Annie are you okay, are you okay, Annie?

Most music critics will tell you that Billie Jean is Michael Jackson’s best song. It isn’t. “Smooth Criminal” is Jackson’s best song. (Sorry to spoil a bit of this list.) This song is out there. It shows off Jackson’s talent, knack for beat and bizarre song concepts perfectly.

The “Annie are you okay?” line is crazy. That is what we learned in freshman health class to when we practiced CPR on the dummies. It can’t be a coincidence that Jackson used the same line, can it? Was my teacher a closet Michael Jackson fan goofing on us? Was Jackson incorporating his CPR training into a song about killing? I almost don’t want to know the answer. Both are equally fantastic.

The lyrics of “Smooth Criminal” are particularly graphic. They describe the bloody murder of a woman. I can think of songs that take on similar dark topics, but few that are graphic like this (I don’t count rap songs). Strange Fruit is an example of an extremely dark song, but the language is mostly metaphorical. Jackson’s high octave range and staccato delivery soften the impact. But when you listen to the words they are pretty jarring.

The sound is dark and the signature guitar riff is great. I think it is one of his finer vocal performances as well. He sings the backup as well (I think) by layering his vocals. He appropriately speeds up the pace of the song to simulate the frantic nature of someone discovering a crime like this. It really is a fantastic concept for a song. There are a few too many of his trademark “Ows” and “Oohhs”, but some people like that. I could use 90% fewer.

Smooth Criminal Lyrics

As he came into the window,
Was a 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.

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?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay? Are you okay Annie?

Annie are you okay?
Will you tell us that you’re okay?
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.
Then you ran into the bedroom,
You were struck down,
It was your doom.

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.

So they came into the out way,
It was Sunday, what a black day.
Mouth to mouth resuscitation,
Sounding heartbeats, intimidation.

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?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay? Are you okay Annie?

Annie are you okay?
Will you tell us that you’re okay?
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.
Then you ran into the bedroom,
You were struck down,
It was your doom.

Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay?
Are you okay, Annie?
You’ve been hit by,
You’ve struck by
A smooth criminal.
Annie are you okay?
(I don’t know)
Will you tell us that you’re okay?
(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)
Then you ran into the bedroom.
(I don’t know)
You were struck down,
It was your doom, Annie (dag gone it).

Annie are you okay?
(Dag gone it, baby)
Will you tell us that you’re okay?
(Dag gone it, baby)
There’s a sign at the window,
(Dag gone it, baby)
That he struck you, a crescendo Annie.
He came into your apartment,
(Dag gone it)
Left the bloodstains on the carpet.
Then you ran into the bedroom,
You were struck down.
(Dag gone it)
It was your doom, Annie.

Songwriters: Michael Jackson