Thriller (song)

original song written and composed by Rod Temperton; first recorded by Michael Jackson in 1982, released as a single on November 11, 1983 (UK) and January 23, 1984 (US)

"Thriller" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson. It was on this album Thriller. It was written by Rod Temperton. The song has been featured on many of his greatest hits albums. It has been covered by other musicians. It was narrated by Vincent Price.

"Thriller"
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Thriller
ReleasedNovember 11, 1983 (United Kingdom)
January 23, 1984 (United States)
RecordedApril–November 1982
GenreDisco, funk
Length5:57 (album version)
5:13 (2003 edit)
4:37 (special edit)
4:05 (remixed short version)
LabelEpic, CBS
Songwriter(s)Rod Temperton
Producer(s)Quincy Jones
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Say Say Say"
(1983)
"Thriller"
(1983)
"Farewell My Summer Love"
(1984)

The music video was made by John Landis, George J. Folsey, Jr., and Jackson. It is 13 minutes long and was MTV's first world premiere video. In it Jackson turns into a werecat and a zombie. The video was nominated for six MTV Video Music Awards in 1984. It won Viewers Choice, Best Overall Performance and Best Choreography. It did not win Best Concept Video, Best Male Video, or Video of the Year. In 1985 it won the Grammy Award for Best Video, Long Form.

In 1999, MTV put "Thriller" #1 in their 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made list.

In 2009, the video for "Thriller" was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. It was the first music video ever to be added to it.[1]

In 2013 entered the Billboard Hot 100 again.[2]

Composition

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"Thriller" is a disco-funk song that was composed in the key of C dorian.[3]

References

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  1. Kaufman, Gil. "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Added To National Film Registry". MTV News. Archived from the original on 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  2. "Eminem Debuts at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart; Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Returns". Billboard.
  3. Jones, Jel D. Lewis (2005). Michael Jackson, the King of Pop: The Big Picture – The Music! The Man! The Legend! The Interviews: An Anthology. Amber Books Publishing. p. 6. ISBN 0-9749779-0-X. Retrieved 2025-04-20.