Whether it's Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Usher or Justin Timberlake etc they all have one thing in common - neither would exist the same without this man - Michael Jackson. Born 1958 in the Democratic stronghold of Gary, Indiana, a young boy driven by both ambition and talent in his early childhood looking up to his musical idols, James Brown & Jackie Wilson would go on to completely change the DNA of Pop culture and become arguably the biggest Popstar to live.

While still a part of the enormously successful boyband, The Jackson 5 with his brothers, Michael Jackson would start his own solo career in 1971 racking up his 1st top ten hit with "Got To Be There" at the age of 13. His 1st solo #1 hit wasn't much later in the fall 1972 with the Oscar Nominated Song "Ben". He would garner another top 40 hit in 1975 before the next pivotal moment of his career, while leaving Motown for Epic Records.

In 1977, Michael Jackson was booked as the Scarecrow for the now cult classic, "The Wiz" film alongside Diana Ross as Dorothy. On set he would meet Quincy Jones who arranged the film's score, and they would soon become decades long partners. With total creative control of his next album, Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones would begin working on "Off The Wall", released in 1979. It would be the massive reset for Michael Jackson's career he desired and result in both critical acclaim & massive success, garnering a Diamond album & 2 #1 singles.

Although Michael Jackson wasn't satisfied with the reception of Off The Wall after being snubbed for Album Of The Year at the Grammys. He would push himself even further, and with Quincy Jones what came next would become the biggest album of all time - Thriller, released in the fall of November 1982. The cultural significance of the album was immediate, as MTV which very rarely played Black artists at the time, which was criticized, had no choice but to play Michael Jackson's music videos on regular rotation, breaking barriers for other Black artists. The album spent 37 weeks at #1 on Billboard 200, and was the #1 album of both 1983 & 1984. MJ would walk away with Album Of The Year at the grammys this time, alongside 7 other Grammys that year. Years later, the album is still remembered, notably with the title track & music video becoming a yearly Halloween staple. Last fall, the song "Thriller" would reenter the Top 10 of Hot 100 for the 1st time since 1984.

Ratings & Rules :

There are 77 songs total in this singles rate. For special songs, you are allowed a maximum of 3 11s. The rest has to be rated 1 - 10. Half points of .5 are allowed as well.

Deadline :

The current deadline to submit a ballot via a PM for this rate is April 24th, 2026. Hope to see your taste and have fun listening Comments are also accepted.

Spotify Playlist :

PM Friendly List

Got To Be There

Rockin Robin

I Wanna Be Where You Are

Ain't No Sunshine

Ben

With A Child's Heart

Morning Glow

Music and Me

Happy

We're Almost There

Just A Little Bit of You

Ease On Down the Road

You Can't Win

Don't Stop Til You Can't Get Enough

Rock With You

Off The Wall

She's Out Of My Life

Girlfriend

One Day In Your Life

The Girl Is Mine

Billie Jean

Beat It

Wanna Be Startin Somethin

Human Nature

P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing)

Thriller

Say Say Say

Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming

Farewell My Summer Love

Girl You're So Together

I Just Can't Stop Loving You

Bad

The Way You Make Me Feel

Man In The Mirror

Dirty Diana

Another Part Of Me

Smooth Criminal

Leave Me Alone

Liberian Girl

Speed Demon

Get It

Black Or White

Remember The Time

In The Closet

Jam

Who Is It

Heal The World

Give In To Me

Will You Be There

Gone Too Soon

Whatzupwitu

Scream

Childhood

You Are Not Alone

Earth Song

They Don't Care About Us

Stranger In Moscow

This Time Around

Why

Blood On The Dance Floor

History

Ghosts

You Rock My World

Butterflies

Cry

One More Chance

Mind Is The Magic

This Is It

Hold My Hand

Hollywood Tonight

Behind The Mask

(I Like) The Way You Love Me

Love Never Felt So Good

A Place With No Name

Chicago

Slave To The Rhythm

Don't Matter To Me

@idkwiam @Devin @itshyolee @DivaCup @Bacardo Royale @Rev8 @Graffiti @Bloodflowers. @ChooseyLover @Terylee @Solaria @princedonte @Stankonia @Wicked @lestat111 @LesFleur @chrysolite @mjj @Nazareth @Komet @OnlyRealMusic. @Slap

Edited April 11Apr 11 by Armani.

I'd love to take part in this, I haven't heard his pre-Off The Wall output besides a few songs.

Can we include comments with our scores or not?

I already know upwards of 40% of the playlist well enough to rate so this will be a breeze. Will do!

Why are we still entertaining in MJ in atrl of all places.

It's weird. He shouldn't be given platform atleast here

1 minute ago, blown away said:

I'd love to take part in this, I haven't heard his pre-Off The Wall output besides a few songs.

Can we include comments with our scores or not?

Yes, just updated the OP

Just now, FolkLover1989 said:

Why are we still entertaining in MJ in atrl of all places.

It's weird. He shouldn't be given platform atleast here

You don't have to submit a ballot if you don't want to.

I'll definitely make time for this

We're gonna get They Don't Care About Us to the top 1 yes yes yes

Here's how we can get a top 3 of Remember the Time, Stranger in Moscow, and Girlfriend

Wait, I forgot Jam and In the Closet were singles too. Top 5 sorted.

1 minute ago, conatus said:

Here's how we can get a top 3 of Remember the Time, Stranger in Moscow, and Girlfriend

What is this sneak?

Just now, Armani. said:

What is this sneak?

The girls who get it, GET it

Better than Smooth Criminal's loud ass that's for sure

Blood On the Dancefloor has been my most played song recently, every time the bridge hits and he sings IT WAS BLOOD ON THE DANCEFLOOR! I add THERE WAS BLOOD.....there was DOODOO and FECES thrown on the walls and the floor and the ceiling!!!

add me to the tag list please so that i don't forget about this!

When you're alone and you're cold inside

I have an aversion to songs sung by kids (even talented ones) so I apologise in advance for my scores for the really early stuff

9 minutes ago, conatus said:

The girls who get it, GET it

Better than Smooth Criminal's loud ass that's for sure

Girlfriend was only a UK only single apparently, I don't know why they just didn't go with Workin Day and Night with the amount of times Michael Jackson performed it in his career

Unbelievable.

I'm in

17 minutes ago, conatus said:

Here's how we can get a top 3 of Remember the Time, Stranger in Moscow, and Girlfriend

I've been listening to "Girlfriend" lately, it's such a cute little tune

7 minutes ago, conatus said:

I have an aversion to songs sung by kids (even talented ones) so I apologise in advance for my scores for the really early stuff

Give some mercy to I Wanna Be Where You Are bop

8 minutes ago, StonedSoulPicnic said:

When you're alone and you're cold inside

Ooh, the dark horse of the rate is coming with this taste

Human Nature, Beat It and Rock With You coming for top 10

Get into it, yuh

Edited January 4Jan 4 by HarajukuPrincess

2 minutes ago, HarajukuPrincess said:

Get into it, yuh

These two specifically not being singles is still nasty work

Get On The Floor is such a bop

6 minutes ago, LesFleur said:

Human Nature, Beat It and Rock With You coming for top 10

One of these are my 11