"Get It" is a song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder released as the seventh track from his twenty-first studio album, Characters. It was released as a single on May 5, 1988, serving as the third single from the album. It features a guest vocal by American pop recording artist Michael Jackson.
"Get It" was a R&B chart hit, peaking at number four. On the US Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at number 80. Overseas, the single became a moderate hit. In the UK, the single reached number 37 on the official UK Singles Chart.
Background[]
Jackson and Wonder had a history of collaborating over the years, the first dating back to 1974, in which Wonder crafted and produced an album for The Jackson 5, which was eventually shelved. (One of the songs, "Buttercup", eventually appeared on the 2009 compilation album, I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters, released after Jackson's death.)
That same year, Jackson and his brothers provided backing vocals to Wonder's hit "You Haven't Done Nothin'" from his parent album Fulfillingness' First Finale.
Jackson worked with Wonder for the fourth time in 1979, "I Can't Help It", from his breakthrough album Off the Wall, which was written by Wonder and former Supremes member Susaye Greene. Within a year, Jackson also did background vocal work on "All I Do" from Wonder's platinum-selling Hotter than July album.
Wonder and Jackson were part of an all-star choir included on Donna Summer's 1982 single "State of Independence", and 1985's "We Are the World", which Jackson co-wrote. Both singles were produced by Jackson's co-producer, Quincy Jones.
Jackson and Wonder met for the sixth time in 1987 to record their first duet together, "Just Good Friends", which was recorded a couple of months before "Get It".
Jackson returned the favor in September, with him recording his vocals at CBS/Sony Studio with Jones, whom the latter would go on to compose with. Stevie worked on the track at Wonderland Studios, with himself and Gary Olazbal composing it.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Miss lady girl
Is putting her love on the shelf
'Cause she don't want
To be hurt by nobody else
She's taken her heart
And put it away under lock and key
But it's high time
And miss lady girl sets her heart free and gives her love to me, yeah
[Pre-Chorus]
But some think that diamond rings, fancy cars
Will make a big impression, yeah, ha!
But I know that all she needs is my tender
Love and affection
'Cause she still says
[Chorus]
That no one's gonna get it
No one's gonna get it, oh, no
But someone's gotta get it
I know that I will (Hee-hee! Hee-hee! Aaow!)
No one's gonna get it (Da-da-da) (Ooh!)
No one's gonna get it, oh, no (Da-da-da)
But someone's gotta get it (Da-da-da)
And I know that I will be the one who will (Hee-hee! Hee-hee! Aaow!)
Gonna get it, her love
Gonna get it, her kisses
Gonna get it, her heart
Gonna get it, get it
[Verse 2]
Miss lady girl, ha!
Has buried her feelings deep inside
'Cause she don't want, ah
To be taken for another ride
She's sick and tired, ha!
Of being on that lonely merry-go-round
She just don't know
That the ultimate love
Of her life is about to be found, hoo!
[Pre-Chorus]
They think that ready cash, flashy clothes
Will fill her life with laughter
But I've got the very thing that she needs
True love forever after
Then no more will she say
[Chorus]
That no one's gonna get it
No one's gonna get it, oh, no
But someone's gotta get it
And I feel that I will be the one who will
No one's gonna get it
No one's gonna get It, oh, no
But someone's gotta get it
I know that I will be the one who will
I'm gonna get it (I'm gonna get it)
I'm gonna get it (You ain't gon' get it)
(I'm gonna get it)
(You ain't gon' get it)
(I'm gonna get it)
(I'm gonna get it)
Gonna get it, gonna get it
Gonna get it, get it, aaow!
I'm gonna get it
I'm gonna get it
I'm gonna get it
Gonna get it, gonna get it
Gonna get it, gonna get it
Hoo! Hoo!
I'm gonna get it
I'm gonna get it
I'm gonna get it
You ain't gonna get it
You know, ah, hoo!
Aaow!
I'm gonna get it
I'm gonna get it
I'm gonna get it
I'm gonna get it
I'm gon', gon' get it