Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Thriller
B-side	"Rock with You" (live)
Released	May 8, 1983 (1983-05-08)
Format	7" vinyl / 12"
Recorded	1982
Genre	Funk, post-disco[1], dance-pop, R&B, synthpop, pop rock
Length	6:02 (Album Version) 4:17 (Single Version) 6:30 (12" Version)
Label	Epic
Writer(s)	Michael Jackson
Producer	Quincy Jones Michael Jackson (co-producer)
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Beat It" (1983) "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (1983) "Human Nature" (1983)
Thriller track listing "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (1) "Baby Be Mine" (2) HIStory Begins track listing "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" (13) "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (14) "Heal the World" (15) This Is It track listing "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (1) "Jam" (2)

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is a song by American songwriter and recording artist Michael Jackson. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was released on May 8, 1983, by Epic Records as the fourth single from Jackson's sixth studio album Thriller in 1982. It is the first song on Thriller. The song was written, composed and co-produced by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones.

The song's lyrics pertain to strangers spreading rumors to begin or start an argument for no good reason. Musically, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" has a cross-cultural disco theme, similar to Jackson's material from his previous album Off the Wall in 1979. The song's rhythm arrangement consists of interweaving drum-machine patterns, while the horn arrangement is brassy and precise. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" has been covered and sampled by multiple recording artists since its release. Aside from Thriller, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" appears on multiple compilation and greatest hits albums by Jackson.

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was generally well received by contemporary music critics. The song was also commercially successful, charting within the top 20 and top 30 in multiple countries. The song became Jackson's fifth consecutive top ten single in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking within the top ten at number five. The song re-entered charts in 2008 after the release of Thriller 25. Following Jackson's death in June 2009, the song re-entered music charts worldwide, mainly due to digital download sales. Unlike previous singles from Thriller, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" did not have a music video to accompany it, but was performed by Jackson on world concert tours, as both a member of The Jacksons and as a solo artist.

As part of the release of Thriller 25, a remix of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", entitled "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008", was recorded with Akon, and released as the second single from the album. The song was commercially successful, mainly charting within the top ten in six countries, as well as the top 20 in several territories worldwide and top 40 in Canada. The song was more successful internationally than in the United States, having peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 81, which was the song's lowest charting position.

Background

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was written, composed, and co-produced by Michael Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones. It was originally written for his sister La Toya Jackson about her troubled relationship with her sisters-in-law^{[citation needed]}, but Michael ended up recording the song and La Toya sometimes performs the song at her concerts. The song was originally recorded in 1978 for the inclusion on the Off the Wall album, but was later re-recorded in fall 1982, in Los Angeles, California.^[2] "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was one of the four songs that Jackson received writing credits on for his sixth studio album Thriller in 1982.^[2] The song was released by Epic Records as the fourth single from the album. Unlike Thriller's previous singles, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" did not have a film or a music video released to promote it.

Aside from Thriller, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" has been featured on multiple compilation and greatest hits albums by Jackson since the song's release.^[3] "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" appeared on the first disc of Jackson's two-disc complication album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I in 1995 as well as the 25th anniversary edition of Thriller, entitled Thriller 25, and the greatest hits album King of Pop; both albums were released in 2008.^[3] The song is also featured on the greatest hits album The Essential Michael Jackson and the compilation album This Is It.^[3]

Composition

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was viewed as being a freewheeling, cross-cultural disco song, that shows similarities to Jackson's material on his previous studio album, Off the Wall in 1979.^[3] The song's rhythm arrangement (which was arranged by Jackson himself) is a complex interweaving of drum-machine patterns and work by percussionist Paulinho da Costa, while the horn arrangement, by Jerry Hey, is brassy and precise.^[3] Slant Magazine commented that the song was a "complicated tapestry of colliding hooks and pop references."^[4] The song's lyrics, "Too high to get over, too low to get under", has strong similarities to Funkadelic's opening salvo for "One Nation Under a Groove".^[4]

