Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney, The Girl Is Mine | Dazzling Duets

In the first edition of Dazzling Duets (2025), Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney collaborate on “The Girl Is Mine.”

Sometimes, two is better than one! That is the case when it comes to Dazzling Duets! On Dazzling Duets, we highlight ear-catching songs performed by two artists collaborating. These duets can be from any musical style, making Dazzling Duets a flexible, versatile column on The Musical Hype. In the first edition of Dazzling Duets (2025), Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney collaborate on “The Girl Is Mine.” Let the dazzle begin!

“The girl is mine / The doggone girl is mine,” Michael Jackson (1958 – 2009), the King of Pop, sings in the chorus of one of his greatest songs, “The Girl Is Mine”. He continues, singing to his legendary duet partner, Paul McCartney (1942 – ), “I know she’s mine / Because the doggone girl is mine.” “The Girl Is Mine” is the third track from Jackson’s 1982, diamond-certified, blockbuster, Grammy-winning, tour de force, Thriller. Jackson wrote the gem while the legendary Quincy Jones (1933 – 2024) produced it. Another huge hit for MJ, “The Girl Is Mine” peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Notably, a year later, another Michael/Paul duet, “Say Say Say”, materialized from McCartney’s 1983 album, Pipes Of Peace. Refocusing on “The Girl Is Mine,” it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2022.

The sound of “The Girl Is Mine” is nothing short of celestial. The smooth, sophisticated production work and arrangement exemplify the 1980s R&B and Pop sound. Some of the highlights of the instrumentation and ear-catching sounds include cool, rhythmic guitars, colorful keys, and soaring strings. This is the perfect blend of acoustic and electronic instruments/programming.  The stars of the show, however, are Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. Jackson brings the heat with his expressive, nuanced vocals.  His tone is heaven-sent – angelic –  as he stakes his claim to this girl: “Every night, she walks right in my dreams / Since I met her from the start / I’m so proud I am the only one / Who is special in her heart.” McCartney complements Jackson perfectly. Their vocal contrast is part of the charm. Like Jackson, McCartney sings buttery smooth: “I don’t understand the way you think / Saying that she’s yours, not mine…” McCartney sings the chorus following his verse.

On the bridge, they trade lines, as well as together in select moments. Jackson hits the biggest, most high-powered moment, flaunting his upper register: “But we both cannot have her / So, it’s one or the other / And one day, you’ll discover / That she’s my girl forever and ever.” Paul McCartney and Jackson then split the final verse, with Jackson singing the tuneful chorus alone. A key change arrives near the end of the song. There is an unforgettable spoken word interlude/skit between Jackson and McCartney before the outro. “Michael, we’re not going to fight about this, okay?” Paul says, with Michael responding, “Ha, ha, Paul, I think I told you I’m a lover, not a fighter.” Cute!  In the outro of “The Girl Is Mine”, one of the sweetest ballads of the 1980s, both superstars continue to assert this girl is theirs (“No, she’s mine”).  This duet NEVER grows old.  The musicianship is top-notch.