Top 10 Michael Jackson songs
With dozens of chart-topping hits and a worldwide influence, Michael Jackson had a career that’s unlikely to be equaled anytime soon. As we remember the career of the King of Pop, who died today in Los Angeles, here are my selections of the Top 10 Michael Jackson songs from his solo career.
1.Billie Jean
Maybe it’s because it’s the song with which he introduced his signature move, the moonwalk, but this song seems to me the quintessential Michael Jackson song. Catchy, fresh, and a bit edgy and rebellious.
2.Thriller
One of the most brilliant videos of all time, and a cameo by Vincent Price, in an homage to classic horror films.
3. Beat It
A mixture of rock and pop, with the help of Eddie Van Halen.
4. Black or White
Slash provides a guitar solo in this New Jack Swing mixture of hard rock and rap. This racial-unity promoting song is the best single off 1991’s “Dangerous.” It briefly made me think that the 1990s might be as kind to Jackson as the 1980s; sadly this was more a last gasp than a new herald.
5.Don’t Stop til You Get Enough
This first single from Off the Wall introduced the mature Jackson and his songwriting talents to the world. It was also the first to feature his soon-to-be-signature falsetto.
6.Smooth Criminal
The best track from “Bad,” Jackson’s 1987 followup to “Thriller,” features a woman named Annie under attack from a ’smooth criminal.’
7. Wanna Be Startin’ Something
The fourth single from Thriller is side A, song 1. And listening to it, you DO want to be starting something.
8. Man in the Mirror
Social commentary in a catchy package; if you want to make the world a better place, start with yourself.
9. The Way You Make Me Feel
Might not be on most rock critics’ list of essential Jackson, but this optimistic tune from Bad hit No. 1 in 1987.
10.Scream
Jackson did angry well, and here he was reacting to tabloid accusations in this duet with sister Janet Jackson on the HIStory album.
- Matt Price
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Comments
MICHAEL JACKSON MADE HISTORY 10 TIMES OVER.. HE TOUCHED EVERYONE’S HEARTS IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.. THE MUSIC THAT HE HAS MADE WILL STAY IN EVERYONE’S HEART FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.. THE INSPIRATION THAT HE HAS GIVEN TO PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD IS UNBELIEVABLE..MICHAEL JACKSON IS A REMARKABLE PERSON AND I AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE ADORE HIM AND HIS FAMILY..LETS JUST HOPE THAT THE MUSIC LIVES ON THREW HIS 3 BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE OUR MUSIC KING MICHAEL JACKSON.. FOREVER OUR LOVE BARBARA ND CLINT SKILTON XOXOX
michael jackson was such a great artist…he was such an inspiration to alot of the pop singers of today..he will always be the king of pop…WE LOVE U MICHAEL
My girlfriend and I have been watching videos on MTV (I know–right!!) all day. We watched Smooth Criminal from the Moonwalker feature film and everything still holds up. EVERYTHING! No one dances like Michael. No on Whoo-ed and HOOOO-ed like Michael. Some of the best music ever. He fought to have so many of his songs on his albums when producer Quincey Jones argued against it and always won, and was always right. I think of Elvis having passed away just months after I was born and while he isn’t that much of an influence on my life MJ was, and now, with my baby on the way I wonder if Michael will be as much an influence on him…
Yea, Michael was great – BUT – Michael was a very troubled man and should have had the sense to get help with all his problems and he seemed to have many, as we all do at times. I think he could have been helped if his family had not sheltered him so much or had been so afraid that they wouldn’t get their share of the “pie” if they upset him. AND his daddy — what a figure he was. Parents just don’t know how much they affect or effect a child. And of course he loved the spotlight one minute and bitching about the media the next. I’m sorry, but you can’t be one thing one year and something else the next —- well, with enough plastic surgery I guess you can.
I was 7 years old when Thriller came out. It was my first Record. I was big on Break Dancing in my Dad’s office. Michael Jackson was The King of Pop but a Child at Heart. I am 35 years old and sometimes I still feel 17 or 18 at Heart. I do not believe Peace is the answer but Love! God be with you Michael J.
I hear about him in conversations in the office, in the streets, and I also see lots of discussions about him on the internet. A tribute was even performed by the famous dancing inmates from the Philippines.
i think michael jackson was and still is the worlds best ever singer and will forever be the king of the world aswell as the king of pop.
i love michael jackson and he was not just a pretty face.
Im going to miss Michael soooooooooooo much! God Bless his beautiful & peaceful soul!