The Song:
"Billie Jean" is of course the famous Michael Jackson song, from his album Thriller.
On the Midnite Vultures tour, during the bridge in the middle of "Nicotine & Gravy," Justin Meldal-Johnsen would drop that strutting bassline in there. Most of the time, Beck did not sing any of the song, but I have heard a few shows where Beck did sing a little of the song.
Also, many have noted the similarity between the bassline on Jackson's song and that of "Scarecrow."
UPDATE: In 2013, Beck started to play it much more fully live (though still part of a medley). (See below.)
"Billie Jean" is of course the famous Michael Jackson song, from his album Thriller.
On the Midnite Vultures tour, during the bridge in the middle of "Nicotine & Gravy," Justin Meldal-Johnsen would drop that strutting bassline in there. Most of the time, Beck did not sing any of the song, but I have heard a few shows where Beck did sing a little of the song.
Also, many have noted the similarity between the bassline on Jackson's song and that of "Scarecrow."
UPDATE: In 2013, Beck started to play it much more fully live (though still part of a medley). (See below.)
Live:
Played live 50 times:
Earliest known live version: April 26, 2000
Latest known live version: July 15, 2018
Not really sure when this first popped up into "Nicotine & Gravy," but probably sometime around May 2000 and it would continue throughout the Midnite Vultures tour.
Then, 13 years later, in 2013, Beck started playing "Billie Jean" as a fairly regular part of his set! It was most often done as a medley with "Sissyneck." "Sissyneck" would start it off, then the riff would slowly groove into "Billie Jean," then after that, they would go back to "Sissyneck." (A few times, some other songs were included too.) These jams were pretty fun, and very well-received.
Played live 50 times:
April 26, 2000
April 28, 2000
May 31, 2000
August 22, 2000
June 26, 2001
June 29, 2001
July 1, 2001
July 2, 2013
July 6, 2013
July 7, 2013
...and 40 more.
April 28, 2000
May 31, 2000
August 22, 2000
June 26, 2001
June 29, 2001
July 1, 2001
July 2, 2013
July 6, 2013
July 7, 2013
...and 40 more.
Earliest known live version: April 26, 2000
Latest known live version: July 15, 2018
Not really sure when this first popped up into "Nicotine & Gravy," but probably sometime around May 2000 and it would continue throughout the Midnite Vultures tour.
Then, 13 years later, in 2013, Beck started playing "Billie Jean" as a fairly regular part of his set! It was most often done as a medley with "Sissyneck." "Sissyneck" would start it off, then the riff would slowly groove into "Billie Jean," then after that, they would go back to "Sissyneck." (A few times, some other songs were included too.) These jams were pretty fun, and very well-received.