Ron Pia

 

ON THIS DAY IN MICHAEL JACKSON HISTORY- JANUARY 4 1984- SAY SAY SAY was the number 1 song on Billboard Top 100 Say Say Say" is a song written and performed by English musician Paul McCartney and American singer Michael Jackson, released in October 1983 as the lead single to McCartney's 1983 album Pipes of Peace. Produced by George Martin, the song was recorded during production of McCartney's 1982 Tug of War album, about a year before the release of "The Girl Is Mine", the pair's first duet from Michael's album Thriller (1982).After its release in October 1983, "Say Say Say" became Michael's seventh top-ten hit inside a year. It was a number one hit in the United States (his sixth number-one single there), Canada, Norway, Sweden and several other countries, reached number two in the United Kingdom, and peaked within the top ten in Australia, Austria, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Switzerland and over 20 other nations. In 2013, Billboard magazine listed the song as the 41st biggest hit of all time on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.It has also been voted the ninth best collaboration of all time in a Rolling Stone readers poll.

The single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in December 1983, representing sales of 500,000 copies. The single was promoted with an influential music video directed by Bob Giraldi. The short film centres around two con artists called "Mac and Jack" (played by McCartney and Michael).McCartney biographer Ray Coleman asserted that the majority of the song's lyrics were written by Michael and given to McCartney the next day.Recording began at AIR Studios in London in May 1981. At the time, McCartney was recording Tug of War, his second solo album after the breakup .

Michael stayed at the home of McCartney and his wife Linda during the recording sessions, and became friends with both.While at the dining table one evening, Paul McCartney brought out a booklet that displayed all the songs to which he owned the publishing rights. "This is the way to make big money", the musician informed Michael. "Every time someone records one of these songs, I get paid. Every time someone plays these songs on the radio, or in live performances, I get paid." McCartney's words influenced Michael's later purchase of ATV Music Publishing in 1985. The music video (or "short film") for "Say Say Say" was filmed in October 1983 and was directed by Bob Giraldi, who had previously directed Michael Jackson's music video for "Beat It".Cameo appearances in the video are made by McCartney's then wife Linda, as well as Michael's older sister La Toya.

Rolling Stone quoted Bob Giraldi who recounted McCartney's nervousness about the project:

"Paul was terribly insecure about appearing next to Michael, in terms of dance" ... "And who wouldn't, if you're going to go onstage and be choreographed next to Michael Jackson?" "In all my years of working in film and commercials, I've worked with some of the worst divas and superstars of all time," said Giraldi. "Paul and Michael were not that."

According to La Toya Jackson, during filming of the video, the McCartneys were staying at a property named Sycamore Valley Ranch, five miles from the town of Los Olivos, California in the Santa Ynez Valley.Michael visited them and expressed interest in someday buying the property. In 1988, he would do so, renaming it Neverland Ranch.The saloon portion was filmed at the 1880 Union Hotel in Los Alamos.McCartney flew in specifically for the filming.The video cost $500,000 to produce.

In the short film, the duo play "Mac and Jack", a pair of medicine show conmen who sell a "miracle potion". The salesman (McCartney) offers Michael the potion, and claims that it is "guaranteed to give you the strength of a raging bull". Michael drinks the potion and challenges a large man to arm-wrestle. Unbeknownst to a watching crowd, the man—along with Linda—is also in on the scam. After Michael wins the rigged contest, the crowd of people surge forward and buy the potion. Mac and Jack then donate all of the money earned from the scam to an orphanage.After this scene, McCartney and Michael star as vaudeville performers who sing and dance at a bar.On stage, the duo appear in clown makeup at one point and quickly go through a number of costume changes.Michael flirts with a young woman portrayed by his real-life sister La Toya.When law-enforcement officers appear at the back of the venue, Mac quickly starts a small fire onstage and Linda hollers "FIRE!", emptying the venue and allowing the group to escape via backstage (yet somehow finding time to change into tuxedoes first). The video ends with Paul, Linda, and Michael as they drive off into the sunset. La Toya, who was handed a bunch of flowers by McCartney, is left at the roadside.