Beat It was released by Michael Jackson in 1982 on the album Thriller, with a famous guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen, and became one of the defining pop songs of the decade. Short remixes of its riff and chorus later circulated on video platforms and soundboards, where editors looped the most recognisable sections for memes. The contrast between a serious, high-energy classic and low-effort comedy edits helped the remix spread, and it remains popular because the melody is instantly identifiable even in a few seconds.