Michael Jackson's 1982 music video for "Billie Jean" is considered one of the best pop music videos ever made. The video depicts Jackson being stalked by a man trying to prove that Jackson is the father of Billie Jean's child, mirroring the song's lyrics. Through his innovative dancing, Jackson entertains viewers and influenced many later artists. The video is performance-based, with the camera focused solely on Jackson's moves, and tells a narrative story about a woman lying to try to get famous off of Jackson. Overall, the video emphasizes the pop and R&B genres through its upbeat sound and dancing, and creates a strong relationship between its lyrics and visuals.

1. Music Video Analysis- Michael Jackson, Billie jean
The music video I will be reviewing is Billie jean by Michael Jackson. The video Billie jean was
recorded in the year 1982. This video was directed by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. Billie Jean
is considered to be Pop, R&B song. This video shows some characteristics of a pop video as it is
upbeat, the lyrics are in tune with a pop song, and there is lots of dancing which is conventional of a
pop music video. Also the producer of this song (Quincy Jones) only produces pop or r&b songs
therefore people can clearly understand by watching this music video that it is under the music
genre of Pop and R&B.
In this video one can see that there is a relationship between lyrics and
visuals. As the lyrics is about a girl named Billie jean lying by claiming
Michael Jackson is the father of her child, this is similar in the actual video
because a man is stalking Michael Jackson trying to set him up of a crime
even though he is innocent like in the case of Billie jean. We can see in this
in the first chorus “Billie jean is not my love she’s just a girl claiming I am
the one but the kid is not my son” whilst MJ sings this he is standing and
there is a man behind him (problemley a cop) trying to arrest him, this is
seen as a two shot, however as the camera cuts away we can see MJ
getting away.
This music video represents MJ as very entertaining which is emphasised when he is dancing
throughout the music video. This music at its time was very unique as not many people videos had
dancing in it especially the way MJ does it, however as time progressed other artists was inspired by
this music video especially the dancing and the way MJ entertains his audience, some of the artists
that were inspired by this music video are Justin Timberlake, Chris Brown and Usher. Also they make
reference to MJ’s music video Billie jean therefore it has intertextual reference.
This Music is very much performance based as the camera is basically on Michael
Jackson as he is moving, dancing catching every move he does, this is essential in
this video as MJ most of the time is dancing so the camera has to be focused
solely on him. Also the part where the pavements light up as he dances on it
shows it is all about MJ and his great dancing. This video is narrative based as it is
about a women lying that MJ is the father of her child just so she could be
famous. However this Music video doesn’t really have any concepts,
nevertheless one could argue that the concept of this is that when becoming famous people will try
and take advantage of you.
The reason I chose this Music Video to review is mostly because I enjoy watching it as it entertains
me as I like some of the dancing performed by Michael Jackson, also because even after 25 years this
video is considering to be still one of the best pop music videos.
Overall watching this Music Video it emphasises it is a pop and r&b music video, that this music
video is performance based with all the camera attention that is on Michael Jackson and that there
is a strong meaningful relationship between lyrics and video.