The chorus refrain, 'Annie, are you OK?', was inspired by Resusci Anne, a dummy used in cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.

The lyrics describe a narrator who finds a bloodstained carpet and an unconscious body. It is in the key of A minor, and Jackson's vocal spans from G 3 to C 6. 'Smooth Criminal' evolved from an earlier song written by Jackson, 'Al Capone' (named after real life gangster Al Capone), released on the 2012 reissue Bad 25. Rolling Stone ranked the song sixth on their list of the 50 Best Michael Jackson Songs, writing that it was 'his best blend of R&B groove and rock edginess, and a turning point in his shift toward darker, harder-edged material'.

'Smooth Criminal' was re-released in 2006 as a single as a part of Jackson's Visionary: The Video Singles boxset. In the video, Jackson and the dancers perform an apparently physically impossible 'anti-gravity lean'. The 1930s influenced setting and Jackson's white suit and fedora pays tribute to the Fred Astaire musical comedy film The Band Wagon. The music video for 'Smooth Criminal', which premiered on MTV on October 13, 1988, is the centerpiece of the 1988 film Moonwalker. It has appeared on numerous greatest hits albums and was performed on all of Jackson's solo tours. Though 'Smooth Criminal' did not reach number-one on the Billboard Hot 100, retrospective reviews have hailed it as one of the best tracks on Bad and one of the best songs of Jackson's entire career. The song reached number one in Belgium, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Spain. It was certified 2x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart. 'Smooth Criminal' peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the sixth top 10 single from Bad. The refrain 'Annie, are you OK?' was inspired by Resusci Anne, a dummy used in cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. Written by Jackson, produced by Jackson and Quincy Jones, and released as the album's seventh single on November 14, 1988, it features lyrics about a woman who has been attacked in her apartment by a 'smooth criminal'. ' Smooth Criminal' is a song by American singer Michael Jackson from his seventh studio album Bad (1987).

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