A new version with lyrics by Chris Mosdell was released on the 1979 Yellow Magic Orchestra album Solid State Survivor.

In the early 1980s, the American pop singer Michael Jackson recorded a version with extra lyrics and melodies.

In the 1980s, artists including Greg Phillinganes, Eric Clapton and the Human League recorded versions based on Jackson's demo.

The Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto wrote the first version of "Behind the Mask" for a 1978 television commercial for Seiko watches.

This featured English lyrics written by the British poet and lyricist Chris Mosdell, which Sakamoto sang using a vocoder.

[3] Mosdell said he was "talking about a very impersonal, socially controlled society, a future technological era, and the mask represented that immobile, unemotional state".

McClain's additions include a saxophone solo, background vocals by Shanice, and crowd noise from the 1992 TV special Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour.

[citation needed] Reviewing Michael, Jody Rosen from Rolling Stone called the remixed version of "Behind the Mask" "a fiercely funky cousin to 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin''.

[20] The journalist Joe Vogel found the remix skillful, making it sound brand new and retro at the same time, and that it was one of the album's highlights.