R.I.P. - MJ
Today's MJ's b-day and this is the time of the year that has everyone reminiscing about their favorite jams from the man who taught the world how to moonwalk and added some much needed melanin to MTV. Initially, the plan was to compile a Top 5 list, but hey, the more the merrier. If you don’t see your favorite on the list…too Bad.
15) Leave Me Alone
Michael pairs a song detailing a complicated relationship with a trippy video detailing his complicated relationship with the tabloid press. Bubbles even makes a cameo.
14) Can You Feel It?
The Gloved One and his brothers give their plea for global peace and harmony over a driving beat that was later sampled by Charli Baltimore.
Michael fights over a woman with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney. This is the song in which he delivers the immortal line, “I told you, I’m a lover not a fighter.” Brandy and Monica earned themselves a #1 smash with their 1998 remake, “The Boy is Mine”.
12) I Can’t Help It
A lovesick Michael puts all of his cards on the table for the apple of his eye on this melodic jam that De La Soul sampled on “Break a Dawn”. Fabolous put his spin on it too when he sampled the track for his 2005 single, “Baby”.
11) Billie Jean
This was the second shot in what became the global assault better known as the Thriller album. In the song, a frustrated MJ lays out his personal experience with groupie love in a story that would make Maury Povich sit up and take notice. He later performed the tune dolo on stage at the Motown 25 television special and introduced non-breakdancers worldwide to The Moonwalk.
10) Lady In My Life
This is the slow jam on Thriller. The self-proclaimed “Dancin’ Machine” reduces the tempo just long enough to shoot some old school game to the titular woman in his world before returning to his bread-and-butter grooves. Mike croons to his girl that he’ll be there “until we’re old and gray” in this classic that LL Cool J sampled (with Boyz II Men in tow) for his 1995 radio hit “Hey Lover”.
9) Wanna Be Starting Something
This ethnic smash was the 4th single and 1st track on the Thriller album. It was a Top 5 hit on the Billboard chart in 1983. The song is a warning to anyone contemplating upsetting Michael’s lady, but most fans know it for the Cameroon-derived chant at the end.
8) Blame It On The Boogie
This disco era favorite by The Jacksons is actually a remake but the boys from Indiana made it a hit.
7) Shake Your Body
Another one from the disco days with little brother Randy filling in for Jermaine, this track from the 1978 Destiny album by The Jacksons is a self-produced diatribe urging stuck up women to do as the title suggests.
6) PYT
This 6th single from Thriller was a family affair even without any of Michael’s brothers present. Sisters Janet and LaToya sing back-up on the fun, pop-flavored gem.
5) This Place Hotel
Originally titled, and more commonly known as, “Heartbreak Hotel”, this cut by The Jacksons doesn’t include any Jackson but Michael on vocals…unless you count LaToya providing a scream. The tune is a weird, but funky hybrid of The Eagles’ “Hotel California” and the typical haunted house movie.
4) Rock With You
Famous for its accompanying blue-laser video, this early 80’s party starter features Ben’s best friend letting his favorite girl know exactly what he has planned for the evening. The video is one of only two from the 1979 album, Off The Wall.
3) Girlfriend
This sing-songy ode to cheating suggests that Janet’s big brother just may have been down with OPP. It was written specifically for Jackson by Paul McCartney who recorded it himself before it was remade for the 20 million selling Off The Wall.
2) Can’t Let Her Get Away
The sole offering from the Dangerous LP to make this list, “Can’t Let Her Get Away” is a superb serenade from a heartbroken MJ who refuses to live without his lost love.
1) Human Nature
Last, but certainly not least, is the seminal Michael Jackson classic that created arguably the biggest buzz ever for a debut hip-hop album when Nas sampled the track for his own classic, “It Ain’t Hard To Tell”, and put SWV on the top of the pop charts when they sampled it for the remix of their song “Right Here”. Of course, Chris Brown is all over the airwaves right now with his take on this can't miss beat with "She Ain't You". This extremely soulful ballad became a hit without an accompanying video as the 5th release from Thriller, climbing all the way to number 7 in MTV’s heyday.
What’s your favorite?
- Ran
