With the sad loss, I thought it appropriate to start a Michael Jackson Poll and imo, a good place to start is with his UK and US No1’s. The only track I think I have omitted is We Are The World.

GET VOTING!

Earth song is fantastic. I love the way it builds up and goes from disappointed to absolutely furious in the end. I remember seeing him perform it live on the German TV show "Wetten dass." I've never heard of Jackson before that and was obsessed with him after seeing it.

Earth Song was the first Michael Jackson single I remember from its original release. The record coincided with the period when I first began to – though be it, vague – attention to the charts and popular music. It was 1995 and I was 12 years-old. I think I may have had the single on cassette at one point.

It was a massive hit here in the UK, though I understand it failed to register stateside.

This video must have cost a packet!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8muMo0fw_M

i voted

Michael Jackson was a good dancer, but his music sure was shitty!

When I was in college, a friend did a hilarious bit dancing around with a tennis racket to Beat It.   So it gets my vote.

That plus the opening noise sounds just like the opening of that Waters-less Pink Floyd track Yet Another Movie.  

None of it really moves me, if you want the truth.

Man in the Mirror is my favorite MJ song.
Beautiful song.

LJ.

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough made me want to dance SO FREAKIN' BAD. I used to have the steps from the video memorized. Lots of great memories with that song...

LadyJane wrote on Jun 28^th, 2009 at 2:48pm:

Man in the Mirror is my favorite MJ song. Beautiful song. LJ.

I'm with you, LJ. That one gets my vote.

I like "Thriller" too.

Sioux wrote on Jun 28^th, 2009 at 3:53pm:

I like "Thriller" too.

Me too. Rather bizarrely, the single only reached No.4 and 10 in the US and UK respectively, with only France, Belgium and Spain taking it to the top.

His music kind of grows on you, at least in the 80's, because he was played so much, beautifully produced by Quincy Jones, he sure had a helping hand in it all,  my favorite was "Human Nature" not on the list.

My fave is State of Shock with our boy Jagger.   State of Shock isn't on the list, but should be. :booze

while i  have enjoyed bits and pieces of his solo work my favourite track is the Jackson 5's first release "I Want You Back" - for me nothing he  did after that ever matched it

gimme a friggin' break! :will-ya

is that a song of mj?........ ;D

it is songs that reached number one, and is your favorite, not what song do you like and think should be on the list.

He did Thriller man... Thriller.

Some Guy wrote on Jun 28^th, 2009 at 8:28pm:

He did Thriller man... Thriller.

biggest selling album of all time...

i thought frampton comes alive was the biggest selling album of all time

'Frampton Comes Alive' isn't even in the Top 10...

still talking about MJ?

you guys are sissies!

wrote on Jun 28^th, 2009 at 9:19pm:

i thought frampton comes alive was the biggest selling album of all time

left shoe shuffle wrote on Jun 28^th, 2009 at 9:34pm:

'Frampton Comes Alive' isn't even in the Top 10...

It's the biggest selling LIVE album of all time

Morphine is a great, underrated song. Creepy too, considering his death: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRrGO_nebf4 wouldn't sound out of place on a Rob Zombie album.

You gotta hand it to him. Whether you like his style of music or not, he never released anything mediocre.

his music was shit
ROCK'N'ROLL!!!!!

CS wrote on Jun 29^th, 2009 at 1:00am:

wrote on Jun 28th, 2009 at 9:19pm: i thought frampton comes alive was the biggest selling album of all time left shoe shuffle wrote on Jun 28th, 2009 at 9:34pm: 'Frampton Comes Alive' isn't even in the Top 10... It's the biggest selling LIVE album of all time

No, Garth Brooks' live album is...

Pdog wrote on Jun 28^th, 2009 at 8:42pm:

Some Guy wrote on Jun 28th, 2009 at 8:28pm: He did Thriller man... Thriller. biggest selling album of all time...

And Budweiser is the largest selling beer.  So fuckin' what?

FG and Heart Of Stone: as Pdog correctly observed, this poll is only concerned with those Jackson singles that reached the top-spot in the US and UK.

I was tempted to do a kind of regular ' Favourite Michael Jackson Song' type of poll, but there would be the dilemma or what to and what not to include.

My method simplifies it greatly.

