The Top 5 Michael Jackson Hits
Okay we’ve held off against Michael Jackson mania as long as possible. To be frank, many at FACTRO168 are at best ambivalent about the passing of Michael Jackson and one in particular, with the fedora in the corner, is more than a little hostile but by popular vote here is our Top 5 Songs by Michale Jackson.
Some were voted because of significant popular culture reasons – like Jackson’s performance of Billie Jean at the Motown celebrations. This was the performance that introduced the world to the moonwalk and that glove. And of course it is an outstanding pop song with it’s driving baseline.
Love it almost as much as Smooth Criminal which introduced the anti-gravity foot lean dance movement. Sheer entertainment musically and visually that put many of it’s contemporaries of the time to shame. I’m talking about you Van Halen.
Others were unanimously nominated because they are plain and simple fabulous songs. Notably two of his earlier hits fall into this category - Rock with You and Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough.
He was a very handsome man back then – young, black smiling, and with a ‘softness’.
Other songs were considered very good but the larger than life big budget of Black and White pushed it up the rankings and crowned Jackson as the undisputed Pop King of music video blockbusters.
You’ll note some songs didn’t make our top 5. Notably Thriller and Bad.
Sure – they were better than okay, sensational production values, and those group dance moves were something else buuuuut… well over time they didn’t seem to hold up on their own merits as well as the less ‘flashy’ efforts from Jackson. And Man in the Mirror and Dirty Diana were considered way too creepy, even for us fragile souls.
The number one track was selected because of it’s timeless quality, it’s sheer energy and groove, and as event professionals we well know that if you ever want to fill a dance floor quickly or lighten the mood – cue this track. It is our favorite.
The Top 5 Michael Jackson Songs
Number 5. Rock With You (1979)
4. Black or White (1990)
Number 3. Billie Jean (1982)
Number 2. Smooth Criminal (1987)
Number 1. Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough (1979)
SPECIAL MENTION goes to one of the best live performances with Jackson performing at the American NFL Superbowl with a ‘medley’ of his hits.
and in keeping with the Top 5 list – the best of The Jackson 5 with Michael up front. “Blame It on the Boogie” (1978)
With thanks -Lean-to Image from Wikipedia, Rock with You courtesy of DailyMotion.com, Black and White from MetaCafe.com, Billie Jean from French site Wat.tv, Don’t Stop Till You Drop from MySpace Video, and all others from… you guessed it… Youtube.com.
in the tradition of Elvis, Hendrix, Jim Morrison and so on and so on, Michale Jackson’s death has been all good for sales.
On the current Top 10 Digital Albums chart from Billboard – Jackson has the number 1# position with The Essential Michael Jackson, 2# with Thriller, 3# with Number Ones, 4# with Off The Wall, 8# with BAD, and 10# with Dangerous.
I suspect that the manner in which Priscilla and Lisa Presley seemed to have managed the Elvis estate with a degree of decorum will not be replicated with Jackson patriarch Joe Jackson. Hooboy – he is something else!
forgot – check out the Billboard charts yourself at http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Albums&f=Top+Digital+Albums
yeah Blame it on the Boogie is a solid gold hit and your right, it fills the dance floor on every gala dinner I’ve managed.
I was amazed to learn that the blond haired guitarist featured heavily in the ‘This Is It’ rehearsals is 24 and from Adelaide. What tha? Check her out at her MySpace website – how is that a major talent like this feted by some of the biggest music stars can be so unknown in Australia.
http://www.myspace.com/orianthi
good list, not so sure about smooth criminal at no.2, wheres ben?