It is certified 5x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also charted at number one on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, staying there for three weeks. and I wanted the children to really enjoy it-the school children as well as the college students.' It includes a guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen.įollowing the successful Thriller singles ' The Girl Is Mine' and ' Billie Jean', 'Beat It' was released on February 14, 1983, as the album's third single. Jackson later said: 'I wanted to write a song, the type of song that I would buy if I were to buy a rock song. Jones encouraged Jackson to include a rock song on the album. It was written by Jackson and produced by Jackson and Quincy Jones.
' Beat It' is a song by American singer Michael Jackson from his sixth studio album, Thriller (1982).
