"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is a song by Michael Jackson, released as the first track from the Thriller album. It was released as a single on May 8, 1983, serving as the fourth single from the album. It's considered one of Jackson's most known and successful songs.
A 1992 Dance Mix was released on Thriller 25, as a Circuit City exclusive.
The 1978 demo was released as a bonus track to the posthumous Michael Jackson's This Is It compilation album.
Background[]
The track was written and recorded in November 1978. It was originally meant for his sister, La Toya, as a response to reports about her relationship with her other sisters. The idea didn't come to fruition and Michael recorded it for Off the Wall. However, it was too late to include it as the album was already scheduled for release; as a result, it didn't make the final cut. It was re-recorded in September 1982 for Thriller and finalized in November of the same year.
Live performances[]
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" was first performed on the Victory Tour with his brothers. He'd then go on to perform it at all of Michael's solo concert tours. It was supposed to be performed for the This Is It concert residency in 2009. Unfortunately, due to Jackson's passing, what was rehearsed on June 23, 2009, would be the last performance of the song.
Charts[]
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" charted 9th place out of the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 2, 1983. On July 16, the song charted at its peak at number 5. This song also placed number 5 on the Top 10 Billboard R&B Singles Chart. In the United Kingdom, this song placed 38 in the Top 40 charts on June 11, 1983. The following week the song moved up 24 positions to number 14. On June 25, the song finally made it to the top 10 at number 8.
2008 Remix[]
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" is a remix released as the second single and thirteenth track on Thriller 25. The rework was made with Akon and Giorgio Tuinfort in 2007. It was certified as Gold in Australia.[1] The track was made with Akon in 2007 during the same sessions, as "Hold My Hand" and other four/five tracks.[2] It would be the last song released by Michael during his lifetime to feature completely new vocals. Although Akon is presented as only a feature, he provides way more vocals for the entire track than Michael who sings for only a few seconds.
Audio[]
Lyrics[]
[Chorus]
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
[Verse 1]
I took my baby to the doctor with a fever
But nothin' he found
By the time this hit the street
They said she had a breakdown
Someone's always tryin'
To start my baby cryin'
Talkin', squealin', lyin'
Sayin' you just want to be startin' somethin'
[Chorus]
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
[Verse 2]
You love to pretend that you're good
When you're always up to no good
You really can't make him hate her
So your tongue became a razor
Someone's always tryin'
To keep my baby cryin'
Treacherous, cunnin', declinin'
You got my baby cryin' (Hee)
[Chorus]
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
[Post-Chorus]
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
Still, they hate you (Still they hate you)
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
You're just a buffet (You're just a buffet) (You're a vegetable)
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
They eat off of you (They eat off of you) (You're a vegetable)
You're a vegetable, aaow!
[Verse 3]
Billie Jean is always talkin' when nobody else is talkin'
Tellin' lies and rubbin' shoulders
So they called her mouth a motor
Someone's always tryin'
To start my baby cryin'
Talkin', squealin', spyin'
Sayin' you just want to be startin' somethin'
[Chorus]
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
[Post-Chorus]
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
Still, they hate you (Still they hate you)
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
You're just a buffet (You're just a buffet) (You're a vegetable)
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
They eat off of you (They eat off of you) (You're a vegetable)
You're a vegetable, aaow!
[Instrumental Interlude]
Aaow!
Hee-haw! (Ooh!)
[Verse 4]
If you can't feed your baby (Yeah, yeah)
Then don't have a baby (Yeah, yeah)
And don't think maybe (Yeah, yeah)
If you can't feed your baby (Yeah, yeah)
You'll be always tryin'
To stop that child from cryin'
Hustlin', stealin', lyin'
Now, baby's slowly dyin'
[Chorus]
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
[Bridge]
Lift your head up high and scream out to the world
"I know I am someone," and let the truth unfurl (Hee-ha)
No one can hurt you now because you know what's true
Yes, I believe in me, so do believe in you
[Outro]
Help me sing it
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Hoo-hoo)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Hee-hee-hee)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Hee-hee-hee)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Help me sing it, babe)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Hee-hee-hee)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Yeah, sing it to the world)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Sing it out loud)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Hoo-hoo)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Hee-hee-hee)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Help me sing it)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Hoo-hoo)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Hee-hee)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Help me sing it to the world)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Hoo-hoo)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Hee-hee-hee)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Hee-hee-hee)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Help me sing it)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Hee-hee-hee)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Yeah)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Sing it to the world)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Sing it out loud)
Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa (Hoo-hoo)
[Chorus]
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
High to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
[Verse 1]
I took my mama to the doctor with a fever
Seen a ta-da
I've known damn space
She done on a second
Someone's always tryin'
To start my baby cryin'
Talkin', squealin', lyin'
Saying you just want to be startin' somethin'
[Chorus]
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
[Verse 2]
So, Massa, she was stupid
With the seed that she was bathin'
When mama took the street
They said that she was sittin'
Someone's always tryin'
To start my baby cryin'
Hustlin', squealin', lyin'
Sayin' you just want to be startin' somethin'
[Chorus]
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
[Bridge]
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
Still, they hate you (Still, they hate you)
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
You're just a buffet (You're just a buffet)
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
They eat off of you (They eat off of you)
You're a vegetable, aaow!
