Say Say Say From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search "Say Say Say" Single by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson from the album Pipes of Peace B-side "Ode to a Koala Bear" Released October 9, 1983 Format 7" single Recorded 1983 Genre Pop Length 3:55 Label Parlophone Records / Columbia Records U.S. Writer(s) Michael Jackson Paul McCartney Producer George Martin Certification Platinum Paul McCartney singles chronology "The Girl Is Mine" (1982) "Say Say Say" (1983) "Pipes of Peace" (1983) Michael Jackson singles chronology "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (1983) "Say Say Say" (1983) "Thriller" (1983) Rear cover "Say Say Say" is a song by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. The track was written by the duo, and produced by George Martin for McCartney's fifth solo album, Pipes of Peace (1983). The song was the pair's second duet to be released, following "The Girl Is Mine" for Jackson's Thriller (1982), however, it had been recorded one year before, at the same time as McCartney's Tug of War (1982) album. The single became Jackson's seventh top ten hit in a year upon its release in October 1983. "Say Say Say" was a number one hit in the US and peaked at number two in the UK. Number one in Canada, Finland, Italy, Norway and Sweden, the single also peaked within the top ten in Australia, Austria and New Zealand. Certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, the song was promoted with a music video directed by Bob Giraldi. The video, filmed in Santa Ynez Valley, California, featured cameo appearances by Linda McCartney, and La Toya Jackson. The short film centered around two con artists, "Mac and Jack", and introduced dialogue and storylines to music videos. Upon its release, the video was considered too violent by the National Coalition on Television Violence. "Say Say Say" was covered by the Dutch music group Hi-Tack in early 2006. They took the song to number four on the UK singles chart. Contents [hide] 1 Recording 2 Release and reception 3 Music video 4 Charts 5 Credits 6 Notes 7 References [edit] Recording Prior to the release of "Say Say Say", McCartney had collaborated with Jackson on "The Girl Is Mine", for Jackson's Thriller album. In return, Jackson agreed to include "Say Say Say" on McCartney's Pipes of Peace.[1] The song was recorded at Abbey Road Studios from May to September 1981. During this time, McCartney was also recording Tug of War, his first solo album since splitting from Wings.[2] Jackson stayed at the home of McCartney and his wife Linda during the recording sessions, becoming friendly with both. One evening whilst at the dining table, McCartney brought out a booklet displaying all the songs to which he owned the publishing rights. "This is the way to make big money", the musician told Jackson. "Every time someone records one of these songs, I get paid. Every time someone plays these songs on the radio, or in live performances, I get paid". McCartney's words later influenced Jackson's purchase of the Northern Songs song catalogue in 1985.[3] The recording of "Say Say Say" was completed in February 1983. George Martin, who had worked with The Beatles, produced "Say Say Say". He said of Jackson, "He actually does radiate an aura when he comes into the studio, there's no question about it. He's not a musician in the sense that Paul is...but he does know what he wants in music and he has very firm ideas".[2] Upon Jackson's death in June 2009, McCartney commented on his time working with the singer. "I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones."[4] [edit] Release and reception Following the release of Thriller and its accompanying singles, "Say Say Say" was released on October 9, 1983.[5] Remaining atop the Billboard's Hot 100 for six weeks, the single was Jackson's seventh top ten hit in a year—breaking a record previously held by The Beatles and Elvis Presley.[6] It was also Jackson's third single to top the Hot 100; "Say Say Say", "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" logged Jackson sixteen combined weeks at the top. Peaking at number two on the R&B chart, "Say Say Say" also reached number three on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.[5][7] The song peaked low in the UK and was slowly dropping from the charts. An interview was then held with McCartney, who discussed the song's music video. The interview helped propel the song to number two on the UK Singles Chart.[8] Screenings of the video on Top of the Pops (who usually only screened videos within the Top 40), The Tube and Noel Edmonds' The Late, Late Breakfast Show also aided the song's UK chart performance. Reaching number one in Canada, Finland, Italy, Norway and Sweden, the single was also within the top ten of Austria and New Zealand.[8][5][9] "Say Say Say" received mixed reviews from music critics. The song was named as having the worst lyrics of 1983 by Anthony Violanti of The Buffalo News.[10] The Lexington Herald-Leader stated that aside from "Say Say Say" and "The Man", "McCartney wastes the rest of the album [Pipes of Peace] on bathos and whimsy".