The song's lyrics pertain to the media and press, as well as gossip and people trying to start arguments or problems for no reason, which he states in the lyrics, "Someone's always tryin' to start my baby crying," and then goes to a more "quasi paranoia" yield in the "near-bitterness" chorus, 'You're a vegetable, you're a vegetable/They'll eat off you, you're a vegetable.'"^[5] In "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", Jackson's vocal range spans from G#3 to E5.^[6] The song is played in the key of E Major.^[6] The song is moderately bright and its metronome is 120 beats per minute.^[6] The song has a basic sequence of D/E–E–D/E–E as its chord progression.^[6] The coda at the end of the song comes directly from Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango's 1972 disco song "Soul Makossa". The coda is "Mama-say mama-sah ma-ma-coo-sah".^[4] Makossa is a Cameroonian music genre and dance. Dibango sued Jackon and settled out of court for one million French francs, agreeing thereby to waive future rights to this recording but not future use of the material.^[7][8][9]

Critical reception

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" has received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics. Christopher Connelly, a writer for Rolling Stone, described "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" as being Thriller's "most combative track".^[5] Connelly noted that in the "hyperactive" song Jackson's "emotions are so raw that the song nearly goes out of control".^[5] He further commented that the song has a "tune that's almost as exciting as seeing Jackson motivate himself across a concert stage – and a lot more unpredictable".^[5] Remarking that while the song's lyrics "won't keep Elvis Costello awake nights" they "do show that Jackson has progressed past the hey-let's-hustle sentiments that dominated Off the Wall".^[5] He added that Jackson's "raw ability and conviction make material like", citing "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", as well as other of Thriller's songs, "into first-class cuts".^[5]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine, a writer for Allmusic, listed "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", along with "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "Human Nature", as being the best songs from Thriller.^[10] Eric Herderson, a writer for Slant Magazine, commented that with "three quick rimshots", he felt that "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was like a "court fanfare".^[4] Robert Christgau, a music critic, commented that he'd "expect to bear more" of Thriller's "Wanna Be Startin' Something" and "Thriller" on the "dancefloor" rather than in his "living room".^[11] "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" received one Grammy Award nomination.^[12] The song was nominated for "Best R&B Song" at the 1984 Grammy Awards, but lost to "Billie Jean," another of Jackson's singles from Thriller.^[12]

Chart performance

In 1983, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" had a good chart performance worldwide. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart top ten positions on July 2, 1983 at number nine, having moved up six places from the song's previous week.^[13] On July 16, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" charted at number five, which was the song's peak position on the chart.^[13] The song's peak position made "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" Thriller's fourth consecutive single to peak within the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100.^[14] "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was more commercially successful than Thriller's follow-up single "Human Nature" on the Billboard Hot 100, with the song peaking on the chart at number seven.^[14] The song also peaked within the top ten, at number five, on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart.^[14] Internationally, the song was commercially successful, mainly charting within the top 20 and top 30 on music charts. In the United Kingdom, on June 11, 1983, the song entered the chart's top 40 positions at number 38.^[15] The following week the song moved up 24 positions to number 14, and on June 25, the song peaked within the top ten at number eight.^[15] The song remained on the charts for a total of nine weeks in 1983.^[15] In New Zealand, on July 24, 1983, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" entered the charts at number 47.^[16] The following week, the song peaked at number 35, which was its peak position.^[16] The song remained in the top 50 of the chart for three weeks.^[16] "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" entered Dutch charts on July 9, 1983, charting within the top five at number four.^[17] The following week the song charted at number three, which was its peak position, for three consecutive weeks.^[17] The song charted within the top ten for several weeks, and remained in the top 20 for ten weeks in 1983.^[17]

