching this with you! Peace …

[@christophercobb6352]

Of course the narrator is the unforgettable Vincent Price, who was an icon of many early horror movies.

[@valenciathequeen8994]

Thanks for the memories ❤

[@christinep1679]

I feel pretty sure that you know Dimash is crazy about Michael Jackson! We found that out early after meeting Dimash on Singer. He has spoken of him many times in many interviews. Great video and reaction. And I never heard of a bum tingling...LOL😊

[@EllaSilentDragon]

I can definitely see some similarities to Thriller in When I‘ve got You. ❤

[@coffeeandtatuaje]

My friends wanted to watch it and I just kept my eyes closed. 😂

[@gigi3242]

Thanks for this video, would love a video of you walking down the street like that, 12:37, lol This video was groundbreaking, and amazing; Michael was a perfectionist, and it shows in every detail.

[@SirHairless]

[@venetta-sh7su]

OMG! Great that you did this one Sir H!! This was a defining moment in the history of pop videos, choreography, film making, zombigraphy (zombiology? 😂) - a true classic!! No-one had ever seen anything like this before...yes - groundbreaking and iconic for sure! And Michael was ...well yes - a beast!! 🕺Thank you Sir for taking us down memory lane and for the great reaction and analysis. 👏👌🧟‍♀️🧟🧌

[@Badger77722]

Well, that was certainly fun! And yes, the full video is really a short film - complete with tacky scary movie score, but the makeup and special effects were just amazing for the time for a full budget film, much less a music video! I remember watching the full video on MTV (yes, I'm that old, LOL!) but for some reason I don't really remember the "short" version of the song that had to have been available to play on radio stations. I can figure out from the video how they would have cut it together, but it just isn't triggering any memories at all.

[@thebeautymaker9784]

Als "Thriller" erschien, war ich ein Teenager in der DDR. Deshalb habe ich auch dieses Video erst fast 10 Jahre später sehen können (wir hatten damals in meiner Heimatstadt kein Fernsehen aus der BRD). Das Video ist cool gemacht (John Landis sei Dank, der ja auch tolle "lange" Filme gedreht hat) und macht auch Jahrzehnte später viel Spaß 😊👍. Dass kleine Kinder sich davor gruseln, kann man verstehen. Dafür war ich dann schon zu alt 😂😂😂

[@laurenkop1019]

Having seen this now I understand VoicePlays erosion and attention to detail. Thanks!

[@danielamarte624]

Production cost 750000 $ back then, in 2023 it was 2,367,931$.

[@maggiex1212]

It's a promise ring between a couple to be exclusive. This was not a movie but the actual video if memory serves. As for the girl not running, typical of the period. Most of the time when they eventually did high tail it out of there (heaven help her if she wore stilettos), the girl ALWAYS fell. Cheesy I know. I was a little bit older than your 4 year old self, seen it before. MJ was a talent without a doubt. Nice to hear an oldie but goodie! Thanks for the memory. 😊

[@theresadeuschle8500]

Haha! Your face!!!! You need to do more oldies (60s, 70s, 80s) so I can play along I was 20 years old and had 👂🏻👂🏻 Gotta love the 80s music videos. MTV was awesome back then 😂 I don't ever remember seeing a warning or rating, but I do remember there was a time you turned on MTV and saw this video ad nauseam. This girl wanted Def Leppard 😅 This was so much fun and brought back forgotten memories. Vincent Price! What a classic! My heart! I never paid attention to the music, so it was a blast hearing you point out things I've never noticed because I was paying too much attention to the video. (1982 release date = 42 years of mindless listening 🤦🏻‍♀️). Thanks!

[@dorothyrosenberg1301]

I’ve never seen this video - just the studio version with the famous moon walk. Thank you

[@glossaria2]

17:23 "there's a line at the top that reminds me of a ghost"-- that's a theremin. ^_^

[@cherylsmith3291]

❤ Scary. I had never watched it before either.

