| "Beat It" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byMichael Jackson | ||||
| from the albumThriller | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | February 21, 1983 | |||
| Recorded | October 1982 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:18 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Songwriter | Michael Jackson | |||
| Producers |
| |||
| Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Beat It" onYouTube | ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 Side-A label of US 7-inch vinyl single | ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
"Beat It" is a song by American singerMichael Jackson from his sixth studio album,Thriller (1982). It was written and composed by Jackson, produced byQuincy Jones, and co-produced by Jackson. Jones encouraged Jackson to include arock song similar to “My Sharona” 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."[8] It includes a guitar solo byEddie Van Halen.
Following the successfulThriller 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 theBillboard Hot 100, staying there for three weeks.[9] It also charted at number one on theBillboard Hot Black Singles chart.[10]Billboard ranked the song No. 5 for 1983.[11] It is certified8× platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "Beat It" was a number one hit in Europe, reaching number one in Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands.[10] With sales of over 10 million worldwide, "Beat It" is one of thebest-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.[12] The single, along with its music video, helped makeThriller thebest-selling album of all time. "Beat It" has been cited as one of the most successful, recognized, awarded and celebrated songs in the history ofpopular music; both the song and video had a large impact onpop culture.[13]
"Beat It" won the 1984Grammy Awards forRecord of the Year andBest Male Rock Vocal Performance, as well as twoAmerican Music Awards. It was inducted into the Music Video Producers Hall of Fame.Rolling Stone ranked "Beat It" number 337 on its list ofThe 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.[14] It was included in theRock and Roll Hall of Fame's500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.[15]
Jackson first worked on a demo version of the song with musicians at his home studio. The drum part was programmed on adrum machine, and the bass line was a combination of electricbass guitar andBell Labs Digital Synthesizer Synergy keyboard. This hybrid bass style was retained for the main recording session.[16]
Sheet music for the song is in the key ofE♭ Minor in standard time, with a moderately fasttempo of 135–140beats per minute. Jackson's vocal range is B♭3 to A♭5.[17]
Upon hearing the first recorded vocals, Jones stated that it was exactly what he was looking for.[13] The song begins with seven distinct synthesizer notes played on theSynclavier digital synthesizer, withTom 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 byNew England Digital, makers of the Synclavier.[18] The drums were played byToto co-founderJeff Porcaro.[19] Steve Porcaro and Steve Lukather, also Toto members, participate with synthesizers, and guitar and bass guitar respectively. Michael's older brother and fellowthe Jacksons bandmate at the timeTito Jackson originally contributed a guitar solo, which was scrapped whenEddie Van Halen was called to perform the solo instead.[20]
Jermaine Jackson has suggested the inspiration of "Beat It" and its video came from the Jackson family experiencing gang activity inGary, Indiana. "From our front window, we witnessed, about three bad rumbles between rival gangs."[21] The lyrics of "Beat It" have been described as a "sad commentary on human nature".[22] 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 fatherJoseph.[23]
Eddie Van Halen, lead guitarist ofhard rock bandVan Halen, was asked to add aguitar solo.[24][25] When initially contacted by Jones, Van Halen thought he was receiving aprank call.[26] Having established that the call was genuine, Van Halen used a rentedMarshall amplifier, set up to use alongside hisFrankenstrat guitar and anEchoplex, then recorded two takes of the solo free of charge.[27][28] "I did it as a favor", 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."[9] Van Halen reported in 2015 that he also helped rearrange the song: they wanted him to solo over the chorus, but he suggested doing the solo over the verse section instead with the chord change underneath, which he felt worked better.[29][28] The edits made based on this, however, interfered with theSMPTE timecode on themultitrack reel needed to synchronise with other multitrack reels for the complete song. Thus, guitaristSteve Lukather and drummerJeff Porcaro had to re-cut the basic tracks of the song to fit around Jackson's lead vocal and the guitar solo with the help of engineerHumberto Gatica.[30] 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."[9]
Right before Van Halen's guitar solo begins, a noise is heard that sounds like somebody knocking at a door. It is reported that the knock was a person walking into Van Halen's recording studio. Another story has claimed that the sound was simply the musician knocking on his own guitar.[31] Jackson performed the knocking sounds himself by striking a drum case. In the song credits provided for the album, Jackson is listed as "drum case beater".[32]
It was reported that during the marathon mixing sessions, the engineers were shocked while working on Van Halen's solo to discover that the sound of his guitar caused the monitor speaker in the control room to catch fire, allegedly causing "Thriller" songwriter Rod Temperton to exclaim, "This must be really good!" In an interview in 2016, this was confirmed to be anurban legend.[33] FollowingJackson's death in 2009, Van Halen described working with him as "one of [the] fondest memories in [his] career".[34]
"The uncredited guitarist who whipped out the fluttering, squealing solo on this ode to macho cowardice was Eddie Van Halen. The aerodynamic metal flight pumped crossover fuel that would boost the success ofThriller—a gimmick Jackson would flog later with spots from Slash andCarlos Santana. Without the Van Halen precedent, there might have been no collaboration ofRun-DMC andAerosmith on the 1986 rap/rock version of 'Walk This Way'."