[11] Los Angeles Times' Paul Grein claimed that McCartney redeemed himself with the success of the "spunky" song "but plunged back into wimpdom with 'No More Lonely Nights'".[12] Whitney Pastorek compared the song to McCartney's duet with Stevie Wonder, "Ebony and Ivory". She asserted that "Say Say Say" was a better song and had a better, "though slightly more nonsensical", video. She added that the song had no "heavy-handed social content".[13] The Daily Collegian of Penn State described the track as a good song, despite the ad nauseam broadcasts of it.[14] The Deseret News noted that the "pleading love song" had a "masterful, catchy hook".[15] In a Rolling Stone review, the track was described as an "amiable though vapid dance groove". The reviewer, Parke Puterbaugh, added that it was "instantly hit-bound froth-funk that tends, after all, toward banality".[16] Salon.com later described the song as a "sappy duet". They concluded that McCartney had become a "wimpy old fart".[17] The single was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments of at least one million units.[5] The song was also covered by the Dutch music group Hi-Tack in early 2006. Hi-Tack took the song, entitled "Say Say Say (Waiting For U), to number four on the UK singles chart.[18] [edit] Music video Say Say Say "Say Say Say" was recorded during Paul McCartney's "War sessions", and was a number one hit for him and Michael Jackson. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Problems listening to this file? See media help. Directed by Bob Giraldi, who also directed "Beat It", the music video for "Say Say Say" featured cameo appearances by Linda McCartney, La Toya Jackson and Mr. T.[18][19] It was filmed in Santa Ynez Valley, California, and McCartney had to fly out to Jackson; the latter's schedule was busy.[20] As "Mac and Jack", the duo play a pair of conmen selling a "miracle potion". The salesman (McCartney) offers Jackson the potion, claiming it's "guaranteed to give you the strength of a raging bull". Jackson drinks the potion and challenges a large man, also in on the scam, to arm wrestle. Upon Jackson winning, the crowd surges forward, hoping to buy the magical potion. With the money earned from the scam, Mac and Jack donate it all to an orphanage.[20] In their hotel, Jackson enters the bathroom while McCartney is shaving. McCartney playfully dabs shaving foam on Jackson's cheek, despite the fact that Jackson does not need a shave. McCartney and Jackson then star as vaudeville performers singing and dancing at a bar.[21] On stage, the duo appear in clown makeup at one point and quickly go through a number of costume changes.[22] Jackson's love interest, with whom he flirts, was played by his sister La Toya.[23] The video ends with Paul, Linda and Michael driving off into the sunset. La Toya, handed a bunch of flowers by McCartney, is left at the roadside.[21] The video cost the singers $500,000 to make.[8] Giraldi said of the duo, "Michael didn't outdance Paul, and Paul didn't outsing Michael". He added that making the video was hard work, "The egos could fill a room".[24] The video introduced both dialogue and storyline, an element extended upon in Thriller.[25] Upon its release, the National Coalition of Television Violence classified the music video as too violent to be aired. They also classified Thriller and more than half of the 200 videos surveyed from MTV as being overtly violent.[26] The Manchester Evening News later described the video as an "anarchic caper" that "plays out like an Emir Kusturica feature".[27] PopMatters stated that the music videos of "Say Say Say" and "Goodnight Tonight" turned "a pair of otherwise forgettable songs into something worth watching".[28] Steven Greenlee of The Boston Globe reflected that the video was both "horrifying and compelling", while noting the ridiculousness of a potion aiding Jackson in beating somebody at arm wrestling. He added, "It's even harder to believe that the two of them didn't get the pulp beaten out of them in that bar for dressing like a pair of Chess King employees".[29] The video was later included on the McCartney DVD, The McCartney Years.[30][31] [edit] Charts Chart Peak position Austrian Singles Chart 10 [9] Dutch Singles Chart 8 [32] Finnish Singles Chart 1 [5] Italian Singles Chart 1 [5] Norwegian Singles Chart 1 [33] Swedish Singles Chart 1 [34] Swiss Singles Chart 2 [35] UK Singles Chart 2[5] US Billboard Hot 100 1 [5] US R&B Singles Chart 2 [5] [edit] Credits Written, arranged and composed by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney[36] Lead and background vocals by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney[36] Produced by George Martin[36] Engineered by Geoff Emerick[36] Harmonica by Chris Smith[36] Guitar by Paul McCartney[36] Rhythm Guitar by David Williams[36] Bass guitar by Paul McCartney[36] Drums by Paul McCartney[36] Synthesizer by Paul McCartney[36] [edit] Notes ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine & William Ruhlmann. "Paul McCartney biography". MTV. Retrieved on March 3, 2009. ^ a b Halstead, p. 268 ^ Taraborrelli, p. 333 ^ Wardrop, Murray (June 27, 2009). "Michael Jackson: the best of the tributes". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5656181/Michael-Jackson-the-best-of-the-tributes.html. Retrieved on June 27, 2009. ^ a b c d e f g h i Halstead, p. 269 ^ Campbell, p. 68 ^ George, p. 39 ^ a b c Barrow, p. 92 ^ a b "Austrian Singles Chart Archives". austriancharts.at. http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney+%26+Michael+Jackson&titel=Say+Say+Say&cat=s. Retrieved on March 3, 2009. ^ Violanti, Anthony (August 18, 1996). "Schlock: An Unusually Confused and Nasal Dylan". The Buffalo News. Retrieved on March 19, 2009. ^ "Paul McCartney's New Album Is Just 'Embarrassing Fluff'". Lexington Herald-Leader. (January 15, 1983). Retrieved on March 19, 2009. ^ Grein, Paul (January 3, 1988). "Hits That Hurt In Some Cases, That Top 10 Smash Can Smash an Artist's Image". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on March 19, 2009. ^ Pastorek, Whitney (May 3, 2007). "This Week in '82". Entertainment Weekly. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20037860_2,00.html. Retrieved on March 19, 2009. ^ Yeany, Ron (November 22, 1990). "McCartney and Simon". The Daily Collegian. http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG/1983/11/09&EntityId=Ar01400. Retrieved on March 2, 2009. ^ "McCartney, Jackson together again". Deseret News. (November 18, 1993). http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DwcPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AIMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7210,1553388&dq=say-say-say+jackson. Retrieved on March 7, 2009. ^ Puterbaugh, Parke (January 19, 1984). "Pipes of Peace review". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/212833/review/5945684?utm_source=Rhapsody&utm_medium=CDreview. Retrieved on March 7, 2009. ^ Garcia, Gilbert (Jan 27, 2003). "The ballad of Paul and Yoko". Salon.com. http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/music/feature/2003/01/27/paul_yoko/index1.html. Retrieved on March 7, 2009. ^ a b Halstead, p. 270 ^ "Linda McCartney Dies Of Cancer". MTV. (April 20, 1998). http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425543/19980420/beatles.jhtml. Retrieved on March 8, 2009. ^ a b Campbell, p. 69 ^ a b Curtis, p. 323 ^ Lhamon, p. 219 ^ Morris, Davina (August 24, 2008). "Happy birthday MJ". The Voice. http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=14158. Retrieved on March 8, 2009. ^ Garcia, Guy (November 18, 1983). "'Say Say Say' - Bob Giraldi". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,952263,00.html. Retrieved on March 8, 2009. ^ Sklar, Ron (November 23, 1990). "Thriller video". The Daily Collegian. http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG/1983/12/07&EntityId=Ar02201. Retrieved on March 8, 2009. ^ Day, Patrick (February 12, 2008). "25 'Thriller' facts". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-web-thrillertrivia12feb12,0,5481196.story?track=rss. Retrieved on March 8, 2009. ^ Gilliver, Stephen (November 20, 2007). "DVD review: Paul McCartney - The McCartney Years (Warner)". The Manchester Evening News. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/s/1025047_dvd_review_paul_mccartney__the_mccartney_years_warner_. Retrieved on March 8, 2009. ^ Lawson, Terry (November 20, 2007). "Old rockers go on a DVD roll". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/article/old-rockers-go-on-a-dvd-roll. Retrieved on March 8, 2009. ^ Greenlee, Steven. "Back when MTV had videos". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/ae/music/gallery/2008mtv_music_videos?pg=6. Retrieved on March 16, 2009. ^ Cashmere, Paul (December 31, 2007). "Jackson and McCartney Will Continue To Thrill". Undercover.com.au. http://www.undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=3741. Retrieved on March 8, 2009. ^ Widner, Ellis (December 16, 2007). "Music DVDs easy on ears and Santa’s aching back". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Style/210859/. Retrieved on March 8, 2009. ^ "Dutch Singles Chart Archives". dutchcharts.nl. http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney+%26+Michael+Jackson&titel=Say+Say+Say&cat=s. Retrieved on March 3, 2009. ^ "Norwegian Singles Chart Archives". norwegiancharts.com. http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney+%26+Michael+Jackson&titel=Say+Say+Say&cat=s. Retrieved on March 3, 2009. ^ "Swedish Singles Chart Archives". swedishcharts.com. http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney+%26+Michael+Jackson&titel=Say+Say+Say&cat=s. Retrieved on March 3, 2009. ^ "Swiss Singles Chart Archives". hitparade.ch. http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney+%26+Michael+Jackson&titel=Say+Say+Say&cat=s. Retrieved on March 3, 2009. ^ a b c d e f g h i j McCartney, Paul. Pipes of Peace booklet. Parlophone Records. [edit] References Barrow, Tony (1994). Inside the Music Business. Routledge. ISBN 0415136601. Campbell, Lisa (1993). Michael Jackson: The King of Pop. Branden. ISBN 082831957X. Curtis, James M. (1987). Rock Eras. Popular Press. ISBN 0879723696. George, Nelson (2004). Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection booklet. Sony BMG. Halstead, Craig (2007). Michael Jackson: For the Record. Authors OnLine. ISBN 978-0-7552026-7-6. Lhamon, W.H. (1998). Raising Cain. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0674747119. Taraborrelli, J. Randy (2004). The Magic and the Madness. Terra Alta, WV: Headline. ISBN 0-330-42005-4. Preceded by "All Night Long (All Night)" by Lionel Richie Billboard Hot 100 number one single December 10, 1983- January 14, 1984 Succeeded by "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes [show]v • d • eMichael Jackson singles Got to Be There "Got to Be There" · "Rockin' Robin" · "I Wanna Be Where You Are" · "Ain't No Sunshine" Ben "Ben" Music & Me "With a Child's Heart" · "Happy" Forever, Michael "We're Almost There" · "Just a Little Bit of You" The Wiz "Ease on Down the Road" · "You Can't Win" · Off the Wall "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" · "Rock with You" · "Off the Wall" · "She's Out of My Life" · "Girlfriend" One Day in Your Life "One Day in Your Life" Thriller "The Girl Is Mine" · "Billie Jean" · "Beat It" · "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" · "Human Nature" · "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" · "Thriller" Bad "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" · "Bad" · "The Way You Make Me Feel" · "Man in the Mirror" · "Dirty Diana" · "Another Part of Me" · "Smooth Criminal" · "Leave Me Alone" · "Liberian Girl" Dangerous "Black or White" · "Remember the Time" · "In the Closet" · "Jam" · "Who Is It" · "Give In to Me" · "Heal the World" · "Will You Be There" · "Gone Too Soon" HIStory "Scream/Childhood" · "You Are Not Alone" · "Earth Song" · "They Don't Care About Us" · "Stranger in Moscow" Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix "Blood on the Dance Floor" · "HIStory/Ghosts" Invincible "You Rock My World" · "Cry" · "Butterflies" Number Ones "One More Chance" Thriller 25 "The Girl Is Mine 2008" · "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" Notable collaborations and album tracks "Say Say Say" · "Somebody's Watching Me" · "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin'" · "We Are the World" · "Get It" · "Dangerous" · "D.S." · "Why" · "I Need You" · "What More Can I Give" · "Do the Bartman" [show]v • d • ePaul McCartney Studio albums McCartney · Ram · McCartney II · Tug of War · Pipes of Peace · Press to Play · Снова в СССР · Flowers in the Dirt · Off the Ground · Flaming Pie · Run Devil Run · Driving Rain · Chaos and Creation in the Backyard · Memory Almost Full With Wings Wild Life · Red Rose Speedway · Band on the Run · Venus and Mars · Wings at the Speed of Sound · London Town · Back to the Egg With The Fireman Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest · Rushes · Electric Arguments Live albums Wings over America · Tripping the Live Fantastic · Tripping the Live Fantastic: Highlights! · Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) · Paul Is Live · Back in the U.S. · Back in the World · Amoeba's Secret Compilations Wings Greatest · All the Best! · Wingspan: Hits and History Soundtracks The Family Way · Give My Regards to Broad Street Experimental albums Thrillington · Liverpool Sound Collage · Twin Freaks Classical albums Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio · Paul McCartney's Standing Stone · Paul McCartney's Working Classical · Ecce Cor Meum Tours Wings University Tour · Wings Over Europe Tour · Wings 1973 UK Tour · Wings Over the World tour · Wings UK Tour 1979 · The Paul McCartney World Tour · The New World Tour · Driving USA Tour · Back In The U.S. Tour · Driving Mexico · Driving Japan · Back in the World tour · 2004 Summer Tour · The 'US' Tour Filmography James Paul McCartney (1973) · Wings Over the World (1979) · Concert for Kampuchea (1980) · Rockshow (1980) · Back To The Egg (1981) · Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984) · Get Back (1991) · Paul Is Live - The New World Tour (1993) · In The World Tonight (1997) · Live at the Cavern Club (1999) · Wingspan (2001) · Back in the U.S. (2002) · Paul McCartney in Red Square (2003) · Between Chaos and Creation (2005) · Chaos and Creation at Abbey Road (2005) · The Space Within US (2006) · The McCartney Years (2007) Related articles Discography · The Beatles · The Fireman · Linda McCartney · Heather Mills · MPL Communications · Paul is dead · Paul McCartney's concert tours · Paul McCartney´s Awards · Paul McCartney Concerts since 2000 · "Lisa the Vegetarian" PaulMcCartney.com Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Say_Say_Say" Categories: 1983 singles | Paul McCartney songs | Michael Jackson songs | ARC Weekly Top 40 number-one singles | Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles | European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles | Number-one singles in Norway | Number-one singles in Italy | Number-one singles in Sweden | Parlophone singles | Lionel Richie songs | Songs produced by George Martin | Music videos directed by Bob Giraldi | Vocal duets | Songs written by Paul McCartney | Songs written by Michael Jackson