 Since its release , " The Girl Is Mine " has received mixed reviews from journalists and music critics . Journalist Robert Christgau described the pairing of McCartney and Jackson as " Michael 's worst idea since " Ben " " . Rolling Stone stated that the song was a " <unk> MOR [ middle of the road ] ballad " and that McCartney was " tame " . Stephen Erlewine of Allmusic noted that the song had a " sweet schmaltz " . Jackson 's breakdown with the " irrepressibly silly Paul McCartney " was " disarmingly goofy " , according to Stylus Magazine . Salon.com later described " The Girl Is Mine " as a " sappy duet " . They concluded that McCartney had become a " wimpy old fart " . The song garnered a favourable review from Jackson 's biographer , J. Randy Taraborrelli . The writer stated that the song was " cute " but lacked substance . He added that the track had a " middle @-@ of @-@ the @-@ road calm " and was the antithesis of the " rambunctious " " Beat It " . 
