'Billie Jean' Trivia: What You May Not Know About One Of Pop's Most Famous Songs

It's one of the most recognizable songs in pop history, but are there facts about Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" that the average listener doesn't know?

In a word, yes: NME has published a list of 30 lesser-known tidbits about the mega-single . The whole article is certainly worth a read, but here are five pieces of "Billie Jean" trivia we found most surprising:

1. Quincy Jones hated the song's bassline.

2. Jones also didn't want the song to appear on "Thriller."

3. Jackson recorded the song by singing into a six-foot cardboard tube.

4. He only needed one take to record the vocals for the track.

5."Billie Jean" was mixed down 91 times before it hit the airwaves.

Rolling Stone placed "Billie Jean" at No. 58 on its list of the 500 Best Songs of All Time . The single also earned Jackson two of his record eight Grammys at the 1984 awards.

What "Billie Jean" facts did we miss? Share your favorite Michael Jackson trivia in the comments below. For more, head over to NME .