Top 20 Michael Jackson Songs

When it comes to legendary artists, few are more beloved and influential than Michael Jackson. From being part of the Motown legend of all time to being one of the earliest artists to use dubstep, Michael Jackson's discography has been influential through all eras, but especially through the '80s, when he released the best-selling album of all time and many other classics. Michael Jackson is a legendary artist with a legendary discography, and today, we will look at what are, in my opinion, his best tracks.

Before we count down the best Michael Jackson songs, I feel it important to note the personal controversies of Jackson. This list is not about Jackson as a person, but his musical impact and influence.

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Honorable Mentions:

Butterflies

Childhood

Dangerous

Dirty Diana

Jam

Little Susie

Morphine

Rock With You

Scream

She's Out of My Life

The Girl Is Mine

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

20. Liberian Girl (1987)

One of the most soothing ballads from Michael Jackson's career, Liberian Girl's earnest waterfall synth sound was a perfect pair for one of the most beautiful and honest love ballads ever written. Something fun and plucky could be felt through every moment.

19. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) (1982)

One of the most upbeat and groovy songs on Thriller, P.Y.T.'s vocoder call-and-response in the chorus proved a great showcase of Jackson's blend of nu-disco-infused dancefloor-ready charisma. It is hard to call a song from the best-selling album of all time underrated, but P.Y.T. could use more fans.

18. Ghosts (1997)

One of the eeriest songs from Michael Jackson's discography, Ghosts' airy and haunting synth-strings, and darker lyrics prove a look at how Thriller might have looked if written during Jackson's most paranoid musical era.

17. The Way You Make Me Feel (1987)

One of the most replayable songs from Michael Jackson's funky golden age, The Way You Make Me Feel is a great showcase for Jackson to showcase a new, romance-oriented side to his Quincy Jones-produced sound. The brass and icy industrial clangs are the icing on the cake.

16. Bad (1987)

Yes, its chorus is just a tad cheesy, but that adds to Bad's charms. The moment Jackson's voice shines through the gritty and mucky funk of the pre-chorus is the moment Jackson once again showcased himself as one of the best in the West.

15. Black or White (1991)

The biggest post-'80s Michael Jackson hit, Black or White's message of racial integration was paired by Jackson at the peak of his power, charismatically tackling every little hook with ferocity, while the fun production provided some nice levity and bounce.

14. Smile (1995)

A remake of the Charlie Chaplin classic, Smile is one of the most emotional ballads in Jackson's discography. Jackson adds some passionate yearning to the old tune, while the piano melody near the end is amazing. 

13. Blood On The Dancefloor (1997)

One of Teddy Riley's funkiest new jack swing grooves ever, Blood On The Dancefloor paired Jackson's re-invigorated paranoia with a musically addictive piece on murder. The utter unleashing of charisma resulted in a charming classic worth every moment.

12. Behind The Mask (2010)

A remake of one of the most beloved Japanese songs of all time, Behind The Mask's eery electronics and stunning synth line proves a perfect conduit for Jackson to showcase his charisma over the dark and mysterious melody of Yellow Magic Orchestra. The end result is the rare posthumous track that stands up to the artist's other songs.

11. Remember The Time (1991)

Working with new jack swing's founder and master of the groove Teddy Riley, Michael Jackson had an opportunity to showcase his killer charisma over the percolating beat, and he more than does that in Remember The Time. The melody is really strong, but the real star is the new jack swing beat.

10. Thriller (1982)

The originator of countless dance trends, with some of the most iconic moments in pop history, including Vincent Price's monologue, Thriller is more of a moment than a song. Nonetheless, its musical bones are still strong, with a groove to end all others. (Full Review)

9. Human Nature (1982)

It is not hard to hear the Toto influences on Human Nature, given the band played the instrumental and Steve Porcaro was the principal songwriting. Perhaps the most beautiful b-side from Jackson, Human Nature's beautiful, heart-wrenching chants of "why?" see Jackson's vocals at their best.

8. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (1979)

While Michael Jackson already had released solo records as a child and was extremely influential as a member of the Jackson 5, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough was his true 'debut,' the moment when he came into his own. The vocal falsettos are the tip of the iceberg, guided by Quincy Jones' groovy disco production.

7. Earth Song (1995)

The most overtly environmental piece in Michael Jackson's legendary discography. The fiery blend of emotive balladry aggressive vocal moments made Earth Song one of Jackson's most impressive and experimental songs. The key change and theatrical climax might be the very best in Jackson's golden discography.

6. Man In The Mirror (1987)

Perhaps the most uplifting song through Michael Jackson's entire career, Man In The Mirror urges both self-improvement, and through that, eventually fixing the world. It is hard not to tear up just a little while watching the music video or hearing the potent blend of gospel and synth-pop, even before the legendary key change.

5. Stranger in Moscow (1995)

Perhaps one of the most underappreciated Michael Jackson songs, Stranger in Moscow's haunting depiction of isolation and loneliness is compounded by an eerily soothing instrumental that takes every element that one would want in a ballad and pushes it to its very extremities. Tying everything together is a truly heavenly melody, one that has only grown even more emotive over time.

4. Billie Jean (1982)

Easily Jackson's most iconic track, and for good reason. Billie Jean is big and daring, blending R&B, funk, pop, and nu-disco into a string-laced musical package. Every element of Billie Jean pushes Jackson and Quincy Jones' songwriting and production to their limits. In addition to showcasing Jackson's growing paranoia, Billie Jean's broke the color barrier and inspired generations of artists.

3. Beat It (1982)

Despite being the king of pop, Michael Jackson proved more than a competent rockstar for Beat It. For its anti-gang violence message, few voices could guide the track's message better than Jackson at his commercial peak. Pair this with a virtual dream team behind the voice (Toto, Eddie Van Halen, Quincy Jones), and by the time the guitar riff comes in, the song's masterpiece status is already guaranteed. (Full Review)

2. They Don't Care About Us (1995)

At the heart of one of Jackson's most messy and controversial albums was They Don't Care About Us, a surprisingly deep and direct attack on violence and racism. Abandoning the posh funk-pop of his previous releases, Jackson opted for gliding strings and thundering drums, creating a fantastic example of the stories Jackson could tell, and the messages he still had. From the vocal choirs to the hair-raising finale, They Don't Care About Us is a classic.

1. Smooth Criminal (1987)

Smooth Criminal is the culmination of every element that made Michael Jackson one of the greatest musical artists of all time into a perfect little package. From the wonderfully theatric music video to Jackson's ever-iconic choreography, every element of Smooth Criminal oozes charm. At its heart lies one of, if not the funkiest grooves ever made by humankind. Taking this instantly iconic groove alone would result in an all-time classic, but the song continues to build, never stopping its build for over four minutes of pure, pitch-perfect pop.

More than any other Michael Jackson song, Smooth Criminal knows what it wants to be from moment one. Jackson gets a chance to show off his incredibly vast vocal range, unleashing boatloads of charisma over one of the greatest beats ever. Smooth Criminal saw MJ and Quincy Jones at the peak of their power, and the end result was not only the masterpiece that they could provide, but pushed pop to its very limits.

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