Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" | ||||
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afropop[2] | ||||
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Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) | Michael Jackson | |||
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Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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Audio video | ||||
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" on YouTube |
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson recorded for his sixth studio album Thriller (1982). It is the opening track of the album and was released as its fourth single on May 9, 1983, by Epic Records. It was written and co-produced by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. The lyrics pertain to strangers spreading rumors to start an argument for no good reason. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" evokes the disco sound of Jackson's previous studio album, Off the Wall, released in 1979. The song is characterized by a complex rhythm arrangement and a distinctive horn arrangement.
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" became Jackson's fourth consecutive top 10 single from Thriller on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number five. The song also topped the charts in Canada as well as the Netherlands and charted within the top 20 and top 30 in several countries. It was generally well received by contemporary music critics. As part of the release of Thriller 25, a remix of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", titled "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008 with Akon", was recorded with Akon, and released as the second single from the album. The remix was commercially successful, mainly charting within the top 10 in six countries, as well as the top 20 in several territories worldwide and top 40 in Canada. It was more successful internationally than in the United States, having peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 81, which was the song's lowest charting position.
Unlike previous singles from Thriller, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" did not have a music video to accompany it but was performed by Jackson on world concert tours as both a member of The Jacksons and as a solo artist. Following Jackson's death in June 2009, the song re-entered music charts worldwide. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" has been covered and sampled by multiple recording artists since its release, notably by Rihanna in her 2007 song "Don't Stop the Music", who was sued as a result. Aside from Thriller, the song appears on multiple compilation and greatest hits albums by Jackson.
Background
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was written, composed and co-produced by Michael Jackson, and produced by
Aside from Thriller, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" has appeared on multiple compilation and greatest hits albums by Jackson since the song's release.[4] "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" appeared on the first disc of Jackson's two-disc compilation album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I in 1995 as well as the 25th anniversary edition of Thriller, titled Thriller 25, and the greatest hits album King of Pop; both albums were released in 2008.[4] The song is also included on the box set collection released in 2004, The Ultimate Collection, the greatest hits album The Essential Michael Jackson, the compilation album This Is It, and the special box set The Collection released days after Jackson's death.[4] Some versions of the 1995 Earth Song CD single included the Brothers in Rhythm Mix and Tommy D's Main Mix as B-sides. The song was also remixed to the Immortal album in 2011. The demo version of the song was also released in This Is It (2009).
Composition
A
The lyrics pertain to the media and press, as well as gossip and people trying to start arguments or problems for no reason, which he states in the lyrics, "Someone's always tryin' to start my baby crying," and then goes to a more "quasi paranoia" yield in the "near-bitterness" chorus, 'You're a vegetable, you're a vegetable/ You're just a buffet, you're a vegetable/ They'll eat off you, you're a vegetable.'"
Critical reception
Christopher Connelly, a writer for
Pitchfork ranked this song No. 2 on its list of "The 200 Best Songs of the 1980s", saying that "if you're going to become the biggest star in the world, it helps to make the biggest song".[16]
Chart performance
In 1983, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" had a good chart performance worldwide. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart top ten positions on July 2, 1983, at number nine, having moved up six places from the song's previous week.[17] On July 16, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" charted at number five, which was the song's peak position on the chart.[18] The song's peak position made "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" Thriller's fourth consecutive single to peak within the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] It was more commercially successful than Thriller's follow-up single "Human Nature" on the Billboard Hot 100, with the song peaking on the chart at number seven.[19] The song also peaked within the top ten, at number five, on the Black Singles Chart.[19]
Internationally, the song was commercially successful, mainly charting within the top 20 and top 30 on music charts. In the United Kingdom, on June 11, 1983, the song entered the chart's top 40 positions at number 38.[20] The following week, the song moved up 24 positions to number 14,[21] and on June 25, the song peaked within the top ten at number eight.[22] The song remained on the charts for a total of nine weeks in 1983.[21] In New Zealand, on July 24, 1983, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" entered the charts at number 47. The following week, the song peaked at number 35, which was its peak position, and remained in the top 50 of the chart for three weeks.[23] "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" entered the Dutch charts on July 9, 1983, charting within the top five at number four. The following week, the song charted at number three, which was its peak position, for three consecutive weeks. The song charted within the top ten for several weeks, and remained in the top 20 for ten weeks in 1983.[24]
In 2008, after the release of Thriller 25 the song re-entered music charts worldwide. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" entered the Italian music charts on February 21, 2008, charting at number 14; it remained on the chart for only one week.[25] The song entered the Danish music charts on February 28, charting within the top 30 at number 29. The following week, it peaked at number 22.[26] In Switzerland, the song entered the top 50 at number 47 on February 24, 2008. The following week, the song peaked at number 30. After a total of six weeks on the chart the song, fell out of the top 100, and after four weeks re-entered the chart at number 83, before falling off the chart again.[27]
Following Jackson's death in June 2009, his music experienced a surge in popularity.[28] "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" re-entered the United Kingdom charts on July 4, 2009, and peaked at number 57 the following week.[29] On July 12, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" re-entered Switzerland music charts for the second time. The song charted at number 37, which was its peak position, and remained on the charts for three weeks, before charting out of the top 100 positions.[27]
Live performances
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' " was one of the songs released as a single without an accompanying video. It nonetheless has attained a popularity rivaling its sister compositions on the album, and became Jackson's song of choice for opening live concerts, although not being as strictly associated with a specific dance routine as those others has arguably allowed for more flexibility in performances and staging.
