Song #532: "Beat It" by Michael Jackson

Date: April 30, 1983
Weeks: 3

Okay, so Weird Al's "Eat It" was not actually song #532. April Fools! In fact, that position belongs to the song Weird Al was parodying, "Beat It" by Michael Jackson.

I feel like this was the song that cemented Michael Jackson as a superstar. Maybe that's not accurate. His first appearance at No. 1 was "I Want You Back" (#228) as a member of the Jackson 5, 13 years earlier. And "Billie Jean" (#530) had been at No. 1 just before this. But this was the song that stuck with me at the time. Maybe that's because of the Weird Al parody, but the fact that Weird Al chose to parody this song suggests it was the biggest of Jackson's songs at the time.

Michael Jackson became huge because he fused rock and R&B into one popular sound, but this song is pretty straightforward rock and roll. Guitars dominate the song. The main backing guitar is probably the thing that this song is best remembered for, even more than the vocals. Well, that opening bell-sound may compete for most memorable music part, but I'm not entirely sure what's making that sound. Maybe that's the guitars, too. At any rate, the song is guitars, drums, vocals, and very little else. That's classic rock and roll.

Michael Jackson's vocals are always good, and this song is no exception. I suppose he could have embellished more, since he's definitely capable of singing something more elaborate. But he fits his voice into the music and doesn't try to compete with the guitar to be the most exciting thing happening musically. And that works to the song's advantage.

I've actually never been too clear on the meaning of the lyrics. I think it's about a guy on the streets trying to prove he's tough by fighting, and the song seems to sympathize with that sentiment without endorsing or condemning it. But the video doesn't really identify that protagonist. Instead it shows two gangs building up to a street fight until Michael Jackson shows up to get between them, and everybody dances. I went to Wikipedia for more insight, but even Wikipedia seems to throw up its hands with regard to the true meaning. "The lyrics of 'Beat It' are about defeat and courage, and have been described as a 'sad commentary on human nature'." That doesn't help me sort it out, thanks Wikipedia! At any rate, I understand that somewhere at the song's core, Michael Jackson is lamenting gang violence that so often is about people fighting just to prove that they are tough. And I can endorse that meaning.

My verdict: Like it. It's one of the pillars of Michael Jackson's superstardom, and rightfully so.