☝️ Key Points
- The song 'Smooth Criminal' tells the story of a violent break-in at a woman named Annie's apartment.
- The intruder is referred to as a 'Smooth Criminal', emphasizing their skillful and discreet actions.
- The break-in and the attack on Annie are portrayed as extremely tragic and dramatic, even referred to as a 'black day'.
- The constant inquiries about Annie's well-being underline the helplessness and horror of the situation.
- Despite the dark theme - domestic violence - the song is catchy and danceable, which is typical of Michael Jackson's work.
Interpretation
The song 'Smooth Criminal' by
Michael Jackson tells the story of a violent break-in. A man enters the apartment of a woman named Annie, leaves bloodstains on the carpet, and attacks her. She tries to hide and flees to her bedroom, but unfortunately gets caught and knocked down. The chorus 'Annie, are you ok?' shows concern and horror over this violent situation.
The intruder is referred to as a 'Smooth Criminal', indicating his skillful and stealthy approach. Although he is a criminal, he acts 'smooth' - meaning skillful and inconspicuous.
As the song progresses, the situation becomes even more dramatic, as the day of the break-in is referred to as a 'black day' and there are even references to resuscitation ('Mouth to mouth resus - citation').
The repeated questions about Annie's well-being, which are never answered, underline the tragedy and magnitude of the situation. They also illustrate the helplessness and incomprehension of those trying to grasp what has happened.
Overall, 'Smooth Criminal' addresses a serious and dark topic - domestic violence - in a catchy and danceable pop song, which is a typical characteristic of many of Michael Jackson's works.