I realize, current events being what they are, many people might not want to discus the topic of this thread. But everytime I see those news stories about Jackson, I just shake my head and wonder how such a talented performer went so wrong. All that has been rehashed so much that it’s a cliche; what I’d rather do is remember what Jackson did that is worth revisiting, if only because thinking about who he is now is so depressing. Personally, I think his best songs were:
1 - Billy Jean
2 - Man In the Mirror
3 - Smooth Criminal
No one song for me. But the entire Off the Wall album is wonderful. And the last thing he did before the surgeries started.
He had a nosejob or two before ‘Off the Wall’.
Huh…
Well then, before the unhuman alterations started. 
Billy Jean by a mile.
I third Billy Jean
Without the Jackson 5 stuff, have to go with “Billie Jean.” Second with “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough”, third with “Workin Day and Night.”
With the Jackson 5, I’d put “Stop The Love You Save” first, “Billie Jean” second, and “Want You Back” third.
Worst song, simply because it is an awful song with such a waste of talent in the midst of such brilliance is The Girl Is Mine. Although I have complete ignorance of everything after Bad.
Another vote for Billy Jean*. That song has one of the best grooves I’ve ever heard.
Billy Jean would be my pick as well, but I’d have to choose Beat It as a close second, especially because of the work Eddie Van Halen does on it.
Billie Jean - is the best song by Michael Jackson, because you can understand the lyrics he is singing. Alot of the other songs, I can’t understand what he is singing about.
Billie Jean, the grunts and groans put this song on a soul level with James Brown.
I love “Man in the Mirror”, “Smooth Criminal”, “Leave me Alone”, and “Billie Jean”
“Remeber the Time” is pretty sweet as well. Gotta give Dangerous some props. There are some sweet songs on that record.
From the Jackson 5 days, I’d give the edge to “ABC” over “Stop the love You Save.”
From his adult career, “Billie Jean,” hands down.
What about “Ben” or do you mean MJ only and no Jackson Five stuff?
Otherwise “Bille Jean” because the groove gives it such a hook.
Errr… can I nominate Thriller? I mean, not really awesome or anything, but it was light, easy to love, and had a great music video.
What do they call those things? Oxymorons? A good Michael Jackson song?
Another Part of Me
Dirty Diana
The Way You Make Me Feel
I used to share a house with a guy who had a habit of singing along to his Michael Jackson and Fresh Prince tapes. At five in the morning. Except calling what he did “singing” would be generous, what he did was more like mooing.
After dealing with that for a couple of years, I am in no position to judge any song by Jacko.
The Way You Make Me Feel - great groove - great performance - the cd single came with a vox only track which showed his fantastic vocal control. The video fucked the song by having the long instrumental part repeated ad nausium for the repetitive dance routine. Anyone familiar only with the video version should hate it.
J5 - Litle bitty pretty one
Smooth Criminal
Dirtah Di- ah- nah