Music Review: Michael Jackson "Smooth Criminal"
Michael Jackson
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Smooth Criminal
Album: Bad
Year:1988
As promised, regardless of the verdict a Michael Jackson review would be posted. A murderer gets off scot free in the trite and tedious "Smooth Criminal."
The sound of a heart pounding followed by a flashy guitar. Jackson remembers that he broke into the apartment, through the window. He immediately began to attack her, leaving much of her blood on the carpet. Annie ran in fear and hid underneath the table, but she knew she wouldn't have time. Instead, she raced into her bedroom but he killed her before she could do so. ("As he came into the window/It was the 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.")
Jackson wonders if she survived, as he asks countless times if she's ok. ("Annie, are you ok?/So, Annie are you ok/Are you ok, Annie/Annie, are you ok?/So, Annie are you ok/Are you ok, Annie/Annie, are you ok?/So, Annie are you ok?/Are you ok, Annie?/Annie, are you ok?/So, Annie are you ok,/are you ok, Annie?")
Jackson sings the first verse again but from a first person point of view. "Annie, are you ok" begins it. It's also sung in a higher pitch. ("(Annie are you ok?)/(Will you tell us that you're ok?)/
(There's a sign in the window)/(That he struck you - a crescendo Annie)/(He came into your apartment)/(He left the bloodstains on the carpet)/(Then you ran into the bedroom)/(You were struck down)/(It was your doom.")
The "Annie" questions are repeated again numerous times. ("Annie, are you ok?...Are you ok, Annie?") Jackson says he was murderer who knew what he was doing and how to get away with it. Well, if you're a celebrity in California, you can eat babies for breakfast and not to be convicted. ("You've been hit by/You've been hit by/a smooth criminal.")
The police entered through the exit. They found her the next day, a Sunday. EMS performed CPR on her, listening for her heartbeat. ("So they came into the outway/It was Sunday - what a black day/Mouth to mouth/resuscitation/Sounding heartbeats/intimidations.")
Jackson once again wonders if she will live. ("Annie, are you ok?...Are you ok, Annie.")
Jackson then sings the first verse for a second time. ("Annie are you ok/will you tell us, that you're ok...it was your doom.")
After the chorus, the sounds of a siren can be heard. A policeman orders everyone out of the location. ("Okay, I want everybody to clear the area right now!")
Jackson lets out an ow as the guitar has a brief solo. Jackson then sings a variation of the first verse again! However, it's changed slightly with some high-pitched "I don't know's" and "Dad gone it" for the final time. from him. ("Aaow!/(Annie are you ok?)/I don't know!/(Will you tell us, that you're ok?)/I don't know!/(There's a sign in 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!/(Then you ran into the bedroom)/I don't know!/(You were struck down)/(It was your doom - Annie!")
There's not much story in the monotonous "Smooth Criminal." The first verse and the phrase "Annie, are you ok" are the sentences sung for the four minute song. The premise in promising: a local woman is murdered by a mysterious man. However, it focuses more on Jackson's reaction than the actual event. The reaction is an important element but it shouldn't be the entire song.What else happened? Who was Annie? Unfortunately, just like real life (as shown this afternoon), justice is not served.
Album: Bad
Year:1988
As promised, regardless of the verdict a Michael Jackson review would be posted. A murderer gets off scot free in the trite and tedious "Smooth Criminal."
The sound of a heart pounding followed by a flashy guitar. Jackson remembers that he broke into the apartment, through the window. He immediately began to attack her, leaving much of her blood on the carpet. Annie ran in fear and hid underneath the table, but she knew she wouldn't have time. Instead, she raced into her bedroom but he killed her before she could do so. ("As he came into the window/It was the 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.")
Jackson wonders if she survived, as he asks countless times if she's ok. ("Annie, are you ok?/So, Annie are you ok/Are you ok, Annie/Annie, are you ok?/So, Annie are you ok/Are you ok, Annie/Annie, are you ok?/So, Annie are you ok?/Are you ok, Annie?/Annie, are you ok?/So, Annie are you ok,/are you ok, Annie?")
Jackson sings the first verse again but from a first person point of view. "Annie, are you ok" begins it. It's also sung in a higher pitch. ("(Annie are you ok?)/(Will you tell us that you're ok?)/
(There's a sign in the window)/(That he struck you - a crescendo Annie)/(He came into your apartment)/(He left the bloodstains on the carpet)/(Then you ran into the bedroom)/(You were struck down)/(It was your doom.")
The "Annie" questions are repeated again numerous times. ("Annie, are you ok?...Are you ok, Annie?") Jackson says he was murderer who knew what he was doing and how to get away with it. Well, if you're a celebrity in California, you can eat babies for breakfast and not to be convicted. ("You've been hit by/You've been hit by/a smooth criminal.")
The police entered through the exit. They found her the next day, a Sunday. EMS performed CPR on her, listening for her heartbeat. ("So they came into the outway/It was Sunday - what a black day/Mouth to mouth/resuscitation/Sounding heartbeats/intimidations.")
Jackson once again wonders if she will live. ("Annie, are you ok?...Are you ok, Annie.")
Jackson then sings the first verse for a second time. ("Annie are you ok/will you tell us, that you're ok...it was your doom.")
After the chorus, the sounds of a siren can be heard. A policeman orders everyone out of the location. ("Okay, I want everybody to clear the area right now!")
Jackson lets out an ow as the guitar has a brief solo. Jackson then sings a variation of the first verse again! However, it's changed slightly with some high-pitched "I don't know's" and "Dad gone it" for the final time. from him. ("Aaow!/(Annie are you ok?)/I don't know!/(Will you tell us, that you're ok?)/I don't know!/(There's a sign in 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!/(Then you ran into the bedroom)/I don't know!/(You were struck down)/(It was your doom - Annie!")
There's not much story in the monotonous "Smooth Criminal." The first verse and the phrase "Annie, are you ok" are the sentences sung for the four minute song. The premise in promising: a local woman is murdered by a mysterious man. However, it focuses more on Jackson's reaction than the actual event. The reaction is an important element but it shouldn't be the entire song.What else happened? Who was Annie? Unfortunately, just like real life (as shown this afternoon), justice is not served.