Michael's Point Of View ~

In The Studio | Los Angeles, California

Billie Jean is anonymous. There are a lot of them out there. It represents a lot of girls. While on tour with my brothers back in my Jackson 5 days, every girl was saying that they were dating me or one of my brothers.

Which was never true.

But it happened very often, and still to this day. So, that is where the inspiration for this song has come from. There is no jealousy from Ariana on this occasion, of course not. As Ariana knows herself what the fans can be like, being in the spotlight herself.

"All good, Mike? . . " Quincy asks me.

"Yeah. I'm good. I'm ready . . " I say. Headphones fixed upon my ears now. This song is going to be my very first one released for my upcoming album. I can't wait, I am excited. So much so, that I couldn't sleep last night. But that's nothing new.

Well, not until Ariana and I did what we did in the studio.

Today is the day this song will be recorded . . all of it. And then later on, the song 'Billie Jean' will be released as my first single to the world. I pray, I am hoping the song does well. I don't know what the public will think. What they will say?

But, I remain optimistic.

I hear the playback. I really do love it. It just makes me want to dance. And any song that makes me wanna dance . . goes on any album of mine. For I have already put together the moves for when my Motown performance is scheduled. The sound of my loafer must be heard as it taps on the wooden floor of this studio. I feel the music within me. And then, I begin to sing.

"She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene . . "

"I said don't mind, but what do you mean, I am the one . . "

"Who will dance on the floor in the round? . . "

"She said I am the one, who will dance on the floor in the round? . . "

I look up to see Quincy's head bobbing to the beat. The Motown performance is only a few short days away and I have been practising so hard for it. The song, being about a topic that is so much a part of my life and as for the choreography, well . . it's just from my soul. Hours of concentration, hours of dedication to just dance to perfection until I was left satisfied, finally.

"She told me her name was Billie Jean, as she caused a scene . . "

"Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed of being the one . . "

"Who will dance on the floor in the round? . . "

I can already see myself performing, the moves are running through me from memory alone. I so wish to just move my body, move my feet. Just all of me. The first pre-chorus now.

"People always told me 'be careful of what you do' . . "

"Don't go around breaking young girls hearts . . "

"And mother always told me, 'be careful of who you love' . . "

"And be careful of what you do . . "

"Cause the lie becomes the truth . . "

I look up at Quincy, giving him a simple hand signal to cease the playback, it stops immediately. How I wrote the song, the instrumental. It just all works . . so far. The feeling of not needing to fix anything that I just sung and it's such a was great feeling, a feeling that is brand new. I take a few sips of water, headphones around my neck now. We have been here at a very early hour of the morning, so I believe a break is something that is much needed for the team. Upon the announcement of this break - Quincy and the sound crew rush out the door.

But I remain.

My eyes now glued onto the first chorus of the song. I can't help myself, I sing it softly to myself. I suppose it's a good thing that not another soul is present in this room because it guarantees me to do so with no disruption. I sing in a way that will match the music. As no music is playing, I can only imagine it. Just pretending it is in fact playing . . but in reality, it's just in my mind. I sing it the coming lyrics again . . and again. Until, I'm happy with how it's sounding and I must stick with that when recording the rest of the song. I will. I'll remember the sound.
The sound of Quincy's sudden voice is heard. I look up to see himself and the rest of the team re-enter the studio.

"Alright, Mike. You ready? . . "

Quincy asks, pencil back in his hand and his seat now occupied once more. I nod, giving him a thumbs up as I'm more that ready to continue.
Playback engulfs my headphones. I take yet another quick sip of water, the cool feeling of it roll down my throat leaves me refreshed instantly, my voice now waiting for the first chorus to come as it so wishes to be set free.

I'm just ready.

And it's time, finally.

"Billie Jean is not my lover . . "

"She's just a girl who claims that I am the one . . "

"But the kid is not my son . . "

"She says I am the one . . "

"But the kid is not my son . . "

I wet my lips. Head bobbing, foot tapping, finger clicking . . just everything is happening as I sing. Feeling the music. Thinking about that upcoming Motown performance. First chorus is sung, meaning it's now recorded. Now, it's time for the second verse.

