Fans Lose It Over Olympic Figure Skating Duo’s Jaw-Dropping Routine Set to Haunting Acoustic “Billie Jean” Cover

The Winter Olympics don’t always command the same buzz as their summer counterpart, but that narrative shifted dramatically at the 2010 Vancouver Games. Figure skaters Meryl Davis and Charlie White helped put the spotlight firmly back on the ice when they captured a silver medal with a mesmerizing routine set to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” leaving audiences around the globe stunned by their precision, chemistry, and emotional depth.

Since being uploaded online eight years ago, the performance has surged past 1.7 million views on YouTube—and it’s easy to see why. Viewers continue to return to the clip, drawn in by the duo’s intensity and the unmistakable atmosphere they create. Music Man readers can watch the unforgettable routine unfold in the viral video below…

This is far from a typical Michael Jackson tribute on ice. Rather than skating to the familiar pop-driven original, the pair chose David Cook’s stripped-down, acoustic reinterpretation of “Billie Jean,” transforming the song into something ethereal and emotionally charged. Cook’s airy, expressive vocals layered over gentle guitar lines give the routine a cinematic quality as Meryl and Charlie move like star-crossed lovers across the rink, executing dizzying spins and daring lifts that could make even Strictly Come Dancing professionals pause.

Every second of the performance is steeped in drama and sensuality. Each glide, lift, and turn feels purposeful, telling its own quiet story as the crowd erupts with cheers and applause. The pair float apart and reconnect seamlessly, teasing and responding to one another through movement, all while maintaining extraordinary balance, trust, and control in every striking pose they create.

Be sure to catch the moments when Charlie races across the ice at full speed without missing a beat, drops effortlessly to his knees mid-glide, or hoists Meryl into breathtaking positions that look perilous even off the rink. The ease with which they pull off these moves only adds to the awe.

As impressive as the skating itself may be, many viewers agree that David Cook’s reworking of the song nearly steals the spotlight. He dismantles the 1983 hit and rebuilds it into a soaring power ballad, reshaping the familiar rhythm into something deeper and more dramatic—some even argue it eclipses the original. By the final chorus, his blues-tinged vocals reach a show-stopping peak, delivering a moment that lingers long after the music fades.

Fans continue to rave about the routine, with one popular commenter joking, “Hi, my name is Charlie White. I’m going to casually do a flawless routine wearing jeans and a belt,” while another noted, “Out of all the figure skating performances I’ve seen, these two are always the most creative.”

Still, longtime supporters were left with a bittersweet feeling when the duo eventually retired from competitive ice dancing seven years after Vancouver. One emotional fan wrote, “I miss them so much. They were incredible artists with unmatched work ethic and sportsmanship. Their Olympic gold was so deserved. I don’t think I’ll ever love another ice dance team the way I love them.”