6 Facts About the First Song Recorded for Michael Jackson's Thriller

“The Girl Is Mine” was the first song recorded for Thriller, a duet with Paul McCartney. Recording began on April 14, 1982.

The song was a deliberate choice to test the album’s direction. It set a pop-friendly tone before adding darker tracks.

Jackson and McCartney wrote the song together. Their collaboration built on their earlier work on “Say Say Say.”

The duet was released as the album’s first single in October 1982. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Critics often dismiss the song as too soft compared to Thriller’s hits. But it proved Jackson could cross over to adult contemporary audiences.

The recording session marked the start of a legendary album. Thriller went on to become the best-selling album of all time.