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My Essential Songs: Michael Jackson

B.1958 - D.2009

By Annie KapurPublished 5 years ago 5 min read
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Michael Jackson in 1984

Musician and humanitarian, Michael Jackson is the most famous name in all of music history. There are many accolades to his name and the awards he has won are pretty endless. This has made him the most decorated artist of all time and won him the respect of the entire music industry. He's done R&B, blues, pop, swing, dance and so much more, contributing to music much more than most of the artists around him.

Michael Jackson, the renowned King of Pop, made his mark on music history by releasing the epic best-selling album of all time, Thriller which continues to be a milestone of music today. Michael Jackson's achievements in music are everlasting and his influence is timeless. We may actually continue to listen to his music for eternity, because it always sounds so new and inventive.

Unfortunately, we lost the King of Pop too soon as in 2009, weeks before his final tour he suffered cardiac arrest and died, aged only 50 years old. For some reason, I remember that day as if it were yesterday still. I cried so much, it was unrealistically sad. I felt like, for that day, the entire world had stopped spinning and well, there is nothing that can replace him. I remember waking up to it all over the news and just seeing outpours of grief everywhere, the world mourned the shining star that was Michael Jackson. His music will live on forever though. Even if I have to personally distribute it myself with my hands, I will make sure the King of Pop lives on. His death was quite possibly the biggest hurt of 2009. I just broke down.

I personally admit to sitting in front of the TV on the living room floor through my teenage years every single time "This Is It" was aired. I personally admit to celebrating his birthday and mourning his passing every year. I personally admit to having and owning a Michael Jackson calendar every year (this year it's the Bad Tour) and I personally admit to upholding Michael Jackson's name in any way, shape or form I can.

It is sad that this year will mark 10 years since his passing.

Now, let us count down my top 100 essential songs for your journey to Michael Jackson's music and influence. These are in no particular order so please don't get angry if your personal favourite isn't in the top five. It's time to do our list then.

Witness the greatest music star in human history: The King of Pop.

100-91

100. "2 Bad"

99. "Baby be Mine"

98. "Another Part of Me"

97. "Blue Gangsta"

96. "Come Together" (cover)

95. "Chicago"

94. "Ease on Down the Road"

93. "Gone Too Soon"

92. "Heaven Can Wait"

91. "One More Chance"

90-81

90. "Blood on the Dance Floor"

89. "2000 Watts"

88. "Little Susie"

87. "Speed Demon"

86. "Childhood"

85. "Is It Scary?"

84. "Loving You"

83. "Say Say Say" (featuring Paul McCartney)

82. "State of Shock"

81. "This Is It"

80-71

80. "We Are the World" (featuring a lot of people)

79. "HIStory"

78. "Scream" (featuring Janet Jackson)

77. "Unbreakable"

76. "Don't Walk Away"

75. "Will You Be There?"

74. "Liberian Girl"

73. "Workin' Day and Night"

72. "I Can't Help It"

71. "Ben"

70-61

70. "Butterflies"

69. "Chicago"

68. "Carousel"

67. "D.S"

66. "Money"

65. "Someone in the Dark"

64. "Streetwalker"

63. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (featuring Siedah Garrett)

62. "Price of Fame"

61. "Remember the Time"

60-51

60. "Jam"

59. "Can't Let Her Get Away"

58. "Rock With You"

57. "Bad"

56. "It's the Falling in Love"

55. "Girlfriend"

54. "Invincible"

53. "Stranger in Moscow"

52. "Ghost"

51. "Al Capone"

50-41

50. "The Girl is Mine" (featuring Paul McCartney)

49. "They Don't Care About Us"

48. "This Time Around"

47. "Superfly Sister"

46. "Don't Stop 'till You Get Enough"

45. "Human Nature"

44. "I'm So Blue"

43. "Abortion Papers"

42. "The Lady of My Life"

41. "She's Out of My Life"

40-31

40. "Dirty Diana"

39. "Heartbreaker"

38. "In the Closet"

37. "Love Never Felt So Good"

36. "I"ll Be There"

35. "She Drives Me Wild"

34. "Off the Wall"

33. "Why You Wanna Trip on Me?"

32. "Fly Away"

31. "You Are Not Alone

30-21

30. "You Rock My World"

29. "The Way You Make Me Feel"

28. "ABC"

27. "Smooth Criminal"

26. "Heal the World"

25. "Break of Dawn"

24. "Speechless"

23. "The Love You Save"

22. "Who Is It"

21. "Keep the Faith"

20-11

20. "Whatever Happens"

19. "Ain't No Sunshine"

18. "Earth Song"

17. "Smile"

16. "Jam"

15. "Black or White"

14. "Rockin' Robin"

13. "Beat It"

12. "Burn This Disco Out"

11. "Get on the Floor"

10-1

10. "Cinderella Stay Awhile"

9. "Music and Me"

8. "Got to Be There"

7. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"

6. "Just Good Friends"

5. "P.Y.T"

4. "Smooth Criminal"

3. "Thriller"

2. "Leave Me Alone"

1. "Billie Jean"

Conclusion

The biggest music star in all of history and one of the most talented men to ever grace the planet, Michael Jackson was a beacon of hope and peace. He was an endorsement for a good earth and the goodness of humanity. His songs continue to speak, to many, the model for the way the world should be through "Heal the World" and "Black or White." He teaches us how the mass media lies to us through "Tabloid Junkie" and how people are normally, caught up in various lies for their own gain through songs like "Money" and "D.S."

Michael Jackson is truly one of the greatest men to ever have lived and I am proud for the first thirteen years of my life to have shared this planet with him. Rest in peace, Michael, we will never forget you. You are timeless.

playlist
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About the Creator

Annie Kapur

190K+ Reads on Vocal.

English Lecturer

🎓Literature & Writing (B.A)

🎓Film & Writing (M.A)

🎓Secondary English Education (PgDipEd)

📍Birmingham, UK

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