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:Just beat it, beat it
:Just beat it, beat it
:Just beat it, beat it
:Just beat it, beat it
:Just beat it, beat it"|width=33%|source="Beat It", Michael Jackson|align=left}}
:Just beat it, beat it"|width=33%|source="Beat It", Michael Jackson<ref name="lyrics">{{cite web|url=http://www.lyrics007.com/Michael%20Jackson%20Lyrics/Beat%20It%20Lyrics.html|title=Beat It lyrics|language=lyrics007.com|accessdate=March 25, 2009}}</ref>|align=left}}


"Beat It" was written by Michael Jackson for his ''[[Thriller (album)|Thriller]]'' album. Co-producer [[Quincy Jones]] had wanted an ambitious black [[rock 'n' roll]] song, however, Jackson had never previously shown an interest in the genre. Upon hearing the first recorded vocals, Jones stated that it was exactly what he was looking for. [[Rock guitarist]] [[Eddie Van Halen]], frontman of music band [[Van Halen]], was drafted in to add a guitar solo. Upon being telephoned by Jones, requesting that the guitarist participate on the track, Van Halen thought he was receiving a [[prank call]]. Having established that the call was genuine, Van Halen recorded his guitar solo free of any charge. "I did it is a favour", the musician later said. "I was a complete fool, according to the rest of the band, our manager and everyone else. I was not used. I knew what I was doing - I don't do something unless I want to do it." Van Halen recorded his contribution following Jones and Jackson arriving at the guitarist's house with a "skeleton version" of the song. Fellow guitarist [[Steve Lukather]] recalled, "Initially, we rocked it out as Eddie had played a good solo - but Quincy thought it was too tough. So I had to reduce the distorted guitar sound and that is what was released." The song was among the last four completed for ''Thriller''; the others were "[[Human Nature (Michael Jackson song)|Human Nature]]", "[[P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)]]" and "The Lady in My Life".
"Beat It" was written by Michael Jackson for his ''[[Thriller (album)|Thriller]]'' album. Co-producer [[Quincy Jones]] had wanted an ambitious black [[rock 'n' roll]] song, however, Jackson had never previously shown an interest in the genre. Upon hearing the first recorded vocals, Jones stated that it was exactly what he was looking for. [[Rock guitarist]] [[Eddie Van Halen]], frontman of music band [[Van Halen]], was drafted in to add a guitar solo. Upon being telephoned by Jones, requesting that the guitarist participate on the track, Van Halen thought he was receiving a [[prank call]]. Having established that the call was genuine, Van Halen recorded his guitar solo free of any charge. "I did it is a favour", the musician later said. "I was a complete fool, according to the rest of the band, our manager and everyone else. I was not used. I knew what I was doing - I don't do something unless I want to do it." Van Halen recorded his contribution following Jones and Jackson arriving at the guitarist's house with a "skeleton version" of the song. Fellow guitarist [[Steve Lukather]] recalled, "Initially, we rocked it out as Eddie had played a good solo - but Quincy thought it was too tough. So I had to reduce the distorted guitar sound and that is what was released." The song was among the last four completed for ''Thriller''; the others were "[[Human Nature (Michael Jackson song)|Human Nature]]", "[[P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)]]" and "The Lady in My Life".

Revision as of 16:33, 25 March 2009

Production and music

"Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it

No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it"

"Beat It", Michael Jackson[1]

"Beat It" was written by Michael Jackson for his Thriller album. Co-producer Quincy Jones had wanted an ambitious black rock 'n' roll song, however, Jackson had never previously shown an interest in the genre. Upon hearing the first recorded vocals, Jones stated that it was exactly what he was looking for. Rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen, frontman of music band Van Halen, was drafted in to add a guitar solo. Upon being telephoned by Jones, requesting that the guitarist participate on the track, Van Halen thought he was receiving a prank call. Having established that the call was genuine, Van Halen recorded his guitar solo free of any charge. "I did it is a favour", the musician later said. "I was a complete fool, according to the rest of the band, our manager and everyone else. I was not used. I knew what I was doing - I don't do something unless I want to do it." Van Halen recorded his contribution following Jones and Jackson arriving at the guitarist's house with a "skeleton version" of the song. Fellow guitarist Steve Lukather recalled, "Initially, we rocked it out as Eddie had played a good solo - but Quincy thought it was too tough. So I had to reduce the distorted guitar sound and that is what was released." The song was among the last four completed for Thriller; the others were "Human Nature", "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" and "The Lady in My Life".

