The Best of Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson has been the crowned King of Pop for nearly thirty years. His legacy reaches across genres with a dizzying array of inspired hits. From his formative years until now, Jackson's music has remained a staple in clubs, radios, and homes across the world. Given his eccentric nature and personal life, Jackson has been the subject of much media scrutiny, so much so that his breathtaking artistry has often been overshadowed by his personal troubles.

After being fully acquitted of the accusations brought against him and reemerging the public eye, Jackson is making a return to performing once again. With record ticket sales and a string of dates lined up in the UK, Michael is back on top once again. While there have been echoes of retirement, no one can really be sure if this "is it," as Michael has stated, or if he's possibly testing the waters for an even bigger comeback.

In light of Jackson's return, here's a look back at ten of his greatest songs, hoping there will be many more to come.

"Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" from Off the Wall - This is the song that launched Michael's solo career into the public eye. An electrifying disco track, this rapturous fusion of soaring pop vocals and larger than life production values introduced the grown-up Michael to the world, apart from his brothers. The song has been sampled ad naseum, and makes appearances even to this day, with Timbaland often including the track in his live set.

"Billie Jean" from Thriller - Eerie and surreal, "Billie Jean" marked a hard turn from the light-hearted fare of Off the Wall into a somewhat more paranoid venture. With an instantly recognizable deep-funk baseline and the introduction of "the Moonwalk," this track is possibly the most iconic in Jackson's career. Michael even received a congratulatory call from Fred Astaire after his live performance of the song at the Grammies.

"Human Nature" from Thriller - While not receiving the off-the-charts recognition of his other work, this uplifting ballad endures as one of his best tracks. Described as "haunting" and "irresistible" by The New York Times, the song has a uniquely mysterious lyrical structure, abstract yet disarming. Like "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough," "Human Nature" has been sampled numerous times, most notably on BLACKstreet's "Why, Why" and SWV's "Right Here/Human Nature."

"The Way You Make Me Feel" from Bad - A departure from the softer Michael of Thriller, Bad presented an aggressive and in-charge Jackson. Like Thriller, this album spawned numerous hits, but none quite as memorable as the powerhouse R&B/Pop hit "The Way You Make Me Feel." The song marked a direction which Jackson would continue, one of insistent R&B flavored dance melodies with a clean yet urban sound.

"Man in the Mirror" from Bad - This immensely personal ballad promotes love and peace in a way only Jackson can, without a second of preaching or hint of political agenda. Giving no respect to any single issue or cause, the song is a universal anthem of human determination and altruism. Aside from its moral merit, "Man in the Mirror" is also one of the most artistically sound ballads of the 80's.

"Remember the Time" from Dangerous - Sporting one of the coolest music videos to escape the 90's, complete with elaborate Egyptian set design and a guest role by Eddie Murphy, "Remember the Time" is a one-of-a-kind mid-tempo jam, both intimate and dance-floor ready. Jackson struck R&B gold with this one, as the track sounds just as good now as it did over ten years ago.

"In the Closet" from Dangerous - Michael shows his dirty side here, and it's safe to say it was a one-time affair. Sounding a bit more like one of his sister's X-rated nympho-fantasies, "In the Closet" is a superb single with an surprising industrial-dance/rhythmic vibe, that is, if you can get over the creepy factor. It's safe to say the only reason this song wasn't a worldwide smash was due to its less-than-family-friendly subject matter. Fun fact: Madonna was slated for the female part, but turned it down. She refused to have a second-place billing to Jackson.

"Scream" from HIStory - It's safe to say, by this point, Jackson was ticked. And he didn't mind letting the world know. Enlisting the help of his chart-topping sister, Janet aids Michael in getting his point across: "Stop f------ with me!" By this point in his career, MJ had adopted a much more industrial sound, and his songs were becoming increasingly paranoid, alienating a relatively large demographic. Nevertheless, one cannot deny that even through his eccentric anger and paranoia, his music remained light years beyond those with whom he shared superstardom.

"Blood on the Dance Floor" from Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix - Needless to say, Jackson hadn't lightened up a bit since his last outing. This European-influenced R&B dance-track went over well internationally, but it's safe to assume American audiences weren't at all embracing Jackson's darker persona. Hearing pop's usually uplifting front man growl his way through a disturbing metaphoric narrative about a slasher named Susie did little to endear him to American families' hearts. Sadly, many in the States never even heard this excellent, if a bit Gothic, single.

"You Rock My World" from Invincible - Back to prove himself, Michael finally turned his image around with this smooth jam. The tender lyrics and nonabrasive melodic quality were a far cry from much of his mid-to-late 90's work. The song entered the top-10 on the charts in fifteen countries including the US, a huge success given the lack of promotion due to a feud between Jackson and his record label.