Michael Jackson "Heal the World"

Michael Jackson said he was most proud to have created his 1992 ballad "Heal the World". Jackson wrote the song for his 1991 Dangerous album. Upon Michael's death in 2009, the song was performed by an ensemble at his memorial service in Los Angeles. Three weeks prior, Jackson used the song in a rehearsal at the same venue for his upcoming This Is It tour.

Michael Jackson "Billie Jean"

Michael Jackson would've turned 60 this summer. How do you celebrate someone's 60th when they died a decade earlier? Well, if you're USA Today, you start by ranking that person's music. In their case, they decided to rank all 14 songs of his #1 hits. After reviewing their list, I couldn't figure out why "Thriller" didn't make the list. The iconic song never reached #1 (it peaked at #4 in 1984), so it's not included in their survey. For brevity's sake, here is their Top 3:

3. "Beat It"
2. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
1. "Billie Jean"

According to the article, "From its iconic opening drumbeats, the song marches in lockstep deeper into the paranoia-seized psyche of its young star. Not a single one of Quincy Jones' production flourishes is out of place, spanning rock and funk and disco and all anchored by a tortured performance by a 24-year-old Jackson that would remain his all-time career best."

Kool & the Gang "Stone Love"

Ebony Magazine once crowned Kool & the Gang the "hottest group of the '80s". The honor came with good reason: between 1980 and 1986, Kool & the Gang scored 14 Top 40 singles -- which was more than any other group or artist (yes, even Michael Jackson). Ebony's proclamation was a bit premature as Kool & the Gang's 1987 song "Stone Love" wound up being the R&B group's final Top 40 single.

Michael Jackson "Black or White"

The following is an actual exchange between me and a female colleague during our radio station's Christmas party in 2001.

Me: "I don't know about you, but I feel like everyone in our age group is getting married, having kids, or becoming a priest (my friend Ross had just revealed to me that he planned to enter the monastery)."
Her: "Totally! Well, except none of my friends have joined the priesthood."
Me: "How about nuns. None of your friends decided to become a nun?"
Her: "Nope."
Me: "Hmmm...well, my circle of friends keeps shrinking and your group of friends keeps shrinking. Maybe we should hang out sometime..."
Her: "I have nice boobs."
Me: (Believing that she just said: "I have nice boots", I looked down at her shoes before replying since she was wearing boots) "Yeah, I like the black ones."
Her: (silence)
Me: "You know, the black ones that go to the knee?"
Her: (silence as she takes a long sip of her drink)
Me: "They're like those sexy black ones that come down to knee..."
Her: (more painful silence)
Me: (I keep replaying the last five minutes of our conversation wondering what the hell just went wrong.)
Her: "I said I have nice BOOBS!"
Me: "Boobs? Wait, you said boobs??? Oh, shit. I thought you said you have nice BOOTS!"
Her: (walks away)

Doobie Brothers "What A Fool Believes"

BELIEVE IT OR NOT?

Michael Jackson once boasted to his pal Elizabeth Taylor that he provided backing vocals for the Doobie Brother's Minute By Minute album--specifically for the title track as well as the album's biggest hit: "What A Fool Believes". Members of the Doobie Brothers dispute this story.

Michael Jackson "Human Nature"

STORY BEHIND THE SONG:

A member of the band Toto prepared a demo tape of songs intended for inclusion on Michael Jackson's Thriller album. The tape was delivered to record producer Quincy Jones, but wasn't fully erased before Jones listened to it. One side of the cassette were songs intended for Jones' ears. On the un-erased other side were rough cuts of songs that the group Toto ultimately hoped to record. When Jones heard one of Toto's rough demo songs called "Human Nature", he immediately wanted the song. After some re-writing of the lyrics, Jones bumped Michael's song "Carousel" from Thriller and added "Human Nature".

Chaka Khan & Rufus "Ain't Nobody"

The directive Rufus gave to Warner Brothers was simple: the funky pop-R&B song "Ain't Nobody" must be the lead single on Rufus and Chaka Khan's Stompin' at the Savoy album, or else they would give the song to Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones for inclusion on Michael's Thriller album. Warner Brothers originally balked but ultimately dropped their objections and the song went on to become the band's signature tune.

