how was it received?
It received generally unfavorable reviews from music critics.
Beat It
"Beat It 2008" received generally unfavorable reviews from music critics. Rob Sheffield of "Rolling Stone" claimed that the song was a "contender for the year's most pointless musical moment". 
did van halen play guitar on beat it Yes, it is notable for Eddie Van Halen's guitar solo. what is beat it? It is a song by American singer Michael Jackson from his sixth studio album, "Thriller". when was it released? 1982 where was it performed live? During The Jacksons' Victory Tour.
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Beat It [SEP] Reception
"Beat It 2008" received generally unfavorable reviews from music critics. Rob Sheffield of "Rolling Stone" claimed that the song was a "contender for the year's most pointless musical moment". AllMusic criticized Fergie for "parroting the lyrics of "Beat It" back to a recorded Jackson". "Blender"'s Kelefa Sanneh also noted that the Black Eyed Peas singer traded lines with Jackson. "Why?", she queried. Todd Gilchrist was thankful that the remix retained Eddie Van Halen's "incendiary guitar solo", but added that the song "holds the dubious honor of making Jackson seem masculine for once, and only in the context of Fergie's tough-by-way-of-"Kids Incorporated" interpretation of the tune".