To pad out the 25th Anniversary reissue of Thriller, Michael Jackson asked the likes of Kanye West, Will.i.am and Akon to remix classic tracks from the album. It always felt a bit wrong – like inviting a group of spoiled toddlers to "improve" the Crown Jewels with papier-mâché and plasticine – and the results were a real pig's ear.

Akon's reworking of 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' replaces the original's skittish funk will mellow piano lines and dated carnival beats, his squawking vocals acting as a distraction from the main event: Jackson himself. It's a dull rather than dreadful effort, notable only for achieving something most pop fans would have thought impossible: making those famous "mama-se mama-sa mama-kusa"s sound a bit tired and lifeless.


> Click here for our review of Thriller 25