Top 10 best Michael Jackson songs
Michael Jackson was undoubtedly the most disturbed musician of all time. He’s also the greatest R&B performer ever—both as a singer and a dancer—and a top 10 all-time artist, right next to Mozart, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin. If you’ve forgotten how talented he was in the recording studio or on stage, I encourage you to listen to Thriller, the best-selling album of all time.
With the King of Pop’s new summer tour announcement recent death, I can’t think of a better time to list his best hits. There are 20 other songs equally worthy of the honor, but in terms of what gets me moving the most, these are the top 10 Michael Jackson songs of awesome:
10. Break of Dawn. I doubt many people have listened to Jackson’s 2001 album Invincible, but there’s no excuse to miss this track. MJ croons over silky bass lines just like days of old. Cliche lyrics aside, it just might be the most groovin’ song of the decade, it’s so good. Too good, in fact.
9. Rock With You. If there’s one pre-80s song to get people on the dance floor, it’s this one. From Off the Wall, Jackson’s first mature album, he urges “Let the rhythm get into you, don’t try to fight it, there’s nothing you can do.” And he’s right. Resistance is futile, the beat is so infectious.
8. Thriller. While the killer video steals the spotlight, the song itself is a choreographer’s dream. Like most of Jackson’s songs, it’s especially difficult to avoid dancing while listening to this one. And the Vincent Price break down, requested by Michael himself, is just brain gravy.
7. One More Chance. Another lesser known favorite from his Number Ones album, One More Chance is filled with Jackson’s signatures “uhs” and “whys,” which never get old. After listening to this one, I’m convinced no one sings as punctual as MJ.
6. Black Or White. Wait! Don’t let the silly intro fool you. Black Or White is most awesome, thanks to the punchy guitar, sliding bass, and of course, Jackson’s “woo!”s of plenty.
5. I Want You Back. Recorded with the Jackson 5 in 1969, I Want You Back features the greatest pop chord progression of all time. It’s also the definitive sound of sunshine, Afros, bell bottoms, and summer love in my book. Good stuff.
4. Human Nature. I love this song. I love its lyrics. I love its ’80s contemporary sound—the kind that reminds me of riding in my mother’s 1984 station wagon, the same year in which Thriller was release. When they ask why, give them the greatest excuse of all time: “Tell ‘em that it’s human nature.”
3. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing). Oh snap! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the funkiest Jackson song ever recorded. It’s upbeat, it has freaking robots singing back up vocals, and it features the only bassline Herbie Hancock was known to covet (not true, but it should be). If you don’t move your feet when hearing this, you have no soul.
2. Man In The Mirror. Most singers are lame activists. They generically demand everyone to make love not war. But Jackson cuts to the core and gets candid with this one. “I’m starting with the man in the mirror,” he sings. “I’m asking him to change his ways,” he concedes “And no message could have been any clearer: If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then make the change.” Stop waiting for everyone else to change the world. Do it yourself.
1. Billie Jean. Since Jackson is so versatile, picking a single track that best embodies his style is near impossible. But if a hermit were to ask me, “Who is this Michael Jackson you speak of?” I would slide him a copy of Thriller, and play track number 6. This is ultimate Jackson. The anthem of moon walk. And easily one of the top 10 songs of all time.
Honorable mention, and an oh-so close number 11: Leave Me Alone
Originally published Mar 17, 2009
March 17th, 2009 at 8:09 am
“I Want You Back” is my favorite Jackson Five song and favorite Michael Jackson song in general. But when I think of the ’80s Michael Jackson, I can’t think of a song I’d like to listen to more than “Billie Jean.” I was wondering if you’d have that on your list, and then there it was in the number one spot. :)
March 17th, 2009 at 8:17 am
I have to give you props, Blake – even if you won’t be my X-Box friend. This is a great list. Here is my top 10:
10 – The Girl Is Mine – made even awesomer by Richard Cheese and Stephen Hawking.
9 – P.Y.T
8 – Who is it
7 – Thriller
6 – Human Nature
5 – In The Closet
4 – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
3 – The Way You Make Me Feel
2 – Smooth Criminal
1 – Beat it. No question. Top 10 of all time, possibly top 5 of all time.
March 17th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I love it, but is it just me or does Scream need to be on that list?
March 29th, 2009 at 10:25 am
is it me or does the way you make me feel and bad supposed to be on there there are my favourites in order
10.baby be mine
9.dirty diana
8.thriller
7.off the wall
6.speechless
5. in the closet
4.beat it
3. bad
2.the way you make me feel
1. man in the mirror
June 15th, 2009 at 11:34 am
the 80’s micheal jackson was undoubtedly great, however,rock with you and man in the mirror are the best!!!
June 26th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
+1 for Rock with You.
June 26th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
you should try and find ztrip remixing motown including abc. It is awesome.
June 27th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
1. Billy Jean
2. Beat it
3. Human Nature
4. Rock with you
5. Man in the Mirror
6. Don’t stop till you get enough
7. Wanna be starting something
8. PYT
9. The way you make me feel
10. She’s out of my life
11. Black or White
12. Say
June 27th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Whoops I forgot Thriller!
