The musical catalog ofMichael Jacksoncontinues to shine with a status worthy ofhis nickname as the “King of Pop,“especially when it comes to his sixth studio album, 1982’sThriller. His second recordmade alongside famed producer Quincy Jones,Thrillerwas a new direction for Jackson, encompassing “darker” sounds including rock, pop, funk, synth-pop, and R&B.
Popular reaction to the release ofThrillerwas instantaneous, with the LP spending 37 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the charts. Despite controversy overthe title track’s music videoand a guitar solo forThrillertrack “Beat It” that wasn’toriginally intended to occur, the album has gone down asthe best-selling record of original material in music history.
9Baby Be Mine
A Funky Strut Of Feeling
Written by noted musician and songwriter Rod Temperton, “Baby Be Mine” was one of only two songs onThrillernot to be used as a single (along with the closing track “The Lady in My Life”). Despite not having the same notoriety and presence as other tracks on the record, “Baby Be Mine” still showcases Jackson in prime form.
Backed by a swinging, thumping brass disco-lean of instrumentation, Jackson has a crystal clear vocal take that elevates “Baby Be Mine” in ways other singers couldn’t do. The end result is a solid love song cutmade to satisfy the deeper catalog Jackson fanswho enjoy delving into the fullThrillerexperience.
8Human Nature
One of Jackson’s lifelong skills as a vocalist was cutting right tothe heart of the emotional side within people. He knew how to embody the struggles, the sadness, and the pain of those who couldn’t fit in or co-exist in the world, especially when it came to his ballads like “Human Nature.”
The songfeels like the loneliness of someone in a big place, just trying to find some way to connect to an activity that feels so far away. “Human Nature” may not be as dynamic as other songs onThriller, but the significance feels as deep as the tides.
7The Lady In My Life
A Spacious Song Of Love
Well before R&B music took over the radio airwaves in eras like the ’90s, Michael Jackson was writing the blueprint for it with songs like the bassy, crooned funk of “The Lady in My Life.” In another track written by Temperton, Jackson takes the torch and quickly makesthe listener forget the lyrics aren’t his own.
While it is another slow song, “The Lady in My Life” is filled with fiery Jackson vocal runs as he declareshis love and adoration for an unnamed person. He makes you feel every bit of ache and want simply through the power of his voice, and every bit of music history is still grateful for the effort.
6The Girl Is Mine (Featuring Paul McCartney)
A King And A Beatle United
“The Girl Is Mine” was a collaboration between Jackson and former Beatles singer-songwriter Paul McCartney, their third song tandem after working together on McCartney’s solo works “Say Say Say” and “The Man” the year prior. McCartney also becamethe first credited featured artist to be placed on a Jackson albumwith this track.
Written about two men fighting over a girl, Jackson and McCartney make a smooth vocal foil for each other on “The Girl Is Mine.” The song has a much lighter-hearted edge that seems fitting for two artists so adept at weaving pop-heavy tapestries, though that keeps it from the top of the bestThrillertracks.
5P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
A Grooving Come-On Of A Jam
“P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” is a dance-floor bop with as much charming appeal as Jackson’s cloying narrator, who’s trying to get young, attractive women to his side to love in the lyrics. The song feels like it has a similar intent to something out of Jackson’s rival Prince’s playbook, though witha more wholesome intent than the Purple One.
This is a track that once againshows off the pioneering nature of Jackson’s sound, especially given how many artists have tried to emulate it over the years. “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” is yet another reminder that there will only ever be one Michael Jackson, led by a creative magnetism that can’t be duplicated.
4Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
A Dance Beat Declaration
While the lyrics don’t always possess the most clear intention, the overall mood of “Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'” seems to be calling out thosewho start rumors and cause drama and trouble as a result. Bigger than the words, though, is the groove, which hops and hums with a disco-inflected Egyptian cotton level of suave softness.
Capped off by horns, hand-claps, and an infectious chant, “Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'” acts asthe perfect introduction to the journey throughThriller. It gets you up out of your seat and ready to rumble, with a wide range of musicalities soon to come your way.
3Billie Jean
A Dance Of Paternity
Inspired by groupies Jackson and his brothers in the Jackson 5 would encounter on the road who’d claim his siblings were the fathers of their children, “Billie Jean” is the famed song about alleged paternity wrapped in a funky disco R&B shell. It’s easy to get sucked into that catchy exterior, not realizingthe dark exterior of subject matter beneath.
“Billie Jean” would also prove to be groundbreakingwhen Jackson broke out his first signature “moonwalk” danceduring a televised performance of the track. The music video for the song would also be the first by a black artist to get aired in heavy rotation on the MTV channel.
2Beat It
A Bristling Rock Masterclass
Highlighted by Jackson’s ever-ready vocal chops and a brief Eddie Van Halen guitar solothat took the song to another level, “Beat It” was a home run swing for Jackson, spurred on by Jones' encouragement to include a rock song onThriller. Released as the album’s third single, “Beat It” went on to become both a commercial and cultural powerhouse.
The year the song was released, it went on to top the charts, and over time, “Beat It” won multiple Grammy Awards and becameone of the greatest-selling singles of all time, with millions of copies purchased. It also showed that Jackson could top and tame the rock world just as well as other genres he experimented in.
1Thriller
A Title Track Titan
If “Beat It” was a powerhouse of cultural impact, then “Thriller” was a paradigm shift of what came before, and everything that would pale in comparison afterward. The title track not only found Jackson at the cinematic storytelling peak, but was matched by a music video withthe production value, length, and quality of a short film.
An homage to classic horror filmsthat remains a staple of Halloween to this day(even including a spoken-word section from famed horror movie actor Vincent Price), “Thriller” became much more than just a novelty song. It’s a tour de force of creativity, talent, and magical spark that will forever beMichael Jackson’scrown alone.
