Released February 2, 1980 | Format 7" single | |
B-side "Get on the Floor""Working Day and Night" Recorded December 1978 – April 1979 Length 4:055:00 (the fringe mix) | ||
"Off the Wall" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson, from his fifth album of the same name (1979). It was written by English songwriter Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones, and released as the album's third single on February 2, 1980 by Epic Records. Lyrically the song is about getting over troubles. It was well received by music critics, and became Jackson's third top 10 single from Off the Wall, which eventually spawned four top 10 singles; Jackson was the first person to accomplish this. It was performed by Jackson in five of his concert tours.
Contents
Reception
AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine highlighted the song on its studio album. Robert Christgau wrote acclaim: "the title tune suggests that maybe what makes Stevie Wonder (who contributes a good ballad) such an oddball isn't his genius or even his blindness so much as the fact that since childhood his main contact with the real world has been on stage and in bed."
The song became Jackson's third top 10 single from Off the Wall, which eventually spawned four top 10 singles; Jackson was the first person to accomplish this. The song peaked at number ten on the Pop Singles Chart and at number five on the Billboard Soul Singles Chart.
Live performances
Jackson performed the song on the Jacksons' Destiny Tour's second leg, as well as the Triumph Tour and the Victory Tour. He performed the song only on the first leg of his first solo tour the Bad World Tour. He also performed it during the HIStory World Tour, but only a part of the Off the Wall medley on certain concerts. A live performance of the song can be seen in One Night in Japan, a bootleg live album and DVD release of Jackson's 1987 concert in Yokohama, Japan as part of the Bad tour.
Sample
Mariah Carey sampled "Off the Wall" on her song "I'm That Chick", which is included in her 2008 album E=MC².
Vaporwave producer Saint Pepsi sampled "Off The Wall" in the song "Enjoy Yourself," a line featured in the original song's chorus. The music video featured the McDonald's character, Mac Tonight.
Jazz-funk producer Dr. PC Man sampled "Off The Wall" in the song "Minister Funky", which was included in his album Let's Do The Funk and it was featured in the game Starlight: The Blush Was Gone. The remix version was called "Minister Jazzy" that featured in the game Milk Premium: Space Lounge.
Official versions
- Album Version – 4:05
- Remix – 4:01
- 7" Remix – 3:47
- Edit – 3:46 – Featured on the Essential Collection is an early fade of the album version.
- Junior Vasquez Mix – 5:13 – Featured on the Stranger in Moscow single.
- Live – 4:00 – Featured on the The Jacksons Live!.
US and Japanese singles feature the remix running 3:47, while the UK and the rest of the world got the other remix running 4:01.