10 songs that feel like Smooth Criminal
Matched to Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson on how the music actually moves — intensity, dynamic swing, texture, tempo — not by genre tag. Here's what makes each one a match.
A 99% feel-match — carries the same energetic pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (125 BPM).
99% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Same layered texture.
Keeps the same energetic pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Measured 99% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (120 BPM).
Measures 99% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Same layered texture.
A 99% feel-match — carries the same energetic pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (120 BPM).
99% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Same layered texture.
Keeps the same melancholy pull — lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Measured 99% alike. Nearly the same tempo, too (120 BPM).
Measures 99% the same. It lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Same layered texture.
A 99% feel-match — carries the same melancholy pull and lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Nearly the same tempo, too (120 BPM).
99% match across our 8 measured dimensions; it lands at almost exactly the same energy (60/100). Same layered texture.
…and if you want it calmer
Same feeling, measured gentler — for when Smooth Criminal is more than you want right now.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but it eases off just enough to take the edge off. Intensity 60/100, down from 60. Nearly the same tempo, too.
It measures markedly calmer overall, so it lands at 49/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it measures markedly calmer overall. Reads 49/100. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Holds the same feel while it eases off just enough to take the edge off. 53/100, versus the original's 60. Nearly the same tempo, too.
Keeps the same feel of the original, but it eases off just enough to take the edge off. Intensity 53/100, down from 60. Nearly the same tempo, too.
It measures markedly calmer overall, so it lands at 49/100 — the pull without the edge. Nearly the same tempo, too.
If it's the same feel you're after, this delivers it while it eases off just enough to take the edge off. Reads 54/100.
Holds the same feel while it eases off just enough to take the edge off. 54/100, versus the original's 60.
Frequently asked
What songs sound like “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson?
The closest feel-matches we measure are “Walking on Broken Glass” by Annie Lennox, “This Is a Call” by Foo Fighters, “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” by P!nk — the top match scores 99% alike. Matching is by how the songs actually move (intensity, dynamic range, texture, tempo, predictability, vocal force), not by genre tag or popularity.
What songs are like “Smooth Criminal” but calmer?
“Wish Maker” by Cave In, “Once a Day” by Hard-Fi, “Can't Get Along Without You” by Hard-Fi keep a similar feel while measuring gentler — lower dynamic swing, fewer sudden shifts, or a calmer overall level.
How intense is “Smooth Criminal”?
It measures 60/100 on our intensity scale, computed from a dynamic range of 7/10, layered texture, moderate sudden shifts, and dynamic vocals. Tempo is 118 BPM.
How do you decide which songs are similar?
Every song in our catalog is measured on 8 dimensions — intensity, dynamic range, tempo, sudden changes, texture, predictability, vocal force and fine sound detail. Similarity is the distance between two songs across those measurements, so matches cross genres and eras. Shared mood tags break ties.
By the numbers: how this song compares
Computed from this song’s place among the 19,209 songs we’ve measured.
Where it sits in 19,000 songs
On our 19k-song scale this lands in the middle band — more energetic than 77% of songs, calmer than the other 23%. Its intensity reading of 60/100 comes from a dynamic range of 7/10, layered texture, moderate shifts, and dynamic vocals. Relatively few songs occupy this exact corner of the spectrum.
What makes it unusual
What stands out most about this song is blazing intensity: more extreme on that axis than 77% of everything we've measured. At the far opposite end of the library sit the songs built on near-total stillness — steady volume, no surprises, a slow and unhurried pulse — the kind of track this one is the counterpoint to.
Feels almost identical to
Closest matches by feel across all 19,209 measured songs — not by genre or artist, by how they actually move.
What it’s good for
Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.
1987 in context
The 205 songs we’ve measured from 1987 average a dynamic range of 6.5/10. At 7/10, this track is right in line with its year.
Mixes smoothly with
Within a few BPM and close in feel — they flow without a jarring transition.
The fingerprint
The 8-dimension measurement behind every rating on this page.
Want the single closest match, with every dimension compared?
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