MJ fact set

Smooth Criminal & Beat It: 3 facts

The physics, the demos, and a favor from a rock legend.

• The Smooth Criminal lean

  The famous 45-degree forward lean in 'Smooth Criminal' (1988) was first achieved on film using wires, then re-engineered for live shows via the patented stage-peg shoes Michael co-invented.

• He wrote songs by beatboxing every part

  Michael couldn't read or write standard musical notation. He composed by humming and beatboxing each instrument — drums, bass, strings — into a cassette recorder, then taught the parts to studio musicians. Demos for 'Beat It' and 'Stranger in Moscow' survive in this form.

• Eddie Van Halen's surprise guitar solo

  Eddie Van Halen recorded the iconic guitar solo on 'Beat It' for free, as a favor to Quincy Jones. He famously rearranged a section of the song while in the studio and reportedly only learned later how big the record would become.

Facts compiled from publicly available sources including Billboard, the RIAA, Guinness World Records, the US Patent Office and reputable music publications. This is an independent fan publication and is not affiliated with the Estate of Michael Jackson. All trademarks and song titles belong to their respective owners.