In 2008, after the release of Thriller 25 the song re-entered music charts worldwide. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" entered Italian music charts on February 21, 2008, charting at number 14; the song remained on the chart for only one week.^[18] The song entered Danish music charts on February 28, charting within the top 30 at number 29.^[19] The following week the song charted at number 22, where it peaked.^[19] In Switzerland, the song entered the top 50 at number 47 on February 24, 2008.^[20] The following week the song peaked at number 30.^[20] After a total of six weeks on the chart the song, fell out of the top 100, and after four weeks reentered the chart at number 83, before falling off the chart again.^[20] Following Jackson's death in June 2009, his music experienced a surge in popularity.^[21] "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" re-entered the United Kingdom charts on July 4, 2009, at number 72.^[15] The following week the song charted at 51 and the next week it charted outside the top 100 positions.^[15] On July 12, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" re-entered Switzerland music charts for the second time.^[20] The song charted at number 37, which was its peak position.^[20] The song remained on the charts for three weeks, before charting out of the top 100 positions.^[20]

Live performances

Jackson and background dancers performing "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" during rehearsals for the This Is It concerts. Video footage of performances of the song were featured in the film Michael Jackson's This Is It in 2009.

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was performed by Jackson as both a member of The Jacksons as well as a solo artist during world concert tours. The song, as well as other songs from Thriller, were performed by Jackson during The Jacksons final world concert series, Victory Tour in 1984, the song was the tours opening song. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was performed during all of Jackson's concert tours as a solo artist. Similar to the Victory Tour, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was the Bad World Tour opening song on both tour legs. The concert series lasted from 1987 to 1989.

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was also performed during Jackson's Dangerous World Tour from June 1992 to November 1993. The Dangerous World Tour was supposed to last longer, but was cancelled due to Jackson's health concerns, as well as the stress from the child sexual abuse accusations made against him. The next, and what would be the last performance of the song, was during Jackson's world concert tour, HIStory World Tour, from 1996 to 1997.

Since March 2009, Jackson was preparing to perform "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" during his This Is It concert series from 2009 to 2010.^[22] During rehearsals for the This Is It concerts, Jackson's performance of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" contained a capella snippet of "Speechless", from Jackson's studio album Invincible (2001). Following Jackson's death in June of the same year, video footage of Jackson rehearsing the song was featured in the 2009 concert documentary, Michael Jackson's This Is It.^[23] The video footage was also featured on the film's DVD.^[24]

Personnel

Written and composed, lead vocals by Michael Jackson Produced by Quincy Jones Co-Produced by Michael Jackson Greg Phillinganes: Rhodes, synthesizer Michael Boddicker and Bill Wolfer: Synthesizer David Williams: Guitar Louis Johnson: Bass Paulinho Da Costa: Percussion Jerry Hey, Gary Grant: Trumpets, flugelhorns

Larry Williams: Saxophone, flute Bill Reichenbach: Trombone Michael Jackson, Nelson Hayes & Steven Ray: Bathroom stomp board Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones Horn arrangement by Jerry Hey and Michael Jackson Background Vocals: Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters, James Ingram, Michael Jackson, Bunny Hull, Becky Lopez Samples Manu Dibango's 1972 Soul Makossa

Track listing

United States version "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (Single Version) – 4:19 "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (instrumental) – 4:19

United Kingdom version "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (Single Version) – 4:19 "Rock with You" (live with The Jacksons) – 3:58

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008"
Single by Michael Jackson featuring Akon
from the album Thriller 25
Released	January 23, 2008
Format	Digital download, CD
Recorded	2007
Genre	Soul, hip hop, R&B, dance, pop
Length	4:14 (Album Version) 3:51 (Radio Edit)
Label	Epic, Legacy Recordings
Writer(s)	Michael Jackson Aliaune Thiam Giorgio Tuinfort
Producer	Michael Jackson Akon Giorgio Tuinfort
Certification	Gold (Australia)
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"The Girl Is Mine 2008" (2008) "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" (2008) "Mind Is the Magic" (2010)
Akon singles chronology "I'll Still Kill" (2007) "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" (2008) "What You Got" (2008) Thriller 25 track listing "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008" (12) "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" (13) "Beat It 2008" (14)

