Michael Jackson’s Masterpieces and Popular Songs

She’s Out Of My LifeMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson – She’s Out of My Life (Official Video – Upscaled)

A supremely mellow ballad from Off the Wall.

Its Japanese title is “Ano Ko ga Kieta” (“That Girl Is Gone”).

At the end of the track, Michael’s voice turns raspy because he actually cried during the recording.

And that’s part of what makes it so good—truly.

On tour, he would even mime crying at the end of this song.

When I was there with my four-year-old little brother at the time, he shouted loudly, “Michael, don’t cry!” which made the audience around us burst into laughter—an utterly trivial anecdote, but there it is.

State Of ShockMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger ~ State of Shock

After brother Jermaine’s departure, younger brother Randy joined, and in 1984 the Jacksons released Victory—their only album as a six-piece.

This song was the first single from that record.

Featuring a collaboration with Mick Jagger, it turned into a rock tune with intensely ringing guitars.

It reached No.

3 on the pop chart.

Interestingly, it was originally supposed to be a duet with Queen’s Freddie Mercury, but apparently they had a falling out, leading to the collaboration with Mick instead.

We’re lucky these days—you can also hear the Freddie version.

It’s truly a clash of two distinct personalities.

Hmm, it’s hard to pick a favorite between them.

The Girl Is MineMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson Ft Paul Mccartney The Girl Is Mine With Lyrics

A duet with Paul McCartney released in November 1982 from the album Thriller.

In 1998, Brandy and Monica also had a huge hit with The Boy Is Mine, a song inspired by this one.

Despite the lyrics about two men competing for the same woman, their unison strangely gives off a fun, mature, and captivating vibe.

By the way, the song ends with an exchange of spoken lines between the two, and I used to enjoy lip-syncing both parts myself as “Air Michael & Paul.”

ThrillerMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson – Thriller (Official 4K Video)

A quintessential Michael song that hardly needs any introduction.

From the moment the door quietly begins to open, the track hits with a sudden impact—and I suspect many people, myself included, were bewitched by Michael’s overwhelming allure because of it.

The music video (which Michael called a short film) is beyond famous.

How many children cried, and how many adults fell hopelessly in love, upon seeing Michael’s beast-like eyes at the end? By the way, the director of this film is John Landis, known for hits like The Blues Brothers.

The spoken-word segment in the latter half is by the legendary horror actor Vincent Price.

The scale is on a completely different level.

Wanna Be Startin’SomethingMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson – Thriller – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’

A song credited as the first track on the monster album “Thriller.” It was also performed right at the start of the 1987 world tour, and I think it’s truly a number worthy of opening the show.

The tension builds toward the latter half with a cappella clapping and chorus, and it seems that the chorus that begins with “Ma…” was modeled after a piece by Manu Dibango, a saxophonist from Cameroon in Africa.

We Are The WorldMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson et al. – We Are the World (1985)

A song co-written with Lionel Richie in ’85, created for the “USA for AFRICA” charity.

It’s still fresh in our memories that his sister Janet crafted a new “We Are The World” while preserving Michael’s voice as-is.

Listening again, you realize just how star-studded the lineup was—almost to the point of excess.

These top artists pour their hearts into delivering a clear, accessible message.

No matter how many times I hear it, it brings me to tears.

By the way, assigning parts and singing it at a karaoke box is a lot of fun.

No matter how you try, it somehow always turns into an impersonation—why is that, I wonder?

You Are Not AloneMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson – You Are Not Alone (Official Video)

Released as the second single from the 1995 album “HIStory.” In the short film, he appears nude with his former wife, Lisa Marie Presley (daughter of the legendary Elvis Presley), which… well, stirred up quite a buzz among fans.

Nevertheless, it’s a track that makes you rediscover Michael’s outstanding vocal prowess, and the extended falsetto in the latter half is downright mesmerizing.

These days, it’s often used on variety shows, so you get to hear it fairly often.