[@ingobordewick6480]

The recorded version goes into the chorus, it's the video edit that doesn't. I like the album version more for that reason. The video is an awesome piece of art thou

[@daleenengelbrecht4861]

SH you made me laugh so loud at 3 in the morning!! Yes, the bum😂. If facial expressions were a key change, well.....I have not seen this mini movie as well. Absolutely loved your reaction ( as always). Greetings from South Africa

[@glossaria2]

boyfriend/girlfriend ring: It's not a U.S. tradition from the '80s, it's from the '50s (which fits with the way she's dressed-- poodle skirt, bobby socks, and saddle shoes). When a guy and a girl in high school or college decided to "go steady" (date exclusively), he would give her his class ring, and possibly loan her his letterman jacket to wear (that red & white jacket Michael's wearing is a letterman or varsity jacket-- they're awarded for dedication and achievement in athletics or sometimes academics or extracurriculars).

[@paulaanderson7691]

This was fun! I'd love to hear your analysis of more MJ music - he was the best! Maybe some Prince tunes also...

[@dieweisealte-llumia7148]

There are some videos MJ made to tell a bit more than the songs do, but this one is the most famous I think. The references to some actual horror movies are quite funny if one knows the movies. Also the cinema that plays Thriller with Vincent Price that night and than you hear Vincents voice - and he was one of the best actors to play scary characters, along with Christopher Lee. The interesting text in the beginning was placed there because MJ was a member of the Jehovas witnesses at that time.

[@ilonadever8249]

I watched this right after I watched Voiceplay's version. I am very old, so not into MJ so much. I was an adult when it came out, maybe saw it once. I hate being scared, hate scary movies, so never watched it again. Speaking of scary movies. Layne Stein and Tony Wakim (former Voiceplay baritone) jointly own a company called Pattycake Productions. They write original music for videos (among other things). In September of 2020 when the pandemic was still keeping people at home, they did a video called Bump in the Night. It was inspired by Thriller, but their own music and storyline. I think you will like it!

[@elliehart-2point0]

1982. Gosh I knew the song when it 2as new, but I never saw this long video. Where was I?

[@elliehart-2point0]

For American teens in the '80s, the place to see music videos was on MTV (it was a new TV channel at the time, and all content was music videos). I don't recall this long video being on MTV in '82, but I bet it was.

[@joyrobinson4585]

Correction: Not the glove. The teeth. Those stupid plastic teeth which knowing my child likely spent more time on the floor than in his mouth. The voice of Vincent Price was a blast from the past as well. Such fun.

[@lauriereinertsen]

What? I have seen this so many times and just really like it. I love that you’re doing this.❤❤❤ This is just the video that goes with song(not a movie) - no they are not engaged - not even a thing really to give a ring.🤦🏼‍♀️ You really have had to watch Thriller a ton of times to understand this.😅

[@SirHairless]

Haha I need to watch it more times by the sounds of it

[@zanichellialessia2815]

Omg this made me realise that I would love if you commented on somecmovies/series soundtracks, given your knowledge in music!!

[@tins369]

Yes! E.g. Interstellar

[@SirHairless]

@@tins369 What a film. What a soundtrack.

[@tins369]

@@SirHairlessRight? It's epic. The organ is just so ... big! I don't think any other soundtrack could do the film justice. Or vice versa.

[@LoraleiDragon]

Yes, wearing your boyfriend's class ring is a thing in the US. Or at least it was in the 20th century. I did it in highschool in the 90s. I haven't seen this video since I was about 10, really enjoyed your musical analysis. It surprised me how structurally odd the song is!

[@carmengibson]

When I was a freshman in high school MTV had Friday Night Video fights and this won for weeks! We would sit and wait for it to play the whole video! It was groundbreaking!!! Yes…wearing class rings was a way to show you were dating. lol

[@carmengibson]

Also….he did change the flow of the actual song for this video. Vincent Price does the speaking parts….and the laugh!!

