Jackson received royalties from Yankovic for rights to cover the video so closely. The video ends with Yankovic looking into the camera with yellow eyes, referencing the end of Jackson's video for ' Thriller'. The video also features a few of the same dancers from Jackson's video and Yankovic clumsily mimicking the dance moves from the original video. The video for 'Eat It' is styled as a shot-for-shot remake of Jackson's video for ' Beat It', but with elements being parodied in various silly ways and Yankovic dressed as Jackson. 'Eat It' also outranked 'Beat It' in overall highest position on the Australian singles chart, with its highest rank being number 1, while 'Beat It''s highest was third.Ĭash Box reviewed the single, saying ' Rick Derringer’s production has remained true to the energy and appeal of Michael Jackson’s original version, and the lyrics.are actually very funny.' Track listing 1984 release 'Eat It' earned Yankovic a 1984 Grammy Award in the Best Comedy Recording category. The single reached number 1 in Australia, and it was his highest-charting US single on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 12 until ' White & Nerdy' peaked at number 9 in October 2006. On October 19, 1989, the RIAA certified 'Eat It' as a gold single. Jackson allegedly thought it was amusing and agreed to allow the parody. The famous guitar solo, originally performed by Eddie Van Halen, was reproduced by Yankovic's producer, Rick Derringer.Īccording to Yankovic, when he presented his lyrics to Jackson for review, he did not know how Jackson would react.

Humble pie lyrics