Beat It was released by Michael Jackson in 1983 as a single from Thriller, the best selling album of all time. The track blends pop and rock, and is famous for its guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen. Its warning against violence and its instantly recognisable riff helped it become a defining song of the 1980s. Short excerpts now circulate on soundboards and messaging apps, where the opening is clipped for quick reactions, edits and jokes that need a recognisable musical sting without using the full song.