The leaves are starting to change, and the nights are getting colder. But with that, also comes the wonderful month of October, as well as arguably one of the best songs ever made in history.
“Thriller” by Michael Jackson.
We all know it. And without a doubt, you probably hear it every spooky season. For me, this song isn’t just a seasonal track on repeat, it is the undisputed G.O.A.T. and one of my favorite songs to ever exist.
My obsession started early on. The official “Thriller” music video was the absolute first “scary” thing I ever watched as a kid. I’ll admit that the initial terror of watching handsome Michael Jackson transform into a werewolf under the moonlight had me gripping my chair. But after that? I was completely hooked. I never stopped watching it. To be completely honest, I still watch it on YouTube at least once a week.
A huge reason for my weekly viewings is the legendary choreography that is a part of the short film. The zombie dance is just straight magic, and even seeing it again when the biopic came out, it hit a spot in my heart that comforted me in an odd way.
What’s truly fascinating to me is how he frames the song differently in the music video versus the actual recorded track. The video functions as a sort of film with a more narrative buildup. It frames all of the verses together and then all of the choruses. Unlike the video, the recorded version is a tightly packed, funk masterpiece with a verse, then chorus. Both versions are perfect to me but provide two completely different atmospheres.
What we need to really talk about though is the vocals. Michael’s leading performance is obviously incredible, but the backing vocals elevate the song to Platinum status. Specifically, for me, that is the bridge. Right after the lines about the jaws of the alien, the backing vocals hit with “(They’re open wide) This is the end of your life, ooh“. The sheer depth, harmony, and production on the “open wide” part genuinely sends me up into the sky from how good it is.
I have no shame in also admitting that I listen to the instrumental version just to hear those backing vocals in all their glory.
So, while everyone is sipping on a pumpkin spice drink and waiting for October 31st to blast “Thriller”, just know it was never a seasonal phase for me. Trends come and go, but this song will remain unmatched.