Smooth Criminal

by

Alien Ant Farm

Album: ANThology     Released: 2001

US Chart: 23      UK Chart: 3

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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

Michael Jackson originally recorded this on his 1987 album Bad. Many of Alien Ant Farm's fans are too young to know about Jackson's version.

This made Alien Ant Farm famous, but it was not their first single. They released "Movies" first, but Los Angeles radio station KROQ started playing this instead, which led to a great deal of exposure and prompted them to release it as a single. "Movies" was re-released later to take advantage of their new fame.

This was included on their first album, which was released on an independent label. When they signed with a big record company, they included it on their first major-label release, ANThology.

Alien Ant Farm have played a lot of quirky covers over the years. When they started, they tried to play a different cover at every show. Some of the bands they covered include Weezer, Bad Brains, The Police, and Sade.

The video pokes fun at Michael Jackson, but they made sure to get his permission and keep it lighthearted. Some of the Michael Jackson clichés they make fun of are Bubbles the chimp and the Moonwalk.

When Jackson saw the video, he asked that a scene with a boy in a surgical mask be removed, because it made fun of his medical condition. They took it out, but Jackson decided he liked it the way it was. In the end, there were 2 videos, one with the mask, one without.

This was nominated for a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Song.

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Comments:

Okay. 1st off, this song was HUGE in its day.(buy the Moonwalker dvd and watch it, rookies) If you don't know that, you simply don't know your facts. And if you think 2nd, AAF asked his permission to do this song, there is in fact no way they could legally do a video and official song without the legal owners permission (Michael Jackson). 3rd,this version did no where near justice to the original. No where. Did kids like it? yeah! They did! Why? because AAF was using a regurgitated recipe for success from the music industries biggest artist, of all time! And a lot of the modern young people had no clue they were bumping, and dancing to MJ's classic hit. Yeah, you can re-do it forever, but Michael Jackson's hit and version, will live forever. Don't try to bag on it, because there is nothing valid you can say to bag on it. That being said, it was an interesting cover, and it wasn't "BAD" (pun intended) but it wasn't as smooth as the king's Smooth Criminal. Nuff said!!
- Audioinklined , Sunnyvale, CA

Mary from IN You Don't mean Lizzy Borden, do you? She's famous for the Hatchet murder of her father while he slept on the couch and her mom while she was standing next to a bed. It happened in 1889. I don't know where you got the name Anna from, though her full name was "Lizzy Andrew Borden".
- Kyle , Memphis, TN

This version is way better than the MJ version (may he rest in peace).
- Ryan , Anahola, HI

This was an amazing song, in my opinion it is as good as the original.
- Harry , Brisbane, Australia

this song makes me think of that anna girl that hacked her parents alonggggg time ago..... i forgot her last name but she hacked her dad on the couch as he slept and her mom or whoever beside the bed..... yea it makes me think of that lol
- mary , warsaw, IN

WTF is with people stealing the songs from the old bands and people giving them credit for it? Korn took Just Another Brick In the Wall. Limp Bizkit took Behind Blue Eyes. AAF took Smooth Criminal... Do the bands now suck so bad that they have to steal other peoples songs because they're so braindead that they can't make their own?? WTH?? I like the bands, but i wish they would get their own songs...
- Kelsey , Bat Country, VA

i like this version better then the micheal jackson one
- Samuel , peoria, Belgium

When AAF did this they bought the tape and made their own chords to go along with it. Awesome song, love the guitar solo.
- Erobi , Buderim, Australia

I think the virsion by Micheal Jackson is better then Alien Ant Farm. Now I love Alien Ant Farm, but I also love originals better. and so like yea LOL Nothing against the people who perfer AAF I love them too.
- Kelset , Springfield, OR

Mhmm. The guitars are amazing. I love this song waay better than Michael Jackson's.
- Christine , Salem, CT

Is it just my imagination, or does the riff from this song sound exactly like the riff from Korn's "Y'all Want A single?" ?
- Theo , Johannesburg, South Africa

Are you 100% sure George Harrison wrote this song? It sure doesn't sound like something George Harrison would have written.
- Annabelle , Eugene, OR

I love this song. When I heard the original the first thing I said was "This is screaming out for someone to add guitars to it!" And then I found out AAF had already done it. It's such an awesome song!!
- Charlie , Bethersden, England

Hey c'mon guys, this is just a cover. People do covers of other people's songs all the time. Yes, the original's are usually better, but there is no point in complaining about this kind of stuff. I think it's cool to hear songs redone by other bands.
- Steve , Philadelphia, PA

these guys are from moval/riverside
- someone , moval, CA

The faster pace and louder music had a really good effect on this song. I think Alien Ant Farm's cover of Michael Jackson's original is just as good, but in a different way. It's more appealing to people today. I actually like AAF's version better, though I like MJ's video better.
- Steve , Philadelphia, PA

wait it says george harrison wrote this song! huh??
- Jeanette , Irvine, CA

The song is about a woman named Annie, who has been killed in her apartment by a suave hitman. It is just a fictional story.
- Richard , Newport, Isle of Wight, England

I think that Michael jacksons version of this is so much better than this version but it still pretty cool!
- Claire , Hants, United States

this iz a totally crap version of a classic song
- Adam , Manchester, United States

I like how AAF made this did this song very differently to Michael Jackson. AAF's does this song a much faster pace compared to Michael Jackson's mellow, 'frieghtning' version
- David Lindsay , Dunedin, New Zealand

What is this song about anyway?
- AJ , Cleveland, GA

This song was done originally by Michael Jackson and Michael Jackson's version is a lot better too and being one of my favourites by Michael Jackson Alien Ant FArm didnt do a bad job with this song but cant compare to the ORIGINAL WHICH IS FAR BETTER !
- Akash , Abbotsford(use to be Vancouver, United States

Who The Hell Is Annie?
- mia , wellston, MI

I like the ester egg type things in the music video for this, like the light up side walk, and the yellow eyes at the end.It's fun to sit and try top spot all of them!
- Andrew , Tucson, AZ

Great song, but like MJ's original better. It sounds more musical, pop unsurprisingly, and isn't hard rock.
- Taal , Brisbane, Australia

i may be to young to have heard m.j.'s version when it was out but my parents listen to this stuff all the time and i reconginized it instantly
- Danae , Lewisville, TX

Love the guitars in this one.
- Cassandra , Tacoma, WA

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