The Girl Is Mine

Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney traded playful banter on The Girl Is Mine, a duet that served as the opening salvo for the 1982 album Thriller. Released by Epic Records in October of that year, this pop track features ten polished sounds designed to dominate radio waves. Recorded at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles during April 1982, the song captures a lighthearted argument between two music giants over a shared romantic interest. The single topped the R&B chart and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually earning Gold certification after moving over a million copies.

Critics offered mixed reactions at the time, often labeling it the weakest link on an otherwise stellar record. Legal battles later erupted regarding plagiarism, yet courts consistently sided with Jackson. A 2008 remix by will.i.am attempted to update the track for modern ears but failed to win over many reviewers. This collaboration marked the third and final time the two artists recorded together, following their earlier work on Say Say Say. [edit]