Synopsis

Michael Jackson sits alone on a stool in a dark, nearly empty room, illuminated by a single spotlight. He performs the ballad with restrained gestures and an intensely emotional expression, keeping the focus on the song's sense of loss and regret. As the performance develops, the video uses a split-screen image to show Jackson from two angles at once, emphasizing both his isolation and the raw vulnerability of his vocal delivery.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was released in 1980 as the third and final music video associated with Jackson's album "Off the Wall."

• Its stripped-down presentation contrasts with the elaborate choreography and visual spectacle that later became closely associated with Jackson's music videos.

• A split-screen technique appears during the second and third verses, showing Jackson from two different perspectives simultaneously.

• The song was written by Tom Bahler and produced by Quincy Jones. Jones had reportedly considered saving it for Frank Sinatra before choosing it for Jackson.

• Jackson's vocal performance became closely linked with the song's emotional impact. During the recording sessions, he was known to become tearful while singing the final line.