"Beat It" was released in early 1983 to widespread acclaim, following the successful chart performances of "The Girl Is Mine" and "Billie Jean".Frank DiLeo, the vice president ofEpic Records, convinced Jackson to release "Beat It" while "Billie Jean" was heading towards number one. DiLeo, who later became Jackson's manager, correctly predicted that both singles would remain in the top 10 at the same time.[9] The song reached number one on theBillboard Hot 100 on April 30, 1983. "Billie Jean" remained atop theBillboard Hot 100 for seven weeks, before being toppled by "Come On Eileen", which stayed at No. 1 for a single week, before Jackson reclaimed the position with "Beat It".[9][36]
"Billie Jean" and "Beat It" occupied top 5 positions at the same time, a feat matched by very few artists. The single remained at the top of the Hot 100 for a total of three weeks.[9] The song also charted at No. 1 on the USR&B singles chart and No. 14 on theBillboardTop Tracks chart in the US.[10]Billboard ranked it at the No. 5 song for 1983.[11] "Beat It" also claimed the top spot in Spain and the Netherlands, reached No. 3 in the UK and the top 20 in Austria, Norway, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland and #2 in Australia for 4 weeks while stuck behind the smash hit,Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler.[10]
During the week of Dec. 18, 1982, “Beat It” was one of Billboard's top three adds at rock radio alongside cuts by Sammy Hagar and Bob Seger. The song peaked at No. 14 on Billboard's rock tracks chart.[37]
In aRolling Stone review, Christopher Connelly describes "Beat It" as "maybe the best song" onThriller, adding that it is "a this-ain't-no-discoAOR track if ever I heard one". He notes of the "nifty dance song", "Jackson's voice soars all over the melody, Eddie Van Halen checks in with a blistering guitar solo, you could build a convention center on the backbeat".[38]AllMusic'sStephen Thomas Erlewine states that the song is both "tough" and "scared".[39]Robert Christgau claimed that the song has Eddie Van Halen "wielding his might in the service of antimacho".[40]Slant Magazine observed that the song was an "uncharacteristic dalliance with the rock idiom".[41] The track also won praise from Jackson biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli, who stated that the song was "rambunctious".[24]
"Beat It" has been recognized with several awards. At the1984 Grammy Awards, the song earned Jackson two of record-eight awards:Record of the Year andBest Male Rock Vocal Performance. The track won theBillboard Music Award for favorite dance/disco 12" LP in 1983.[10][42] The single wascertified gold by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA), a few months after its release, for shipments of at least one million units. In 1989, the standard format single was re-certified platinum by the RIAA, based on the revised sales level of one million units for platinum singles.[43] The total number ofdigital sales in the US, as of August 2022, stands at 8,000,000.[44]
The music video for "Beat It" helped establish Jackson as an international pop icon.[12][45] The video was Jackson's first treatment of black youth and the streets. Both "Beat It" and "Thriller" are notable for their "mass choreography" of synchronized dancers, a Jackson trademark.[46]
The video, which cost Jackson $150,000 to create afterCBS refused to finance it,[42][47] was filmed onLos Angeles' Skid Row—mainly on locations on East 5th Street[48]—around March 9, 1983. To add authenticity to the production but also to foster peace between them, Jackson had the idea to cast members of rival Los Angeles street gangsCrips andBloods.[49] In addition to around 80 genuine gang members,[47] the video, which is noted for opening up many job opportunities for dancers in the US,[50] also featured 18 professional dancers and four breakdancers.[51] Besides Jackson,Michael Peters, andVincent Paterson, the cast includedMichael DeLorenzo, Stoney Jackson,Tracii Guns, Tony Fields, Peter Tram, Rick Stone and Cheryl Song.[45][52][53] The bar location shown in the latter part of the first minute of the video was also featured 13 years earlier in the gatefold and on the back cover ofthe Doors 1970 album,Morrison Hotel.[54] Coincidentally, the name of that skid row bar, the Hard Rock Café, was also the inspiration for theLondon original of the famous chain of restaurants begun in 1971.[55]
