While I’m a fan of cover songs, there are good ones and bad ones. I’ll have to share some of my favorites here someday, but there’s a new track that falls into the “Why Bother?” category: Fall Out Boy ft. John Mayer taking on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”

Some songs are just so attached to particular artist and a specific moment in time that any future interpretation only pales in comparison. Switching it up can help transcend karaoke comparisons, like a new tempo or instrumental arrangement (if done right). But no matter where you stand on Jackson these days, there’s really no beating the original. (Even Jackson’s own “Beat It” re-do featuring Fergie for Thriller 25 was pretty lame.)

“Beat It,” which featured a guitar shredding solo by Eddie Van Halen, completed its third and final week atop the Billboard Hot 100 twenty-five years ago. But see, I can’t imbed the classic video on this page. Probably not a huge loss, since you’ve likely seen it a few hundred times.

Instead, you’ll have to settle for watching Stump & Co.’s unnecessary take. One plus: The band’s on board with this whole technology thing:

The video features touches of Wacko Jacko-inspired parody at certain points, which seems odd since the track itself is so earnest. Instead it’s an out-of-place flirtation with going the full-on “Weird Al” route. But Mr. Yankovic has already been there, and done it better, Fall Out Boy. So for future reference, when you’ve got studio time to kill, don’t mess with a classic.