THRILLER 25-Beat It

BEAT IT

written by Michael Jackson


"Beat It" featured a legendary guitar solo, inspired by the song "Eruption" by Eddie Van Halen. Eddie was called by Quincy Jones to
guest on the song, but at first, Van Halen thought someone was prank calling him, before establishing proper communication
with Jones and recorded his part completely free of charge.

"I did it as a favor" said Van Halen, "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.


Michael and Quincy took a skeleton version of the song to Eddie's home because they wanted him to solo
over the verse section. Quincy thought it was too rough so Steve Lukather, who also worked on the song, reduced
the distorted guitar sound.

It was the third single from "Thriller", following "Billie Jean". Frank Dileo, who as VP at Epic Records at the time
and who would go on to become Michael's manager, convinced everyone that Beat It should be released
whilst Billie Jean was still heading toward the #1 spot, and predicted both singles would be in the top 10 at the
same time.

On the Billboard Hot 100, Billie Jean was replaced by Dexy Midnight Runners' "Come On Eileen", which spent
a lone week at #1 before Michael reclaimed the top spot with "Beat It". Both singles occupied Top 5 positions
a feat only matched by the Bee Gees, Olivia Newton-John, Linda Ronstadt, and Donna Summers in the
1970s. Beat It was #1 on the Hot 100 for three weeks and the R&B chart for one week and peaked at #3 in the UK.


The short film, directed by Bob Giraldi, financed to the price of $140,000 by Michael himself when CBS got cold feet. The film was
shot in in East Los Angeles. One incident during the filming was a stabbing that occured just above Michael when he was
walking through the restaurant.
The cast included 18 professional dancers and four break dancers, choreographed by Michael Peters, and real life
gang members from the Crips and Bloods.

Rolling Stone voted it the #1 video in both Critics and Reader's Poll and later inducted into the Music
Video Producer's Hall of Fame.

Featured in the National Highwa Safety Commission's anti-drunk driving campaign in the United States and included on the
accompanying NHSC promo album. Michael was given a special award from President Ronald Reagan at the White House
for his support of the campaign.

Eddie joined The Jacksons on stage to perform Beat It during the Jacksons' Victory Tour on July 4, 1984 in Dallas.

Ranked #4 "World's Favorite Song" by UK coters in Sony Ericsson's global poll in 2005.

Hot 100:#1
R&B:#1
US Single Sales:#1
US Singles Airplay:#1
Canada:#1
UK:#3
Australia:#2
Austria:#6
Belgium:#1
France:#2
Holland:#1
Japan:#35
South Africa:#8
Germany:#2
Ireland:#2
Spain:#1

The single sold 4,250,000 copies

It's obvious that Mike should have stoped plastic surgery in 1983, in 1984 he really starts to look weird, his nose is too thin, and he looks overall un-natural.

And I still don't know what kind of thing he has done to change his eyes, Marlon has done the same thing too.

Part 2 will be on The Girl Is Mine. The most boring song on the LP, I know but I'm going in the order how the singles were released:

The Girl Is Mine
Billie Jean
Beat It
Wanna Be Startin Somethin
Human Nature
P.Y.T.
Thriller
Baby Be Mine(A side in some areas)
The Lady In My Life
The Victory Tour and Michaelmania '83-84

It's obvious that Mike should have stoped plastic surgery in 1983, in 1984 he really starts to look weird, his nose is too thin, and he looks overall un-natural.

And I still don't know what kind of thing he has done to change his eyes, Marlon has done the same thing too.

this is the greatest thread evr!!!!!

Next up is "Baby Be Mine"

then

"The Lady In My Life"
"Michaelmania '83-84 and the Victory Tour"

then I'll be starting on "Bad 20"


and THAT'S IT

bboy87 said:

Where is the "Goin' Places" 30 Anniversary love at.

How about Marlon "Baby Tonight" 20 Ann thread.

I remember when Thriller started blowing up, my mother was amazed because the album had been out for so long. IIRC, the first single I heard on the radio was, "The Girl Is Mine." Michael's onstage talent and MTV sent the album into hyperspace.

THRILLER 25.2- THE VAULT


-Behind The Mask
*written by Chris Mosdell and Ryuichi Sakamoto with additional lyrics by Michael
The original instrumental with choral background was recorded by the Yellow Magic Orchestra for the 1979 album "Solid State
Survivor"
Quincy Jones heard it, brought it to Michael's attention, who recorded it, added an extra melody line, and extra lyrics
Issues with royalties prevented the song from making the cut

-Carousel
*written by Michael Sembello
The song was originally included on the album until "Human Nature" replaced it.
Was later released on the 2001 Special Edition of Thriller, but was edited to nearly 2 minutes. Michael's original version
can be easily found online. Michael Sembello's version(including extra lyrics) can be heard on his official site.

-Fantasy
*written by Michael Jackson

-Got The Hots
*written by Michael with Quincy Jones
was to be included on the 2001 Special Edition of Thriller. Some fans were given copies of the first acetate by Sony, but
have not shared it:(

-Hot Street
*written by Rod Temperton
Quincy and Rod felt it wasn't strong enough although Michael liked the song.

-Slapstick
*the original version of Hot Street

-Learned My Lesson
*written by Michael in 1981. Two versions exist

-Love Never Felt So Good
*written by Michael with Paul Anka and Kathy Wakefield. Later recorded by Johnny Mathis in 1984

-Much Too Soon
*written by Michael in 1981

-Nightline
*written by Glen Ballard
Even though the song didn't make the album, Ballard would go on to co-write "Man In The Mirror" for 1987's Bad and "Keep
The Faith" for 1991's "Dangerous".
Nightline would later be recorded by the Pointer Sisters for the ORIGINAL pressing for their 1983 LP "Breakout"(replaced by
I'm So Excited"
also recorded by Randy Crawford

-Nymphette Lover
*written by Michael in 1981

-Rolling The Dice
*written by Michael in 1982

-Saved By The Bell
written by Michael and Jermaine Jackson for either Thriller, Dynamite, or the Victory album.

-She's Not A Girl
*written by Michael in 1982

-She's Trouble
*written by Terry Britten, Bill Livsey and Sue Shifrin
later recorded by Scott Baio for his 1983 LP "The Boys Are Out Tonight" and by Musical Youth for their 1983 LP
"Different Style". The single peaked at #65 on the Hot 100 and #25 on the R&B chart.

-The Sky Is The Limit
*written by Michael and Jermaine

-Starlight
*the original version of "Thriller"

Michael Boddicker was in the studio when Michael, Rod, and Quincy played the song back and began throwing ideas at each other
like changing certain chords to make the song sound darker. A day or so later, it song became what we know as "Thriller"

-What Do You Know
*written by Michael in 1981

namepeace said:

That was the beauty of Thriller, what happened was so unexpected by everyone with the exception of MJ if you believe his predictions. With subsequent albums the expectations were so much more greater by everyone; MJ expected Bad to outsell Thriller so did the record companies and the public. What Michael, the media and the record companie didn't understand at the time is that certain things only happen once in a life time.
[Edited 6/5/07 22:55pm]