R.I.P Eddie Van Halen - 10/10 Song Review: Michael Jackson - Beat it Ft. Eddie Van Halen (Uncredited)

 Year Released: 1983 (On album in 1982)

 In memory of Eddie Van Halen (1955 - 2020)

 Rather than review a Van Halen song, I decided to review a song that I will remember Eddie's crazy guitar skills for, Michael Jackson's 'Beat it'. A quick apology to Johnny Nash. I actually did not get the news of his passing until the review was finished (this is added later), but please, listen to his 'I can see clearly right now', it is a classic in its own right.

Prior to personal controversies, Michael Jackson's 'Beat it' is an undisputed classic. You know it will be good when you hear the unsettling percussion and synths in the beginning, worth creating an entirely different track in its own right.

But then, the guitar kicks in. The guitar which separates this from other Michael Jackson tracks. Between the rock riffs, the synths actually never leave, standing as undying support in the verses. Michael's vocal is powerful and aggressive. This is accurate given the subject.

The chorus is one of the track's intense moments. The synth constantly pounds one note, the guitar stays the same (allowing the flow to stay from the verses), the big difference is Michael's voice, which gets more aggressive, bordering shouting. This works perfectly with the lyrics and concept. While so strong, the chorus also has a melancholy feel maintained throughout. How Michael managed to do that is above me.

After another stand-out verse and chorus (with more ad-libbing), the song reaches then Perhaps The Greatest Guitar Solo of all time. After some building with a repeated guitar section (legendary in its own right), Eddie Van Halen lets it rip so quickly that I really am just blown. I'd call this riff the Chromatic Fantasy of guitars (if you don't know chromatic fantasy, look at the link, it's by Bach). It is unhinged, uncontrolled, with a sense of flow. If it sounds like nonsense, you clearly have not heard the guitar solo before. Eddie's talents on the guitar were near unmatched during the era, and the Beat It riff is arguably his best.

The chorus builds in right at the tail-end of the rock riff and moves into Jackson ad-libbing over the chorus. One of the best in Jackson's stellar list of singles, this is one of the best songs ever. You will be missed, Eddie Van Halen.

Rating: 10/10

Photo Source: The List