Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

Album

A Taste of Honey

Label

Epic records

Genre

Funk

Composer(s)

Michael Jackson

Entered Chart

May 28, 1983

Peak Date

Jul 16, 1983

Released

May 8, 1983

Recorded

1978 (original recording) 1982 (re-recorded) Studio Westlake (Los Angeles, California)[1]

Catalog #

Epic 34-03914

B-Side

(instrumental)

Jackson wrote this song, which can be interpreted as an angry attack on the tabloid press and others who hounded him. A struggle with fame and being misunderstood were common themes for Jackson, and in this song he lashes out at those who take advantage of him: "They eat off of you, you're a vegetable." At the end of this song, the chorus is "Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sas." The line is borrowed from Cameroon native Manu Dibango's 1972 song "Funky Soul Makossa." Jackson did not have permission to appropriate the song, and reached an out-of-court settlement with Dibango over the use. Bruce Swedien, who was an engineer on the Thriller sessions, claimed this song is about "Michael's brothers' wives and how they were always creating trouble." This was the fourth of seven US Top 10 hits from the Thriller album. It is by far the top selling album of all time worldwide. "Billie Jean" is mentioned in the lyrics, "Billie Jean is always talkin' when nobody else is talkin'. Tellin' lies and rubbin' shoulders, so they called her mouth a motor." This briefly tells the story of the groupie that claimed Jackson was the father of her child and was the subject of the song, which was also on the Thriller album. Report this ad Various drum machines were used on this track. It's likely that the main rhythm comes from a LM-1 drum machine, which was the first programable machine that used real drum samples. Engineer Bruce Swedien recalls using a Univox. Greg Phillinganes, Michael Boddicker and Bill Wolfer are all credited on synthesizer on this track, and Jackson is one of three people credited for "bathroom stomping board," which gives you an idea of how many sounds were combined to create the backing track. Live musicians include: David Williams - guitar Louis Johnson - bass Paulinho da Costa - percussion Jerry Hey - trumpet and flugelhorn Larry Williams - saxophone and flute Bill Reichenbach - trombone Rihanna sampled the "mama-ko, mama-sa, mama-ma-ko-sa" chant from this on her 2007 international hit single "Don't Stop the Music." This was the opening number at the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration concerts held at Madison Square Garden on September 7 and 10, 2001. At these shows, Jackson watched from the audience as various big-name singers performed in tribute, then he took the stage to perform solo and with his brothers in a Jacksons reunion. The first night, Usher, Mya, and Whitney Houston teamed up for "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'." The second night, Deborah Cox took Houston's place. When the concerts were broadcast as a two-hour TV special, the performance with Houston was used. Usher was Jackson's heir apparent and a huge fan. He had just released his third album, 8701. Julia, Maxine and Oren Waters sang backing vocals on this track. Along with their other sibling Luther, they performed as The Waters and backed hundreds of artists, including Herble Hancock, Bon Jovi and Rod Stewart. The UPC code on the album cover contained seven digits that were rumored to be Jackson's telephone number. People with that number in many different area codes got swamped with annoying calls. In 2008 Jackson re-recorded this song with Akon as "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 08." It was his first entry on the Hot 100 since "One More Chance" peaked at #83 in 2003. This version was included on a special 25th anniversary edition of Thriller.

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)
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)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)

I took my baby to the doctor
With a fever, but nothing 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 wanna be startin' somethin'

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)
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)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)

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'

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)
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)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
You're a vegetable, you're a vegetable
Still they hate you, you're a vegetable
You're just a buffet, you're a vegetable
They eat off of you, you're a vegetable

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 wanna be startin' somethin'

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)
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)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)
You're a vegetable, you're a vegetable
Still they hate you, you're a vegetable
You're just a buffet, you're a vegetable
They eat off of you, you're a vegetable

If you cant 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'

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)
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)
Too low to get under (yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (yeah, yeah)

Lift your head up high
And scream out to the world
I know I am someone
And let the truth unfurl
No one can hurt you now
Because you know what's true
Yes, I believe in me
So do believe in you

Help me sing it
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hoo-hoo)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (help me sing it, babe)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (yeah, sing it to the world)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (sing it out loud)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hoo-hoo)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (help me sing it)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hoo-hoo)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (help me sing it)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hoo-hoo)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (sing it to the world)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hoo-hoo)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (help me sing it, babe)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hee-hee-hee)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (yeah)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (sing it to the world)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (sing it out loud)
Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa (hoo-hoo)