The lyrics of "Beat It" are about defeat and courage. They have been described as a "sad commentary on human nature". The line "don't be a macho man" is said to express Jackson's dislike of violence, whilst also referencing the childhood abuse he faced at the hands of his father Joseph. Other media sources have jokingly stated that the lyrics are a reference to masturbation.

Release and reception

Music video

Charts

Chart Peak
position
Austrian Singles Chart 6[2]
Danish Singles Chart 31[3]
Dutch Singles Chart 1[4]
French Singles Chart 47[5]
Italian Singles Chart 12[6]
Norwegian Singles Chart 8[7]
Spanish Singles Chart 1[8]
Swedish Singles Chart 19[9]
Swiss Singles Chart 2[10]
UK Singles Chart 3[11]
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 1
U.S. R&B Singles Chart 1

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
April 30, 1983 – May 20, 1983 (3 weeks) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one single
May 21, 1983 - May 27, 1983 (1 week) 		Succeeded by
"Save the Overtime (For Me)" by Gladys Knight and the Pips

Beat It 2008

"Pyrrhus16/workpage"
Song


Reception

Charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
Austrian Singles Chart 65[12]
Swedish Singles Chart 43[13]
Swiss Singles Chart 26[14]

Remix credits

  • Original song written by Jackson
  • Original recording produced by Jones/Jackson
  • Remix drums: will.i.am
  • Remix keyboards and synths: will.i.am
  • Remix engineered by will.i.am and Kerin
  • Remix produced and mixed by will.i.am
  • Remix recorded in November 2007

Cover and sample versions

Fall Out Boy

Background and recording

Release and reception

Music video

Charts

Chart Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart 13[15]
Austrian Singles Chart 75[16]
Dutch Singles Chart 98[17]
New Zealand Singles Chart 14[18]

Credits

  • Written, arranged and composed by Michael Jackson
  • Produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson
  • Lead and background vocals by Michael Jackson
  • Guitar Solo by Eddie Van Halen
  • Guitar by Paul Jackson
  • Electric bass and guitar by Steve Lukather
  • Drums by Jeff Porcaro
  • Drum case beater by Michael Jackson
  • Keyboards by Bill Wolfer
  • Synclavier by Tom Bahler
  • Rhodes and synthesizer by Greg Phillinganes
  • Synthesizer and synthesizer programming by Steve Porcaro
  • Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson
  • Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones
  • Costumes designed by Gordon Clarke

Notes

  1. ^ "Beat It lyrics" (in lyrics007.com). Retrieved March 25, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  2. ^ "Austrian Singles Chart Archives". austriancharts.at. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  3. ^ "Danish Singles Chart Archives". danishcharts.com. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  4. ^ "Dutch Singles Chart Archives". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  5. ^ "French Singles Chart Archives". lescharts.com. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  6. ^ "Italian Singles Chart Archives". italiancharts.com. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  7. ^ "Norwegian Singles Chart Archives". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  8. ^ "Spanish Singles Chart Archives". spanishcharts.com. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  9. ^ "Swedish Singles Chart Archives". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  10. ^ "Swiss Singles Chart Archives". hitparade.ch. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  11. ^ "UK Singles Chart Archives". chartstats.com. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  12. ^ "Beat It 2008 - Austrian Singles Chart Archives". austriancharts.at. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  13. ^ "Beat It 2008 - Swedish Singles Chart Archives". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  14. ^ "Beat It 2008 - Swiss Singles Chart Archives". hitparade.ch. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  15. ^ "Fall Out Boy - Australian Singles Chart Archives". Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  16. ^ "Fall Out Boy - Austrian Singles Chart Archives". austriancharts.at. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  17. ^ "Fall Out Boy - Dutch Singles Chart Archives". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  18. ^ "Fall Out Boy - New Zealand Singles Chart Archives". Retrieved March 24, 2009.

References

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