The 1983 hit - which was taken from the world's best selling album Thriller - beat Donna Summer's I Feel Love to the top spot in a poll by listeners to BBC Radio 2.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the second summer of love, voters rated James Brown's Get Up as the third best dance tune, with Stings of Life by Rhythim Is Rhythim and Where Love Lives by Alison Limerick making the top five.
Zoe Ball says: "I'm delighted that Billie Jean has been voted the greatest dance record ever made. This is Jackson at his best.
"I can remember hearing this at the Boutique [in Brighton] and the place would go crazy."
The Billie Jean single sold over five million copies worldwide and contributed to the immense success of the Thriller album.
























Discuss this news