“The Girl is Mine”
Michael Jackson with Paul McCartney
Written and composed by Michael Jackson
Produced by Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson
Featured on Thriller
Released as a single Oct. 18, 1982.
Chart info: No. 2, Hot 100
No. 1, Soul Singles
In his storied career, Quincy Jones has worked with plenty of dynamic duos. In 1953, ace trumpeters Clifford Brown and Art Farmer joined forces on the Quincy-penned, arranged and conducted “Stockholm Sweetnin’.” A decade later, he conducted the velvety tones of Ella Fitzgerald with the big band sounds of Count Basie on “I’m Begging to See the Light.” A year later, Quincy arranged and conducted Basie and his orchestra, this time backing the unforgettable voice of Frank Sinatra on “Fly Me to the Moon.” And then there was the pairing of legendary Motown diva Diana Ross with star-on-the-rise Michael Jackson on “Ease on Down the Road” for film version of The Wiz in 1978.
Yet one of Quincy’s most famous pairings occurred four years later when he matched Jackson with Paul McCartney on the Jackson-penned tune “The Girl is Mine.” It was the first song recorded for the landmark Thriller album and helped grease the wheels that would drive Jackson to a new level of superstardom.
Prior to the collaboration, Quincy had some connection to the Beatles. He was friends with longtime Beatles producer George Martin and worked as an arranger on Ringo Starr’s 1970 solo debut Sentimental Journey. In 1971, when he was serving as the musical director of the Academy Awards, Q leapt out of the orchestra pit and bounded on stage to accept the Best Original Song Score for “Let It Be” on behalf of the Fab Four, who were not in attendance that evening.
Years later, Quincy had helped launch Michael Jackson to a new level of stardom with his stellar production of 1979’s Off the Wall. That album featured such hits as “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough,” “Rock with You” and the title track. The album’s final single, “Girlfriend,” was written by Paul McCartney, who also recorded a version of the song with his band Wings, but he did not appear on Jackson’s recorded version. While “Girlfriend” failed to become a hit, it paved the way for another Jackson-McCartney collaboration, “The Girl is Mine.” We’ll let Quincy pick up the story in his own words.
“Before we started on Thriller, I was working on Donna Summer’s second Geffen album. I thought it would take four months, but it went seven,” Quincy recalls. “In the middle of it, we took a break and Michael and I went to Tucson to Paul McCartney’s house to do ‘The Girl Is Mine’ because that was the only time he was in town. We only had three days. No matter what we were doing, we had to stop to get that record because it was import.”
The song, a light breezy number featuring Jackson’s playful verbal sparing with McCartney, concludes with a spoken exchange between the two singers, with Jackson famously declaring, “I’m a lover, not a fighter.” Released on Oct. 18, 1982, it reached number one Billboard’s Soul Singles chart and peaked at number two on the Hot 100.
Its success was welcomed, but it did create a minor problem. Quincy and Bruce Swedien were still mixing Thriller as the album’s first single was climbing the charts. “The made us a little nervous,” Quincy admits.
As everyone knows, Thriller ended up coming out just fine and went on to become the best-selling album of all time. Jackson returned the favor to McCartney a year later, guesting on his chart-topping single “Say Say Say,” produced by George Martin.
Below you can listen our “The Girl is Mine” playlist, featuring Michael Jackson’s “Girlfriend,” “The Girl is Mine,” “Say Say Say,” and Jackson’s “The Girl is Mine 2008″ with will.i.am from the 25th anniversary edition of Thriller.
What’s your favorite Quincy-related dynamic duo?
How can you possibly choose just ONE when you are speaking of Mr. Quincy Jones, who has to be one of the most talented, accomplished, intelligent men in the industry who has shown time and time again over many years this very thing! He is looked up to and adored by the older generation as well as the younger! I must say that his work with Michael Jackson has to be a favorite though!
Any thing Micheal does is the greatest
I remember the first time he was in San Bernardino CA. I went to see the first concert, He’s the man and always will be know matter what people say I love him
Greatest of all times ever..
M-I-C-H-E-A-L!!!!
Hi! Qunicy, And thank you for letting me voice my option I think it’s great Thats one person ever in life I would like to meet would be you & Micheal. Besides Harriett Tubman and I Know she’s no longer here but here spirit is, always will be. If she had not done the things she did where oh! where would we all be?
The kids of today need to know the history of our black people not enough know the heritage are they would not do a lot of things there doing.
I’m a native of California and now reside in Newington Georgia and believe me you would not believe the difference in the people here, and the people that has been here all there life did not know That Eli Whiney invented the cotton gin and lived right here in Portwentworth Georgia about 50 miles from me I was so honored to just be here
and they did not know about George Washington Carver the genius that invented the peanut he lived here in georgia it’ amazing to know the heritage, it really is. I grow up around all whites so, at the time it was all I knew, until I took black history something that they don’t even offer here in some of the high schools.
Well I could go on and on but, thanks again be blessed in all you do always
Sherrill
Hi Quincy,
The girl is mine is a really good song. I wonder are you and Michael still in touch beauce I would love to see you two work together again some day. Even if it would not break world records like Thriller I still think that would great. But I wish you good luck with whatever you do in the future.
Dear Mr.Q
On certain MJ websites,they are saying that Michael(SMelly)and Sir Paul(Macca)are not friends after the a certain purchase inwhich I don’t have to meantion but I know in my heart that they are still friends and I do hope that one day they can drops their differences and do another song together if they both agree to do so.
The Girl Is Mine is a great song. When I heard the Demo and the actual song,I fell in love with them both because I’m a fan of both men.It was cute that Michael sang Grilfriend on his Off The Wall LP.I know Sir Paul was smiling that he was singing his song that he himself sang on his London Town LP. Thank You Q for dropping that Middle 8 part of Girlfriend,If would have fit Michael anyway. As far as The Update version of The Girl Is Mine, well it has to grow on mine.I’m an Old fashion person when it comes to certain songs and The Beauty of The Lyrics and The Music Production stays with my heart because You, Michael and Paul had done such a wonderful job with the original. In a way I wished that you and Mr. Martin would have produced on Say Say Say but the song is great anyway,I have both The Pipes of Peace LP and The 12inch of the song.I was Hoping that Michael would have put it on one of his LPs but it didn’t workout that way.
I do hope you and Michael will work together again oneday.I know Michael is going in so many directions but I guess he’s still searching for that particular groove.He found it with you,You brought out his true talents as His Baby sis found her groove with Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam.I hope that a day will come when all fans will rejoice in hearing the Music of Jones and Jackson again.
God Bless and Peace be with you.
Rae C
It seems almost insane that Quincy, Bruce and MJ havent worked together again. There is such a demand for the trio to reunite, cant believe it hasnt happened yet. Whats really sad is that it probably never will
I’m just a MJ fan which makes me a Quincy Jones fan as well. I just want to thank you QJ for giving Michael the positive kind of space he needed and the affirmation that spurred him on. You are thought of often because in so many of the pictures Michael looks truly happy to be with you. Is there anyway you can be a part of releasing more music from him that the public hasn’t heard yet? If so, I hope you will.
I don’t get it
What a truly great single. I grew up with MJ and was acquainted with your marvelous body of work through listening to the late Ray Charles. You’ve inspired me to follow my musical dream. It’s my dream to someday join your ranks … who knows
Deniz Reno
http://www.myspace.com/denizreno