Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ 2008 (Thriller 25th Anniversary Remix)
Featuring
Producers
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ 2008 (Thriller 25th Anniversary Remix) Lyrics
Konvict
[Verse 1: Akon]
I met her on the walkway
Staring as she walked pass
She looked back at me sideways and said
I can't help but to ask
I said, "You wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'"
We end up goin' back to her place
Wish I could tell you what I saw
The sexiest women in a negligee
We hit it off until the morning
You heard her say
[Hook: Akon]
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
(Why'd I make her say...)
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
Billie Jean is always talkin' when nobody else is talkin'
Tellin' lies and rubbin' shoulders
So they called her mouth a motor
Someone's always tryin'
To start my baby cryin'
Talkin', squealin', lyin'
Sayin' you just want to be startin' somethin'
[Chorus: Akon]
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
[Verse 3: Michael Jackson]
You love to pretend that you're good
When you're always up to no good
You really can't make him hate her
So your tongue became a razor
Someone's always tryin'
To start my baby cryin'
Talkin', squealin', lyin'
You got my baby cryin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
I said you wanna be startin' somethin'
You got to be startin' somethin'
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
[Hook: Akon]
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
(Why'd I make her say...)
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah (Heeey)
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
(I shouldn't have made her say...)
It's gettin' a lil' crazy (It's gettin' a lil' crazy)
Always messin' with my baby (Messin' with my baby)
And that's the reason she cries
When I'm not by her side (By her side)
I have the loneliest night (Without my baby, so lonely)
But what I love 'bout you
Always pop up when I'm thinking about you (Ooh)
I want to bring back the night and share that look on your face (Ooh)
When you say...
[Hook: Akon]
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
(I'd like to make her say...)
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
A-ma-say, ma-ma-sah, ma-ma-coo-sah
[Chorus: Akon]
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
Too high to get over (Yeah, yeah)
Too low to get under (Yeah, yeah)
You're stuck in the middle (Yeah, yeah)
And the pain is thunder (Yeah, yeah)
About
“Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008” is the remixed version of Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'” for Thriller 25, featuring Senagalese-American artist Akon. Released as the second single promoting Thriller 25 on January 23, 2008, it became the last release before Jackson’s death on June 25, 2009, only 15 months later. It charted in 10 regions, included the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart at #2, and even led to the original song recharting as well. After Michael’s death, his catalogue raided charts worldwide, and “Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008” did so in France, and again a year later in 2010. An unofficial promotional video included previous footage of the King of Pop with footage of Akon singing his part.
Michael only handles lead vocals for one verse and chorus during the song, but the hook, chorus, and Verses 2 and 3 are lyrics that survive from the original. Unlike the other remixes, Michael recorded completely new vocals for “Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008”, which he did in November 2007. These were the last new vocals Michael would release in his lifetime. Like the other Thriller “2008” remakes, the song saw mixed critical reviews.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 4.Off the Wall
- 7.Billie Jean
- 10.Beat It
- 14.Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ 2008 (Thriller 25th Anniversary Remix)
- 15.For All Time
- 16.Got the Hots
- 18.Carousel
- 21.I’m So Blue
- 23.Free
- 24.Price of Fame
- 25.Al Capone
- 26.Streetwalker
- 27.Fly Away
- 35.You Can’t Win
- 39.Sunset Driver
- 41.State of Shock
- 44.Cheater
- 45.Monkey Business
- 49.On the Line
- 50.Fall Again
- 51.In the Back
- 52.Beautiful Girl
- 54.We’ve Had Enough
- 56.Enjoy Yourself
- 57.Lovely One
- 59.This Is It
- 66.Hold My Hand
- 70.Monster
- 71.Best of Joy
- 72.Breaking News
- 74.Behind the Mask
- 75.Much Too Soon
- 103.Can You Feel It
- 105.Don’t Stop ’Till You Get Enough (Roger’s Underground Solution Mix) (Missing Lyrics)
- 109.Rock With You (Live)
- 110.Off The Wall (Live)
- 114.Say Say Say
- 118.Thriller (Megamix)
- 142.Jam (Silky 12" Mix)
- 156.Shout
- 157.One More Chance
- 162.DMC Megamix