Michael Jackson's "Beat It," the 3rd single from Thriller, the bestselling album of all time, was groundbreaking in multiple ways. The combination of r&b and rock via the guitar solo contributions of Eddie Van Halen almost singlehandedly brought down the color barriers on MTV. The video's choreography set a new standard for dancing in a music video influencing videos for years to come, and Michael Jackson achieved his goal of providing an inspiring statement against street violence.
1984: Michael Jackson - "Beat It"
From Bill Lamb, About.com
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