Michael Jackson, also known as the King of Pop would have been 60 today! Before his death in 2009, MJ was globally known for his great contributions to music and dance. He was very influential and gave us timeless hits! Songs that over 10 years later, we still love and appreciate. In memory of this legend’s death and his contribution to music, here are of our favourite MJ songs.
Heal The World
This beautiful song was released in 1992 and was written and produced by Michael Jackson. The song basically spreads the message of man’s inhumanity to one another and urges people to help one another to make the world a better place. After the song, Michael actually went ahead to start a foundation called the ”Heal The World Foundation” which was created solely to raise funds to help children in terrible living situation all over the world.
Dirty Diana
The song was released in 1987 and instantly became a hit. It has a rock song feel to it and basically is about groupies and all the things they get into. The energy in the song is too lit!!
Thriller
Remember this 1982 hit song where MJ was out on a date with his girl and all of a sudden, zombies crawled out of some places and broke into a dance? That video was so entertaining it’s not right to listen to the song without the video.
Smooth Criminal
If anyone tells you they knew the words of the song, laugh in their face cos it’s a big lie. This song was a big hit, no doubt but it was so hard…at least for those of us here in Ghana, to catch what he was saying. We still jammed and practiced leaning like he did in the video without falling tho!
Man In The Mirror
Man In The Mirror is a very deep song that acknowledges that for anything in this world to change, you need to start with yourself. Basically, MJ is saying that, to make any impact on the outside, start from within and that’s how to make the world a better place.
You Are Not Alone
This sweet ballad was written by R Kelly and the video featured Jackson’s wife at that time, Lisa Marie Presley. It holds a Guiness World Record as the first song in the 37-year history of the Billboard Hot 100, to debut at number one.
Beat It
‘Beat It’ is an upbeat song about gangs and the street life. It actually came out that the gangsters in this video are real ones who were asked by MJ to get featured in the video. The song was on his album, Thriller and was one of the singles that helped make the album, the best selling album of all time.
Billie Jean
The lyrics is about a woman MJ had a one night stand with and who later claimed she had a baby with him. Rumor has it that it’s actually a true story about Michael dealing with a woman who kept stalking him and insisted he was the father of her twins. The song is said to have become one of the best-selling singles of 1983 and also, became the biggest-selling single for Michael as a solo artist.
Remember The Time
This was released in 1992 and made top ten in about 9 countries worldwide. What we love is the video which was referred to as a short film where MJ performed to save his life in an Egyptian royal court but ended up charming the King’s wife. The King was played by Eddie Murphy.
The Way You Make Me Feel
This was a love song released in 1987 as the third single off his seventh studio album, ”Bad” and the love interest in the song was actually his real life girlfriend at that time. He also performed this at the 1988 Grammy Awards.
Bad
Bad was the second single of his album with the same title. The song and video gave Michael Jackson an edgy and ‘bad boy’ look and feel which was welcomed by everyone. The song stayed for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Black Or White
The song has been described as a rock ‘n’ roll song about racial harmony and was referred to as the fastest chart topper on the Billboard Hot 100.This song was so popular the instrumentals before he sings will jog your memory really fast! Tyra Banks also appeared in this video way before she got to the supermodel status and the star of the Home Alone movie, Macauley Culkin made a brief appearance rapping a couple of lines in the whole typical rapper’s gear.
Will you be there
This song sold over 1 Million copies and went platinum. It was released in 1993 and was the official soundtrack for the film, ”Free Willy” which helped the song win ‘Best song in a movie’ in 1994. The song on the album is actually 7 minutes and 40 seconds long, making it the longest song in all of MJ’s solo discography.
Scream
Scream was released as a response to the media and all the child sexual abuse allegations against him. He featured his sister, Janet Jackson
These are just a few of the timeless songs Michael Jackson blessed us with and if at this point you don’t believe he is the King of Pop and deserves all the accolades he keeps getting…you need help! lol.
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