Today’s song of the day is Thriller by Michael Jackson. Thriller was released in November 1983 from Michael’s seventh studio album. To this day, fans worldwide connect by re-enacting the zombie dance from the music video, even young kids.

Fun Facts

• Thriller was produced by Quincy Jones and written by Rod Temperton.
• The video for the song was the first to be inducted into the National Film Registry.
• Thriller was recorded over eight weeks in 1982 at the famous Westlake Recording Studios on Santa Monica Boulevard.
• It was the final single released from the album.
• The song was not originally planned for release as record exec didn’t think a single about monsters would make such an impact.
• Thriller entered the charts at number 20 on the Hot 100 and peaked at number four, where it stayed for two weeks.
• Once again, record executives underestimated the appeal of Thriller and refused to finance the music video, believing it had peaked and couldn’t possibly make more profit. So Jackson and the director sold a documentary called Making Michael Jackson’s Thriller to receive financing from television networks. When it premiered on television, it doubled the sales of Thriller and sold over a million copies, becoming the bestselling videotape at the time.
• The Thriller video is rightfully credited for transforming music videos, and the song remains a fan favorite.

Lyrics

(LyricFind)

It’s close to midnight

And something evil’s lurking in the dark

Under the moonlight

You see a sight that almost stops your heart

You try to scream

But terror takes the sound before you make it

You start to freeze

As horror looks you right between the eyes

You’re paralyzed

‘Cause this is thriller, thriller night

And no one’s gonna save you from the beast about to strike

You know it’s thriller, thriller night

You’re fighting for your life inside a killer thriller tonight, yeah

Oh oh oh

You hear the door slam

And realize there’s nowhere left to run

You feel the cold hand

And wonder if you’ll ever see the sun

You close your eyes

And hope that this is just imagination

Girl, but all the while

You hear the creature creepin’ up behind

You’re out of time

‘Cause this is thriller, thriller night

There ain’t no second chance against the thing with forty eyes, girl

Thriller, thriller night

You’re fighting for your life inside a killer thriller tonight

Night creatures call

And the dead start to walk in their masquerade

There’s no escapin’ the jaws of the alien this time (they’re open wide)

This is the end of your life, oh

They’re out to get you

There’s demons closing in on every side

They will possess you

Unless you change that number on your dial

Now is the time

For you and I to cuddle close together, yeah

All through the night

I’ll save you from the terrors on the screen

I’ll make you see

That it’s a thriller, thriller night

‘Cause I can thrill you more than any ghost would ever dare try

Thriller, thriller night

So let me hold you tight and share a killer, thriller

Chiller, thriller here tonight

‘Cause it’s a thriller, thriller night

Girl, I can thrill you more than any ghost would ever dare try

Thriller, thriller night

So let me hold you tight and share a killer, thriller

I’m gonna thrill you tonight

Darkness falls across the land

The midnight hour is close at hand

Creatures crawl in search of blood

To terrorize y’awl’s neighborhood

And whosoever shall be found

Without the soul for getting down

Must stand and face the hounds of hell

And rot inside a corpse’s shell

I’m gonna thrill you tonight

Thriller, ohh baby (Thriller)

I’m gonna thrill you tonight (Thriller night)

Thriller, all night, oh baby

I’m gonna thrill you tonight

Thriller, thriller night (oh baby)

I’m gonna thrill you tonight

Thriller, all night (oh baby)

Thriller night (Thriller night)

The foulest stench is in the air

The funk of forty thousand years

And grizzly ghouls from every tomb

Are closing in to seal your doom

And though you fight to stay alive

Your body starts to shiver

For no mere mortal can resist

The evil of the thriller