Actors - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

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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" (a duet with Paul McCartney), "Billie Jean", and "Beat It", the latter two songs having both achieved number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

History

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is one of Thriller's four major songs written and composed by Jackson himself. It begins with a volley of synth-drumbeats and ends in a cacophony of faux-African chanting, horns reminiscent of Earth, Wind & Fire, a pulsing bassline, and Jackson's ad-libs.

A furiously uptempo song, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" features lyrics that echo feelings of paranoia. Along with the song "Billie Jean" (whose eponymous antagonist is briefly introduced "...always talking when nobody else is talking"), this represented some of the earliest examples in his lyrics of Jackson's mistrust of those around him. The song is confrontational and angry, in stark contrast with Jackson's childlike and innocent public image of the time, addressing gossips, femme fatales, and rumour-mongers, with unorthodox yet still catchy wordplay ("You're a vegetable, you're a vegetable, they eat off you, you're just a buffet"). High, hard and breathlessly soulful Jackson vocals (replete with all of his trademark tics, hiccups, "hoo-hoos", and "ooows") accompanied punchy brass and backing vocals. Yet the singer eventually rises above the falsehoods and encourages the listener to do the same ("As I believe in me/So you believe in you").

Probably most remembered is the chanted refrain "Mama-se, mama-sa, mama-coo-sa", featured prominently during the song's final bridge. With regard to this chant, writer Mark Anthony Neal says: "The lyrics (utterings really) were taken directly from the music of Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango who broke into the American market in 1973 with his classic 'Soul Makossa'."

At six minutes and three seconds, "...Startin Somethin'" is also the longest song on Thriller, ushering in the album in a buoyantly accessible way, and cannily showcasing the pop and soul music sensibilities of Jackson and producer Jones.

"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.

Performances and choreography

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.

Two notable occurrences during live performances are the "stop/start" choreography that brings Jackson and his dancers to a frozen stop several times, and the sing-along between performer and audience during the bridge.

Credits

Written, arranged, and composed by Michael Jackson
Produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson
Lead vocals by Michael Jackson
Backing vocals by Michael Jackson, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters, James Ingram, Bunny Hull, and Becky Lopez
Rhodes and synthesizer by Greg Philinganes
Synthesizer by Michael Boddicker and Bill Wolfer
Guitar by David Williams
Bass by Louis Johnson
Percussion by Paulinho da Costa
Trumpets and flügelhorns by Jerry Hey and Gary Grant
Sax and flute by Larry Williams
Trombone by Bill Reichenbach
Bathroom stomp board: Michael Jackson, Nelson Hayes, and Steven Ray
Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson
Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones

Pop culture/trivia

Comedian Damon Wayans
at one time included in his comedy routine a segment in which he was "speaking in tongues"; this segued into him performing the chant from the final bridge of the song.
The song was featured in the 2003 videogame Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and its accompanying soundtrack.

Sources

Moonwalk — by Michael Jackson, edited by Jackie Onassis (Doubleday 1988, ISBN 0385247125)
The Michael Jackson Story — by Nelson George (Dell 1983, ISBN 0440155924)
Trapped: Michael Jackson and the Crossover Dream — by Dave Marsh (Bantam 1985, ISBN 055334241X)
Thriller – Special Edition (Epic Records, 2001 — selected interviews)
Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection (Epic Records, 2004 — liner notes)
www.allmusic.com
www.mjjsource.com
www.michaeljackson.com

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