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", along with "Beat It" and "Billie Jean", was also used on every set list of Jackson's tours, from the Victory Tour in 1984, right the way through to the HIStory Tour in 1997. Unlike most of the other songs performed live, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was never lip-synced during any of Jackson's tours.
The song was first performed by Jackson as both a member of
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was also performed during Jackson's Dangerous World Tour from June 1992 to November 1993. The next, and what would be the last performance of the song, was during Jackson's world concert tour, HIStory World Tour, from 1996 to 1997.
Since March 2009, Jackson was preparing to perform "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" during his
Manu Dibango controversy
After Barbadian pop singer
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Chart (1983) | Position |
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Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[46] | 11 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[47] | 38 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[48] | 17 |
Netherlands ( Single Top 100)[49]
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23 |
US Billboard Hot 100[50] | 68 |
US Cash Box[51] | 51 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI)[52] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[53] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album Thriller 25.[54]
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Track listing
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Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008 with Akon" | ||||
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Single by Michael Jackson | ||||
from the album Thriller 25 | ||||
Released | March 21, 2008 | |||
Recorded | November 2007 | |||
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Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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Akon singles chronology | ||||
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"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was re-recorded for the 2008 re-issue of
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" received mixed reviews from contemporary music critics, with critics having felt that while the 2008 version was good, it was not better than the original, but was better than other re-issues on Thriller 25. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic commented that "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was turned into a "moody piano murk".[55] He further commented that while the song is not great, "it is better than Fergie parroting the lyrics of 'Beat It' back to a recorded Jackson, and it's better than will.i.am turning 'The Girl Is Mine' into a hapless dance number".[55] Rob Sheffield, a writer for Rolling Stone, commented that "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is "actually kind of great" and praised the song's composition.[56]
The song was released by Epic Records and Legacy Recordings on March 21, 2008.[57] It was commercially a modest success internationally, charting within the top 20 in several countries, as well charting within the top ten in four territories.[58] The song charted at number three in Sweden,[59] number four in New Zealand,[60] number eight in Australia[57] and number ten in France.[61] "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" charted at number 15 in Belgium's Flanders and Wallonia charts.[58] and also charted at number 20 in Italy.[62] In the US, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" peaked at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving the song its lowest charting position. The song also charted on the Pop charts at number 48, as well as number 47 on the Pop Hot 100 Airplay.[19]
Other charting positions include number 47 on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs and the Hot Canadian Digital Singles Chart at number 33.[19] It also peaked at number 2 on the Dance Club Songs chart.[19] "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" also reached number 19 on the year-end chart of Dance Club Play Song. A music video to promote the single and album consisted of a montage of previous Michael Jackson music videos and concert footage, and also clips of Akon singing his parts.
Charts
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Track listing
- CD single
- "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" (radio edit) – 3:51
- "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" (Johnny Vicious club—radio edit) – 3:36
- "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" (Johnny Vicious full club remix) – 9:03
Remix credits
- Written and produced by Michael Jackson, Aliaune "Akon" Thiam, Giorgio Tuinfort
- Lead vocals by Aliaune "Akon" Thiam and Michael Jackson (on second verse)
- Background vocals by Michael Jackson
- Mixed by Mark "Evil" Goodchild
- Recorded in November 2007
Cover versions and uses in popular culture
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" has been covered and sampled by multiple recording artists since its release.
- Jackson's elder sister Celebrity Big Brother in 2009.[72]
- Whitney Houston performed "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" as the opening selection throughout her Greatest Love World Tour in 1986, which ran from July to December. In February 2010, she again performed the song, along with Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel", during her Nothing but Love World Tour.[73][74]
- One week after Jackson's death, Madonna used that song as part of a medley of Jackson's songs as a tribute, during her second leg of her Sticky & Sweet Tour in July 2009. A dancer impersonated Jackson, performing his signature moves, like spinning, moonwalking and gyrating.[75]
- Glee used it as the opening song in its "Michael" episode (2012). This cover debuted and peaked at number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 46 on the Digital Songs chart and number 88 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart at the week of February 18, 2012. Darren Criss performed the song.[76]
- Ashaye covered the song as part of his single "Michael Jackson Melody" in 1983.[77]
See also
References
- ^ Roberts, Randall (August 29, 2012). "Michael Jackson's 'Human Nature': An NYC classic on his birthday". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
- ^ Pitchfork Staff (August 24, 2015). "The 200 Best Songs of the 1980s". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
The song takes on a lot of musical heft too, mostly because it sounds like everything: lithe funk and disco like the kind Jackson made on Off the Wall, aggressive, mathy rock, African pop, experimental music.
- ^ a b Thriller (Media notes). Epic Records. 1982.
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- ^ Sony/ATV Music Publishing. 16 April 2002. Retrieved February 27, 2010 – via Musicnotes.com.
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- ^ a b Thriller 25 (liner notes). Michael Jackson. Epic/MJJ Productions/Legacy/Sony BMG. 2008. 88697 17986 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "The Funk of 25 Years: Thriller Hits The Quarter Century Mark". AllMusic. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
- ^ Sheffield, Rob (February 21, 2008). "Michael Jackson – Thriller 25 Deluxe Edition". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 17, 2008.
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