Off the Wall

Michael Jackson

About Off the Wall

"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. The song was first offered to Karen Carpenter, while she was working on her first solo album, but she turned it down. 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. 


Year:
1979
4:05
165 
#1

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com

When the world is on your shoulder
Gotta straighten up your act and boogie down
If you can't hang with the feelin'
Then there ain't no room for you this part of town
'Cause we're the party people night and day
Livin' crazy that's the only way

So tonight gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf
And just enjoy yourself
Groove, let the madness in the music get to you
Life ain't so bad at all
If you live it off the wall
Life ain't so bad at all (live life off the wall)
Live your life off the wall (live it off the wall)

You can shout out all you want to
'Cause there ain't no sin in folks all getting loud
If you take the chance and do it
There there ain't no one who's gonna put you down
'Cause we're the party people night and day
Livin' crazy that's the only way

So tonight gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf
And just enjoy yourself
Groove, let the madness in the music get to you
Life ain't so bad at all
If you live it off the wall
Life ain't so bad at all (live life off the wall)
Live your life off the wall (live it off the wall)

Do what you want to do
There ain't no rules it's up to you (ain't no rules it's all up to you)
It's time to come alive
And party on right through the night (all right)

Gotta hide your inhibitions
Gotta let that fool loose deep inside your soul
Want to see an exhibition
Better do it now before you get too old
'Cause we're the party people night and day
Livin' crazy that's the only way

So tonight gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf
And just enjoy yourself
Groove, let the madness in the music get to you
Life ain't so bad at all
If you live it off the wall
Life ain't so bad at all (live life off the wall)
Live your life off the wall (live it off the wall)

So tonight gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf
And just enjoy yourself
Come on and groove (yeah) and let the madness in the music get to you
Life ain't so bad at all
If you live it off the wall

So tonight gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf
And just enjoy yourself
Come on and groove (yeah) and let the madness in the music get to you
Life ain't so bad at all
If you live it off the wall

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist also he is the most famous recording artist worldwide, entertainer and businessman. Often referred to as the King of Pop, King of Pop, Rock and Soul, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. His contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. The eighth child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene along with his brothers as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1964, and began his solo career in 1971. He has donated a total of 500 Million dollars to charities and has sold… more »

49 fans

Written by: RODNEY LYNN TEMPERTON

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Album Classification
"Off the Wall" is a song featured on the 1979 album of the same name by American singer Michael Jackson.
Producers Category
The iconic song was produced by Quincy Jones – a major name in the music industry who worked closely with Michael Jackson on many of his biggest hits.
Songwriters Detail
The song was written by a famous songwriter, Rod Temperton who has written other big hits for Michael Jackson, including the widely-regarded "Thriller".
Chart Performance
"Off the Wall" peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and remained on the chart for 18 weeks, making it a significant commercial success for Michael Jackson.
Music Video
Interestingly, "Off the Wall" was one of the first songs by the artist which utilized a music video as a promotional tool, a strategy that would later become crucial in Michael Jackson's career.
Grammy Nominations
Despite its commercial success and critical acclaim, the "Off the Wall" album was largely overlooked by the Grammy Awards, a decision that reportedly upset Jackson and motivated him to achieve even greater heights of success.
Genre Detail
The song "Off the Wall" is a blend of different musical genres, primarily disco and funk, but it also showcases elements of pop and soul, all brought together by Michael Jackson's unique vocal style.
Backup Vocals
Janet Jackson, Michael's younger sister, along with the songwriter LaToya Jackson, provided the backup vocals in "Off the Wall".
Impact and Legacy
The song, and the album it appeared on, is credited with helping to break down racial barriers in music, with Michael Jackson becoming one of the first African-American artists to find significant success on MTV and other popular music platforms.
Platinum Status
By 1980, the album, "Off the Wall", had become the first ever album to generate four No. 1 hits, and it eventually achieved platinum status, further cementing Michael Jackson's reputation as the "King of Pop".
Re-Release
Sony re-released the "Off the Wall" album in 2016, including a documentary directed by Spike Lee, showcasing the impact of the album and the making process behind it.

Discuss the Off the Wall Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Off the Wall Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/5137266/Michael+Jackson/Off+the+Wall>.

    Missing lyrics by Michael Jackson?

    Know any other songs by Michael Jackson? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    Off the Wall

    13.5M
    92,406     3,389

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1980

    Billboard #10


    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    The Radiohead song "There there. (The Boney King of Nowhere.)" is from which of their albums?
    A Kid A
    B In Rainbows
    C A Moon Shaped Pool
    D Hail to the Thief

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Don't miss Michael Jackson's

    Upcoming Events

    »
    Michael Jackson tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!

    Movies soundtrack

    Off the Wall

    »
    • The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps