# Smooth Criminal is the greatest video ever! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2007, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140 "2007-10-18T04:43:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/1 "2007-10-18T04:43:35Z")
[Look](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mfQn3pYwKM), I don’t care what you think of MJ. I don’t care about the debate if he’s black or white, male or female, or straight or a catholic priest. There is not a dance video that touches Smooth Criminal. Dopers, you got anything better? - Flander (still trying to moonwalk as good as he does) ETA: This may do better in the Cafe. Mods, move as you see fit. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/2 "2007-10-18T04:51:04Z")
MJ really was one of the great talents of our time (well the 80’s anyways). ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/3 "2007-10-18T06:36:33Z")
[QUOTE=Flander] [Look](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mfQn3pYwKM), I don’t care what you think of MJ. I don’t care about the debate if he’s black or white, male or female, or straight or a catholic priest. [/QUOTE] Like the joke: Child: Mommy, is god a man or a women? Mother: God is both, son. Child: Then is god black or white? Mother: God is both. Child: Does god like or hate children? Mother: God loves children, of course. Child: Is God Micheal Jackson? He is a damn good dancer, I’ll give you that. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/4 "2007-10-18T07:01:27Z")
My favorite music video of all time! Mad props for linking to the FULL video, not the short lame version. When I was little, I asked my mom if it was real when they did that lean thing. She swore up and down it was real (I’m now convinced she was fucking with me and never believed it was real) and therefore I was convinced it was real. It’s not that I thought he was magic or anything, I just thought hey, he’s a really good dancer. Last year when I stumbled across the patent for his shoes that allowed him to do the leany thing. . .I lost my childhood. It was sad. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/5 "2007-10-18T08:47:38Z")
I seem to remember there was some sort of concept video that included several songs, including that one. At the end MJ turned into a giant robot. Anybody remember that? ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/6 "2007-10-18T08:49:36Z")
[QUOTE=sturmhauke] I seem to remember there was some sort of concept video that included several songs, including that one. At the end MJ turned into a giant robot. Anybody remember that? [/QUOTE] That would be the film [Moonwalker](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonwalker) ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/7 "2007-10-18T09:10:38Z")
Can’t think of anything this late in the evening that can come anywhere near the excellence of “Smooth Criminal”. Thanks for the thread and the link, **Flander**. That was some much-appreciated cool nostalgia. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/8 "2007-10-18T10:31:51Z")
I had a final in my junior year of college. Just before I left for the exam, we were watching VH1. The previous show ended, we were all about to get up and leave. They announced “And now, in its entirety, Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker”. I went to my exam late. I watched the entire thing. I don’t listen to music anymore, but I’d buy a CD if Michael came out with it. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/9 "2007-10-18T13:34:22Z")
[QUOTE=DiosaBellissima] Mad props for linking to the FULL video, not the short lame version. [/QUOTE] It’s not the same unless it’s the full Moonwalker version. Thanks for the props! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/10 "2007-10-18T13:47:01Z")
Nope. [_This_](http://www.archive.org/details/SoundieF) is the greatest music video ever. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/11 "2007-10-18T14:43:17Z")
[QUOTE=Scumpup] Nope. [_This_](http://www.archive.org/details/SoundieF) is the greatest music video ever. [/QUOTE] That guy playing the upright bass is classic. ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/12 "2007-10-18T16:23:29Z")
Didn’t he make a Pepsi commercial around the same time where he threw a coin across the room into a Pepsi machine? ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/13 "2007-10-18T21:34:51Z")
Wait- he did the lean thing with patented shoes? Huh? How do dat work? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/14 "2007-10-18T21:51:31Z")
[QUOTE=McNew] Wait- he did the lean thing with patented shoes? Huh? How do dat work? [/QUOTE] I may be remembering this from a magician trick explanation somewhere, but if I’m not mistaken, the way it works is that there are metal clips on the bottom of the shoes that you slide and lock into place onto metal bars on the floor. Then you can lean way over to the left or right without falling over, because your shoes are locked in place. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/15 "2007-10-18T21:53:59Z")
During is live performances, he’s hooked to a cable. Saw it on MTV or something a while ago. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/16 "2007-10-18T22:01:53Z")
For my money, [this](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=759312463060609487&q=unicorns+la&total=124&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0) is the greatest music video of all time, and has some dancing in it. Words simply do not do it justice, trust me just watch it. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/17 "2007-10-18T22:10:55Z")
[QUOTE=Scumpup] Nope. [_This_](http://www.archive.org/details/SoundieF) is the greatest music video ever. [/QUOTE] I loved this. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/18 "2007-10-18T22:11:47Z")
I am sorry, but no. THIS is the greatest music video of all time: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV1bRfLHA3A) ---
**Author:** ![Beaucarnea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@Beaucarnea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beaucarnea)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/19 "2007-10-18T22:37:28Z")
From 2005 HipHop Honors [tribute to Big Daddy Kane](http://www.vh1.com/vspot/player.jhtml?id=1510340&vid=61896&launchedFrom=/search/search.jhtml). If you like old school, rap, or dance- watch this. I’ve never seen such feedback and energy between performers and audience. The drummer is a genius and feeds the whole show, and Big Daddy Kane’s big finish is unbeatable. (and you know his grandkids are in the audience rockin out to grandpop’s performance)I can’t link directly to the video, but scroll down and select “Big Daddy Kane tribute with T.I., Common, etc” The surrealist genius that is [Madonna’s Bedtime Stories](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4y6J0NYtLY). Anything by the Fratellis. [Pretty pretty girls](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKQK8rYZNHY). Kings of Leon [Four Kicks](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqm73bQCwJs). I’m pretty laid back, but this song makes me want to run through a wall. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140/20 "2007-10-18T23:10:49Z")
Funnily enough they had an MJ special on one of the music channels last night, I missed the first part of the show, only coming in on Thriller. But yeah regardless of his, hmm lets say eccentricities, from about the late 90’s on, he really was one hell of an entertainer, and it’s easy to forget that he did deserve his “King of Pop” title at the time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smooth-criminal-is-the-greatest-video-ever/423140.md?page=2)