"Buffalo Bill" is an unreleased song by Michael Jackson intended for both the Victory and Bad albums.
Background[]
"Buffalo Bill" was the first time that Michael collaborated with John Barnes. It was recorded in 1983 at Soundcastle Studios for the Victory album, although it didn't make the cut.[1] The song was also revisited at Hayvenhurst for the Bad album, although it didn't make the final selection either.[2] Bill Bottrell remembered working on a "Matt Forger basic track" upon his arrival for Bad. Barnes decribed it as a mid-tempo dance track while Bruce Swedien said it had "a big symphonic opening and a charming melody”.
In an unauthorized interview from 1983, Jackson stated his excitement over the track and claimed it'd be a hit.
| “ | It's about Will Cody (the cowboy) and how he died. I'm really excited about it because- I really hate to say it, but I know it's going to be a hit. I really feel strong about it. | ” |
–Michael Jackson for an unauthorized interview, 1983[3] | ||
| “ | “Buffalo Bill” is great but we haven’t completely finished it yet. I love it and would love to help finish it. "Buffalo Bill", like several other songs, is a sample from Victory and was considered for inclusion on Bad. “Buffalo Bill” is one of the first full songs I composed for and with Michael." | ” |
–John Barnes, Facebook, 2016 | ||
| “ | No B.B. during Dangerous. It was worked on very early in Hayvenhurst sessions. Maybe even earlier. Victory perhaps. | ” |
–Bill Bottrell, X, 2024 | ||
| “ | I worked on B.B. early during Hayvenhurst. It was a Matt Forger basic track. Stop reading estate carelessness. They get stuff from old track sheets or tape boxes, and never consult the actual people who were there. | ” |
–Bill Bottrell, X, 2024 | ||
Lyrics[]
In a now-deleted April 2024 tweet from Bill Bottrell, he posted a couple of lyrics he remembers from the song.[4]
[Chorus]
Who shot Buffalo Bill?
They said he shot a lot
Did he ever get killed?
References[]
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3kWYenDmEc
- ↑ https://books.google.pl/books?id=9fR8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA444&lpg=PA444&dq=Jackson+wrote+and+recorded+%E2%80%9CTurning+Me+Off%E2%80%9D+during+the+Hayvenhurst+sessions+in+early+1986.+He+worked&source=bl&ots=4YJ8RykQDv&sig=ACfU3U2sR_ud9A6t-hgohcD5i_sVc2L8ZQ&hl=pl&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjHpZi865D_AhUvAxAIHaUNAIgQ6AF6BAg-EAI#v=onepage&q=buffalo&f=false
- ↑ https://youtu.be/o5WcH6o-sBo?t=566
- ↑ https://www.mjjcommunity.com/threads/lets-end-the-confusion-about-mjs-unreleased-tracks-here.144361/post-4668832