Το «Smooth Criminal» είναι το 7ο σινγκλ που κυκλοφόρησε από το άλπουμ Bad του Μάικλ Τζάκσον. Πρόκειται για ένα τραγούδι σε πολύ γρήγορο ρυθμό, που διηγείται την ιστορία μιας επίθεσης εναντίον μιας γυναίκας με το όνομα Άννι από έναν εγκληματία που η αστυνομία αδυνατεί πάντα να συλλάβει.
Χαρακτηριστική είναι η συνεχής επανάληψη της φράσης «Annie are you ok?» στο τραγούδι, η οποία χρησιμεύει για να αποδώσει την ατμόσφαιρα τρόμου και πανικού που επικρατεί μετά το έγκλημα καθώς και να δείξει τη σοβαρότητα της κατάστασης του θύματος. Ομοίως, οι επαναλαμβανόμενες φράσεις στο τέλος του τραγουδιού «I don’t know» (δεν ξέρω!) και «dad gone it» (να πάρει η ευχή!) φανερώνουν τη σύγχυση και τον εκνευρισμό που επικρατεί.
Ενδιαφέρον παρουσιάζει το γεγονός ότι Άννι είναι το όνομα της κούκλας που χρησιμοποιείται στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες για τη διδασκαλία τεχνητής αναπνοής. Κατά τη διάρκεια του μαθήματος, ο εκπαιδευόμενος πρέπει πρώτα να ελέγξει αν το θύμα έχει τις αισθήσεις του ή όχι, ώστε να αποφασίσει αν χρειάζεται να ξεκινήσει τεχνητή αναπνοή. Γι’αυτό το λόγο, όταν πλησιάσει αρχικά την κούκλα πρέπει να κάνει επανειλημμένα την ερώτηση: «Annie are you ok?» (Άννι είσαι εντάξει;). Το πιο πιθανόν είναι ότι ο Μάικλ Τζάκσον στηρίχτηκε στη φράση αυτή για να δημιουργήσει μια ολόκληρη φανταστική ιστορία ενός εγκλήματος...
As he came into the window Was the sound of a crescendo He came into her apartment He left the bloodstains on the carpet She ran underneath the table He could see she was unable So she ran into the bedroom She was struck down, it was her doom Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? Will you tell us that you're okay?
There's a sound at the window Then he struck you, a crescendo Annie He came into your apartment He left the bloodstains on the carpet And then you ran into the bedroom You were struck down It was your doom Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? You've been hit by- You've been hit by- A smooth criminal
So they came in to the outway It was Sunday, what a black day Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation Sounding heartbeats, intimidation Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? Annie, are you okay? Will you tell us that you're okay?
There's a sound at the window That he struck you a crescendo Annie He came into your apartment He left the bloodstains on the carpet Then you ran into the bedroom You were struck down It was your doom Annie, are you okay? So, Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie? You've been hit by- You've been struck by- A smooth criminal
Okay, I want everybody to clear the area right now Annie, are you okay? (I don't know) Will you tell us, that you're okay? (I don't know) There's a sound at the window (I don't know) Then he struck you, a crescendo Annie (I don't know) He came into your apartment (I don't know) Left bloodstains on the carpet (I don't know why, baby) And then you ran into the bedroom (help me) You were struck down
It was your doom, Annie (dag gone it) Annie, are you okay? (Dag gone it-baby) Will you tell us that you're okay? (Dag gone it-baby) There's a sound at the window (dag gone it-baby) Then he struck you, a crescendo Annie He came into your apartment (dag gone it) Left bloodstains on the carpet (hoo, hoo, hoo) And then you ran into the bedroom You were struck down (dag gone it) It was your doom Annie
