Growing up in the 80′s with a father who loved music and an uncle who was in a band I spent a lot of time watching MTV and VH1, thus I was a pretty big fan of Michael Jackson. He is one of my first memories growing up. “The Way You Make Me Feel” was my favorite song and music video for quite some time. I also loved “Billie Jean” and “Beat It”. Then I remember watching the mini-series “The Jacksons: An American Dream” when it aired in 1992. I recommend anybody and everybody to watch this by the way, I’m sure it will be being aired a lot now. This further cemented my respect and appreciation of his music along with opening my eyes to the music of the Jackson 5.
Now as much as Michael was eccentric and out-there he was a genius and easily the greatest performer and dancer ever. I don’t know when we will ever see an icon of his magnitude again, if ever.
So stick around and see my countdown of The King of Pop’s top 10 greatest songs and his 10 most over-rated songs (as great as he was, he wasn’t perfect).
—-10 GREATEST—-
10. Stranger In Moscow
9. She’s Out Of My Life
8. Beat It – Eddie Van Halen on guitar and Michael trying to be tough. It somehow works though doesn’t it?
7. Smooth Criminal
6. I Just Can’t Stop Loving You – A wonderful duet with Siedah Garrett that was the first of five consecutive number 1 singles off of Bad.
5. Man In The Mirror – Michael Jackson to me is synonymous with charitable work and raising awareness to social problems around the world. Man In The Mirror achieves his message so eloquently with enough subtlety so that it is not too sappy that you can enjoy the song and still feel the need to improve the world inside you.
4. Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
3. Rock With You
2. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) – I defy anyone to play this song and not instantly be in a good mood.
1. Billie Jean – This might be the greatest song of the past 30 years, period. Rolling Stone Magazine listed it at number 58 on its “500 Greatest Songs of All-Time” and the now defunct Blender Magazine had it as #1 in their list of the “500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born”. Not to mention his performance of this song at the Motown 25 Year Anniversary Celebration where he debuted the moonwalk was the absolute peak of his career.
—-10 MOST OVER-RATED—-
Now these are not to say these songs are bad, although some of them are (Jam for example). They are just over-rated that’s all.
10. Leave Me Alone
9. Remember The Time
8. Jam – Hey, there are two world famous MJs in this video, how funny. No. This song would be higher but I think most people realize it is not that good.
7. Bad – Michael trying too hard to be too tough.
6. Heal The World – A lot like “Man In The Mirror” but too sappy and melodramatic to really be as powerful as “Man In The Mirror”
5. Will You Be There?
4. We Are The World
3. Scream – At the time this video was made I believe it was the most expensive one ever. Too bad spending a lot of money doesn’t make a bad song into a good one.
2. Black or White – This video was overplayed to death, thus making the song unbearable to listen to. Not to mention the obvious irony of the title
1. Thriller – A groundbreaking video that overshadows the song. A great song and certainly a staple around Halloween, but internet remakes/tributes have over hyped “Thriller” the song that I believe most people think of the video when they hear the word “Thriller” and not one of the greatest albums every made.
***BONUS: Great Jackson 5/The Jacksons Songs***
Motown has never really survived since not letting the Jackson 5 more creative control, except for Boyz II Men of course, but that was what, only two albums? So here are some great Jackson 5/The Jacksons songs in no particular order. In these videos I think you really get to appreciate how great Michael was.
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