KEEP VOTING!

How many songs did Slash play guitar on? I can think of black or white, D.S., and give into me. Any more?

You know what Michael Jackson's last hit was?......The Floor.

He was a fragile person.  and a nice person trying to protect himself from the meanies of the world maybe he thought kids would be true friends (??)
I feel really bad for the guy. this is crushing fame. I can only imagine how it must be for charlie, ronnie, mick and keith everyone always wanting something from you.. anyway I'm happy to be infamous thank you v. much


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXO-dh90G8w

human nature is my personal fave, the live version of man in the mirror was MJ at his most passionate....
but Don't Stop got my vote:
that opening bass, those funk guitar licks and that tight snare sound: MJ was able to marry that james brown funk to a more melodic foundation - and remember these songs were his arrangements.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CoxNzOOoQU

cool footage of james brown, MJ and prince on stage/
it shows how MJ was the true heir to JB.

Wild Bill wrote on Jun 29^th, 2009 at 10:08am:

Pdog wrote on Jun 28th, 2009 at 8:42pm: [quote author=Some Guy link=1246208615/0#17 date=1246238929]He did Thriller man... Thriller. And Budweiser is the largest selling beer.  So fuckin' what?

So, we are in agreement that Budweiser is a shite beer?  ;)

Seriously though: I am not a huge Jackson fan, but Thriller - according to some statistics - has shifted in excess of 100 million copies worldwide. Surely, there has to be something in it aside from savvy marketing.

KEEP VOTING PEOPLE!

Holden wrote on Jun 29^th, 2009 at 3:43am:

You gotta hand it to him. Whether you like his style of music or not, he never released anything mediocre.

true dat--it's ALL been shit

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2009/06/from_the_voice_6.php

i must admit, i gave up on MJ around 1991, before the allegations and all that -
i think the fame, the persona overshadowed the art....
i remember when a new MJ cd would come out and there was always this collective sigh among my friends....we were admirers, but stopped expecting anything vital or interesting...
well, maybe we were wrong.
this is an interesting review of HIStory/Blood on the Dance Floor from the village voice...from a reviewer i respect.
it's weird now - it's as if i had forgotten he was a musician.
i'm going to have to re-assess MJ's later years.....

texile wrote on Jun 30^th, 2009 at 1:54pm:

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2009/06/from_the_voice_6.php i must admit, i gave up on MJ around 1991, before the allegations and all that - i think the fame, the persona overshadowed the art.... i remember when a new MJ cd would come out and there was always this collective sigh among my friends....we were admirers, but stopped expecting anything vital or interesting... well, maybe we were wrong. this is an interesting review of HIStory/Blood on the Dance Floor from the village voice...from a reviewer i respect. it's weird now - it's as if i had forgotten he was a musician. i'm going to have to re-assess MJ's later years.....

correction: a review of dangerous......just goes to show how unfamiliar i am of MJ's later releases...

That really is a great review. I've actually noticed that in the past few days while rediscovering his music. A lot of it is really damn dark and twisted. And a lot of the lyrics are really hard to decipher.

It's like he purposely alienated himself because the world made him sick. But he always keeps hope alive that the world will change. And he inspires us to do so with songs like heal the world and keep the faith. I'm respecting this man more and more with each passing song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppXUj0lzZMc

The lyrics:
VERSE
Ignorance of people purchasing diamonds and necklaces,
And barely able to keep the payments up on their lessons,
And enrolled in a class and don?t know who the professor is,
How low people go for the dough and make a mess of things,
Kids are murdering other kids for the fun of it,
Instead of using their mind or their fist, they put a gun in it
Wanna be a part of a clique, don?t know who?s running it,
Tragedy on top of tragedy you know it?s killing me.
So many people in agony, this shouldn?t have to be,
Too busy focusing on ourselves and not His Majesty,
There has to be some type of change for this day and age,
We gotta rearrange and flip the page,
Living encaged like animals and cannibals,
Eating each other alive just to survive the nine to five,
Every single day is trouble while we struggle and strive
Peace of mind?s so hard to find.

