Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (6:01)

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Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ is a 1983 single released from Michael Jackson’s multi-platinum selling 1982 album Thriller. It was the first track on the album, and the fourth song released as a single, following “

The Girl Is Mine”, “

Billie Jean”, and “

Beat It”.

The song was originally written in 1979 and intended for his Off the Wall album but was not recorded until the sessions for Thriller in 1982.

At six minutes and three seconds, “Wanna Be Startin Somethin’” is also the longest song on Thriller, ushering in the album in a buoyantly accessible way, and cannily showcasing the pop/funk sensibilities of Jackson and producer Jones. As usual with Jackson, who used the latest in studio technology, the opening snare hits of the song came courtesy of the Fairlight CMI, a $30,000 Australian sampler and synthesizer.

“Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” continued the trend of hit singles for Jackson, eventually peaking at number five on the Pop and on the R&B charts, and gaining time on radio playlists across the country. The song was often not played at full length, however, due to industry format standards.

One of the songs released as a single without an accompanying video, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” nonetheless has attained a popularity rivaling its sister compositions on the album, and has become Jackson’s song of choice for opening live concerts. Not being as strictly associated with a specific dance routine as those others has arguably allowed for more flexibility in performances and staging.

Tagged as:

pop, 80s, michael jackson, dance, funk
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http://bestytube.blogspot.com/2009/07/michael-jackson.html

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin is a 1983 single released from Michael Jackson's multi-platinum…

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freepcgame wrote:
yesterday morning

hardly loved by me

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Lysheba wrote:
13 days ago

I love it when he says "breakdown" and all the subsequent parts accented in the same way! it shows a kind of humor and musical ability/creativity only achieved by MJ!

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Escapi_ wrote:
15 days ago

hard to get overr<3(;

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andrinaluvsmart wrote:
19 days ago

♥

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battybecky1082 wrote:
20 days ago

Is that "your a vegetable, your a vegetable..." he is singing?

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tiebaby wrote:
23 days ago

bus stop song.............<do wit me>

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tiebaby wrote:
23 days ago

you got mi babe cryin...........u gooooooo mike,i can really dance off dis song

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thedeep325 wrote:
27 days ago

Ima say what i saw in arkansas. or mama say mama sa mama coo sa. i like my version better.

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deppophile_X wrote:
last month

mama se mama sa mama coo sa :D

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earthcrossing wrote:
last month

One of the BEST SONGS EVVVVVVVVVERRRRR!!!!!!!!! Love you MJ

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Gilbert77 wrote:
last month

Ledge song, peformace :O, i had a ticket for 28th Aug 09, hurts bad

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chocobooo wrote:
last month

the end of the song stands out for me.

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CROCHET4EVER wrote:
last month

HOLLA.............................

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sueseas wrote:
last month

Retro_Saiyan : When I listened to this when it first came out, I thought that part was "I'm the same, I'm a summer moccassin." At least "gonna sing my song for microsoft" means *something*!

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Syvok wrote:
last month

This is one of my favorite songs ever.

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Retro_Saiyan wrote:
last month

Excellent song, but I keep mishearing part of the lyrics as "Gonna sing my song for microsoft". Oops.

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xxsmoothopexx wrote:
last month

I never get tired of this song. [4] I'm surprised it took the movie for people to know the song. o.O

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Limonata567 wrote:
last month

I never get tired of this song. [3]

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Pitze wrote:
last month

on tour???? wow :-)

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madameulalala wrote:
last month

The first song in This is it der Film war einfach Hammer Michael war top fit.. und er singt live genauso gut wie auf seinen CDs

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