“Beat It” is a song by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson from his sixth studio album, Thriller (1982). It was written and composed by Jackson, produced by Quincy Jones, and co-produced by Jackson. Jones encouraged Jackson to include a rock song on the album. Jackson later said: “I wanted to write a song, the type of song that I would buy if I were to buy a rock song… and I wanted the children to really enjoy it—the school children as well as the college students.”[6] It includes a guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen.
Following the successful Thriller singles “The Girl Is Mine” and “Billie Jean“, “Beat It” was released on February 21, 1983, as the album’s third single. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, staying there for three weeks.[7] It also charted at number one on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart.[8] Billboard ranked the song No. 5 for 1983.[9] It is certified 8× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). “Beat It” was a number one hit in Europe, reaching number one in Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands.[8] With sales of over 10 million worldwide, Beat It is one of the best selling songs of all time.
The “Beat It” music video, which features Jackson bringing two gangs together through the power of music and dance, helped establish Jackson as an international pop icon.[10] The single, along with its music video, helped make Thriller the best-selling album of all time. “Beat It” has been cited as one of the most successful, recognized, awarded and celebrated songs in the history of popular music; both the song and video had a large impact on pop culture.
“Beat It” won 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. Rolling Stone ranked “Beat It” number 337 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004, and at number 185 in its 2021 update of the list. The magazine also named it the 81st greatest guitar song of all time.[12] It was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame‘s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.
Jackson first worked on a demo version of the song with musicians at his home studio. The drum part was programmed on a drum machine, and the bass line was a combination of electric bass guitar and Bell Labs Digital Synthesizer Synergy keyboard. This hybrid bass style was retained for the main recording session.[14]
Sheet music for the song is in the key of E♭ Minor in standard time, with a moderately fast tempo. Jackson’s vocal range is B♭3 to A♭5.
Upon hearing the first recorded vocals, Jones stated that it was exactly what he was looking for.[11] 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.[16] The drums were played by Toto co-founder Jeff Porcaro.[17] Steve Porcaro and Steve Lukather, also Toto members, participate with synthesizers, and guitar and bass guitar respectively.
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.”[18] The lyrics of “Beat It” have been described as a “sad commentary on human nature”.[19] The line “don’t be a macho man” is said to express Jackson’s dislike of violence, while also referring to the childhood abuse he faced at the hands of his father Joseph.
