“Beat It,” “Billy Jean,” and “Smooth Criminal,” in that order.
“Man in the Mirror” is the only song exclusively by him that I can say I like.
“Say, Say, Say” with P. McCartney is good, as is “ABC” by J5.
Sniffs_Markers and I were discussing that about a year ago. IOHOs (at the time) we thought that if he shut up and completely shunned the spotlight, kinda like Prince, he could conceivably have a lucrative and respectable career as a producer. He’s meticulous enough in his arrangements and producing that he could be the next Quincy Jones.
Alas, after a few interviews (circa dangling-baby episode) we decided that he’s too nuts. Can’t imagine he could understand the concept of “budget” and can’t imagine him working well with anyone else.
Billie Jean has a great hook, but until I got the piano music for it, I had no clue what the lyrics were. It was incomprehensible - I kept wondering why he was singing about a chair.
In chronological order:
A, B, C
Beat it
Smooth Criminal
Who is it? (Did it even make it on radio?)
“Ben” is my favorite of MJ’s singles. It wasn’t a Jackson 5 release.
“The Way You Make Me Feel”
“Beat It”
The Off the Wall album was terrific.
He still can make good music but with his strange public persona and the direction of the music business today it won’t be heard.
What, no votes for I’ll Be There? That’s my favorite.
I’m kind of surprised at the number of votes for “Billy Jean,” even though it was my favorite, too. I guess that song really is as good as I thought it was.
And the video is still really cool, too.
Yeah, I never knew Billie Jean was such a fav either…
Having said that, I have to vote ‘Bad’ and ‘Smooth Criminal’ as really annoying - what the f@$# is a ‘shamaw’ anyway???!
Such a talented artist, succumbing to an (allegedly) howard hughes - style madness.
Human Nature- very tender song
Jackson 5- Dancing Machine
Don’t stop til you get enough
Didnt the Jacksons have a song called" Can you feel it"? This was like from some reunion album, I think.
The Jackson 5 was my first concert- I hope it counts- I was two years old- but I remember!!!
At least one of these will be controversial
Beat It
Smooth Criminal
Earth Song
‘Billie Jean’ is a good song but overplayed as all get out.