"State of Shock" features lead vocals by Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger.

[5] "State of Shock" was the last top ten hit for the Jacksons, as well as their last single to be certified gold.

In a leaked interview[7] for his autobiography Moonwalk, Michael Jackson told the lyrics were co-written by a 12 year old kid with the same name.

Guitarist Randy Hansen received royalties for the song erroneously, as he explained in a 2021 interview with Eddie Trunk.

It was featured in the "Hooked on Polkas" medley on his 1985 album Dare to Be Stupid and was also performed by industry veteran Harvey Leeds that year in the mockumentary The Compleat Al.