Beat It

Beat It is a definitive example of the 'Rock-Pop' crossover. Harmonically, it stays strictly within the Eb Aeolian (Natural Minor) scale, eschewing the traditional leading tone (D natural) or V chord (Bb major) found in minor-key classical harmony. This creates a modal, 'heavy' sound that bridges the gap between Michael Jackson's R&B roots and the hard rock style requested by Quincy Jones. The simplicity of the i-VII-VI movement allows the rhythmic syncopation and Eddie Van Halen's blues-inflected solo to take center stage.

Quincy Jones wanted a rock song for the 'Thriller' album, specifically suggesting a track with the energy of The Knack's 'My Sharona'. Michael Jackson went home and composed the riff and melody. He played the drum parts and sang the guitar lines into a tape recorder to demonstrate the arrangement to the musicians.

As a cornerstone of the record-breaking 'Thriller' album, 'Beat It' successfully merged hard rock and dance-pop, featuring a career-defining solo by Eddie Van Halen. The track served as a cultural bridge, breaking racial barriers on radio and MTV with its anti-violence message and aggressive energy.