Michael Jackson and Paul Mccartney: "The Girl Is Mine" (1983)

"The Girl Is Mine" is a song by Michael Jackson featuring Paul McCartney. It is the first single from Jackson's sixth solo album, Thriller. McCartney is the only featured guest on the album. The track was written and composed by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones (with co-production by Jackson). The song was recorded at Westlake Studios, Los Angeles, from April 14 to 16, 1982. The year before, Jackson and McCartney had recorded "Say Say Say" and "The Man" for the latter's fifth solo album, Pipes of Peace (1983). Paul had already recorded Say Say Say in 1981 and had intended to include it on his multi million selling Tug Of War album. However, he eventually decided to allow Michael to write some lyrics for it and therefore give Michael a songwriting credit.

"The Girl Is Mine" achieved success in the music charts. Aside from topping the R&B singles chart, the single peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number eight in the UK. By 1985, it had sold 1.3 million copies, and was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments of at least one million units.

"The Girl Is Mine" has been the subject of two plagiarism lawsuits. Both instances required Jackson to testify in court, and each lawsuit found in the favour of the singer and his record label. In 2008, for the 25th anniversary edition of Thriller, The Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am remixed "The Girl Is Mine". The remix received generally unfavourable reviews from music critics.

- Lyrics:

(Michael)
Every Night She Walks Right In My Dreams
Since I Met Her From The Start
I'm So Proud I Am The Only One
Who Is Special In Her Heart

The Girl Is Mine
The Doggone Girl Is Mine
I Know She's Mine
Because The Doggone Girl Is Mine

(Paul)
I Don't Understand The Way You Think
Saying That She's Yours Not Mine
Sending Roses And Your Silly Dreams
Really Just A Waste Of Time

Because She's Mine
The Doggone Girl Is Mine
Don't Waste Your Time
Because The Doggone Girl Is Mine

(Paul)
I Love You More Than He
(Take You Anywhere)

(Michael)
But I Love You Endlessly
(Loving We Will Share)

(Michael & Paul)
So Come And Go With Me
To One Town

(Michael)
But We Both Cannot Have Her
So It's One Or The Other
And One Day You'll Discover
That She's My Girl Forever And Ever

(Paul)
I Don't Build Your Hopes To Be Let Down
'Cause I Really Feel It's Time

(Michael)
I Know She'll Tell You I'm The One For Her
'Cause She Said I Blow Her Mind
Chorus (Michael)
The Girl Is Mine
The Doggone Girl Is Mine
Don't Waste Your Time
Because The Doggone Girl Is Mine

(Michael & Paul)
She's Mine, She's Mine
No, No, No, She's Mine
The Girl Is Mine, The Girl Is Mine
The Girl Is Mine, The Girl Is Mine

(Paul)
The Girl Is Mine, (Yep) She's Mine
The Girl Is Mine, (Yep) She's Mine

(Michael)
Don't Waste Your Time
Because The Doggone Girl Is Mine
The Girl Is Mine, The Girl Is Mine

(Paul)
Michael, We're Not Going To Fight About This, Okay

(Michael)
Paul, I Think I Told You, I'm A Lover Not A Fighter

(Paul)
I've Heard It All Before, Michael, She Told Me That I'm Her Forever Lover, You Know, Don't You Remember

(Michael)
Well, After Loving Me, She Said She Couldn't Love Another

(Paul)
Is That What She Said

(Michael)
Yes, She Said It, You Keep Dreaming

(Paul)
I Don't Believe It

(Michael & Paul)
The Girl Is Mine (Mine, Mine, Mine)

(Fade-Out/Repeat)