Beat It was released by Michael Jackson in 1983 as a single from Thriller, the best-selling album of all time, and features a guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen. The track blended pop and rock and reached number one in the United States, becoming one of Jackson's signature songs. Online, short excerpts circulate as ready-made audio for edits and memes, with the chorus used to underline defiance, confidence or a dramatic exit. Its riff and hook remain widely recognised decades after release across generations of listeners worldwide today.