CHORUS
I wanna shout, throw my hands up and shout
What?s this madness all about
All this makes me wanna shout
You know it makes me wanna shout,
Throw my hands up and shout
What?s this madness all about
All this makes me wanna shout, c?mon now

VERSE 2
Problems, complications and accusations
Dividing the nations and races of empty faces
A war is taking place.
No substitution for restitution, the only solution for peace
Is increasing the height of your spirituality.
Masses of minds are shrouded, clouded visions
Deceptions and indecision, no faith or religion, how we?re living.
The clock is ticking, the end is coming, there?ll be no warning,
But we live to see the dawn.

BRIDGE
How can we preach, when all we make this world to be
Is a living hell torturing our minds.
We all must unite, to turn darkness to light,
And the love in our hearts will shine.

VERSE 3
We?re disconnected from love, we?re disrespecting each other
Whatever happened to protecting each other
Poisoned your body and your soul for a minute of pleasure,
But the damage that you?ve done is gonna last forever.
Babies being born in the world already drug addicted and afflicted,
Family values are contradicted.
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust, the pressure is building and I?ve had enough.

CHORUS...

EDIT: The more I think about it, the more I believe that his behavior and appearance etc...was all part of his Art. Could it be that it was just all over our heads? I'm probably looking into it too much. I gotta put on some Stones for a while; take a break from this guy.

Please all vote for Dirty Diana!

Doesnt anyone anywere care that he slept with teenage boys,before his music.
Iv heard people say,oh thats just Michael, thats just him.
What would you  do if that was a neighbour hanging aroung,giving out gifts,bouncing young boys on his knee,sleeping with them.
Say its ok,or chase the scumbag down the street before calling the cops.
People just seem to think,yes we dont think his behaviour was right,but his music was good.
Thats just MJ,he is weird.
Just like O-Jay he got off.
His actions were that off an abuser.

james37 wrote on Jun 30^th, 2009 at 7:25pm:

Doesnt anyone anywere care that he slept with teenage boys,before his music. Iv heard people say,oh thats just Michael, thats just him. What would you  do if that was a neighbour hanging aroung,giving out gifts,bouncing young boys on his knee,sleeping with them. Say its ok,or chase the scumbag down the street before calling the cops. People just seem to think,yes we dont think his behaviour was right,but his music was good. Thats just MJ,he is weird. Just like O-Jay he got off. His actions were that off an abuser.

that's been covered....

that was some cool shit Holden
we always heard the more commercial of his later stuff - and at the time it always seemed so ...commercial and an attempt to re-create thriller etc...
but this shit is dark, almost industrial.....
i think people stopped listening and this was so out there that they didn't know what to do with it.
it was michael jackson, the guy who goes to Disneyland etc...
but this was the work of a man who was looking at things in a very dark way.
and it's not commercial at all, which also threw people off.....
he was taking things to another level and we just ignored it and wrote him off...
this was edgier than anything prince has done in a while...

along with his voice, MJ had a great beatbox....check it out...


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6487560671437726032

james37 wrote on Jun 30^th, 2009 at 7:25pm:

Doesnt anyone anywere care that he slept with teenage boys,before his music. Iv heard people say,oh thats just Michael, thats just him. What would you  do if that was a neighbour hanging aroung,giving out gifts,bouncing young boys on his knee,sleeping with them. Say its ok,or chase the scumbag down the street before calling the cops. People just seem to think,yes we dont think his behaviour was right,but his music was good.

it can be a dilemma if you make it one and feel that both your aesthetic and moral compasses should be identically aligned or mutually dependent

take the recent thing with spector - sure he's a pathological fruit cake but what has that got to do with the magnificence of the Shangri Las??

also where do you draw the line  -  Leadbelly was a convicted murderer - should his contribution to music be completely disregarded on that score??

if you like john Lennon and Brian jones' work does it follow that you condone hitting your missus??