June 30th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
10.Rock with you
9.Bad
8.Man in the mirror
7.Wanna be startin somethin
6.P.Y.T
5.Off the wall
4.Beat it
3.Billie Jean
2.Thriller
1.Dirty Diana (Nah)
June 30th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
and others
remeber the time
you rock my world
dont stop to you get enother
black and white
i want you back
abc
i be there
July 5th, 2009 at 2:26 am
10. Butterflies
9. Stranger in Moscow
8. Wanna Be Starting’ Something
7. The Way You Make Me Feel
6. Rock With You
5. I Want You Back
4. Human Nature
3. Who Is It
2. Man in the Mirror
1. Billie Jean
July 7th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
10. Man In the Mirror
9. Wanna Be Startin Somethin
8. Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough
7. Bad
6. Thriller
5. The way You Make Me Feel
4. Black Or White
3. Billie Jean
2. Smooth Criminal
1. Beat It
July 8th, 2009 at 9:27 am
10.Wanna be startin something
9.Heal the world
8.Bad
7.D´ont stop till you get enough
6.Black or White
5.The way you make me feel
4.Man in the mirror
3.Thriller
2.Billie Jean
1.Beat it
July 10th, 2009 at 3:41 am
10. Human Nature
9. You’re not Alone
8. Earth Song
7. Bad
6. Billie Jean
5. Who is It
4. Heal the World
3. Will You be there
2. Black or White
1. They don’t Care About Us
July 10th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Wow this is tough! I love all his music
10. Rock With You
9. Bad
8. Smooth Criminal
7. Man in the Mirror
6. Wanna Be Startin’ Something
5. P.Y.T
4. Who’s Lovin’ You (performed as Jackson 5)
3, 2, 1. Tie between Human Nature Dirty Diana The Way You Make Me Feel &Billie Jean
WAIT change my mind this is to hard to decide! I love basically every MJ song(R.I.P.) including Leave Me Alone, They Don’t Care About Us, Will You Be There, I’ll Be There, Don’t Stop’Til You Get Enough, Thriller, Beat It, Scream, ABC, Heal the World, We Are the World, Remember the Time, You Are Not Alone, I Want You Back, Never Can Say Goodbye, Give in to Me, Who is It, Smile, Gone Too Soon, &the list goes on &on &on so yeah! :D
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:53 pm
1. Beat It
2. Dirty Diana
3. Billie Jean
4. They Don’t Really Care About Us
5. Thriller
6. Break of Dawn
7. Earth Song
8. P.Y.T
9. Black Or White
10. Wanna Be Starting Something
Man that was really hard i have so many favorite MJ songs
August 1st, 2009 at 7:35 am
1-thriller
2-bad
3-i just cant stop loving you
4-beat it
5-billie jean
6-ghosts
7-they don’t really care about us
8-black or white
9-rock with you
10-smooth criminal
August 28th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Michael Jackson’s Birthday Tribute! All his Best Videos in HD! http://su.pr/1g3fGG
October 24th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
20.Heartbreaker: dont know why, it gets me pumped up
19.Workin’ Day And Night: talks about the workin’ man
18.P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing): his sisters, na na na na
17.They Don’t Really Care About Us: feeling built up inside
16.Who Is It: relates to me from my ex girlfriend
15.Ghost: how is skeleton does the moonwalk in the video
14.Tabloid Junkie: doesnt mean it’s factual
13.Will You Be There: Free Willy…
12.Baby, Be Mine: the way he sings in it…
11.Man In The Mirror: makes me wanna help someone else
10.Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough: highness in MJ’s voice
9.Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’:Ma Ma Se Ma Ma Sa Ma Ma CooSa
8.Black Or White: how race doesnt matter…
7.Human Nature: the softness of the music
6.Bad: rollerblading moonwalk…
5.The Way You Make Me Feel: gets the girls jumpin
4.Smooth Criminal: the leaning forward in the music video
3.Thriller: Vincent Price
2.Billie Jean: Bassline, & the way you always wanna dance
1.Beat It: Eddie Van Halen’s guitar solo
There are so many that could be number 21…
October 26th, 2009 at 5:29 am
10. billie jean
9 . blood on the dance floor
8 . bad
7 . dont stop till you get enough
6 . you are not alone
5 . black or white
4 . heal the world
3 . man in the mirror
2 . thriller
1 . history
November 9th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
P Diddy: “He showed that you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life. He made me believe in magic.”
Here I’ve tried to collect all notable tributes and quotes on Michael Jackson from peers: http://www.tributespaid.com/quotes-on/m/michael-jackson
November 11th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
i think the list SHOUD go like this
10.heal the world
9.man in the mirror
8.rock with you
7.don’t stop til you get enough
6.scream
5.black or white
4.you are not alone
3.beat it
2.billie jean
1.THRILLER the best song eva!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 11th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
bad is tha best
November 18th, 2009 at 5:40 am
MJ….The King Of Pop…has changed the world with his music…He will always be remembered…he has created history….love you MJ…Here are my ten all time fav songs which I listen to almost everyday!!!
10. Dont Stop Til’ You Get Enough – From Off The Wall album, this song sounds fresh even today.
9. Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ – My all time fav….
8. Stranger In Moscow – I love the vid to this song…beautiful lyrics
7. Dangerous – Dangerous is the best MJ album ever…I love the title track
6. Scream
5. Give In To Me – I listen to this song everyday…MJ sang it with a feeling…and the guitar by Slash…just awesome!!
4. You Rock My World – Simply the best
3. Who Is It
2. You Are Not Alone – A beautiful love ballad
1. In The Closet – Oh I cant live without listening to this song everyday…the vid is awesome….
November 21st, 2009 at 9:47 pm
I’ve looked and looked for a video of Michael singing Break of Dawn. I don’t think there was ever one made which is really depressing. One of his best songs ever.