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[Spinluck]

Beat It

Yup, many good ones to choose though. Beat It is just one that stuck with me after hearing it as a kid.

I may be in the minority, but I liked more of his stuff with Jackson 5. That's not to say his solo stuff isn't awesome.

 

[MikeMyers]

Lady in my Life.

I used to hit REPEAT on that one all the time.

 

[Rawr Its Ry]

P.Y.T All the way.

Yessir!

 

[DrZeus]

Gawd damn at that back away moonwalk . MJ was the GOAT!

 

[AllenShrz]

Michael Jackson - Remember The Time

 

[CB3]

Gawd damn at that back away moonwalk . MJ was the GOAT!

Smooth Criminal was the best video. Far and away

 

[Bravocado]

I can't decide between Thriller, Don't Stop Till You Get Enough, Billie Jean, Smooth Crimimal or Carousel.

Spoiler

Yes, I think Carousel is good, mostly because I have a weird carnival fetish. Don't judge, just leave me alone!

 

[Zeyphersan]

PYT

Followed by Dirty Diana

 

[Uniracers]

Liberian Girl? Anyone?

 

[Grover Cleveland]

I can't name 1, but here's the top 5

Human Nature
PYT
Wanna Be Startin Somethin
Beat It
Smooth Criminal

Bonus Comment: Thriller is one of the most overrated song+video combos in the history of music.

 

[Ryman]

Favorite song would have to be Billie Jean, both for the lyrics and that sick bassline. Favorite video obviously has to be Smooth Criminal, it has some of--if not the--best choreography I have seen (who can forget the anti-gravity lean!?).

 

[hodayathink]

Best song? Probably Billy Jean

Favorite Song: Off the Wall or Human Nature

Controversial opinion: Off the Wall was his best album (but that's probably because I love disco and it's the best Disco album of all time).

Edit: And underrated song: Working Day and Night

 

[entremet]

+1 for Human Nature. Love that song.

 

[Ollie Pooch]

Get On The Floor, or Who Is It.

I'd also choose Liberian Girl, Baby Be Mine, and Man in the Mirror.

 

[Verelios]

Smooth Criminal obviously.

 

[Pics_nao]

If I HAD to choose one song, I'd give it to Billie Jean. Goddamn that song turned me on to MJ. Based Vice City/Flash FM

But Smooth Criminal, PYT, Remember The Time, Man in the Mirror, Rock With You, etc. are all good and so hard to choose just one

 

[Papytendo]

Can't say best since a strong, strong majority is great. All I will say is that most underrated song is Baby Be Mine or Just Good Friends.

Also Bad > Thriller (referring to the albums).

 

[Buckethead]

Stranger In Moscow or Earth Song.

Dem slow songs that build in intensity.

 

[Ocaso]

This is such a difficult thread. The man was a genius.

One song that I think that is underrated (from an underrated album compared to MJ standards), but is one of his all time greatest is Dirty Diana. Before DD, no one took MJ for hard rock. Bad was a complete transformation that showed the "hard edge" side of MJ. He not only hit it out of the ballpark with Dirty Diana, but also completely captured what being a rockstar meant. Of course who can forget Steve Stevens' legendary guitar performance, and the video filmed as a live performance with crowd.

Dirty Diana

Can't say it's my favorite, but it's true that the song highlights how MJ had a killer rock voice. He shows it off on "Give In to Me" as well. It's almost impossible to pick an all-time favorite, but if I had to choose, I'd have to say Smooth Criminal. It was a a amazing closer to the Bad album in and of itself, but the Moonwalker segment for it and incomparably stunning dance prowess on display elevate the singer, song, and spectacle into an unmatched level. Truly a performer for the ages.

 

[foxuzamaki]

Liberian Girl? Anyone?

It's pretty damn good.

 

[Fjordson]

Billie Jean or P.Y.T. Too hard to choose just one, and there's a good 7-8 more that I might name on a different day.

 

[jackb2424]

Who Is It!!! Thia been my favorite MJ song since rhe first timw I heard it. The beginning base beat hits so hard and then on top of that Mkke is beat boxing in the background. When he sat down for Oprah back in the eaely 90's he sang it live for her. It was absolutely incredible. I wish I knew how ro post that snippet. Eveyone should watch it.

 

[Deku Tree]

Billie Jean, no contest.

This

 

[Sinnick]

I didn't expect this to be so hard. It's either Will You Be There or Stranger in Moscow.

It's Stranger in Moscow.

