While today is Monday, aka the worst weekday of all time, on this Monday, you have a reason to dance! It’s Michael Jackson’s birthday, girl. And we could go over a long list of our favorite MJ tunes, but what’s the point? You know them all, right? Michael had so many number 1’s from “Beat It” to “Bad” and “Thriller,” but whatchu know about “Get on the Floor”? “Earth Song”? “Break of Dawn”? Michael’s had many jams that weren’t number ones, some with the help of his brothers and many alone, that should have been numero unos. So to celebrate his 53rd birthday, we want to shine a light on some of his songs you might not bump as hard, but should–or may not know at all. Do a crotch grab just because–just not in public.
A song written by Paul McCartney, the prolific Beatles writer recorded “Girlfriend” with his group Wings. And while their version was pretty good, it doesn’t compare to the awesome-ness of Off the Wall‘s “Girlfriend.” With the same lyrics penned by Paul McCartney, but this time produced by THE Quincy Jones, “Girlfriend” is a playful track about trifling behavior–cheating with a girl who has a man. Only Mike could make it sound so innocent. With lyrics like Tell him what you do to me/late at night when the wind is clear, this is one of Michael’s raunchiest songs yet.
Off the “Dangerous” album, “Can’t Let Her Get Away” was straight New Jack Swing at its best. A kicking beat, and Michael getting his Mariah on with those high notes, how can you go wrong? Of all the songs on that album that deserved a music video and a gutter dance break, this should have been it.
I’m sure you know the Thriller album front to back, but how much are you bumpin’ “Baby Be Mine”? This track screams Quincy Jones production, with its vivid keyboard chords, horns and vibrant sound. Michael’s voice was in tip top shape on this song, if not the whole entire album, and this track, somewhat of a Valentine to the girl of his dreams, is one of the deep cut hidden gems out of all the standouts on Thriller. Play “Baby Be Mine” on a sunny day walking down the street and and don’t at least do a jig? You’re not human.
“Another Part of Me”
Michael Jackson is the best seller of his music. Anyone seen the movie Captain EO? Michael was a star of the short film for Disney’s parks. Well, this song from the album Bad was in it. My parent’s have that album, and while I wasn’t necessarily a fan of the track after hearing it play through vinyl, watching Michael Jackson perform it live made me LOVE it. It’s like watching Beyonce do “Girls (Who Run the World).” And the beat and of course, the use of horns and slammin’ keyboard, (all big ’80s staples) add to the greatness of this song.
I had to pick a Jackson 5 cut for this list, because of course, Michael was THE star in that group and they had many a track that went unnoticed, may of which, showcased Michael’s maturing voice well. One of those songs is “Lookin’ Through the Windows.” At 13, MJ and his brother’s didn’t want to sing songs like “I Want You Back” or “ABC” anymore, they wanted to go deeper. This song is a great vocal track for Michael, whose voice was changing to tenor. Plus, the production on the song, from the guitar work to the drums was pretty amazing.
This one is a shout out to all the “Michael Jackson Experience” fiends out there (you know who you are) who encountered this jam while dancing for bragging rights. From the album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, it’s definitely a smooth one with the trademark MJ noises we all know and love. But what you wait for from this entire track is the chorus with its beat clap and dope vocals: Anything, anything, anything for money. Very nice…
The album of the same name definitely didn’t get as much love from fans as Michael’s classics. After “You Rock My World,” no more videos were made for this album and people pretty much preferred to listen to Mike’s oldies rather than his newer songs. But I’ll say that “Invincible” was one of the lone standout tracks on the album of yawn-worthy songs. Produced by Rodney “Darkchild” Jenkins (I know you always thought he called himself Dogchild), the beat sounds so early 2000s with its mechanical beat and synthesizers that it reminds me of something Brandy would sing. But the song fits homeboy so well, I can just imagine him pop-locking and dropping it to this one.
“It’s the Falling in Love”
Wait, one more! I obviously am a huge fan of Off the Wall in general, but this song definitely deserved some airplay outside of crackling on a record player. Michael and Patti Austin’s voices were great on this very disco track. And I don’t even like disco…But the bass and the lyrics were on the next level. Mike was light-years ahead of folks, and songs like “It’s the Falling in Love” definitely solidify that fact. You’ll always be the King of Pop boo!
