Welcome to My Music Mondays on a special Tuesday. I’m sitting here at home, kind of watching the Michael Jackson Memorial Service, and kind of not at the same time. I am a little bit tired of all the constant MJ coverage but I thought today would be a good day to explore Jackson’s music as his life is celebrated in L.A.

Growing up, Michael Jackson was the biggest star on the planet. As I grew up in the 80s and early 90s there was nobody who could compete with his star power. A big reason for his star power was because his music was all encompassing and he, as a performer, embraced everyone. It didn’t matter if you were Black, White, Asian, Indian or the color of a grapefruit, MJ’s music brought everyone together. I’m not going to wax poetic about MJ as a musician, a performer, a humanitarian, a celebrity or even as an eccentric loony who was accused of being a child molester. I didn’t know the man and my personal views on his life are not going to change anyone else’s views. His accomplishments are historic and his dancing was iconic but in the end his legacy is his music and it will stand the test of time regardless of what anyone thinks of him.

Favorite Album: Thriller

It was a hard choice for me to make but Thriller is quite possibly the greatest album ever produced and it sees me coming back to it more than any other MJ release. Beat It, Thriller, Billie Jean, Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ are all classic songs that will go down as some of the best ever recorded and don’t even get me started on the videos…

20 Favorite Songs

20. She’s Out of My Life
19. Black or White
18. Remember the Time
17. Give In To Me
16. Bad
15. Can You Feel It
14. Keep the Faith
13. Rock With You
12. Thriller
11. Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)
10. The Way You Make Me Feel
9. Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
8. Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
7. Smooth Criminal
6. I’ll Be There
5. I Want You Back
4. Billie Jean
3. ABC
2. Beat It
1. Man in the Mirror

What are some of your favorite Michael Jackson songs?