BEATLES MAGAZINE: 'THE GIRL IS MINE'

Thursday, 29 January 2026

'THE GIRL IS MINE'

A collaboration between Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, "The Girl Is Mine" features Jackson as the songwriter and co-producer alongside Quincy Jones. Serving as the lead single for the 1982 landmark album Thriller, the track was laid down at Los Angeles' Westlake Studios over a three-day period in April 1982. This session followed earlier projects between the two artists, who had previously teamed up for "The Man" and "Say Say Say" on McCartney’s 1983 record, Pipes of Peace. Interestingly, despite its status as a major release, Jackson never included the song in his live performance repertoire.

Over the years, the song became the center of two high-profile plagiarism disputes in 1984 and 1993.

The duet enjoyed significant commercial momentum, dominating the R&B charts and climbing to the second spot on the Billboard Hot 100, while securing a top-ten position in the UK. By the mid-80s, sales had surpassed 1.3 million units, eventually earning a platinum certification from the RIAA. Nevertheless, critical reception was lukewarm; many reviewers often label it as the least impactful track on the otherwise record-breaking Thriller album.

Over the years, the song became the center of two high-profile plagiarism disputes in 1984 and 1993. Both cases forced Jackson to appear in court to defend his work, but the rulings ultimately favored him and his label. Decades later, for the 25th anniversary of Thriller in 2008, will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas produced a remix of the track, though this updated version was largely panned by music critics.

The song also made a significant international impact by reaching the top eight in the UK and breaking into the Top 20 in New Zealand. By 1985, sales for the single had exceeded 1.3 million copies. Consequently, the Recording Industry Association of America awarded it platinum status, recognizing shipments that surpassed the one-million-unit milestone.

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