The Story Of… ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson

31 October 2023, 12:19

Michael Jackson’s hit song ‘Thriller’ was released in 1983, it was hugely successful and is still influencing the music world nearly 40 years later.

‘Thriller’ was the seventh and last single that Michael Jackson released from his Thriller album. The song had huge success and that was heavily influenced by the vision Michael had for the ‘Thriller’ music video.

You may be wondering who wrote ‘Thriller’ and how it became an iconic dance move. Here’s everything you need to know about Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’.

1. Who wrote ‘Thriller’?

   ‘Thriller’ was written by Rod Temperton, he had previously written songs for Michael including ‘Rock With You’ and ‘Off the Wall’.

   Rod also wrote the tracks ‘Baby Be Mine’ and ‘The Lady in My Life’ on Michael’s Thriller album.

   Michael Jackson's Halloween on CBS

   When Rod first started writing ‘Thriller’ it had a different name, the original track was titled ‘Starlight’. Rod found out that Michael had a love for horror movies and shifted the lyrics around to give it more character.

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   Who produced ‘Thriller’?

   Quincy Jones produced the single ‘Thriller’ for Michael Jackson as well as the rest of the Thriller album.

   ‘Thriller’ was given a cinematic and upbeat arrangement that managed to catch attention and keep it. Quincy was also able to secure the Vincent Price voiceover.

   “I had always envisioned a talking section at the end but I didn’t really know what to do with it,” Rod mentioned in an interview on the Thriller album.

   Quincy’s wife at the time, Peggy Lipton, knew horror movie legend Vincent and they managed to bring him into the studio.

   Michael Jackson - Thriller (Official Video)

   Rod explained: “The idea was that he would just talk some horror talk like he would deliver in his famous roles.

   “The night before the session, Quincy called and said, ‘I’m a bit scared. Perhaps you better write something for him.’ ”

   Rod was able to write Vincent’s spooky rap that closes the iconic ‘Thriller’ track on his way into the recording session. He wrote one verse while waiting for a taxi and also penned two more verses during the car journey.

   “Rod wrote this brilliant, Edgar Allan Poe spiel. And Vincent really understood it. … Vincent did it in two takes,” Quincy said.