
Michael Jackson, also known as MJ, was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He wrote and produced the song Muscles, which was an international success, reaching the number one spot in several countries. The song was composed and performed by Jackson and Paul McCartney and released in 1983. It was written for singer Diana Ross and her desire for a muscular lover. The song's lyrics and music video led to speculation about Jackson's sexuality, with some interpreting it as a means for Jackson to express his gayness. However, others dismissed this notion, highlighting that Jackson also wrote songs with female love interests.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song | Muscles |
| Singer | Diana Ross |
| Writer | Michael Jackson |
| Producer | Michael Jackson |
| Co-composer | Paul McCartney |
| Year of release | 1983 |
| Chart positions | Reached the tenth spot on the Billboard Hot 100, fourth on the Billboard Soul chart, and number one in the USA, Canada, Norway, Sweden, and several other countries |
| Lyrics | About a guy who is unhappy with his unrequited love, pleading with and belittling the girl who broke his heart |
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What You'll Learn

Muscles was written by MJ for Diana Ross
Michael Jackson, also known as MJ, was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He rose to fame in the 1970s as part of the Jackson 5, alongside his four brothers. In the mid-1980s and 1990s, he solidified his status as one of the most iconic figures in music. MJ wrote and produced the song "Muscles," which was recorded and released by Diana Ross in 1983. The song is about a man who is unhappy with unrequited love and pleads with the girl who broke his heart. It is rumored that the song may have been written about Ross' desire for a muscular lover, hence the title "Muscles." The song was an international success, reaching the number-one spot in several countries, including the USA, Canada, Norway, and Sweden. It also charted within the top 10 in over 20 nations.
The music video for "Muscles" featured Ross dreaming of muscular men, with one scene showing her floating over a landscape that turns out to be a musclebound man's body. The video also marked one of the first media appearances of Gil Birmingham, who would go on to appear in The Twilight Saga film series. While MJ wrote and produced the song, the composition and performance were a collaboration between MJ and Paul McCartney.
MJ was known for his generosity in helping other artists by writing songs for them. He wrote songs for various people, including his family members, and was the main lyricist on many tracks. He was able to write more than 150 songs on his own and is considered a great songwriter. When asked about his songwriting process, MJ replied that he could hear the songs in his head, much like classical composer Mozart.
While "Muscles" sparked some controversy due to perceived gay innuendos, it is important to note that MJ adapted his lyrics to market the song, and the songwriter's personal feelings may not always be reflected in their art.
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The song was about a guy unhappy with unrequited love
Michael Jackson, also known as MJ, was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He was born on 29 August 1958 and became one of the most iconic figures in the music industry, especially in the mid-1980s and 1990s. MJ wrote and produced the song "Muscles," which was recorded and released by Diana Ross in 1983. The song is about a guy who is unhappy and heartbroken due to unrequited love. It portrays a man pleading and belittling the girl who broke his heart, possibly indicating that he sees women as inescapable traps.
The song reached the tenth spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and the fourth spot on the Billboard Soul chart. It also achieved international success, reaching number one in several countries, including the USA, Canada, Norway, and Sweden. The song's success can be attributed to its catchy rhythm and lyrics, which many fans assume are a reflection of the songwriter's personal feelings. However, it's important to remember that songwriters often adapt their lyrics to market their songs and may not always express their true emotions.
The music video for "Muscles" featured Diana Ross dreaming of muscular men, with a young Gil Birmingham making an early media appearance. The song has been sampled by various artists, including Victoria Beckham for her unreleased song "He's My Lover" and Lil' Kim for her rap "Diamonds."
MJ was a talented songwriter who wrote more than 150 songs during his career. He was known to be generous with his songwriting skills, often helping other artists. MJ's songs, such as "Billie Jean" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", have left an impact on the music industry that will not be forgotten.
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Muscles was MJ's composition with Paul McCartney
Michael Jackson, popularly known as MJ, was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He was born on 29 August 1958 and became one of the most iconic figures in the music industry, especially in the mid-1980s and 1990s. MJ was a member of the Jackson 5 in the 1970s, along with his four brothers, and they produced four consecutive number-one pop hits. As a solo artist, he wrote more than 150 songs, including the critically acclaimed "Billie Jean".
"Muscles" is a song written and produced by MJ and Paul McCartney. It was composed and performed by the duo and released in 1983. The song is about a man who is unhappy due to unrequited love, and it reached the tenth spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was an international success, reaching the number-one spot in several countries, including the USA, Canada, Norway, and Sweden.
The song was written for singer Diana Ross, who wanted to sing about her desire for a muscular lover. The music video for "Muscles" featured Ross dreaming of muscular men, with a young Gil Birmingham making an early media appearance. The song's lyrics have been the subject of much discussion, with some interpreting them as gay innuendos, while others believe MJ was simply adapting the lyrics to market the song.
MJ's songwriting process was unique; he claimed that he could hear the songs in his head, much like the classical composer Mozart. This process allowed him to write a vast number of songs and contribute significantly to the music industry.
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MJ wrote and produced the song
Michael Jackson, popularly known as MJ, is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He is one of the most iconic figures in the music industry, especially in the mid-80s and 90s. MJ was born on 29 August 1958 and came from a family of talented musicians. He and his four brothers were known as the Jackson 5 in the 1970s and rose to fame with four consecutive number-one pop hits.
The lyrics of "Muscles" are about a guy who is unhappy with unrequited love and pleads with the girl who broke his heart. The song sparked controversy due to its supposed "gay innuendos," with some speculating that MJ was expressing his own sexuality through the lyrics. However, others argue that MJ's primary goal as a songwriter was to market the song, and he adapted the lyrics accordingly.
MJ was a prolific songwriter, writing more than 150 songs on his own. He was known for his generosity in helping other artists by writing songs for them. "Muscles" is just one example of MJ's songwriting talent and his ability to create successful songs that resonate with audiences worldwide.
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The song reached the 10th spot on the Billboard Hot 100
Michael Jackson, also known as MJ, was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He wrote and produced the song "Muscles", which was recorded and released by Diana Ross in 1983. The song was an international success, reaching the top 10 spot in more than 20 nations and peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number 4 on the Billboard Soul chart.
"Muscles" was composed and performed by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. The song is about a man who is unhappy with unrequited love and pleads with the girl who broke his heart. The song's lyrics and music video sparked speculation about Jackson's sexuality, with some interpreting the song as a way for Jackson to express his attraction to men. However, others dismissed this idea, claiming that Jackson was simply adapting the lyrics to market the song.
The song's success can be attributed to its catchy rhythm and memorable lyrics, as well as the talented performers involved in its creation. Jackson was a highly skilled songwriter, having written more than 150 songs on his own. He was also a generous collaborator, often writing songs for other artists. "Muscles" was written for Diana Ross, who wanted a song about her desire for a muscular lover.
The song's music video added to its popularity, featuring Ross dreaming of muscular men and floating through the air over a musclebound man's body. Despite the song's success, some critics found the lyrics unusual or even "bad". The song's legacy is complex, with some focusing on its musical achievements, while others continue to debate the meaning of its lyrics and their reflection on Jackson's personal life.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Michael Jackson wrote and produced the song 'Muscles', which was composed and performed by him and Paul McCartney.
The song was written for singer Diana Ross, who wanted a song about a muscular lover. It was also written for Ross by Jackson because he assumed that all women like athletic, muscular men.
Yes, the song was an international success, reaching the number one spot in the USA, Canada, Norway, Sweden, and several other countries. It also reached the number two spot in the United Kingdom and earned a top 10 spot in more than 20 nations.










































