Billie Jean was released by Michael Jackson in 1983 as a single from his Thriller album, and it became one of the defining pop songs of the decade, helped by its groundbreaking music video and Jackson's signature dance performances. The song's opening bassline has since become instantly recognisable in its own right, sampled and referenced across pop culture for decades. On soundboards and in short-form video, the short instrumental opening is now reused as shorthand for confidence, cool entrances and 1980s nostalgia.
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The iconic opening of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, with its pulsing bassline and crisp beat, often used in dance edits, memes and nostalgic throwback videos.
This clip captures the instantly recognisable start of Billie Jean, Michael Jackson's 1983 hit, built around a steady, hypnotic bassline, a sharp drum beat and a shimmering synth line that builds tension before the vocal arrives. Even in just fifteen seconds, it feels sleek, confident and slightly mysterious, like the opening of a story that is about to turn. Listeners usually recognise it within a beat or two, which makes it perfect for a reveal, a walk-in or a dramatic pause, because the groove alone carries attitude, nostalgia and star power without needing any words at all.