Damn it OP! Now you have me wanting to listen to all of his albums starting with his Jackson 5 stuff, but I have to go to bed. :-(

 

[Cheddahz]

Girls, Girls, Girls (There's a rumor that he is the that provides the singing throughout the song)

 

[Animekatt]

The Way You Make Me Feel. Hands down.

 

[Mr Touchdown]

Younger me= The way you make me feel

Current me= In the closet

Though to be honest, I don't think there is a best song of his. He was incredibly consistent.

In the Closet is a great song, surprised you were the first to say it.

Seriously, how can you pick just one song though? Dude was electrifying.

 

[greycolumbus]

Ghost is both best and spookiest.

 

[Ollie Pooch]

Who Is It!!! Thia been my favorite MJ song since rhe first timw I heard it. The beginning base beat hits so hard and then on top of that Mkke is beat boxing in the background. When he sat down for Oprah back in the eaely 90's he sang it live for her. It was absolutely incredible. I wish I knew how ro post that snippet. Eveyone should watch it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeTmsmuHTVM

 

[Pimpwerx]

She's Out of My Life or Off The Wall. Forildo. PEACE.

Changed my mind. I totally forgot Got To Be There. Easily one of his best melodies.

 

[breakfuss]

Holy hell, I totally overlooked Moscow. Not particularly a fan of his 90s stuff, but that is DOPE.

 

[greycolumbus]

Holy hell, I totally overlooked Moscow. Not particularly a fan of his 90s stuff, but that is DOPE.

Listen to Who Is it. Shits dope.

 

[Ceebs]

Was always partial to The Way You Make Me Feel myself.

 

[KalBalboa]

The Way You Make Me Feel
Smooth Criminal
Beat It

Hard to pick, but I jump between these three. From the Jackson Five days, it's Just A Little Bit Of You Every Day.

 

[The Hermit]

I can't just choose one... this thread is reminding me why I loved his musics so much.

So sad he had to go

 

[Ace Harding]

Dirty D, hands down. Then PYT. BUT I need to give this Moscow number a listen apparently.

 

[Ashodin]

I forgot how awesome Remember The Time is. fuck awesome song!

 

[MIMIC]

Trick question. Impossible to name just one

 

[Danny 117]

Best dance sequence in ever. Period.

 

[SeaOfMadness]

If you like MJ and you haven't heard of the band Toto, shame on you. A lot of his songs were some combination of written, arranged and/or performed by members of that band.

Human nature was written by their keyboardist and the famous riff on Beat It was performed by their guitarist.

Just had to give them a mention since no one else did.

 

[breakfuss]

Listen to Who Is it. Shits dope.

Maybe I'm just in a different space now because I actually really like that, too. lol. I swear the only 90s stuff I've given a chance are "not alone", "scream" and "black+white". Maybe Earth Song. Love those. Even though I have the Dangerous album, I've never liked Jam, Remember The Time ,etc.. Still don't, actually. LoL. I do love Teddy Riley....just never felt it fit MJ. Going to give another chance.

 

[Grinchy]

For me, it's Earth Song. Not as catchy as most of his hits, not as dancey, not as fun... but significant and from the heart .

Came here to say this. Everyone else has shit taste.

 

[cdyhybrid]

An impossible question to answer. Three-way tie for me between Billie Jean, Thriller, and Smooth Criminal.

 

[Goody]

Something about Heaven Can Wait really gets me listening to it over and over again.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Wrong. Though that is an underrated song.

Human Nature is his best song.

We were done after this.

 

[GraveHorizon]

Billie Jean. The other popular songs of his have stuff on them that holds them back. Thriller has the talking part at the end which isn't good for dancing or singing, even if it lends to the horror atmosphere. Beat It has that silly guitar solo in the middle. PYT has those stupid chipmunk voices at the end. Billie Jean is solid gold all the way through.

Spoiler

The Alien Ant Farm cover of Smooth Criminal is superior to the original.

 

[Ben Morales]

He has so many incredible songs but I just have to give honorable mention to Al Capone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob4jo5o0CbM

It is super high energy and reminds me of some old school arcade game music. Love it!

 

[Wall]

I'm pleasantly surprised to see the Human Nature mentions. I got a tape of Thriller in third grade and damn near wore the thing out in my shitty boombox, but even then that song stuck out as my favorite. To this it remains one of my favorite songs. I always got the feeling it was somewhat overlooked, so I am glad to see it get mentions.

Still, picking a best MJ song is just ......................... even an average song by/from him would make someone's career today.

 

[Zeyphersan]

Well my name is Ben so the obvious answer is

P.Y.T. all day err day.

 

[oyoshimaru]

Amazingly difficult but I'll go for a 3-way tie between: Will you be there, Man in the Mirror and Billy Jean.