Tag: Music

My Top 25 Michael Jackson Songs Of All Time: Nos. 5-1

All week I’ve been bringing you my personal Top 25 Michael Jackson Songs Of All Time and today – we reach the top five. Obviously MJ is one of my favorite artists in the history of music and he’s certainly one of the most significant pop culture figures of all time. This past Tuesday marked the release of his posthumous album Xscape, which has received high marks from critics. This June will mark five years since the King of Pop’s death.

If you missed my selections for numbers 25-6, you can find them here:

https://toddmthatcher.com/2014/05/13/my-top-25-michael-jackson-songs-of-all-time-nos-25-21/

https://toddmthatcher.com/2014/05/14/my-top-25-michael-jackson-songs-of-all-time-nos-20-16/

https://toddmthatcher.com/2014/05/15/top-25-michael-jackson-songs-of-all-time-nos-15-11/

https://toddmthatcher.com/2014/05/16/my-top-25-michael-jackson-songs-of-all-time-nos-10-6/

It’s been a pleasure writing these posts reflecting on his great career and now – the crème dela crème of his discography in my view:

5. “Man in the Mirror” (from Bad – 1987)

What many consider to be MJ’s most inspirational ballad served as the 4th single from Bad and it hit #1 on the charts. The powerful track would serve as Jackson’s closer on his tours following the album’s release. Its message of change through self resonated with listeners and still stands as one of his signature tunes.

4. “Human Nature” (from Thriller – 1982)

The fifth single from Thriller is an absolutely beautiful ballad that would serve as a highlight for MJ tours. This is #1 for me among Jackson slow tracks and it would later be covered famously by 90s R&B group SWV with their hit “Right Here”.

3. “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” (from Thriller – 1982)

Next is the fourth Thriller single. The fast-paced “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” with its propulsive and infectious beat is the track that opens the magnificent Thriller album and it’s unforgettable. Note: it’s pronounced “Mama-say mama-sah ma-ma-coo-sah”.

2. “Smooth Criminal” (from Bad – 1987)

The seventh Bad single would develop into one of MJ’s most famous tracks. Simply put, there’s nothing that quite sounds like “Smooth Criminal” and it’s brilliant. After a quarter century, we’re still not clear if Annie is, indeed, OK.

1. “Billie Jean” (from Thriller – 1982)

MJ’s most well-known track from his most well-known album is also the very best. The singer’s performance of “Billie Jean” on the Motown 25 celebration would cement his place his history when he introduced the moonwalk to viewers. The song has one of the most distinctive bass lines in musical history. In a career with so many fabulous tracks, “Billie Jean” stands out at the top.

And that’s my list, ladies and gentlemen! It’s been fun.

My Top 25 Michael Jackson Songs Of All Time: Nos. 10-6

We have now entered the very upper echelon of my personal favorite 25 Michael Jackson tracks with the bottom half of the top ten. If you missed numbers 25-11, you may find them here:

https://toddmthatcher.com/2014/05/13/my-top-25-michael-jackson-songs-of-all-time-nos-25-21/

https://toddmthatcher.com/2014/05/14/my-top-25-michael-jackson-songs-of-all-time-nos-20-16/

https://toddmthatcher.com/2014/05/15/top-25-michael-jackson-songs-of-all-time-nos-15-11/

Tomorrow brings the top five and now – numbers 10-6:

10. “Dirty Diana” (from Bad – 1987)

A slow grind of a rock ballad about groupies, this is MJ’s fifth single from the Bad album and made it five out of five to hit #1. Featuring stellar guitar work from Steve Stevens, it’s also got a memorable live concert video.

9. “Off the Wall” (from Off the Wall – 1979)

The third single and title track from his breakout solo album, “Off the Wall” is a joyous disco groove that, in my mind, just eclipses bigger hits from the album “Workin’ Day and Night” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”.

8. “Beat It” (from Thriller – 1982)

This rocker featuring Eddie Van Halen’s brilliant guitar work is the third single from the landmark album and one of MJ’s signature tunes. It’s also got choreography from the great music video that many 80s kids attempted to copy.

7. “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” (from Thriller – 1982)

One of MJ’s fastest and most infectious grooves served as the sixth Thriller single. It’s got his sisters LaToya and Janet singing backup and what sounds like Alvin and the Chipmunks singing along as well towards the end. My apologies, but this is the one track I couldn’t find a decent YouTube version of (what up with that?).