as the old saying goes "Never trust the Artist - trust the Art"

stonedinaustralia wrote on Jun 30^th, 2009 at 9:05pm:

james37 wrote on Jun 30th, 2009 at 7:25pm: Doesnt anyone anywere care that he slept with teenage boys,before his music. Iv heard people say,oh thats just Michael, thats just him. What would you  do if that was a neighbour hanging aroung,giving out gifts,bouncing young boys on his knee,sleeping with them. Say its ok,or chase the scumbag down the street before calling the cops. People just seem to think,yes we dont think his behaviour was right,but his music was good. it can be a dilemma if you make it one and feel that both your aesthetic and moral compasses should be identically aligned or mutually dependent take the recent thing with spector - sure he's a pathological fruit cake but what has that got to do with the magnificence of the Shangri Las?? also where do you draw the line  -  Leadbelly was a convicted murderer - should his contribution to music be completely disregarded on that score?? if you like john Lennon and Brian jones' work does it follow that you condone hitting your missus?? as the old saying goes "Never trust the Artist - trust the Art"

and lewis carrol and his parade of.....what was it? very young girls? or boys?
mark twain always had his own parade of young girls hanging around...
but what nose of this is not true?
some will convict because its easier when things are black and white....
looking at the gray takes some delving into.
excellent point, stoned.

http://www.countercurrents.org/reed290609.htm

http://www.buttonmonkey.com/misc/maryfischer.html

i'm sure many are exhausted by this subject, but this is crucial reading.....

Honky Tonk Man wrote on Jun 30^th, 2009 at 9:26am:

And Budweiser is the largest selling beer.  So fuckin' what?

So, we are in agreement that Budweiser is a shite beer?  ;)

[/quote]

NO!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsdT6Ipe4QM&NR=1
:booze

Just discoverd this footage of Jackson performing Ben on American television.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSqo17o2a1w&feature=related

Great voice and persona at such a tender age.

This calls for: what he HELL happend???

KEEP VOTING!

Tumbled wrote on Jun 29^th, 2009 at 6:29pm:

He was a fragile person.  and a nice person trying to protect himself from the meanies of the world maybe he thought kids would be true friends (??) I feel really bad for the guy. this is crushing fame. I can only imagine how it must be for charlie, ronnie, mick and keith everyone always wanting something from you.. anyway I'm happy to be infamous thank you v. much http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXO-dh90G8w

thanks for that tumbled....very moving video
does anyone know where this one was filmed?
:wtf1

Honky Tonk Man wrote on Jul 1^st, 2009 at 4:29pm:

Just discoverd this footage of Jackson performing Ben on American television. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSqo17o2a1w&feature=related Great voice and persona at such a tender age. This calls for: what he HELL happend??? KEEP VOTING!

my sister had this 45 and used to listen to it over and over....
yeah, what happened> i think that's why people are so conflicted about MJ.

wrote on Jul 1^st, 2009 at 5:23pm:

Tumbled wrote on Jun 29th, 2009 at 6:29pm: He was a fragile person.  and a nice person trying to protect himself from the meanies of the world maybe he thought kids would be true friends (??) I feel really bad for the guy. this is crushing fame. I can only imagine how it must be for charlie, ronnie, mick and keith everyone always wanting something from you.. anyway I'm happy to be infamous thank you v. much http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXO-dh90G8w thanks for that tumbled....very moving video does anyone know where this one was filmed? :wtf1

Bucharest 1992. Recorded for HBO. DVD available. Excellent show!  :smile

I just hope that the kids he fucked haven't turned into pedophiles themselves. That frequently happens.

Holden wrote on Jul 1^st, 2009 at 6:04pm:

wrote on Jul 1st, 2009 at 5:23pm: Tumbled wrote on Jun 29th, 2009 at 6:29pm: He was a fragile person.  and a nice person trying to protect himself from the meanies of the world maybe he thought kids would be true friends (??) I feel really bad for the guy. this is crushing fame. I can only imagine how it must be for charlie, ronnie, mick and keith everyone always wanting something from you.. anyway I'm happy to be infamous thank you v. much http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXO-dh90G8w thanks for that tumbled....very moving video does anyone know where this one was filmed? :wtf1 Bucharest 1992. Recorded for HBO. DVD available. Excellent show!  :smile

thanks, but where on earth is bucharest?

