"Beat It" is a cover song by American rock band Fall Out Boy feat. John Mayer, originally performed by Michael Jackson. It is the ninth track on their debut live album, Live in Phoenix, and was released on March 25, 2008, through Island Records.
Background[]
In early 2008 it was announced that Fall Out Boy were to cover "Beat It" for their Live in Phoenix album. The band had previously performed the song at venues such as Coors Amphitheatre and festivals such as the Carling Weekend in Leeds. Bassist Pete Wentz, who has claimed to have an obsession with Jackson, stated that prior to recording the song, he would only watch Moonwalker. It was also announced that John Mayer was to add the guitar solo previously played by Eddie Van Halen.
The band's lead singer/guitarist Patrick Stump stated that the band had not planned to cover the song. "Basically, I just started playing the riff in sound-check one day, and then we all started playing it, and then we started playing it live, and then we figured we'd record it and put it out with our live DVD." Bassist Pete Wentz added that the band had not originally intended for the song to be released as a single either. "'Beat It' seemed like a song that would be cool and that we could do our own take on", he said. Having spent time deciding on a guitarist for the song, Wentz eventually called John Mayer to add the guitar solo. "We were trying to think about who is a contemporary guitar guy who's going to go down as a legend", Wentz later noted.
Upon its digital release as a single in April 2008, Fall Out Boy's cover of "Beat It" became a mainstay on iTunes' Top 10 chart. The song peaked at No. 8 in Canada, becoming another top 10 hit in the region. It also charted at No. 13 in Australia, No. 14 in New Zealand, No. 75 in Austria and No. 98 in the Netherlands.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
They told him, "Don't you ever come around here
Don't wanna see your face, you better disappear"
The fire's in their eyes and their words are really clear
So beat it, just beat it
You better run, you better do what you can
Don't wanna see no blood, don't be a macho man
You wanna be tough, better do what you can
So beat it, but you wanna be bad
[Chorus]
Just beat it (Beat it) beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it (Beat it) just beat it (Beat it)
Just beat it (Beat it) just beat it (Beat it)
[Verse 2]
They're out to get you, better leave while you can
Don't wanna be a boy, you wanna be a man
You wanna stay alive, better do what you can
So beat it (Beat it) just beat it (Beat it)
You have to show them that you're really not scared
You're playin' with your life, this ain't no truth or dare
They'll kick you, then they'll beat you, then they'll tell you it's fair
So beat it, but you wanna be bad
[Chorus]
Just beat it (Beat it) beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it (Beat it) just beat it (Beat it)
Just beat it (Beat it) just beat it (Beat it)
[Post-Chorus]
Beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
Beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it, uh-uh
Beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it, uh-uh-uh-uh
Beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
[Chorus]
Beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it (Beat it) beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it (Beat it) beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it (Beat it) just beat it (Beat it)
Just beat it (Beat it) just beat it (Beat it)
Just beat it, just beat it
Just beat it, just beat it
Beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
Beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it...
Charts[]
| Chart (2008) | Peak
position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 13 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 75 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia) | 12 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) | 8 |
| Canada (Hot Canadian Digital Singles) | 4 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 21 |
| Germany (Official German Charts) | 69 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 98 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 14 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 21 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 19 |
| US Digital Songs (Billboard) | 8 |
| US Pop 100 (Billboard) | 4 |
| Venezuela Pop rock (Record Report) | 9 |