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", was re-recorded for the 2008 re-issue of Thriller, entitled Thriller 25, similar to "Beat It 2008", the song was titled on the CD sleeve as "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008 with Akon". Recorded in 2007, the 2008 version features remix elements and additional vocals from Akon.^[25] The 2008 version was written and produced by Akon.^[25] "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" received mixed reviews from contemporary music critics, with critics having felt that while the 2008 version was good, it was not better than the original, but was better than other re-issues on Thriller 25. It was also the last single released during Jackson's lifetime. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, a writer for Allmusic, commented that "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was turned into a "moody piano murk".^[26] He further commented that while the song is not great, "it is better than Fergie parroting the lyrics of "Beat It" back to a recorded Jackson, and it's better than will.i.am turning "The Girl Is Mine" into a hapless dance number."^[26] Rob Sheffield, a writer for Rolling Stone, commented that "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is "actually kind of great" and praised the song's composition.^[27]

The song was released by Epic Records and Legacy Recordings in January 2008, as the second single from the re-issue album. The song was commercially a modest success internationally, charting within the top 20 in several countries, as well charting within the top ten in four territories.^[28] The song charted at number three in Sweden and number four in New Zealand.^[28] The song also charted at number eight in Australia and number ten in France.^[28] "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" charted at number 15 in Belgium's Flanders and Wallonia charts.^[28] The song also charted at number 20 in Italy.^[28] "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" peaked at number 81 on the Billboard' Hot 100, giving the song its lowest charting position.^[29] The song also charted on Pop charts at 48, as well as 47 on the Pop Hot 100 Airplay.^[29] Other charting positions include 47 on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs and the Hot Canadian Digital Singles Chart at 33.^[29] A music video was also shown on some channels to help promote the single and album; it featured a montage of previous Michael Jackson music videos and concert footage, and also clips of Akon singing his parts.

Track listing

• CD single

1. Radio Edit – 3:51
2. Johnny Vicious Club – Radio Edit – 3:36
3. Johnny Vicious Full Club Remix – 9:03

Remix credits

• Written and produced by Michael Jackson, Aliaune "Akon" Thiam, Giorgio Tuinfort
• Lead vocals by Aliaune "Akon" Thiam (except the 2nd Verse)
• Background vocals by Michael Jackson (lead vocals on 2nd Verse)
• Mixed by Mark "Evil" Goodchild
• Recorded in November 2007

Cover versions and uses in pop culture

At her Sticky & Sweet Tour, Madonna and a dancer impersonating Jackson performed a medley of Jackson's music while photos of Jackson throughout his life were shown on a screen behind them.

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" has been covered and sampled by multiple recording artists since its release.

• Jackson's elder sister, La Toya, has frequently covered the song. She used it to open her set at 1993's Sopot Song Festival, on MDR in the 1990s, and on the sixth season of the United Kingdom television show Celebrity Big Brother in 2009.^[30]

• Rihanna sampled the songs ending chant (which is the Manu Dibango coda "mama-se, mama-sa, mama-ku-sa") in her single "Don't Stop the Music" from her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007).^[31][32]

• One week after Jackson's death, musician Madonna used that song as part a medley of Jackson's songs as a tribute, during her second leg of her Sticky & Sweet Tour in July 2009.^[33] Also a dancer impersonating Jackson, performing his signature moves, like spinning, moonwalking and gyrating.^[33]

• Canadian pop singer Justin Beiber performed this song during his My World Tour, around 2010-2011. The back up dancers performed some hip hop dance and later Bieber joined them by performing the sidewalk and jerkin'.^[34]

• In February 2010, Whitney Houston performed "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", along with Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel", during her I Look to You Tour.^[35][36]

• Björk has been known to use an interpolation of the song while performing her own song "I Go Humble" on stage.

Charts

Chart (1983/2008/2009)	Peak position
Danish Singles Chart	25[19]
Dutch Top 40	1[17]
Italian Singles Chart	14[18]
New Zealand Singles Chart	35[16]
Swiss Singles Chart	30[20]
UK Singles Chart	8[15]
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	5[14]
U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Songs	5[14]
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs[37]	20