Michael Jackson "Remember the Time"

Remember the time when Michael Jackson created a nine minute-long music video?

Bette Midler "The Rose"

Which of the following nicknames sounds the coolest?
Michael Jackson: The King of Pop
Prince: The Purple One
Madonna: The Material Girl
Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul
James Brown: The Godfather of Soul
Bette Midler: The Divine Miss M

I'll put my money on Bette Midler.

Michael Jackson - "You Are Not Alone"

R. Kelly wrote "You Are Not Alone" and eventually offered the song to Michael Jackson who recorded it.  Found on Jackson's greatest hits album titled HIStory, the song made history when it debuted in the #1 spot on the Hot 100 Chart --something never achieved in the chart's 37-year history (but would happen five times in 1995).  The song would be Jackson's final #1 hit.  At first listen, you might think the song is a feel-good ballad to a departed friend or lover...yet AV Club debunks that.

Seal - "Love's Divine"

There was once a time when album titles mattered (although some would argue they still matter).  Classic album titles such as Rumours from Fleetwood Mac or Michael Jackson's Thriller immediately come to my mind as both albums sit on the list of top selling albums in history.  I'm sure these folks sat through extensive meetings with record company executives over what the title of the album should be.  I'd also guess these meetings weren't fun and sucked the fun out of the whole process.  In the case of Seal, he just said f*ck it and simply named the majority of his albums Seal.  "Love's Divine" came courtesy of Seal IV.

Michael Jackson - "Man in the Mirror"

Originally a #1 hit for Michael Jackson in 1988, "Man in the Mirror" re-entered the charts in 2009 following Jackson's unexpected death.  The song carries a simple truth: if you want to see a change in the world, take a look at yourself and make that change.

Whitney Houston - "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"

The summer of 2016 saw Justin Timberlake debut "Can't Stop the Feeling" in the #1 spot.  This begs the question: how often do songs debut in the #1 spot on the Hot 100?  Actually, not often.  In fact, it's only happened 26 times in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 -- including a record-setting four times in 1995.  That year saw not only Whitney Houston's "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" debut at #1, but also "You Are Not Alone" by Michael Jackson, "Fantasy" by Mariah Carey, and "One Sweet Day" by Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey.

Hall & Oates - "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)"

Does it surprise you that Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" has over 1,000,000 plays on the radio?  Does it also surprise you that Darryl Hall claims that Michael Jackson told him that he lifted the bass line from "I Can't Go For That" for "Billie Jean"?  It shouldn't because Hall & Oates is one bad-ass duo that gets no respect.

Brand New Heavies - "Sometimes"

A forgotten hit from 1997 came courtesy of the Brand New Heavies.  "Sometimes" featured the vocals of Siediah Garrett who joined the band in 1996, but exited a year later.  You'll know the voice of Garrett as she voiced a popular duet with Michael Jackson called "Can't Stop Loving You".

Jermaine Jackson - "Do What You Do"

Do you remember Jermaine Jackson?  No?  Hmm.  Well, this Gary, Indiana native is the brother of Janet and Michael Jackson and is one of the original Jackson 5.  Still not ringing any bells?  Well, Jermaine sang the #1 "Do What You Do" in 1984.  Jermaine has kept a low profile--something that the Jackson family tends to avoid.

Joe Jackson - "Breaking Us In Two"

Singer Joe Jackson was not Michael Jackson's father, brother, cousin, or even neighbor.  In fact, Joe Jackson is Caucasian.  Jackson provided the vocals and played the organ in his 1982 hit "Breaking Us In Two".

Michael Jackson - "Will You Be There (Theme from 'Free Willy')"

Michael Jackson's Dangerous album produced nine singles---nine!  One of the most successful was "Will You Be There" which was featured on Disney's Free Willy Soundtrack.  I bet you can't say "Free Willy Soundtrack" nine times.

Michael Jackson - "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"

It's crazy to think that Michael Jackson only had two #1 hits on the Adult Contemporary charts.  "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" is the second of Michael's hits to top the AC Chart.  

(Trivia: Michael's first #1 AC hit was the 1982 Paul McCartney duet "The Girl is Mine")