Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’

E795810

"Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’" is an energetic funk and post-disco song by Michael Jackson, known for its driving rhythm, socially charged lyrics, and memorable "mama-say mama-sa mama-coo-sa" chant.

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Observed surface forms (2)

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf single
song
album Thriller NERFINISHED
artist Michael Jackson NERFINISHED
associatedAct Quincy Jones NERFINISHED
backingVocalsBy Michael Jackson NERFINISHED
chartPerformance Canadian Singles Chart top 10
UK Singles Chart top 10
US Billboard Hot 100 top 10
co-producer Michael Jackson NERFINISHED
composer Michael Jackson NERFINISHED
countryOfOrigin United States of America
surface form: United States
era Thriller era
genre R&B
dance-pop
funk
post-disco
hasCallAndResponse vocal call-and-response sections
hasChant mama-say mama-sa mama-coo-sa
hasMusicVideo no official original-era music video
includedIn album Thriller
isEnergetic true
language English
lyricalTheme gossip and rumors
media pressure
social commentary
notableElement extended vocal chant outro
percussive rhythm section
prominent horn arrangements
openingTrackOf Thriller NERFINISHED
partOf Thriller NERFINISHED
performer Michael Jackson NERFINISHED
producer Quincy Jones NERFINISHED
recordingPeriod 1982
recordLabel Epic Records
releaseDate 1983-05-08
rhythmStyle driving groove
side A-side
tempo up-tempo
tourUsage performed on Bad World Tour NERFINISHED
performed on Dangerous World Tour NERFINISHED
performed on HIStory World Tour
performed on This Is It rehearsals
performed on Victory Tour NERFINISHED
trackNumberOnAlbum 1
vocalist Michael Jackson NERFINISHED
vocalStyle high-energy lead vocals
writer Michael Jackson NERFINISHED

Referenced by (10)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I containsSong Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
Victory Tour with The Jacksons featuredWork Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
this entity surface form: Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Dangerous World Tour featuresSong Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
this entity surface form: Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
MJ the Musical hasNotableSong Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
Mijac Music hasNotableWorkRights Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
Thriller (album) hasPart Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
Bad World Tour includesSong Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
Soul Makossa isSampledIn Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
Beat It precedesSingle Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
this entity surface form: Wanna Be Startin Somethin
Don't Stop the Music usesSampleOf Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
this entity surface form: Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'