The world of pop culture has been dealt some crushing blows lately. But no loss has been so great as that of "the King of Pop," Michael Jackson in June of this year. Of course, you can't talk about Michael Jackson (at least, not if it's later than the 1990's) without mentioning his unsavory past. But no matter what you think about this pop genius and what he did or did not do with his life, you've got to admit that he did incredible things for music. A wonderful performer, Jackson was once the most famous man in the world. And now he's gone. Whatever you may feel about him, his death is a loss.
But we still have --and will always have-- his music. Whether you call yourself MJackson4Ever on your internet dating profile or think the world is probably better off without him, there are probably at least a few of his songs you just can't resist. Read on for my top 10 favorite Michael Jackson songs, and what makes each one special.
10. “Man In The Mirror.”
This song comes from Michael's "Bad" album of 1988, and is one of his deeper, more pensive songs, covering deep social subjects such as famine and the death of Martin Luther King Jr. It's also an example of some of the most powerful singing we've ever heard from MJ.
9. "Rock With You."
Let me guess... just reading the title of this 1979 Michael Jackson hit has gotten this smooth little song stuck in your head. Join the club. One of the last successful hits of the disco 70s, this cool, laidback song is all about soul. And it was one of his first hits in about seven years after being part of the Jackson 5.
8. "The Way You Make Me Feel."
While most of the hits from Michael's "Bad" album are dance-y pop songs, "The Way You Make Me Feel" is upbeat, sweet, and romantic. Try to listen to this song and not feel great. This is one of the songs Michael performed in 2001 for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of his music career.
7. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough."
With Michael's trademark falsetto and a wonderful combination of R&B and disco sounds, 1979's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", the first big hit of Jackson's adult recording career, will always sum up the Michael Jackson we all loved best.
6. "I'll be There."
On most of this list, you'll find songs from Jackson's solo adult recording career. But as the most timeless and arguably the most successful of The Jackson 5's songs, it seemed appropriate to include this sweet ballad, as well. It's almost heartbreaking to listen to the sweet little voice of the innocent kind MJ once was.
5. “Smooth Criminal.”
This song would, of course, be utterly memorable all on its own. But what makes it most famous of all is that this piece is where Michael's famous moonwalk originated. Don't tell me you haven't tried to do it yourself a time or two. And failed, probably.
4. "Beat It!"
Thriller is probably the most celebrated of all the albums in Michael's catalog. "Beat It!" was the third straight number one hit from that album, and sky-rocketed him into his position as an 80s icon. Also worth mentioning is that when the video for "Beat It!" aired on MTV, it was a ground-breaking thing for black artists. Back when Michael was still black, of course.
3. "Bad."
You're singing this song in your head right now, aren't you? The title song from Michael's 1987 album --and one of his best-- is and will always be a Michael Jackson classic.
2. "Billie Jean."
This is probably the first song that will pop into your head whenever you think of who Michael Jackson was as an artist. Part of the reason is that the song itself is a masterpiece. And another reason is that it shadows his strange personal life. The song was based off of real life events, in which a fan accused Michael of being the father of her baby.
1. “Thriller.”
Deciding whether to put "Thriller" or "Billie Jean" in the top spot on this list wasn't easy. But in the end "Thriller" won by a narrow margin because it's a wonderful song... and because it created what is universally acknowledged as the best music video of all time (it was even named so by MTV). After all, what other song on this list has an entire dance routine that will be a part of pop culture forever?
