8 Pretty young thing (PYT)

(Funk/R&B/Pop)

Words and music by James Ingram and Quincy Jones

4/4 time signature/Key A minor/Tempo moderately bright

Single released September 19^th 1983 (USA 10 UK 11)

(Instrumentation)

Verse 1/Chorus/Verse 2/Chorus 2/Breakdown/Chorus 3 repeat and fade out

Song structure

Synthesizer/Guitars/Bass guitar/Drums

I think this song is about the need for Michael to find companionship with the opposite sex, singing “don’t you know now is the perfect time, we can make it right, hit the city lights” that says to me that it is the right time to come out and find love and someone to enjoy life with. Also with the line “I want to love you” “pretty young thing” “You need some loving” “tender loving care” “I will take you there” I think this Michael saying to the world that he is more confident with who he is and what he wants and is ready to try and get it. 

Opens up with clean electric guitar with reverb short funky/bluesy lines with drums playing on the hi-hat and the vocals come in, in a talking style, electric piano playing spares notes at the end of lines, the synthesizer plays a counter melody line first ascending slow then descends quickly. There is a short drum fill leading into the first verse where the dynamic increases, a funky sounding bass line and drums kick the song into life, the electric piano plays chords on the off beats and vocals become more forceful and further forward in the mix, in the chorus the melody line ascends while singing “I want to love you” and the backing vocals sing a counter melody line “PYT” in call and answer, this process goes on throughout the chorus, also to instruments play the same rhythm as the backing vocals while singing “PYT”. Instrumental break synthesizer and bass play a short three bar riff followed by M.J responding with some vocal improvisations such as; “Ohh” and heavy breathing and “nah nah nah” the bass guitar improvises a slap and pop funky bass line using octaves and minor seventh notes muted notes then eventually moves back to the chorus and fades out.