What is beat it?

Beat It: A Quick Overview

"Beat It" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson, released as the third single from his sixth studio album, Thriller (1982).

  • Genre: The song is primarily considered a hard rock and pop rock song with elements of funk. It prominently features a guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen.

  • Lyrics and Theme: The lyrics of "Beat It" address the dangers of gang violence and encourage conflict resolution through walking away from confrontation.

  • Music Video: The "Beat It" music video is iconic and features a large-scale dance sequence involving rival gangs. It helped break down racial barriers on MTV and became a signature visual for Jackson.

  • Reception and Impact: "Beat It" was a massive commercial and critical success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1984. The song is considered one of Jackson's signature songs and remains highly influential.