Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (April 2009) "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" Single by Michael Jackson from the album Thriller Released May 8, 1983 Format 7" vinyl Recorded April 14–November 8, 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California Genre R&B, funk, pop, soul Length 6:02 (album version) 4:17 (single version) 3:56 (2003 edit) Label Epic Writer(s) Michael Jackson Producer Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson Michael Jackson singles chronology "Beat It" (1983) "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (1983) "Human Nature" (1983) Thriller track listing "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" (1) "Baby Be Mine" (2) HIStory Begins track listing "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (13) "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (14) "Heal the World" (15) "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is a song by American R&B musician Michael Jackson, featured on his 1982 sixth studio album Thriller. Released as the fourth single from the album on May 8, 1983, the song peaked at number five on the American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, topped the American Hot Black Singles and Hot Dance Club Songs charts and reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was re-recorded with hip hop artist Akon for the 2008 reissue album Thriller 25 under the title "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" and was released as a single, charting at number 48 on the Billboard Pop 100 in the United States. Contents [hide] 1 Overview 2 The African Chant 3 Performance and choreography 4 Track listing 5 Mixes 6 Personnel 7 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008 7.1 Credits 8 In popular culture 9 Chart performance 9.1 Certifications 9.2 End Of Year Charts 10 Sources 11 References 12 External links [edit] Overview "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was written by Jackson in 1978 and originally intended for release on his 1979 fifth studio album, Off the Wall. The song was not recorded, however, until the 1982 sessions for Thriller, the album on which it was eventually released. The song is about rumors and contains a reference to Billie Jean. At six minutes and three seconds, "Wanna Be Startin Somethin'" is also the longest song on Thriller. "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. [edit] The African Chant The song ends with a chorus repeatedly singing "Mama-se, mama-sa, ma-ma-coo-sa". According to writer Mark Anthony Neal, "the lyrics were taken directly from the music of Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango who broke into the American market in 1973 with his classic 'Soul Makossa'." Kelefa Sanneh of The New Yorker magazine, explains that "Soul Makossa", "was [a big] hit, in Africa, in Europe, and in America, where it came to be seen as one of the first disco records". Also, Sanneh explains that, "[Dibango] named his song after the makossa, a Cameroonian dance, but he stretched the word out, [and] played with it [so that it sounded like]: 'Ma-mako, ma-ma-ssa, mako-makossa'."[1] Although Jackson's chant imitates Dibango's chant, Jackson's version is essentially a mispronunciation of the word Dibango is chanting. Jackson's version of the Dibango chant has since been sampled and incorporated into other songs, including an interpretation by Rihanna on her 2007 single, "Don't Stop the Music", and the hook was also been sampled in D12 and Obie Trice's song "Doe Rae Me". Charles Hamilton makes a reference to the chant in his song, "Brooklyn Girls". [edit] Performance 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 had become Jackson's song of choice for opening live concerts, partly due to "startin' something" such as the concert. 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 that happened during live performances were the physically complicated "stop/start" dance technique that brought Jackson and his dancers to a frozen stop several times, and the sing-along between performer and audience during the bridge. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was also used on every set list of Jackson's tours, from the Victory Tour in 1984, right the way through to the HIStory Tour in 1997. [edit] Track listing United States version "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (7" edit) – 4:17 "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (instrumental) – 6:30 United Kingdom version "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (album version) – 6:02 "Rock with You" (live with The Jacksons) – 3:58 [edit] Mixes Album version – 6:03 12" version – 6:30 Instrumental – 6:30 7" edit – 4:17 Brothers in Rhythm House Mix – 7:40 Tommy D's Main Mix – 7:35 "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" (with Akon) - 3:45 "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" (with Akon) (Johnny Vicious Radio Mix) - 3:36 "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" (with Akon) (Johnny Vicious Club Remix) - 9:03 "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" (with Akon) (Johnny Vicious Warehouse Thrilla Dub) - 7:23 [edit] Personnel Musicians Michael Jackson – lead vocals, backing vocals, production Greg Phillinganes – Rhodes piano, synthesizers Michael Boddicker – synthesizers Bill Wolfer – synthesizers David Williams – guitar Louis Johnson – bass Paulinho Da Costa – percussion Jerry Hey – trumpets, flugelhorns Gary Grant – trumpets, flugelhorns Larry Williams – saxophone, flute Bill Reichenbach – trombone Backing vocalists Julia Waters Maxine Waters Oren Waters James Ingram Bunny Hull Becky Lopez Additional personnel Quincy Jones – production [edit] Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008 "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" Single by Michael Jackson and Akon from the album Thriller 25 Released January 23, 2008 (Digital download) March 21, 2008 (Digital download, CD single, 12" vinyl single) [2] March 25, 2008 (Digital download, CD single) June 16, 2008 (Digital download) Format Digital download Recorded 2007 Genre Ballad, soul, hip-hop, R&B, dance, pop Length 4:11 (Album Version) Label Epic, Legacy Recordings Writer(s) Michael Jackson, Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort Producer Michael Jackson, Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort Michael Jackson singles chronology "The Girl Is Mine 2008" (2008) "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" (2008) "Thriller Megamix" (2009) Akon singles chronology "I'll Still Kill" (2007) "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" (2008) "What You Got" (2008) In the United States, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" was released as the first downloadable single (although "The Girl Is Mine 2008" was the first release internationally) from Jackson's latest album Thriller 25 on January 23.[3][4] It is a re-worked, updated version featuring Akon on lead vocals with Michael Jackson on backing vocals. However, it was also played in full at least a week earlier on the Bristol and South Wales station Kiss 101 part of the Kiss Network, and it had leaked on the internet in late 2007 (a demo version without background vocals including Jackson's part also exists). In the U.S., the single premiered on the Providence, Rhode Island-based Top-40 station WPRO-FM.[5] The single had its physical release in Germany on March 21, 2008 (2-track, 3-track CDs + 12" Vinyl) and in France on March 25, 2008. In France, a special edition of the 2-track CD with a picture of Jackson and Akon on the cover was released on April 7, 2008.[6] The single received its official premier UK radio play on GCap Media's Music Control radio show presented by Kevin Hughes across The One Network on January 24, 2008. The song was officially released in the UK on June 16, 2008 despite the fact that it has already entered the singles chart once already at number 69. The song was certified gold in Australia for sales of 35,000 copies.[7] The song has a music video; it features clips of Michael Jackson's older music videos and clips of Akon singing his parts. This was Michael Jackson's final single before his death on June 25, 2009. [edit] Credits Original song written by Jackson Original recording produced by Jones/Jackson Remix written by Akon/Tuinfort/Jackson Remix instrumentation and additional programming: Akon/Tuinfort Remix mixed by Mark "Evil" Goodchild Remix produced by Akon/Jackson/Tuinfort [edit] In popular culture 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. Wayans also included the gag in an episode of My Wife and Kids in a scene where a midwife tries to show his daughter-in-law (Brooklyn Sudano) birthing techniques, including a chant of "mama-se, mama-sa, mama-coosa". Similarly, on the sitcom The Wayans Bros., when Marlon joined a cult, he chanted "mama-se, mama-sa, mama-coo-sa", as the cult's phrase. In an episode of Martin entitled "The Night He Came Home", Martin Lawrence tries to undo a supposed demonic possession by chanting