Say Say Say

Exactly 30 years ago, the duet “Say Say Say” featuring Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson was in the midst of its fifth week of a six-week run at the top of Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart.  For McCartney, it was the second time in less than two years that he topped the Hot 100 for an extended stay with another pop music superstar.  In May and June of 1982, McCartney spent seven weeks at number 1 alongside Stevie Wonder with “Ebony and Ivory.”  For Jackson, “Say Say Say” appropriately punctuated the end of a dominant year on the Hot 100.  In 1983, Jackson scored three number one singles and occupied the number 1 position for 17 weeks.

“Say Say Say” wasn’t the duo’s only successful collaboration.  They also hit number 2 for three weeks in early 1983 with “The Girl Is Mine,” which appeared on Jackson’s Thriller album.