She's Trouble
{{short description|1984 single by Musical Youth, originally recorded by Michael Jackson}}
{{Infobox song
| name = She's Trouble
| cover =
| alt =
| type = Song
| artist = Michael Jackson
| album = Thriller 40
| B-side =
| released = {{Start date|2022|11|18}}
| recorded = 1981
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 4:13
| label = Epic
| writer =
- Billy Livsey
- Terry Britten
- Sue Shifrin
| producer = Quincy Jones
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
"She's Trouble", also known as "Trouble", is a song by Michael Jackson, recorded in 1981 and originally written for his Thriller LP.{{sfn|Halstead|2007|p=1}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HrsDAAAAMBAJ&q=%22michael+jackson%22+deposition+mexico&pg=PA54|title=Michael Jackson tries to keep career from crumbling as he fights addiction to painkiller drugs and charges of child molestation|last=Collier|first=Aldore|publisher=Jet|access-date=March 12, 2017|date=1993-12-06}} However, Jackson's original version was an outtake and therefore not released, either as a single or an album cut.{{cite book|last=Halstead|first=Craig|title=Michael Jackson: For the Record|publisher=Authors OnLine|year=2007|isbn=978-0-7552-0267-6}} Two versions of Jackson's demo leaked online, a rough vocal version and a final version in low quality. On November 18, 2022, Jackson's version was released on Thriller 40.{{Cite web |title=Michael Jackson Thriller 40 - She's Trouble |url=https://www.michaeljackson.com/news/michael-jackson-thriller-40-shes-trouble/ |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=Michael Jackson Official Site |language=en-US}}
{{clear}}
Musical Youth version
{{Infobox song
| name = She's Trouble
| cover = She's Trouble - Musical Youth.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Musical Youth
| album = Different Style!
| B-side =
- "Yard Stylee" (US)
- "Tell Jack" (UK)
| released = November 1983 (US)
| recorded = 1981
| studio =
| genre =
- Reggae
- pop rock{{Cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/musical-youth-mn0000935413 | title=Musical Youth | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links| website=AllMusic}}
| length = 3:06
| label = MCA
| writer =
- Billy Livsey
- Terry Britten
- Sue Shifrin
| producer = Peter Collins
| prev_title = Sixteen
| prev_year = 1983
| next_title = Whatcha Talking 'Bout
| next_year = 1984
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|WaGJx11Z9Io|"She's Trouble"}}}}
}}
In 1983, the song was recorded by British reggae band Musical Youth (although Jackson is not credited).Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}[http://song-database.com/artist.php?aid=1942] {{dead link|date=May 2023}} Musical Youth's rendition of the song was released as a single in November, reaching number 65 on the US Billboard Hot 100, their second and last single to chart, after "Pass the Dutchie", which reached number 10 in early 1983, and number 56 on Cash Box in early 1984.{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/19840218.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 18, 1984 |access-date=March 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601184430/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/19840218.html |archive-date=June 1, 2015 |url-status=dead }} It also charted in Canada, peaking at number 43.[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4430&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4430.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4430 RPM 50 Singles, January 21, 1984] On the US R&B chart, "She's Trouble" reached number 25.{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs/|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|website=Billboard.com|date=2 January 2013|access-date=27 May 2023}}
In the UK, where "She's Trouble" wasn't released until May 1984, it charted very minorly. It was the third of five singles released from their album Different Style! in the UK, the first four of which charted. It was the only charting single from the album in North America.
= Reception =
Reviewing for Record Mirror, Jennet Dainty described "She's Trouble" as a "polished, well produced piece from the kids, who don't sound at all youth-ish on this single. Danceable, sing-along-able stuff that's a sure indication that the band have moved out of the nursery and are no longer going to irritate the punters with their high pitched squeaking".{{cite journal |date=12 May 1984 |title=Singles |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/84/Record-Mirror-1984-05-12-OCR.pdf |journal=Record Mirror |page=19 |access-date=19 March 2022}} For Number One, Maureen Rice wrote that "Musical Youth were in sore need of something more than youth, novelty and enthusiasm if they were to sustain their appeal. Here it is. More disco than dub and more polish than spit, this is very smooth and very danceable".{{cite journal |date=5 May 1984 |title=Singles |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/48511633936/in/album-72157710239415961/ |journal=Number One |page=36 |access-date=19 March 2022 |via=flickr.com}}
= Track listings =
7": MCA / MCA-52312 (US)
- "She's Trouble" – 3:06
- "Yard Stylee" – 3:39
7": MCA / YOU 8 (UK)
- "She's Trouble" (Special New Mix) – 3:15
- "Tell Jack" – 3:20
12": MCA / MCA-13986 (US)
- "She's Trouble" (Extended Version) – 4:28
- "She's Trouble" – 3:06
- "Sixteen" – 3:49
12": MCA / YOUT 8 (UK)
- "She's Trouble" (Special Extended Mix) – 7:45
- "Tell Jack" (Extended Mix) – 5:45
=Charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Chart performance for "She's Trouble" !scope="col"|Chart (1984) !scope="col"|Peak |
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|43|chartid=4430|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|87|artist=Musical Youth|artistid=19782|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|65|artist=Musical Youth|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|25|artist=Musical Youth|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100
|56 |
|---|
Other cover versions
The song was also covered by Scott Baio, released on his second album The Boys Are Out Tonight in May/June 1983{{cite magazine |date=11 June 1983 |title=New LP/Tape Releases |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-06-11.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=27 |access-date=19 March 2022}} and by Michael Lovesmith on his debut album I Can Make It Happen released in June 1983.{{cite magazine |date=2 July 1983 |title=New LP/Tape Releases |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-07-02.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=27 |access-date=19 March 2022}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/Musical-Youth-Shes-Trouble/release/1202986 | title=Musical Youth - She's Trouble| website=Discogs}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Thriller (album)}}
{{Michael Jackson songs}}
{{Musical Youth}}
Category:Michael Jackson songs
Category:Songs written by Billy Livsey
Category:Songs written by Terry Britten
Category:Song recordings produced by Quincy Jones
Category:Song recordings produced by Peter Collins (record producer)