the words "mama-se, mama-sa, mama-coosa". In an episode of The Steve Harvey Show entitled "Nightmare on Steve's Street", Steve, Cedric, Regina, & Lovita chant "Mama-se, mama-sa, ma-ma-koo-sa" during a seance. Cedric then surprises the others by standing up & imitating Jackson, singing "You've been hit by; you been struck by...", quoting the chorus of "Smooth Criminal". In an episode of Will & Grace entitled "From Queer to Eternity", Jack finds a former acting student has stolen his catch phrase - "acting is attracting". Jack then says; "That's my catch phrase. Well, that and "ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa." Icelandic singer Björk sang part of the song live, on her B-side "I Go Humble" during the Homogenic tour, a recording of a live performance including the reprise was released on her Live Box Set. Rihanna sampled the song for her third single from the 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad, called "Don't Stop the Music". The phrase "mama-se, mama-se, mama-coosa" is used in a scat section in "The Song That Goes Like This (Reprise)" sung by the Lady of the Lake; from the Monty Python musical Spamalot. In an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the character Xander Harris tried to distract some bullies pursuing him by talking about what a great song "Wanna Be Startin' Something'" is, half singing, "Too high to get over, yeah yeah, too low to get under, yeah yeah." The Bloodhound Gang has a song called "Mama Say" where they repeatedly say the chant as well as making various famous Michael Jackson noises at the end. On the "Wingmen" episode of The Boondocks, Cairo's new best friend introduces himself as "Dewey Obababa-ooooooo Ma Ma Se, Ma Ma Sa, Ma Ma Coosa... Jenkins". The track is featured in Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on the Fever 105 in-game radio station. Satirical news anchor Stephen Colbert referred to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Mahmoud Ahmemedimeme..mamasemamasamamacoosa-jad. (Or something) In an episode of The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Grim tries to bring a clown balloon monster to life by using the chant. Background vocals sampled in "The Drums" by House artist Basic J. In the Nintendo DS version of The Urbz: Sims in the City, if you talk to Mambo Loa and select the "Jibba Jabba" option, she says "Mamma-say, mamma-saw, mamma mah-koo-sah! Sing it with me!" In Celebrity Big Brother 2009, LaToya Jackson performed the song as a task for the other housemates. In Doogle, the snail uses the chant to talk to a moose, marking it as "moose language". [edit] Chart performance Chart (1983) Peak position Australian Singles Chart 25 Dutch Top 40[8] 1 UK Singles Chart[9] 8 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 5 U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles 1 Chart (2008) Peak position Australian Singles Chart[10] 8 Belgian Singles Chart[11] 15 Canadian Hot 100[12] 32 Czech Republic Singles Chart[13] 50 Danish Singles Chart[14] 29 European Hot 100 Singles[15] 87 French Singles Chart[16] 10 German Singles Chart[17] 63 Greek Singles Chart[18] 10 Italian Singles Chart[11] 20 Japan Hot 100[19] 52 Luxembourg Singles Chart[20] 23 Macedonian Radio Chart[21] 4 New Zealand Singles Chart[22] 4 Swedish Singles Chart[23] 3 Swiss Singles Chart 30[24] UK Singles Chart[25] 69 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[26] 81 U.S. Billboard Pop 100[26] 48 Chart (2009) Peak position Swiss Singles Chart 37[24] UK Singles Chart 57 U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs[27] 20 1983: Michael Jackson 2008: Michael Jackson with Akon 2009: Michael Jackson [edit] Certifications Version Country Certification Sales 2008 Australia Gold[28] 35,000+ [edit] End Of Year Charts Year Country Chart Ranking 2008 Australia ARIA #65[29] [edit] Sources Moonwalk — by Michael Jackson, edited by Jackie Onassis (Doubleday 1988, ISBN 0-385-24712-5) The Michael Jackson Story — by Nelson George (Dell 1983, ISBN 0-440-15592-4) Trapped: Michael Jackson and the Crossover Dream — by Dave Marsh (Bantam 1985, ISBN 0-553-34241-X) Thriller – Special Edition (Epic Records, 2001 — selected interviews) Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection (Epic Records, 2004 — liner notes) Music Control Radio AllMusic.com MJJSource.com MichaelJackson.com [edit] References ^ Sanneh, Kelef. "Michael Jackson." The New Yorker, July 9, 2009. [1] ^ SONY BMG - Michael Jackson - Diskografie ^ [2] ^ The Michael Jackson Fan Club - 