Michael Jackson's Classic Reaches A New Peak–For The Second Time In A Month
Hugh McIntyre
Senior Contributor
Nov 14, 2024,08:30am EST
AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 01: Photo of Michael JACKSON; Portrait of Michael Jackson, wearing hat and ...
Throughout October, Michael Jackson returns to charts in many nations with "Thriller." That single has become forever associated with Halloween, and it becomes a smash all over again. This year, another tune from the late star also managed a comeback, one that happened alongside "Thriller" and is still happening.
"Billie Jean" became a global hit again this fall, as fans returned to the tune. In the United Kingdom, the song is only present on one list at the moment, and it's not just rising, but climbing to what appears to be a never-before-seen high.
Jackson's fan favorite improves just one space on the Official Streaming chart, the U.K.'s ranking of the most-streamed tracks in the nation. "Billie Jean" steps up from No. 86 to No. 85, and in doing so, it looks like it sits higher than ever before on the list that only focuses on consumption on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and their competitors.
It may be decades old, but this week isn't even the first time that "Billie Jean" reaches a new peak on the streaming chart this year. Jackson's track reappeared on the Official Streaming chart at No. 86, which stood as a new high (until now), earlier this month
"Billie Jean" was released in early 1983 as a single from Jackson's Thriller album, which had dropped just a few months prior. The track, which describes a man denying that a newborn is his via an affair, was selected as the second official promotional tune from the blockbuster, following "The Girl is Mine," and it would soon be followed by many other smashes that have stood the test of time.
During its initial chart run, "Billie Jean" hit No. 1 in the U.K., adding to Jackson's career collection of leaders. The song won him a pair of Grammys, and the album it's featured on also swept the awards that year.
It's interesting that "Billie Jean" is on the rise, as Jackson's only other charting hit in the U.K. at the moment is on the decline. "Thriller" surged around Halloween, as it's played non-stop in the lead-up to the holiday. Now that it's passed, that creepy cut is falling on three of the four lists it appears on at present, with sales of the smash dropping off, as was expected.
"Thriller" does manage to climb on the same chart as "Billie Jean," which shows that fans in the U.K. are consistently streaming Jackson and his biggest hits. That smash lifts from No. 100 to No. 96 on the Official Streaming ranking this week.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2024/11/14/michael-jacksons-classic-reaches-a-new-peakfor-the-second-time-in-a-month/