"For forty days and for forty nights, the law was on her side . . "

"But who can stand when she's in demand? . . "

"Her schemes and plans . . "

"Cause we danced on the floor in the round . . "

"So take my strong advice, just remember to always think twice . . "

I sing this louder.

"Don't think twice. Do think twice! A-hoo! . . "

My voice becoming a bit more soft now.

"She told my baby we'd dance till three, then she looked at me . . "

"Then showed a photo of a baby cryin', his eyes were like mine . . "

"Cause we danced on the floor in the round, baby . . "

The playback stops once again. Immediately, my mind thinks back. A soft hum is all I do as I go to the past of only a few seconds. The last three lines of lyrics I wanted to feel it . . and that I did. My knees slightly bending, my eyes closed as I sang, not just then but throughout since recording commenced. I believe there is no need to re-record anything. As I'm left rather . . at peace with it, if you will.

"Mike. A break was given, but one you didn't even take . . have a break for yourself? . . "

Quincy asks me. But I refuse. I am far too focused on finishing this recording session, to complete this song so it can then be released and therefore other things I have in store for this upcoming album . . this upcoming, new era can then be tended to. Quincy's head nods. Understanding well and truly. No further words are spoken between us about the topic . . it isn't needed. The playback continues, along with everything that goes with it.

The fingers click as the rhythm courses throughout my body in an instant.

The second pre-chorus and second chorus too is set to be sung. As the song progresses, I sing both with much more passion. Getting more and more into what I am singing about. This is what it's all about for me . . feeling it completely.

"People always told me 'be careful of what you do' . . "

"Don't go around breaking young girls hearts . . "

"But she came and stood right by me, just to smell her sweet perfume . . "

"This happened way too soon . . "

"She called me to her room . . "

"Billie Jean is not my lover . . "

"She's just a girl who claims that I am the one . . "

"But the kid is not my son . . "

My hand resting on top of one of my headphones. Eyes closed . . god, I'm really feeling this. No one else is around. It's just me and the music. Ugh. I'm craving to dance.

"No no no, no no no no no hoo! . . "

"Billie Jean is not my lover . . "

"She's just a girl who claims that I am the one . . "

"But the kid is not my son . . "

Oh, no, no. She says I am the one . . "

"But the kid is not my son . . "

"No, hee-hee! . . "

I stop singing, but I still listen. The playback remains throughout my headphones. And as it plays, I can already picture myself performing this song to the world . . introducing it worldwide. The stage with only me upon it. I hope it's a loved song. One that is enjoyed and played numerous times in a day by my beloved fans. That's all I want. My head bobs once more and I wet my lips slightly, listening, with every single word, every single sound . . is analysed.

Always.

But to my own surprise, I nod. This is sounding great. Just how I had imaged it. The playback stops as I hear Quincy's voice.

"You know the drill. Talk to me, Mike . . " He says.

I smile. I'm so happy with the sound.

"Very happy with it, Quincy . . "

I see as his face goes from certainty of change to total surprise as I inform him that it simply isn't needed. I giggle softly as we both know what I am like. I'm a perfectionist, I can't help it. The end of the song is in our sights. The energy remains. Quincy speaks with a slight smile.

"Alright Mike. Just the outro to sing now . . "

I'm already ready. I can already feel it. My lips hover over the microphone. I hear for the final time today, the playback start.

"She says I am the one . . "

"You know what you did . . "

"She says he is my son . . "

"Breakin my heart, babe . . "

"She says I am the one . . "

"Billie Jean is not my lover . . "

"Billie Jean is not my lover . . "

"Billie Jean is not my lover . . "

"Billie Jean is not my lover . . "

"Don't Billie Jean! . . "

"Billie Jean is not my lover . . "

I hear the playback fade until it ends. I look up at Quincy to witness the biggest on his face. He's happy and seems so excited. I am too. I can't wait for this song to be released and only within a couple of short hours time. Motown will be amazing I hope so. Mother, father, my sister Janet and of course Ariana will be in the audience so I have to keep practising, for the performance must be perfect and nothing less. 

Work hard. And be great . . to the best of my ability. 

https://youtu.be/OZGtRvYF-A4

to be continued.