References

1. ^ "Denver and the west > Michael Jackson's musical career: The best-selling and greatest — album of all time?". denverpost. The Denver Post & MediaNews Group. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_12693181. Retrieved 2011-08-11. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Thriller liner notes Epic Records (1982).
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} "'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". Allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/song/t2356493. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Eric Herderson (2003-10-18). "Michael Jackson: Thriller". SlantMagazine.com. Slant Magazine. http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/michael-jackson-thriller/349. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Christopher Connelly (1983-01-23). "Michael Jackson :: Thriller :: Music Review "" Rolling Stone". RollingStone.com. Wenner Media LLC. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/michaeljackson/albums/album/303823/review/6067536/thriller. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d} "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'- Michael Jackson Digital Sheet Music (Digital Download)". MusicNotes.com. Alfred Publishing Co. Inc. http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0041851. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
7. ^ http://pitchfork.com/news/34538-manu-dibango-sues-rihanna-michael-jackson
8. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/feb/04/rihanna-michael-jackson-manu-dibango
9. ^ Afrik-News: Michael Jackson and his African affairs. http://www.afrik-news.com/article15846.html
10. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "allmusic ((( Thriller > Overview )))". Allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=A9kqog44ttvjz. Retrieved 2010-02-27. ^{[dead link]}
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17. ^ ^{a b c d} "Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somthin' (nummer)". DutchCharts.nl. Hung Medien. http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=Wanna+Be+Startin%27+Somethin%27&cat=s. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
18. ^ ^{a b} "Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somthin' (song)". ItalianCharts.com. Hung Medien. http://italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=Wanna+Be+Startin%27+Somethin%27&cat=s. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
19. ^ ^{a b c} "Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somthin' (song)". DanishCharts.com. Hung Medien. http://danishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=Wanna+Be+Startin%27+Somethin%27&cat=s. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
20. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somthin' (song)". HitParade.ch. Hung Medien. http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=Wanna+Be+Startin%27+Somethin%27&cat=s. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
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24. ^ Michael Jackson's This Is It DVD Sony Entertainment (2010).
25. ^ ^{a b} Thriller 25 liner notes Epic Records (2008).
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27. ^ Rob Shffield (2008-02-21). "Michael Jackson: Thriller 25 Deluxe Edition". RollingStone.com. Wenner Media LLC. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/18290476/review/18305830/thriller_25_deluxe_edition. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
28. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008 (chanson)". LesCharts.com. Hung Medien. http://www.lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson+with+Akon&titel=Wanna+Be+Startin%27+Somethin%27+2008&cat=s. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
29. ^ ^{a b c} "allmusic ((( Thriller: 25th Anniversary Edition > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1291293/charts-awards/billboard-single. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
30. ^ Martyn McLaughlin (2009-01-06). "Don't bother with Big Brother, Tommy". News.Scotsman.com. Johnston Press Digital Publishing. http://news.scotsman.com/big-brother/Don39t-bother-with-Big-Brother.4845494.jp. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
31. ^ Nick Levine (2007). "Rihanna: 'Don't Stop The Music'". DigitalSpy.com. Digital Spy Limited. http://www.digitalspy.com/music/singlesreviews/a83757/rihanna-dont-stop-the-music.html. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
32. ^ Quentin B. Huff (2007-06-26). "Rihanna: Good Girl Gone Bad". PopMatters.com. PopMatters Media, Inc. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/rihanna-good-girl-gone-bad. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
33. ^ ^{a b} Jason Rodriquez (2009-07-05). "Madonna Salutes Michael Jackson At London's O2 Arena". MTV (Viacom). http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1615279/20090705/madonna.jhtml. Retrieved 2010-03-01. 
34. ^ [http://www.youtube.com/justinbeibersingswannabestartinsomethin www.youtube.com/justinbeibersingswannabestartinsomethin]
35. ^ The Courier Mail (2010-02-23). "Whitney Houston struggles through first concert". DailyTelegraph.com. News Limited. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/music/whitney-houston-struggles-through-first-concert/story-e6frexl9-1225833367446. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
36. ^ Travis Woods (2010-02-24). "Whitney Houston Stumbles Through Australian Concert". beatCrave.com. uCrave.com. http://beatcrave.com/2010-02-24/whitney-houston-stumbles-through-australian-concert/. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
37. ^ Billboard.com - Michael Jackson breaks Billboard charts