RFI: the funk song which has the exact same beat as Michael Jackson's "Beat It"?

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i've heard this on the radio a couple times lately and the similiarity of the drum intro to "Beat It" is so striking that I'm certain MJ/Quincy bit it (it sounds pre-82, at least). took a few guesses at the title (the refrain says "rip___(tide?)") but so far I haven't found any clues.

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

"Let it Whip" by the Dazz Band?

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"whip it right" = your "rip tide" i'm thinking

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Thursday, 8 May 2003 17:47 (twenty-two years ago)

bing! thank you. i can sleep now.

btw, does the Dazz Band have any relation to the Brick song "Dazz"?

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 8 May 2003 19:56 (twenty-two years ago)

So to sum:
a) the Dazz Band ripped off the name from Brick's song "Dazz"
b) their biggest hit, "Let It Whip," references Devo in its title and lyrics, and "Beat It" in its beat and melody

Think they were deliberately this derivative?

― mike a (mike a), Thursday, 8 May 2003 20:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Not that I know of. "Dazz" appears to be some bit of 70's slang that's lost any currency. But the Brick song rules!!!

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Thursday, 8 May 2003 20:03 (twenty-two years ago)

"Dazz" = "Disco-Jazz"

It's one of those really bad bits of slang.

Anyway, didn't "Let It Whip" predate "Beat It"?

― J (Jay), Thursday, 8 May 2003 20:11 (twenty-two years ago)

well, Brick's "Dazz" was all about "disco jazz", but the Dazz Band's AMG bio says that in the case of their name, it's short for "danceable jazz". but still.

both "Let It Whip" and "Beat It" were released in 1982, but i can't find any info about at what point in the year either came out. anyone have any idea which came out first? I know "Beat It" was the 3rd single off Thriller, though, so it probably wasn't on the charts 'til '83. hmmmmm.....

there really isn't any similiarity in the melody, btw, just the beat, which, I again stress, is EXACTLY THE SAME. some googling has turned up not a single remark anywhere online about this similiarity, which really surprises me - pretty much all the results just list them both among many other dance hits from '82.

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 8 May 2003 20:20 (twenty-two years ago)

"Billie Jean" was released as a single in Jan. 83, the album came out in Dec. 82 ("Beat It" release as a single in Feb. 83)

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 8 May 2003 20:44 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, I kind of had a feeling that, if there was in fact any conscious borrowing going on, it would be MJ from DB, and not the other way around...it just makes more sense that Jacko would bite beats from a run-of-the-mill funk outlet, than that they would do so from one of the biggest hits off the biggest album of all time.

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 8 May 2003 20:58 (twenty-two years ago)

(Not to derail the thread or anything, but which funk song has the same beat as Charli Baltimore's "Money"? The song was featured in the TV movie Gotti if that's any help.)

― Frühlingsmute (Wintermute), Thursday, 8 May 2003 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh my god! I must have subconsciously made this connection too, 'cause the last mixtape I made with a beat-mixing program had "Billie Jean" blending directly into "Whip It". Actually, maybe it's not such a coincidence; that was my 1982 theme tape.

― Dan I., Thursday, 8 May 2003 23:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Frühlingsmute, yr looking for "For the Love of Money" by the O'Jays (not just the beat but an outright sample).

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Thursday, 8 May 2003 23:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I just realized last week what a great beat that is. Does the Dazz Band version sound as good? (the synth drums really make it for me)

― Adam A. (Keiko), Thursday, 8 May 2003 23:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Thank you Mr Diamond.

― Frühlingsmute (Wintermute), Friday, 9 May 2003 11:07 (twenty-two years ago)

"I just realized last week what a great beat that is. Does the Dazz Band version sound as good? (the synth drums really make it for me) "

it's pretty much the exact same snare/kick/hi-hat pattern, slightly different drum sounds.

― Al (sitcom), Friday, 9 May 2003 13:28 (twenty-two years ago)

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