6. “Rock with You” (from Off the Wall – 1979)

The fourth biggest song of 1980, Michael Jackson created one of the best disco tracks of all time just as the era was ending. It’s the best song on a wonderful album. Others from “Off the Wall” worth a spin that didn’t make the cut: “Girlfriend”, “Get on the Floor”, “I Can’t Help It”, “It’s the Falling in Love”, and the ballad “She’s Out of My Life”.

And that will do it until tomorrow when I reveal my top five King of Pop songs ever.

 

My Top 25 Michael Jackson Songs Of All Time: Nos. 15-11

Continuing along with my personal Top 25 Michael Jackson Songs Of All Time – tonight comes part three with numbers 15 through 11. You can read my two previous posts covering 25-16 here:

https://toddmthatcher.com/2014/05/13/my-top-25-michael-jackson-songs-of-all-time-nos-25-21/

https://toddmthatcher.com/2014/05/14/my-top-25-michael-jackson-songs-of-all-time-nos-20-16/

15. “I Wanna Be Where You Are” (from Got To Be There – 1972)

MJ’s oldest song on the list was released when he was just 13 years old and certainly sounds more Jackson 5 than anything else on here with its Motown roots. It reached #2 on the R&B chart. It’s not too well-known anymore, but it should be. This is the only song on the list pre-Off the Wall from 1979, but other noteworthy early MJ songs include “Got To Be There”, “Ben”, and “We’re Almost There”.

14. “Scream” (from HIStory – 1995)

The lead off single from 1995’s HIStory is from mega-producers Jam&Lewis and features his only duet with his sister Janet. It’s my highest track listed from that album, but other quality songs include “They Don’t Care About Us”, “Stranger in Moscow”, “This Time Around”, and “Smile”.

13. “Black or White” (from Dangerous – 1991)

The lead single from 1991’s Dangerous featured a controversial video that included Macaulay Culkin and MJ turning into a panther, but it’s a fantastic song with memorable guitar work from Guns&Roses’ Slash. This is the final Dangerous track included. Those that missed the cut but are great include “Jam”, “Who Is It”, and “Give In To Me”.

12. “Thriller” (from Thriller – 1982)

The title track from the bestselling album of all time is a Halloween time classic with one of the best known music videos ever shot. While one of his most famous songs, there’s plenty of other Thriller tracks still to come in top ten.

11. “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” (from Off the Wall – 1979)

The first single from his breakout solo work Off the Wall is a disco-infused club jam that marked MJ’s first #1 single on his own. The track also gave the artist his music video as a solo artist — a medium he would perfect better than anyone before or since.

Tomorrow – we get into the Top Ten! Stay tuned.

My Top 25 Michael Jackson Songs Of All Time: Nos. 20-16

This evening comes part two of my personal Top 25 Michael Jackson Songs Of All Time, covering numbers 20-16. Yesterday I gave you entries 25-21 and you can peruse them here:

https://toddmthatcher.com/2014/05/13/my-top-25-michael-jackson-songs-of-all-time-nos-25-21/

Let’s get to it:

20. “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (from Bad – 1987)

This romantic ballad is a duet with Siedah Garrett and served as Michael’s first single from the Bad album. During the Bad tour, MJ would sing the track with an unknown backup singer by the name of Sheryl Crow.

19. “Workin’ Day and Night” (from Off the Wall – 1979)

MJ’s first entry on the list from his breakthrough solo album Off the Wall served as the B-side to “Rock With You”. This fast paced dance groove might not have ever been an official single, but it became a live performance staple from the King of Pop.

18. “The Way You Make Me Feel” (from Bad – 1987)

Bad‘s third single was a deserved monster hit and also became a staple of Jackson’s live performances.

17. “Remember the Time” (from Dangerous – 1991)

This was the second single from the Dangerous album and like “In the Closet” features terrific production from Teddy Riley. The music video featured Eddie Murphy, Magic Johnson, and model Iman.

16. “Another Part of Me” (from Bad – 1987)

This Bad heavy portion of my list concludes with “Another Part of Me”, which served as the album’s sixth single. It may not be quite as well known as “The Way You Make Me Feel” or the title track itself, but it’s always been one of my favorites from the album.

***Since the Bad album has received so much love in this portion, now might be a good time to announce that title track “Bad” did not make my personal Top 25 cut. It was close, but there were just too many other great choices that leapfrogged it.

And that’s all for now! I’ll be back tomorrow with numbers 15-11!