Billie Jean
“Billie Jean” is one of the most popular songs by Michael Jackson. It was released on January 2, 1983, as the second single from his sixth studio album, “Thriller.” The song’s distinctive bassline and catchy rhythm captivated audiences worldwide. The song was accompanied by a groundbreaking music video that featured Jackson’s signature dance moves and stunning visual effects.
The lyrics of the song have alternatively said to have been inspired by an encounter he had with a female fan or about groupies that he and his brothers encountered when Jackson was part of the Jackson Five.
The impact of “Billie Jean” on the music charts was nothing short of phenomenal. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for seven consecutive weeks, becoming one of the biggest hits of 1983. It also reached number one in several other countries, including the UK, Canada, and Australia. In fact, “Billie Jean” was so popular that it stayed in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 for an astonishing 25 weeks.
In 1984, Jackson won two Grammy Awards for the song, including Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song.
Over the years, “Billie Jean” has been covered and sampled by a wide range of artists, each putting their own spin on the classic song. We’ve included Michael Jackson’s original song as well as many cover versions below.
Here's Michael Jackson's original 1982 hit:
“Billie Jean” has been covered hundreds of times by artists around the world. We’ve included some of the best covers by various artists below. Listen to them all and let us know which one is best.
Also, if there’s a good cover version that we should add, tell us! Leave us a comment in the comment section with the name of the artist and a link to their performance.
Chris Cornell
Susan Isaac
The Civil Wars (Grammy Award winners)
Weezer (click through to YouTube to watch)
Lisa Michelle
David Cook
Chase Eagleson
Calum Graham (harp guitar)
Barcelona Guitar Trio
MAIKA
Eden
The Roots feat. Erykah Badu
Susan Wong
PATAX
Aza Nabuko
Kodaline
Jean Rodriguez (Latin beat)
Jenna Garcia
J.Fla
Michael Henry & Justin Robinett (dueling pianos and drums)
Daniela Andrade
Breathe Carolina (electronic punk)
Alyona
First to Eleven
James Hill
Ana Victoria
Jacques van Lill
SARO (beat box)
요요미 – YOYOMI
Jose Feliciano
SynthsCovers
Alexandr Misko
The Lost Fingers
Caetano Veloso (Billie Jean medley with Eleanor Rigby)
Allie Sherlock and Fabio Rodrigues
Shinehead (reggae)
Which is your favorite? Is there another cover song that we should add? Let us know in the comments.