Smooth Criminal

Album

ANThology (Alien Ant Farm album)

Label

DreamWorks Records (SKG)

Genre

Nu Metal

Composer(s)

Michael Jackson

Entered Chart

Aug 25, 2001

Peak Date

Nov 10, 2001

Released

May 22, 2001

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

New Noize Album Cut

B-Side

N/A

Michael Jackson originally recorded "Smooth Criminal" on his 1987 album Bad. Many of Alien Ant Farm's fans were too young to know about Jackson's version. This made Alien Ant Farm famous, but it was not their first single. They released "Movies" first, but the Los Angeles radio station KROQ started playing "Smooth Criminal" instead, which led to a great deal of exposure and prompted them to release it as a single. "Movies" was re-released later to take advantage of their new fame. This was included on their first album, which was released on an independent label. When they signed with a big record company, they included it on their first major-label release, ANThology. Alien Ant Farm have played a lot of quirky covers over the years. When they started, they tried to play a different cover at every show. Some of the bands they covered include Weezer, Bad Brains, The Police, and Sade. The video pokes fun at Michael Jackson, but they made sure to get his permission and keep it lighthearted. Some of the Michael Jackson clichés they make fun of are Bubbles the chimp and the Moonwalk. When Jackson saw the video, he asked that a scene with a boy in a surgical mask be removed, because it made fun of his medical condition. They took it out, but Jackson decided he liked it the way it was. In the end, there were 2 videos, one with the mask, one without. This was nominated for a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Song.

(Oh no)

As he came into the window
Was a sound of a crescendo
He came into her apartment
Left the bloodstains on the carpet
She was sitting at the table
He could see she was unable
So she ran into the bedroom
She was struck down
It was her doom

Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?

Annie, are you okay?
Would you tell us that you're okay?
There's a sign at a window
That he struck you
A crescendo, Annie
Came into her apartment
Left the bloodstains on the carpet
And then you ran into the bedroom
You were struck down, it was your doom

Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?

You've been hit by
You've been struck by
A smooth criminal

So they came into the outway
It was Sunday, but a black day
I could make a salutation
Sounding heartbeat, intimidation

Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?

Annie, are you okay?
Would you tell us that you're okay?
There's a sign at a window
That he struck you
A crescendo, Annie
Came into her apartment
Left the bloodstains on the carpet
And then you ran into the bedroom
You were struck down, it was your doom

Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
You've been hit by
You've been struck by
A smooth criminal

Annie, are you okay? (Oh no)
Would you tell us that you're okay? (Oh no)
There's a sign at a window (oh no)
That he struck you
A crescendo, Annie (oh no)
Came into her apartment (oh no)
Left the bloodstains on the carpet (oh no)
And then you ran into the bedroom (oh no)
You were struck down, it was your doom

Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay, you okay, you okay, Annie?