The video was written and directed byBob Giraldi, produced by Ralph Cohen, Antony Payne and Mary M. Ensign through the production company GASP. The second video released for theThriller album, it was choreographed by Peters who also performed, alongside Vincent Paterson, as one of the two lead dancers. Despite some sources claiming otherwise, Jackson was involved in creating some parts of the choreography.[49] Jackson asked Giraldi, at the time already an established commercial director but who had never directed a music video,[56] to come up with a concept for the "Beat It" video because he really liked a commercial Giraldi had directed forWLS-TV in Chicago about a married couple of two elderly blind people who instead of running from a run-down neighborhood all the otherwhite people had fled from, chose to stay and throw a block party for all the young children in the area. Contrary to popular belief, the concept of the video was not based on the Broadway musicalWest Side Story; in reality, Giraldi drew inspiration from his growing up inPaterson, New Jersey.[49]
The video had its world premiere on MTV during prime time on March 31, 1983;[57][58] neither "Beat It" nor "Billie Jean" were, as is often claimed,[58][59] the first music video by an African-American artist to be played on MTV.[60] Soon after its premiere the video was also running on other video programs includingBET'sVideo Soul,SuperStation WTBS'sNight Tracks, andNBC'sFriday Night Videos. In fact, "Beat It" was the first video shown on the latter's first ever telecast on July 29, 1983.[61]
The video opens with the news of a fight circulating at a diner. This scene repeats itself at a pool hall, where gang members arrive and the song begins to play. The camera cuts to Jackson lying on a bed as he contemplates the senseless violence. Jackson dons a red leather J. Parks brand jacket and dances his way towards the fight through the diner and pool hall. A knife fight is taking place between the two gang leaders in a warehouse. They dance battle for an interlude of music until Jackson arrives; he breaks up the fight and launches into a dance routine. The video ends with the gang members joining him in the dance, agreeing that violence is not the solution to their problems.[45]
The video received recognition through numerous awards. TheAmerican Music Awards named the short film their Favorite Pop/Rock Video and their Favorite Soul Video. The Black Gold Awards honored Jackson with the Best Video Performance award. TheBillboard Video Awards recognized the video with 7 awards; Best Overall Video Clip, Best Performance by a Male Artist, Best Use of Video to Enhance a Song, Best Use of Video to Enhance an Artist's Image, Best Choreography, Best Overall Video and Best Dance/Disco 12". The short film was ranked byRolling Stone as the No. 1 video, in both their critic's and reader's polls. The video was later inducted into the Music Video Producer's Hall of Fame.[42]
In November 2023, the music video reached 1 billion views on YouTube. It was Jackson's third music video (after "Billie Jean" and "They Don't Care About Us") to achieve this milestone.[62]
The music video of the song appears on the video albums:Video Greatest Hits – HIStory,HIStory on Film, Volume II,Number Ones, on the bonus DVD ofThriller 25 andMichael Jackson's Vision.
Jackson performed "Beat It" live with his brothers duringthe Jacksons'Victory Tour. On July 13, 1984, the brothers were joined on stage by Eddie Van Halen, who played the guitar in his solo spot. The song became one of Jackson's signature songs; he performed it on all ofhis world tours:Bad,Dangerous andHIStory.[63] The October 1, 1992 Dangerous Tour performance, including "Beat It", was included in theMichael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection box set. The DVD was later repackaged asLive in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour.[63] Jackson also performed the song on theMichael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special, a concert celebrating the musician's thirtieth year as a solo performer. The performance featuredSlash as the song's guest guitarist.[64]
A highlight of Jackson's solo concert tour performances of the song is that he would begin the song on acherry picker (which he would also later use with "Earth Song" during theHIStory World Tour) after performing "Thriller". Another live version of the song is available on the DVDLive at Wembley July 16, 1988. The song would have also been performed as part of theThis Is It concerts, which were canceled due to Jackson's death.
