Smooth Criminal

Producers

Track 10 on

Aug. 31, 19871 viewer2.5M views

Smooth Criminal Lyrics

“Smooth Criminal” was an idea Michael had in 1984. Originally, it was to be a Western Musical, with Michael being a gunslinger.… Read More

[Chorus]
Annie, are you okay?
Will you tell us that you're okay? Ah
There's a sign at the window
That he struck you, a crescendo, Annie
He came into your apartment
Left the bloodstains on the carpet, ah
And then you ran into the bedroom
You were struck down, it was your doom

[Post-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?
You've been hit by, you've been hit by a smooth criminal

[Interlude]
Ba-ah-ow
Ah-ba-ca-aye
Ah-ba-ca-aye
Ah

[Post-Chorus]
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

[Interlude]
Shoo-ca, ah-shoo-ca, da, ow
Ah-choo-ca, shoo-ca, shoo-ca
Okay, I want everybody to clear the area right now

[Breakdown]
Ow, hoo, hoo
Hoo
Huh
Ah-da-ow

[Chorus]
Annie, are you okay? (I don't know)
Will you tell us that you're okay? Ah (I don't know)
There's a sign at the window (I don't know)
That he struck you, a crescendo, Annie (I don't know)
He came into your apartment (I don't know)
Left the bloodstains on the carpet (I don't know why, baby)
And then you ran into the bedroom (Help me)
You were struck down, it was your doom, Annie (Dad gone it)
Annie, are you okay? (Dad gone it, baby)
Will you tell us that you're okay? Ah (Dad gone it, baby)
There's a sign at the window (Dad gone it, baby)
That he struck you, a crescendo, Annie (Hoo, hoo)
He came into your apartment (Dad gone it)
Left the bloodstains on the carpet, ah (Hoo)
And then you ran into the bedroom (Hoo, hoo)
You were struck down, it was your doom, Annie (Dad gone it)

[Outro]
Ow, ow
Da
Ah-ba-ca-aye, ah-ba-ca-aye, ah-ba-ca-aye, ah
Ah-ba-ca-aye, ah-ba-ca-aye, ah-ba-ca-aye, ah
Ow
Shoo-ca-choo, shoo-ca-choo, ow
Ow

About

“Smooth Criminal” was an idea Michael had in 1984. Originally, it was to be a Western Musical, with Michael being a gunslinger.

When he didn’t like the original sketching of the concept, he decided to make it a gangster scene instead. From there he wrote basic lyrics to go along with the idea he had for the musical hook.

There have been some critics who state that it’s overly simplistic. They, as usual, miss the entire point. It was meant to be a song with a hook and a basic story and nothing more. It was created from the beginning as a pure video song.

“Smooth Criminal” was an international smash hit, topping the chart in Spain, Belgium & The Netherlands and reaching the top 10 in several others including a #7 peak in the US. The song is also remembered for the dance routine in its music video, which includes an “anti-gravity lean” with the help of anchors in the floor that the dancers' shoes locked into.