Michael JacksonWanna Be Startin' Somethin'

Genre:

Pop

Style:

Funk

Year:

Tracklist

Michael Jackson Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 4:15
The Jacksons Rock With You (Live) 3:55

Notes

4th single from Thriller was released in the UK on 30 May 1983 on 7" & 12".

The bassline was taken from the album version of "Cerrone - Supernature" (1977).

Thriller Era Official Versions:
Album Version
Single Version
Single Instrumental
12" Extended Mix

95 Versions:
Brothers In Rhythm Mix
Tommy D's Main Mix

Versions

Filter by
    41 versions
    Image , In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory
    Version Details Data Quality
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1982, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7"
    Epic – 34 03914 Canada 1982 Canada1982
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1982, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Pitman Pressing, Company Sleeve
    Epic – 34-03914 US 1982 US1982
    New Submission
    Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo
    Epic – ES 877 Australia 1982 Australia1982
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1982, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
    CBS/Sony – AAP 98 Hong Kong 1982 Hong Kong1982
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo
    Epic – EPCA 12-3427 Europe 1983 Europe1983
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    12", 33 ⅓ RPM
    Epic – 49-03915 US 1983 US1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo
    Epic – A3427 Europe 1983 Europe1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Injection-Moulded Labels
    Epic – A3427 UK 1983 UK1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983-07-25, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    12", Single
    Epic – ES 12068 Australia 1983 Australia1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' / Rock With You (Live), 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' / Rock With You (Live)
    12", 45 RPM, Single
    Epic – TA 3427 UK 1983 UK1983
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo
    Epic – 49-03915 US 1983 US1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
    Epic – 12EXP 03915 Canada 1983 Canada1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Reissue, Styrene
    Epic – 55-03914 US 1983 US1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single
    Epic – EPC A 3427 Spain 1983 Spain1983
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", Single, 45 RPM
    Epic – A3427 1983 1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983-05-00, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Styrene, Pitman Pressing
    Epic – 34-03914 US 1983 US1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' = スタート・サムシング, 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' = スタート・サムシング
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo
    Epic – 07・5P-232 Japan 1983 Japan1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    12", 45 RPM
    Epic – EPC A 12.3427 Spain 1983 Spain1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Grey Injection Labels
    Epic – EPC A 3427 1983 1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' = スタート・サムシング, 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' = スタート・サムシング
    7", 45 RPM, Single
    Epic – 07・5P-232 Japan 1983 Japan1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983-07-25, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", Single, 45 RPM
    Epic – ES 877 Australia 1983 Australia1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", Single, 45 RPM
    Epic – ES 877 New Zealand 1983 New Zealand1983
    Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    12", 33 ⅓ RPM
    CBS – AAP 98 US 1983 US1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo
    Epic – A3427 UK 1983 UK1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Paper Labels
    Epic – A 3427 UK 1983 UK1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo
    Epic – A 3427 Ireland 1983 Ireland1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983-05-08, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo, Carrollton Pressing, Company Sleeve
    Epic – 34-03914 US 1983 US1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Promo, Stereo
    Epic – PRO 323 Netherlands 1983 Netherlands1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' = Quieres Comenzar Algo, 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' = Quieres Comenzar Algo
    7", 45 RPM, Single
    Epic – 7201 Peru 1983 Peru1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Reissue
    Collectables – 55-03914 US 1983 US1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Blue Injection Labels
    Epic – A3427 1983 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Single, Promo
    Epic – EPC A 3427 Spain 1983 Spain1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Blue Injection Labels
    Epic – A3427 1983 1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' , 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", Single
    Epic – EN 5475 South Africa 1983 South Africa1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Styrene, Stereo, Pitman Pressing, Picture Sleeve
    Epic – 34-03914 US 1983 US1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' , 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", Single
    Epic – EN 5475 Zimbabwe 1983 Zimbabwe1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Paper Labels
    Epic – A 3427 UK 1983 UK1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin’, 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin’
    12", 45 RPM, Promo
    Epic – ES 12068 Australia 1983 Australia1983
    Recently Edited
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983-05-00, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene, Stereo, Carrollton pressing
    Epic – 34-03914 US 1983 US1983
    New Submission
    Cover of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', 1983, Vinyl Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    7", 45 RPM, Single, Grey Injection Labels
    Epic – EPC A 3427 1983 1983
    New Submission

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    Reviews

    • serious_effect's avatar
      serious_effect
      Mine has a gold stamp saying "Copy On Loan Only remains property of/ CBS
      • faraz12inch45rpm's avatar
        Nice sounding but I hear a bit of sibilance in the vocals. I don't hear the sibliance on the version on the full album.
        • Green_Doggo_Wisdom's avatar
          Edited 4 years ago
          I wanna hear this version, does anybody know an of this?
          • stini777's avatar
            stini777
            Anyone else have a copy of this where the labels are incorrect? (Instrumental is labeled with the vocal and the vocal is the instrumental)
            • Otori_Kaede's avatar
              Otori_Kaede
              I have the Holland pressed one, 11-003427-20, distributed in by CBS Disques. I can't find it anywhere.
              • GoodNF's avatar
                GoodNF
                Edited 14 years ago
                "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is the opener of the "Thriller" album and was a club favourite way back in 1983. As the album version was played in the clubs, it was a logical consequence this being a single.
                The album version was only extended with three small pieces of extra music, making this version 30 seconds longer than the album version and therefore and "extended version".
                With its closing chant "ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-kossa", the song has a clear reference to Manu Dibango's classic "Soul Makossa".

                One of the most remarkable things about "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is that it has enriched the Dutch dictionary. The aforementioned closing chant is often misheard as a Dutch phrase named "Mama appelsap", meaning something like "Mother apple juice". Several years later, a Dutch radio program adopted the phrase and invited listeners to send their misheard foreign languages lyrics in Dutch. Since then, the term "Mama Appelsap" refers to hearing Dutch language words or phrases in songs of non-Dutch language. Lots of websites are devoted to this phenomenon and several groups about the subject can be found on various social networks.

                Please do not confuse a "Mama Appelsap" with a "mondegreen", which refers to mishearing something in the SAME language, like "the dogs say goodnight" instead of "the dark sacred night" in Louis Armstrong's "What a wonderful world".

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                • Avg Rating:4.52 / 5
                • Ratings:760

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