Project Alpha 11

Nope, we’re not done with Michael Jackson quite yet. I’ve long argued that “Beat It” was the best song of the 80s (not to mention the best video), and I like to think that, as far as I can tell, that’s why nobody has managed to make a decent cover version. However, there are people out there who argue that “Beat It” isn’t even Michael Jackson’s best song of the 80s. Okay, most people argue that. And the song that is usually put forth as superior is “Billie Jean”. I’ll be the first to admit it, “Billie Jean” is a pretty excellent song (and has an excellent video of its own). It’s catchy and fun, but very dark (primary takeaway message: look out for creepy stalkers who will claim that you impregnated them!). And, unlike “Beat It”, “Billie Jean” actually has been covered well. Now I have to admit something I’m not proud of: I first heard about this cover by watching an American Idol contestant rip it off pay homage to it:

I think I enjoyed it as much as Randy did! Anyway, David Cook did acknowledge that the performance was really Chris Cornell’s version of the song, so I tracked down Cornell’s cover and discovered that a) David Cook hadn’t actually done much of anything to distinguish his performance from Cornell’s; and b) Cornell’s performance was really good. Yesterday’s cover of “I Want You Back” deconstructed the original and put it back together with detachment, irony, and perhaps humor. Cornell’s rendition of “Billie Jean”, however, really strips away all but the raw, emotional essence of the original–there’s nothing glamorous, distant, or ironic about this–it’s just an acoustic guitar and a voice. So let’s just listen to it: Billie Jean (Chris Cornell).