1983 Hit Ranked Among 'Best Rock Songs of All Time' Inspired A Whole Generation

Rock music has been through countless waves over the decades, from the classic glam rock of the '70s, to the darker grunge movements of the '90s, and into the pop-inspired indie sounds of today.

Perhaps more than any genre, rock encompasses a huge range of sounds. But there are few songs that so succinctly and efficiently sum up the genre quite like "Billie Jean", which pushed music in a whole new direction back in 1983.

The single was ranked No. 3 on DigitalDreamDoor's list of the 600 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time, just behind timeless hits like "Johnny B. Goode" and "Respect". It was originally released as the lead single of Michael Jackson's acclaimed pop album Thriller, but has since developed a reputation of its own.

The song blends countless genres together, from disco-inspired pop to classic R&B and funk sounds. It bridged the gap between multiple niche genres and mainstream radio rock, which very few artists had accomplished before.

The lyrics of "Billie Jean" tell the story of a young woman who claims the narrator is the father of her child—though he's adament "the boy is not my son". Despite suggestions that the song reflects an event in Jackson's life, the singer has suggested instead that it was inspired by groupies' claims about his older brothers in the Jackson 5.

"Billie Jean" was an immediate hit for the iconic rock star, an in conjuction with singles like "Beat It", "Wanna Be Startin' Something", and "Human Nature", helped build anticipation for Jackson's revolutionary Thriller album.

Upon the single's release, "Billie Jean" shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became Jackson's fastest-rising hit single as a solo artist. It later became his best-selling single of all time, and its sales pushed Thriller over the line to becoming the most-sold album ever.

Today, "Billie Jean" remains an iconic rock track that still gets plenty of air time on radio stations around the world. It was a defining hit for America's biggest pop star, and marked the beginning of a fascinating transition from disco and funk into mainstream rock and pop that demonstrated just how versatile of a musician Jackson was.