Michael Jackson – Beat It (Remix Stems)
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“Beat It” is a song written and performed by American singer Michael Jackson from his sixth solo album, Thriller (1982). The song was produced by Quincy Jones together with Jackson. Following the successful chart performances of the Thriller singles “The Girl Is Mine” and “Billie Jean”, “Beat It” was released on February 14, 1983 as the album’s third single. The song is also notable for its famous video, which featured Jackson bringing two gangs together through the power of music and dance, and for Eddie Van Halen’s guitar solo.
“Beat It” received the 1984 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, as well as two American Music Awards. It was inducted into the Music Video Producers Hall of Fame. The single, along with its music video, helped propel Thriller into becoming the best-selling album of all time. The single was certified platinum in the United States in 1989. Rolling Stone placed “Beat It” on the 344th spot of its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. The song was also ranked number 81 on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time”.
In the decades since its release, “Beat It” has been covered, parodied, and sampled by numerous artists including Fall Out Boy, Fergie, and “Weird Al” Yankovic. The song was also featured in the National Highway Safety Commission’s anti-drunk driving campaign.
“Beat It” was composed by Michael Jackson for his Thriller album. Producer Quincy Jones had wanted to include a rock and roll song in the vein of the Knack’s “My Sharona”, though Jackson reportedly had never previously shown an interest in the genre.Jackson later said of “Beat It”, “I wanted to write a song, the type of song that I would buy if I were to buy a rock song… That is how I approached it and I wanted the children to really enjoy it—the school children as well as the college students.”
The song is played in the key of E ♭ minor at a moderately fast tempo of 138–139 beats per minute.In the song, Jackson’s vocal range is B3 to D5.
Upon hearing the first recorded vocals, Jones stated that it was exactly what he was looking for.The song begins with seven distinct synthesizer notes played on the Synclavier digital synthesizer, with Tom Bahler credited for the Synclavier performance on the song. The intro is taken note for note from a demo LP released the year before, called “The Incredible Sounds of Synclavier II” first published in 1981 by Denny Jaeger Creative Services, Inc and sold by New England Digital, makers of the Synclavier.
Drums on the song were played by Toto co-founder Jeff Porcaro.
Jermaine Jackson has suggested the inspiration of “Beat It” and its video came from the Jackson family experiencing gang activity in Gary, Indiana. “From our front window, we witnessed, about three bad rumbles between rival gangs.”The lyrics of “Beat It” 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 referring to the childhood abuse he faced at the hands of his father Joseph.
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
They told him, “Don’t you ever come around here
Don’t wanna see your face, you better disappear”
The fire’s in their eyes and their words are really clear
So beat it, just beat it
You better run, you better do what you can
Don’t wanna see no blood, don’t be a macho man
You wanna be tough, better do what you can
So beat it, but you wanna be bad
[Hook]
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 uuh)
[Verse 2]
They’re out to get you, better leave while you can
Don’t wanna be a boy, you wanna be a man
You wanna stay alive, better do what you can
So beat it, just beat it
You have to show them that you’re really not scared
You’re playin’ with your life, this ain’t no truth or dare
They’ll kick you, then they’ll beat you then they’ll tell you it’s fair
So beat it, but you wanna be bad
[Hook]
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, 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)
Beat it (beat it)
Beat it (beat it)
Beat it (beat it)
Beat it (beat it)
[Guitar solo]
[Hook]
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, 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, 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, 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)
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