[Instrumental Interlude]
Mama-say-mama
[Verse 3]
Billie Jean is always talkin'
But they think somebody's talkin'
Took her to the street
Now somebody always talkin'
She is always tryin'
To start my baby cryin'
Hustlin', squealin', lyin'
My baby's slowly dyin'
[Chorus]
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You just got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
[Bridge]
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
Still, they hate you (Still, they hate you)
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
You're just a buffet (You're just a buffet)
You're a vegetable (You're a vegetable)
They eat off of you (They eat off of you)
You're a vegetable, aaow!
[Interlude]
Aaow!
Hee-haw! (Ooh!)
Mama-say
[Verse 4]
If you can't feed your baby (yeah, yeah)
Then don't have a baby (yeah, yeah)
And don't think maybe (yeah, yeah)
If you can't feed your baby (yeah, yeah)
You'll be always tryin'
To stop that child from cryin'
Hustlin', stealin', lyin'
Now baby's slowly dyin'
[Chorus]
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You just got to be startin' somethin'
It's too high to get over (yeah, yeah)
You're too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
[Bridge]
Lift your head up high and sing out to the world
Sing the, sing the song, do with you
[Outro]
Help me sing it
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
(Help me sing it)
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (Hee-hee)
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (Hee-hee-hee)
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
(Help me sing it)
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
(All right)
Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
[Intro]
Konvict
[Verse 1]
I met her on the walkway
Staring as she walked pass
She looked back at me sideways and said
I can't help but to ask
I said, "You wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'"
We end up goin' back to her place
Wish I could tell you what I saw
The sexiest women in a negligee
We hit it off until the morning
You heard her say
[Hook]
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
(Why'd I make her say...)
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
[Verse 2]
Billie Jean is always talkin' when nobody else is talkin'
Tellin' lies and rubbin' shoulders
So they called her mouth a motor
Someone's always tryin'
To start my baby cryin'
Talkin', squealin', lyin'
Sayin' you just want to be startin' somethin'
[Chorus]
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
[Verse 3]
You love to pretend that you're good
When you're always up to no good
You really can't make him hate her
So your tongue became a razor
Someone's always tryin'
To start my baby cryin'
Talkin', squealin', lyin'
You got my baby cryin'
[Chorus]
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
[Hook]
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
(Why'd I make her say...)
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah (Heeey)
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
(I shouldn't have made her say...)
[Verse 4]
It's gettin' a lil' crazy (It's gettin' a lil' crazy)
Always messin' with my baby (Messin' with my baby)
And that's the reason she cries
When I'm not by her side (By her side)
I have the loneliest night (Without my baby, so lonely)
But what I love 'bout you
Always pop up when I'm thinking about you (Ooh)
I want to bring back the night and share that look on your face (Ooh)
When you say...
[Hook]
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
(I'd like to make her say...)
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
[Chorus]
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
Gallery[]
![Vinyl back cover[3]](/wiki/File:Wbssvinylback.jpg "Wbssvinylback.jpg (109 KB)")
![Vinyl[3]](/wiki/File:Wbssvinyl.jpg "Wbssvinyl.jpg (125 KB)")
!["Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" CD back cover[4]](/wiki/File:Wbss2008cdback.jpg "Wbss2008cdback.jpg (131 KB)")
!["Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" CD[4]](/wiki/File:Wbss08cd.jpg "Wbss08cd.jpg (103 KB)")
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"Look deep within yourself, and you'll find something amazing." To view the Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' gallery, click here. |
Trivia[]
- "Billie Jean" is referenced in the lyrics of the third verse.
- Michael never used playback for this song when performing it live.
- The "ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa" parts were famously sampled for Rihanna's 2007 song, "Don't Stop the Music".[5]
References[]
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanna_Be_Startin%27_Somethin%27_2008#Wanna_Be_Startin.27_Somethin.27_2008
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/nov/22/akon-michael-jackson
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.discogs.com/release/196049-Michael-Jackson-Wanna-Be-Startin-Somethin
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.discogs.com/master/223674-Michael-Jackson-With-Akon-Wanna-Be-Startin-Somethin-2008?image=1405633.SW1hZ2U6NDc1NDUwNzc%3D
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/track/0ByMNEPAPpOR5H69DVrTNy?si=4d207c76b08f4680