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'' On Download ^ Music Control ^ michaeljackson-officiel.fr ^ [3] ^ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 30, 1983". http://www.radio538.nl/web/show/id=44685/chartid=6009. Retrieved on 2008-02-23. ^ h8p://www.everyhit.com ^ Australian ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. ARIA Charts. Retrieved on February 4, 2008. ^ a b ultratop.be - Michael Jackson with Akon - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008 ^ Billboard.com - Charts - Singles - Canadian Hot 100 ^ Čns Ifpi ^ Denmark singles chart ^ Europe singles chart ^ France singles ^ germany ^ Ελληνικό Chart ^ Japan Singles Chart ^ ELDORADIO, LUXEMBOURG'S HITRADIO – 105.0 & 107.2 MHz FM - Music / Chartbreaker ^ Antenna5 ^ nztop40.com ^ The Michael Jackson Fan Club - Charts Update Sweden ^ a b "Swiss Singles Chart Archives". hitparade.ch. http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=Wanna+Be+Startin%27+Somethin%27&cat=s. Retrieved on July 18, 2009. ^ Chart Stats : UK Singles Chart ^ a b Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Michael Jackson ^ [4] ^ http://aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2008Singles.htm ^ http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2008.htm [edit] External links Michael Jackson "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" Collection [show]v • d • eMichael Jackson singles Got to Be There "Got to Be There" · "Rockin' Robin" · "I Wanna Be Where You Are" · "Ain't No Sunshine" Ben "Ben" Music & Me "With a Child's Heart" · "Happy" Forever, Michael "We're Almost There" · "Just a Little Bit of You" The Wiz "Ease on Down the Road" · "You Can't Win" · Off the Wall "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" · "Rock with You" · "Off the Wall" · "She's Out of My Life" · "Girlfriend" One Day in Your Life "One Day in Your Life" Thriller "The Girl Is Mine" · "Billie Jean" · "Beat It" · "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" · "Human Nature" · "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" · "Thriller" Bad "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" · "Bad" · "The Way You Make Me Feel" · "Man in the Mirror" · "Dirty Diana" · "Another Part of Me" · "Smooth Criminal" · "Leave Me Alone" · "Liberian Girl" Dangerous "Black or White" · "Remember the Time" · "In the Closet" · "Jam" · "Who Is It" · "Give In to Me" · "Heal the World" · "Will You Be There" · "Gone Too Soon" HIStory "Scream/Childhood" · "You Are Not Alone" · "Earth Song" · "They Don't Care About Us" · "Stranger in Moscow" Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix "Blood on the Dance Floor" · "HIStory/Ghosts" Invincible "You Rock My World" · "Cry" · "Butterflies" Number Ones "One More Chance" Thriller 25 "The Girl Is Mine 2008" · "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" Notable collaborations and album tracks "Say Say Say" · "Somebody's Watching Me" · "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin'" · "We Are the World" · "Get It" · "Dangerous" · "D.S." · "Why" · "I Need You" · "What More Can I Give" · "Do the Bartman" [show]v • d • eAkon Albums Trouble · Konvicted · Freedom Singles "Locked Up" · "Ghetto" · "Lonely" · "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" · "Pot of Gold" · "Smack That" · "I Wanna Love You" · "Don't Matter" · "Mama Africa" · "Sorry, Blame It on Me" · "Never Took the Time" · "I Can't Wait" · "Right Now (Na Na Na)" · "I'm So Paid" · "Beautiful" · "Be with You" · "We Don't Care" Featured singles "Find Us" · "Soul Survivor" · "Moonshine" · "Girls" · "Snitch" · "I Am Not My Hair" · "The Sweet Escape" · "I Tried" · "We Takin' Over" · "Bartender" · "The Way She Moves" · "Speaker" · "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" · "Graveyard Shift" · "Hypnotized" · "Get Buck in Here" · "I'll Still Kill" · "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" · "What You Got" · "Dangerous" · "Frozen" · "What's Love" · "Out Here Grindin" · "Body on Me" · "Am I Dreaming" · "Wake It Up" · "Day Dreaming" · "One" · "Just Go" · "Stuck with Each Other" · "Overtime" · "Be with You" · "All Up 2 You" Related articles Discography · Awards and nominations Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanna_Be_Startin%27_Somethin%27" Categories: Michael Jackson songs | 1983 singles | 2008 singles | Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one singles | Dance-pop songs | Post-disco songs | Dutch Top 40 number-one singles | RPM Top Singles number-one singles | Songs written by Michael Jackson