This is a good article. Click here for more information.

P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

For the professional wrestling tag team, see The Pretty Young Things.
"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
File:P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing).jpg
U.S. 7" vinyl
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Thriller
B-side
Released September 19, 1983 (1983-09-19)
Format
Recorded 1982
Genre
Length 3:58
Label Epic
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Quincy Jones
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Human Nature"
(1983)		 "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
(1983)		 "Thriller"
(1984)
Thriller track listing
"Human Nature"
(7)		 "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
(8)		 "The Lady in My Life"
(9)

"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It is the sixth single from Jackson's sixth solo album, Thriller (1982). The original demo version of the song was written by Jackson and Greg Phillinganes. Quincy Jones passed on the song itself but liked the title and, with James Ingram, fashioned a totally new song with that title. The demo version is featured on The Ultimate Collection.

"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" was released on September 19, 1983, as the penultimate single from Thriller. The single charted at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and no. 46 on the Hot Black Singles chart, becoming the sixth Top 10 hit from the album. In the UK, the song reached a peak position of 11. The single was most successful in Belgium, charting within the Top 10 at no. 6. The song has been covered and sampled by numerous artists, including Monica, Justin Guarini and Kanye West. The original demo was also remixed by The Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am for Thriller 25.

"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" was never performed live by Jackson. In a rehearsal for the Dangerous World Tour, however, Jackson sang a small part of the demo version, describing it as "something I wrote that I haven't recorded yet."

Recording

James Ingram later described working with Jackson and Jones as being in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. "It's almost like I got the chance to go to Oz and Quincy was the Wizard of Oz and Michael Jackson was who he was dealing with in his world. Their work ethic is unbelievable."[1] He noted how Jones would fall asleep on the board, waking up to answer a question. "He works in the Alpha state a lot", Ingram added.[1] Two of Jackson's sisters, Janet and La Toya, provided backing vocals in the guise of the P.Y.T.s. The two sisters sang "na na na" back at their brother towards the end of the song.[2][3][4] It has a tempo of 126 beats per minute, making it one of Jackson's fastest songs.[5]

Release and reception

"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" was released on September 19, 1983, as the sixth single from Thriller. The single charted at no. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and no. 46 on the Hot Black Singles chart, becoming the sixth Top 10 hit from Thriller.[3][6] In the United Kingdom, the song reached a peak position of 11.[2] It was most successful in Belgium, charting within the Top 10 at no. 6.[2] The single was placed at no. 14 in the Netherlands.[2] "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" charted at number 24 in Canada and peaked at number 51 in Germany.[2]

Response to "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" was mixed to positive. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic thought that it was "frizzy funk."[7] Eric Henderson of Slant Magazine believed that "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" was a "lush disco paradise."[8] However, Rolling Stone reviewer Christopher Connelly, while discussing the album in a review, stated that the song "isn't up to the spunky character of the other tracks." Connelly mentioned that one of Jackson's weaknesses was "a tendency to go for the glitz," and cited the song as one example of this.[9] Davitt Sigerson, from the same magazine, also agreed with Connelly, calling it one of Thriller's "forgettables".[10] Jon Pareles of The New York Times called the song "fluff", and believed that the other songs from the album were what made Thriller such a hit.[11]

Cover versions and references to the song

Sampling

<templatestyles src="Template:Quote_box/styles.css" />

My first concert ever was the Bad tour. I was absolutely mesmerized. I've always been a fan of Michael's for the simple fact that what he's done no one else will really be able to do. And that's something that makes you legendary.

Monica[18]

  • 2002: Jackson's demo version of "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" was sampled on Monica's single "All Eyez on Me".[3][19] "We used vocals from the song that didn't make the Thriller album", stated producer Rodney Jerkins. "He [Jackson] had more vocals and ad-libs that were never heard, and we used the ones that were not heard."[3] Jackson hand delivered his original masters to Monica, who, as a longtime Jackson fan, was touched by the move.[18][20]
  • 2003: The chorus of "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" was sampled by rapper Memphis Bleek on "I Wanna Love U". The song, sung by Donell Jones, featured on Bleek's M.A.D.E. album.[3][21]
  • 2005: The song has been interpolated by Johntá Austin on rapper Bow Wow's song "Is That You (P.Y.T.)", from his album Wanted.
  • 2007: "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" was also sampled on rapper Kanye West's "Good Life", the third single from his Graduation album.[22]

P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008

"P.Y.T."
Song

For Thriller 25, The Black Eyed Peas rapper will.i.am remixed the demo version of "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)".[23] The singer commented on Jackson and the project, "You always just dream of meeting him, let alone working with him. I wouldn't have believed it. I grew up in the projects in East Los Angeles and Thriller was filmed about two blocks from my house, but my mother was really strict and she wouldn't let me go to the factories—she didn't care who was filming a video there; but I'm on the 25th anniversary, 25 years later—that's pretty awesome."[1] Entitled "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008", the remix was well received by Rolling Stone. The publication described the track, along with "The Girl Is Mine 2008", as being one of the best songs on the album.[24] They noted that will.i.am "updates the songs' original sound to make them dancefloor-worthy twenty-five years after their release".[24]

Personnel

Track listing

45 RPM

A-Side

  1. P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing) – 3:58

B-Side

  1. Workin' Day and Night (Live-Jacksons) – 4:26

Disco single

A-Side

  1. P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing) – 3:58

B-Side

  1. This Place Hotel – 4:41
  2. Thriller (Instrumental) – 5:56

Official versions

  • Album Version – 3:58
  • Demo Version – 3:47
  • 2008 Remix with will.i.am – 4:21
  • Instrumental Version (Unreleased) – 3:58

Charts

Weekly charts

Notes

^ a: This demo, recorded between April and October 1982, was included on the compilation album Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection, issued in November 2004.[3][44][45]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bennett, Joy (December 24, 2007). Thrills to come: King of Pop teams up with Kanye, Akon, will.i.am. for remix of world's' best-selling album: is new CD coming next? at the Wayback Machine (archived July 12, 2009). Jet. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Halstead 2003, p. 42.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Halstead 2007, p. 256.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ O'Neil, Luke (July 31, 2007). If it fits in the mix, it works at the Wayback Machine (archived June 24, 2007). The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Saraceno, Christina (December 11, 2002). Monica Eyes the Spotlight at the Wayback Machine (archived May 20, 2007). Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Kreps, Daniel (December 20, 2007). The "Thriller" Remixes: Kanye, Akon, Will.i.am and Fergie Try to Top the Chipmunks' "Beat It" at the Wayback Machine (archived December 24, 2007). Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ CHART NUMBER 1401 – Saturday, November 19, 1983 at the Wayback Machine (archived November 7, 2006). CHUM. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4422." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4377." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Michael Jackson search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Dutchcharts.nl – Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  34. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – P.Y.T.". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1984-04-07" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – December 3, 1983 at the Wayback Machine (archived September 11, 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1983 at the Wayback Machine (archived August 25, 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Bibliography

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=P.Y.T._(Pretty_Young_Thing)&oldid=692361"