"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is a song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson released as the first track from the Thriller album. It was released as a single on May 9, 1983, serving as the fourth single from the album. It's considered one of Jackson's most well-known and successful songs.
The 1978 demo was released as a bonus track on the posthumous Michael Jackson's This Is It compilation album.
Background[]
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was recorded in November 1978 with producer Quincy Jones. It was originally meant for Michael's sister La Toya about her troubled relationship with her sisters-in-law, but the former ended up recording the track instead. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' was originally considered for inclusion on Off the Wall, although it didn't make the cut. It was later re-recorded in Fall 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios.
Live performances[]
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was first performed by Jackson on the Victory Tour with his brothers. He'd then go on to perform it on all of his solo concert tours. It was supposed to have been performed during 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.
Lawsuit[]
The refrain "ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa" was interpolated from the 1972 song "Soul Makossa" by Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango. After Jackson's recording was famously sampled for Rihanna's 2007 single, "Don't Stop the Music", in February 2009 Dibango filed a lawsuit for using the hook without his permission against both Rihanna and Jackson, over 25 years after the release of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".[1] Although Jackson granted Rihanna the permission to sample his version, Jackson admitted to having borrowed the hook from Dibango, and settled out of court for 1 million French francs.[2]
2008 Remix[]
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" is a remix released as the thirteenth track on Thriller 25 and the second single from the album. The rework was produced with Akon and Giorgio Tuinfort and recorded in 2007 during sessions for "Hold My Hand" and other unreleased Akon collaborations.[3] It would be the last song released by Jackson during his lifetime to feature completely new vocals. Although Akon is presented as only a feature, he ultimately has more presence in the track than Jackson, who sings a short verse, backing vocals, and ad-libs.
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[]
|
"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.
- Jackson never used playback for this song when performing it live.
- A 1992 Dance Mix was released on Thriller 25, as a Circuit City exclusive.
References[]
- ↑ Rihanna and Michael Jackson sued by African singer | Rihanna | The Guardian
- ↑ How Michael Jackson's famous catchphrase sparked lawsuits - Businessday NG
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/nov/22/akon-michael-jackson
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.discogs.com/release/196049-Michael-Jackson-Wanna-Be-Startin-Somethin
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://www.discogs.com/master/223674-Michael-Jackson-With-Akon-Wanna-Be-Startin-Somethin-2008?image=1405633.SW1hZ2U6NDc1NDUwNzc%3D

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