Jackson's "Beat It" has been cited as one of the most successful, recognized, awarded, and celebrated songs in the history of pop music; both the song and video had a large impact on pop culture.[13] The song is said to be a "pioneer" in black rock music and is considered one of the cornerstones of theThriller album.[13] Eddie Van Halen has been praised for adding "the greatest guitar solo", helping "Beat It" become one of thebest-selling singles of all time.[13]
Shortly after its release, "Beat It" was included in the National Highway Safety Commission's anti-drunk driving campaign, "Drinking and Driving Can Kill a Friendship".[65][66][67][68] The song was also included on the accompanying album. Jackson collected an award from PresidentRonald Reagan at theWhite House, in recognition for his support of the campaign.[42] Reagan stated that Jackson was "proof of what a person can accomplish through a lifestyle free of alcohol or drug abuse. People young and old respect that. And if Americans follow his example, then we can face up to the problem of drinking and driving, and we can, in Michael's words, 'Beat It'."[69]
Frequently listed in greatest song polling lists, "Beat It" was ranked as the world's fourth favorite song in a 2005 poll conducted bySony Ericsson.[64] Over 700,000 people in 60 countries cast their votes.[64] Voters from the UK placed "Billie Jean" at No. 1, ahead of "Thriller", with a further five of the top ten being solo recordings by Jackson.[64]Rolling Stone placed "Beat It" at number 337 on its list ofthe 500 Greatest Songs in 2004,[70] and at number 185 in its 2021 update of the list.[71] The song was featured in the filmsBack to the Future Part II,Zoolander andUndercover Brother.[64] When re-released, as part of theVisionary campaign in 2006, "Beat It" charted at No. 15 in the UK.[64]The song was featured inThe Flintstone Kids while it was performed byLa Toya Jackson but as a parody with “Beat it say no” to drugs.[72]
A remix of "2 Bad", is featured onBlood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix containing a sample of "Beat It" as well as a rap byJohn Forté and guitar solo byWyclef Jean.[73]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Beat It" | Michael Jackson | 4:18 |
| 2. | "Get on the Floor" | Jackson,Louis Johnson | 4:44 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Beat It" | Jackson | 4:11 |
| 2. | "Burn This Disco Out" | Rod Temperton | 3:38 |
| 3. | "The Jacksons – Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" (live version) | Greg Phillinganes, Jackson | 4:22 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Beat It" | Jackson | 4:18 |
| 2. | "Beat It" (Moby's Sub Remix) | Jackson | 6:11 |
Adapted from theThriller 25 liner notes.[76]
Performers
Production
|
|
| Chart (1983) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[111][112] | 9 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[113] | 3 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[114] | 8 |
| France (IFOP)[115] | 5 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[116] | 30 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[117] | 3 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[118] | 7 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[119] | 3 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[11] | 5 |
| USHot Black Singles (Billboard)[120] | 14 |
| USCash Box[121] | 7 |
| Chart (2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[122] | 62 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[123] | 92 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[124] | 178 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[125] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[126] | 6× Platinum | 480,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[127] | 2× Platinum | 180,000‡ |
| France (SNEP)[128] | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
| Germany (BVMI)[129] | Platinum | 500,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI)[130] | Platinum | 100,000‡ |
| Japan (RIAJ)[131] | Platinum | 250,000* |
| Mexico (AMPROFON)[132] | Diamond+Gold | 330,000‡ |
| Netherlands (NVPI)[133] | Gold | 100,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[134] | 3× Platinum | 90,000‡ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[135] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[136] | 3× Platinum | 1,800,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[137] | 8× Platinum | 8,000,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[138] Mastertone | Gold | 500,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
| "Beat It 2008" | |
|---|---|
| Song byMichael Jackson featuringFergie | |
| from the albumThriller 25 | |
| Released | April 7, 2008[139] |
| Length | 4:12 |
| Label | Epic |
| Songwriter | Michael Jackson |
| Producers |
|
ForThriller 25,Black Eyed Peas singerwill.i.am remixed "Beat It". The song, titled "Beat It 2008", featured additional vocals by fellow Black Eyed Peas memberFergie.[140][141] Upon its release in 2008, the song reached No. 26 in Switzerland, the top 50 in Sweden and No. 65 in Austria.[139] This was the second remixed version of "Beat It" to get an official release, following "Moby's Sub Mix" which was released on the "Jam" and "Who Is It" singles in 1992,[142] as well as the "They Don't Care About Us" single in 1996 (and re-released as part of the Visionary campaign[143]).
