Michael Jackson ft. Akon: 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 08'

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