Welcome back, readers! I hope you enjoyed last week’s Michael Jackson Tribute post to “Human Nature”. With the shock of the gloved one’s death still flooding news channels and papers regarding his tragic passing, star-studded funeral service, and talks of tribute concerts, it’s increasingly difficult to focus on any other musicians right now. And I’ve really been enjoying radio stations playing copious amounts of his latest and greatest hits for my daily commute. In any case, I’d like to dedicate Under Cover to MJ for the next few weeks until things calm down, the toxicology reports are in, and the masses go back to discussing Kim Kardashian’s behind, Heidi and Spencer’s latest fame-whoring project, and whatever get-over-yourself comment Megan Fox dishes out to the press. You know, the usual hard-hitting journalism this country loves to dole out from its celebrity-obsessed Pez dispenser.
This week we shall focus on “Beat It”. My sisters and I used to do the dance sequence towards the end of the video when the two gangs bust out the moves in sync with Michael. Well, we attempted them before stumbling to the floor in bouts of laughter and excitement. A lot of people think “Thriller” had their favorite choreography, but I always preferred the steps from “Beat It”. That Eddie Van Halen guitar solo, the West Side Story cliche street toughs, and MJ coming in to save the day by proving dancing can solve any kind of street fight. See, if Nancy Reagan had hired Michael to choreograph her “Just Say No!” anti-drug campaign, maybe she would have made more headway? Because let’s face it… Michael was right. We “don’t wanna see no blood, don’t be a macho man!” It don’t matter how funky and strong your fight is, just beat it punk!
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Michael Jackson – “Beat It” (original, 1983)
“You’re playin’ with your life, this ain’t no truth or dare!” What a timeless video of epic proportions!? Even if you’re not partial to this track, I find it hard to believe anyone would not at least enjoy watching this. The grittiness of the music video complements the edgy, rockier feel… and talk about diversity! It’s always nice to know the thug game is equal opportunity. Watch here!
Weird Al Yankovic cover (1984)
“Eat it, eat it, get yourself an egg and beat it!” If Michael Jackson is/was the King of Pop, then Weird Al would be King of the Parody. No stranger to covering MJ, “Eat It” is probably his most famous cover. It’s actually pretty hysterical. I love how the gangs fight each other with spoons (unlike knives in the original) and the expression ons his face at 1:09 mark, where he gets up angrily from bed just the way MJ does… he’s even wearing the same music notes t-shirt and red pants, ha! Silly goose. Watch here!
Metallica cover (2003) – 1:35 mark
Dude alert! Guitar aficionados everywhere will get amped over this little snippet of MJ appreciation. I hope Michael was somewhere watching this VMA’s performance, just smiling about his incredible musical reach.
Fall Out Boy (featuring John Mayer on guitar) cover (2008)
Before you yell at me for wasting precious moments of your life you will never get back, at least give Fall Out Boy props for choosing an unlikely cover song. The video is.. strange. The cover is… utterly pointless and non-sensical. But an MJ tribute is still a tribute. Decide for yourself, then beat it (beat it, beat it). Watch here!
MJ featuring Fergie (vocals) and Will.i.am (producer) cover (2008)
Off the Thriller 25 album, this one’s entitled “Beat It 2008.” Don’t the Black Eyed Peas have a management team? Who the hell allowed this mess to happen? Sorry Fergalicious, but Michael Jackson “is so 3008″ and you’re just “2000 and late” for giving up your musical career already! One witty critic was thankful they kept the Eddie Van Halen guitar solo, but said this cover “holds the dubious honor of making Jackson seem masculine for once, and only in the context of Fergie’s tough-by-way-of-Kids Incorporated interpretation of the tune.” Need we say more? Watch here!
Chipmunks cover
I had to end the feature on a higher note (literally) to make up for some of the epic fail moments in cover musical history. Hey look, they even put on their most thuggy attire just for you guys. These Chipmunks have the kind of musical longevity most people in the business can only dream about!
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R.I.P. MJ!
