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Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' Voted 'Best Dance Song Ever'

In new survey...

Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' Voted 'Best Dance Song Ever'
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Michael Jackson's seminal track 'Billie Jean' has been voted the best dance song of all time, in a new survey.

Listeners of BBC Radio 2 honoured the 1983 song, which was written by Jackson and co-produced by Quincy Jones, because it is instantly recognisable and its distinctive groove.

Speaking about the song, sound engineer Bruce Swedien revealed that Jackson had asked him to create "the greatest sonic personality that you can possibly put on a track - starting with the drums".

'I Feel Love' by Donna Summer came second in the poll, while third place was captured by the late James Brown's 'Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine'.

The rest of the top-five was completed by the early house classics, 'Strings of Life' by Rhythim is Rhythim and Alison Limerick's 'Where Love Lives'.

The final twenty songs were compiled by industry experts before listeners were given the chance to vote for their favourite.

What do you think of the results? Is 'Billie Jean' the greatest dance song of all time? Let Gigwise know your thoughts by posting a comment below.

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Michael Jackson - Through The Years
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  • Yerse! I voted for that as well.

    ~ by Boydy 7/16/2008

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  • That is a fantastic result for Michael - does anyone know where I can get the demo of Billie Jean?

    ~ by Eric 7/16/2008

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    • check youtube

      ~ by justme 7/16/2008

    • I have the demo, it is fantastic.

      ~ by Michelle T 7/16/2008

  • Michael Jackson is one of the greatest singer of all time! Go, Michael!

    ~ by Nicholas 7/16/2008

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  • MJ ripped that beat off he always takes credit for making from Hall Oates I Cant Go For That" (1981) ...... MJ made Billie Jean in 1982

    ~ by Jennifer 7/16/2008

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    • I Can\'t go for that has a simillar beat but a different tune, There are thousands of songs that have similar beats to other songs, an artist hears a song and gets ideas from it (inspiration prob best description). the only similarity in I can&\'t go for that\' is the background beat of the drums which play a second apart similar to billie jean. however there are many songs with that same beat.

      ~ by Stevie G 7/16/2008

    • It sounds nothing like it dip shit!

      ~ by Bob 7/17/2008

  • You can find it on the Thriller Remastered edition from 2001. Jennifer maybe you ought to give your ears a good clean up, I just listened to that song and it’s nowhere close to Billie Jean.

    ~ by MJforever 7/16/2008

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  • Ofcourse Billie Jean is the greatest dance song of all time. It came from the greatest talent the planet has ever seen. Finally, people are starting to recognize his genius!

    ~ by Romeo 7/16/2008

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  • Billie Jean don’t sound a thing like I can’’t go for that. Please!

    ~ by LL 7/16/2008

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  • mj doesent rip beats he creates them silly girl ..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ~ by Robbie B 7/16/2008

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  • Best choice they could make!! -and i have an 7.30min version!!!!

    ~ by poster 7/16/2008

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  • best dance song ever!! jackson is a genius! the demo of billie jean is on thriller limited edition of 2001

    ~ by laura 7/16/2008

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  • Billie Jean was the crowning point of his career, without this track he probably wouldn’t have had the fame he gets today. - Perhaps Billie Jean is his curse since he values his privacy so much, however the track gives so many people, so much pleasure listening and dancing to it..

    ~ by Durrson 7/16/2008

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  • Definitely not the best dance tune of all time, maybe one of the best pop songs though-

    ~ by Fred 7/16/2008

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  • Not only is Billie Jean the best dance song ever. It is also the second and the third best dance song ever. I mean, even today, after 25 yrs, there is no song that come close to it... by faaaar... There simply hasn’t been created a song that could be at least in the same league... And I have a feeling that years will pass (like in tens of years at least) and no song in the same league will be created. A genius like MJ simply appears like in hundreds of years. Mozart was his predecesor.

    ~ by Bambiboys 7/16/2008

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  • The only songs that are better than Billie Jean are songs by MJ himself. Thriller, Beat it, Dirty Diana, Wanna Be Starting Something, Black or White and the list goes on forever!

    ~ by Raunaq 7/16/2008

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  • I’d rather not to comment... hehehe MJ’’S THE BEST FOREVER AND EVER...

    ~ by Alan 7/16/2008

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  • MJ will forever be the best!!! He’s the king baby yea!

    ~ by Jo 7/16/2008

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  • this just proves that mj is still the king of pop. billie jean is the BEST. n it is no way a copy of hall oates - i cant go for that. please dnt even compare THAT 2 billie jean.

    ~ by K17G_MJ 7/16/2008

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  • I never get tired of watching Micheal. Billy Jean was so great and np one willever do anything that good in forever to come.

    ~ by lily 7/17/2008

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  • Billie Jean will always be the #1 song ever, since the day it was recorded. It is good that we are having atleast a few good media news coverage, otherwise they just have fun by bombarding the King with false news and made-up stories. Micheal, we are impatiently waiting for the release of your new album. We all want to see your new videos, you topping the charts once again, you touring... oh God! it would be fun... we will always stand by your side.

    ~ by Charanjit 7/18/2008

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  • billie bushwacka mix is 11 mins long. awesome mix

    ~ by luke DJ 8/7/2008

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  • michael jackson is the greattest person in the wourld and the best singer in the world i rely do no that person but i lissten his music now from 7 year i like him he is good singer any why keep more nice music than this just one more thing for michel jasksons be a friendly every time.

    ~ by zazy 10/10/2008

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