Billie Jean was released by Michael Jackson in 1983 as a single from his album Thriller, written by Jackson and produced with Quincy Jones. Its opening bassline, played by Louis Johnson, became one of the most recognisable intros in pop music and helped the song top charts worldwide. Clips of just the intro later spread online as a shorthand for a smooth, dramatic entrance, and creators continue using the short groove on its own because audiences identify the song within the first beat.