[@EllaSilentDragon]

SH, we learn interesting new things about you all the time. 😊 You like to send memes of Michael Jackson in group chats. 😂❤ I was scared by this as a kid as well. And now I love monster movies. (As long as they have a good story and good actors as well. 🥰) And if the story is really excellent, I even put up with very scary scenes, which I usually don’t like that much. But believe me those Zombies in the video are the cutest Zombies 🧟‍♂️ 🧟‍♀️ 🧟 ever. They are only slightly more threatening than the ones of the Zombie proposal in the Rom-Com series Hart of Dixie. (Great music in that show. They sang "Islands in The Stream" at the proposal. Singing Zombies are the best. 😉) Anyways… Where was I … ? 😅 That was a great pick for an analysis. ❤ Love the Rhythm of that song. Those older songs are so catchy and were given so much space to change throughout and tell a story. (Other great, older songs are: Papa was a Rollin Stone by The Temptations and Nightshift by The Commodores) Thank you SH! Wonderful breakdown and almost perfect timing for Halloween. 👻🎃🧟‍♂️❤

[@janavancraen372]

Please react to Faouzia - Fur Elise! It is so amazing!! She is such an amazing singer and song writer!!

[@styrloc]

Did you HAVE to mention this was over forty years ago? LOL I feel old now

[@bettinasade9385]

Thats why i thougt the Song was about monsters in General. I was also a Kid watching that music Video one or two Times but listen to the music many Times. IT was funny for me, voiceplay Made a Zombie Apokalypse Thing. Still absolutly Love that Song...

[@SirHairless]

🧟‍♂🧟‍♂

[@yaoiboilover]

You should Toooootally listen to System of a down, One Ok Rock, die apokalyptischen reiter and Blind Guardian! All of them are amazing!

[@rosetoren3881]

The radio version has the chorus when you are expecting it. But not the video.

[@SirHairless]

Makes sense! That version must be tucked away in the back of my mind somewhere

[@rosetoren3881]

@@SirHairless Whenever the song is playing on the radio I start the chorus and have to stop when it goes on "tüdüdüdüdüdüdü" (as it sounds in German 😄).

[@marcusscarterr33]

Btw pleaseee could you react to the making of Thriller documentary?? It's here on youtube and it's super interesting and it answers all of your questions!

[@susansouthard]

😂 😂 😂 I’m laughing so much!

[@Alexsam9506]

❤❤❤

[@evanirvana500]

Have you by chance reacted to the incomparable Eva Cassidy yet? The late great Eva. Please do if you havent, id love your take on her voice. I remember so well when thriller came out. Unless you were there, you cant understand. We probably will never see that epic rise again or as globally famous. With internet and so many artists, to get every human being following one artists is highly unlikely. Mj was the most famous human being on this planet, everyone knew him. Amazonian tribes sang his song! China, russia, you name the country and he was mobbed. I miss him

[@SirHairless]

Not yet! She was in a members' poll before but didn't win. She is on my list for the future though (along with many other artists) 🎶

[@evanirvana500]

@SirHairless oh don't want her to win a poll bc she probably won't. Not enough really know her. She's tragically unknown. If you have sting hear her rendition of fields of gold after her death and demand his producer to get it out there bc it was how HE envisioned the song but couldnt, she did. You know it was a special voice! Also after diagnosis she had record execs calling to apologize for not signing her. listen to the live rewordings at the blue alley in 96. Without those we'd never have known her. May I suggest over the rainbow (her most known song), autumn leaves, stormy monday, songbird. But seriously id just do it only bc so many don't really know her yet. England was much smarter than anerica in her regard. She was huge in Britain in 2000 I guess. Love your reactions! Esp my fave ptx! Lol

[@susansouthard]

😂 😂 😂 this is so old! But it’s a good one.

[@gailw415]

The setting is in the 1950’s. Guys would give their girlfriend a promise ring

[@melaniegoldstein4396]

So we forget want he was. Talent yes but…we all know

[@supermariobros2166]

Dear Sir Hairless, may I interest you in delving into something new? I'd like to recommend you to check out "Ado" - "Unravel" Live. I believe her vocals and especially live performances will at the very least catch your attention ❤

[@SirHairless]

Thank you for the suggestion

[@Anjalena]

10:05 - Go to the time stamp Time Stamp says 0:00 😂

[@smallmoments957]

Hahah, I love that it has no time. For the life of me, I don't understand why someone would skip over the analysis.