:wtf1

wrote on Jul 1^st, 2009 at 6:41pm:

Holden wrote on Jul 1st, 2009 at 6:04pm: wrote on Jul 1st, 2009 at 5:23pm: Tumbled wrote on Jun 29th, 2009 at 6:29pm: He was a fragile person.  and a nice person trying to protect himself from the meanies of the world maybe he thought kids would be true friends (??) I feel really bad for the guy. this is crushing fame. I can only imagine how it must be for charlie, ronnie, mick and keith everyone always wanting something from you.. anyway I'm happy to be infamous thank you v. much http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXO-dh90G8w thanks for that tumbled....very moving video does anyone know where this one was filmed? :wtf1 Bucharest 1992. Recorded for HBO. DVD available. Excellent show!  :smile thanks, but where on earth is bucharest? :wtf1

Romania

Ok. Wow. Now I see it. Having never been to a Michael Jackson concert. I guess it was more like a frenzied religious revival meeting. Very gospel-y and emotional. No wonder people fainted. Lots of James Brown "covering me up with a robe and helping me up--"Please Please Please" style" stuff at the end.

CNN was going to town with some MJ rehearsal footage. And Costco looked almost sold out of his Number Ones DVD.

wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2009 at 3:28pm:

CNN was going to town with some MJ rehearsal footage. And Costco looked almost sold out of his Number Ones DVD.

yeah...it will be awhile before all the hoop la is laid to rest.  i think it will go on throughout the summer and into the fall myself.  not that it's a bad thing...he ment a lot to many a people.  i still find myself whistling some of his tunes and i was never a fan.

:wtf1

I can't whistle. Sad but true.

Sioux wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2009 at 11:25am:

Ok. Wow. Now I see it. Having never been to a Michael Jackson concert. I guess it was more like a frenzied religious revival meeting. Very gospel-y and emotional. No wonder people fainted. Lots of James Brown "covering me up with a robe and helping me up--"Please Please Please" style" stuff at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zpTQCQEFhg

i posted this earlier, but its worth repeating:
this was at the 88 grammys in front of a crowd of peer, people who had already began to ignore him and the 'weirdness' had begun....and he blew them away ...
i remember watching this because i was hoping MJ would rise to the occasion and i remains the most amazing live performance i have witnessed on tv..

The weirdness was weird & people could joke about it. Fucking little kids went beyond that.

wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2009 at 4:58pm:

The weirdness was weird & people could joke about it. Fucking little kids went beyond that.

but glencar, even Meryl Streep in Doubt - with all her certainty and sancimony - had her moment of.........'could i be wrong?'
it must be nice to be so certain about things, but ......well, we believe what we believe.

Meryl Streep didn't pay $15 million to shut people up - TWICE! If you accuse me of anything, I will fight to the death to prove you wrong. I certainly wouldn't pay you off.

wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2009 at 5:11pm:

Meryl Streep didn't pay $15 million to shut people up - TWICE! If you accuse me of anything, I will fight to the death to prove you wrong. I certainly wouldn't pay you off.

and the father, so distraught that his son had been allegedly abused - took it and dissapeared.....
i would fight to the death to put my child's abuser behind bars.....
Cochran didn't want MJ to have to face an all-white jury and at that point, did not trust the justice system because the tide had already turned on MJ....it was a bad decision.....because it will forever look suspect to many people.
but whatever you believe, you believe ......

wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2009 at 4:23pm:

I can't whistle. Sad but true.

don't be strange glencar....everyman knows how to wistle.
it's ok to wistle

:wtf1

texile wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2009 at 5:37pm:

wrote on Jul 2nd, 2009 at 5:11pm: Meryl Streep didn't pay $15 million to shut people up - TWICE! If you accuse me of anything, I will fight to the death to prove you wrong. I certainly wouldn't pay you off. and the father, so distraught that his son had been allegedly abused - took it and dissapeared..... i would fight to the death to put my child's abuser behind bars..... Cochran didn't want MJ to have to face an all-white jury and at that point, did not trust the justice system because the tide had already turned on MJ....it was a bad decision.....because it will forever look suspect to many people. but whatever you believe, you believe ......

An all-white jury would not have been seated and the tide turned because abused kids were coming out of the woodwork. Nobody gives anyone $20 million just to shut up unless they're afraid of what will be said. I understand you love his music but please realize he was a sicko.

BUMP!

34???

KEEP VOTING!  :willya

I am a little tipsy and currently smoking a B&H Silver and currently slurping a nice Nescafe Gold Blend.

Ah, this is a nice song


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5upJ1I_jDY

KEEP VOTING  :willya

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-493129115250392118

this is an underrated gem...