"Beat It 2008" received generally unfavorable reviews from music critics. Rob Sheffield ofRolling Stone claimed that the song was a "contender for the year's most pointless musical moment".[144] AllMusic criticized Fergie for "parroting the lyrics of "Beat It" back to a recorded Jackson".[145]Blender's Kelefa Sanneh also noted that the Black Eyed Peas singer traded lines with Jackson. "Why?", she queried.[146] Todd Gilchrist was thankful that the remix retained Eddie Van Halen's "incendiary guitar solo", but added that the song "holds the dubious honor of making Jackson seem masculine for once, and only in the context of Fergie's tough-by-way-of-Kids Incorporated interpretation of the tune".[147] Tom Ewing ofPitchfork observed that Fergie's "nervous reverence is a waste of time".[148]
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[139] | 65 |
| Canada (Hot Canadian Digital Singles)[97] | 66 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[149] | 43 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[150] | 26 |
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[151] | 14 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[149] | 8 |
| "Beat It" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byFall Out Boy featuringJohn Mayer | ||||
| from the albumLive in Phoenix | ||||
| Released | March 25, 2008[152] | |||
| Recorded | 2008 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock | |||
| Length | 3:48 | |||
| Label | Island | |||
| Songwriter | Michael Jackson | |||
| Producer | Patrick Stump | |||
| Fall Out Boy singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| John Mayer singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Beat It (MTV Version) ft. John Mayer " onYouTube | ||||
Americanrock bandFall Out Boy covered "Beat It". The studio version was digitally released on March 25, 2008, byIsland Records as the only single from the band's first live album,Live in Phoenix (2008). The guitar solo is played byJohn Mayer. In the United States, the song peaked at No. 19 on theBillboard Hot 100 and reached No. 21 on the defunct-Billboard Pop 100 chart, also charting internationally. The band has since regularly incorporated it in their set list at their shows.
In early 2008, it was announced that Fall Out Boy were to cover "Beat It" for theirLive in Phoenix album.[153] The band had previously performed the song at venues such asCoors Amphitheatre and festivals such as theCarling Weekend inLeeds.[154][155] BassistPete Wentz, who has claimed to have anobsession with Jackson, stated that prior to recording the song, he would only watchMoonwalker.[156] It was also announced thatJohn Mayer was to add the guitar solo previously played by Eddie Van Halen.[157]
The band's lead singer/guitaristPatrick Stump stated that the band had not planned to cover the song. "Basically, I just started playing the riff in sound-check one day, and then we all started playing it, and then we started playing it live, and then we figured we'd record it and put it out with our live DVD."[158] BassistPete Wentz added that the band had not originally intended for the song to be released as a single either.[158] "'Beat It' seemed like a song that would be cool and that we could do our own take on," he said.[156] Having spent time deciding on a guitarist for the song, Wentz eventually called John Mayer to add the guitar solo. "We were trying to think about who is a contemporary guitar guy who's going to go down as a legend," Wentz later noted.[158]
Upon its digital release as a single in April 2008, Fall Out Boy's cover of "Beat It" became a mainstay oniTunes' Top 10 chart.[159] The song peaked at No. 8 in Canada, becoming another top 10 hit in the region. It also charted at No. 13 in Australia, No. 14 in New Zealand, No. 75 in Austria and No. 98 in the Netherlands.[160]
The music video for Fall Out Boy's "Beat It" was directed byShane Drake and was made in homage to Jackson. "I think when you're doing a Michael Jackson cover, there's this expectation that you're going to do one of his videos verbatim," Stump said. "What we decided to do was kind of inspired by Michael Jackson and the mythology of him. There are specific images that are reference points for us, but at any given point, it's not any of his videos. It's kind of all of his videos, all at once, but on a Fall Out Boy budget, so it's not quite as fancy."[161] The costumes for the video were similar to the originals. "My costume is this take on one of the guys from Michael Jackson's original 'Beat It' video, like, the guy who plays the rival dancer," Wentz said during the filming of the video.[161] The music video featured numerouscameos, including a karate class/dance session being taught byTony Hale,Donald Faison,Joel David Moore andHal Sparks dressed up like Michael Jackson.[161] The short film later received aMTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Rock Video.[162]
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[163] | 13 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[164] | 75 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[165] | 12 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[166] | 8 |
| CanadaCHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[167] | 50 |
| Canada (Hot Canadian Digital Singles)[168] | 4 |
| Finland Download (Latauslista)[169] | 27 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[170] | 21 |
| Germany (GfK)[171] | 69 |
| Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[172] | 7 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[160] | 98 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[173] | 14 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[174] | 21 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[175] | 19 |
| USPop 100 (Billboard)[168] | 4 |
| Venezuela Pop Rock (Record Report)[176] | 9 |
| Chart (2008) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[177] | 94 |
| Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[178] | 35 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[179] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[180] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[181] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
In 1984, American parodist"Weird Al" Yankovic released his parody song "Eat It".[182] Yankovic recorded the song with Jackson's permission.[183] The song's music video followed the "Beat It" short film scene-for-scene, with Yankovic mimicking Jackson's dance moves in a clumsy fashion.[184] Jackson receivedroyalties as Jackson was listed as co-writer of "Eat It".[185]
...a standout dance-rock track on Michael Jackson's game-changing blockbusterThriller.
Elsewhere you will thrill to the airbrushed funk-rock of 'Beat It'.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
