Happy Birthday to Celest Chia and Clement Tsang
In the days following the sudden passing of international pop star Michael Jackson on 25th June, a series of MTV specials were being aired on alternate days, including the MJ Official Top 40 songs Special hosted by a deejay named David Gest, who had known MJ for about 40 years. This MTV Asia special was aired sometime before Michael's 50th birthday last August, and it was brought back in memory of the late pop star.
Starting from backwards...
Color code
Purple colored songs represent songs featured in Jackson 5 era from 1960s to mid 1970s, notes provided.
Light blue songs represent songs featured in Jacksons albums during the late 70s to early 80s (aka when youngest brother Randy joined in), notes provided.
Black colored songs represent miscallenous songs released for other artistes, with notes included.
Green colored songs represent songs found in "Off The Wall" studio album.
Red colored songs represent songs found in "Thriller" studio album.
Dark blue colored songs represent songs found in "Bad" studio album.
Yellow colored songs represent songs found in "Dangerous" studio album.
Brown colored songs prepresent songs found in either "HIStory" studio album or the "Blood On The Dance Floor" Remix album, notes provided.
Grey colored songs represent songs found in "Invincible" studio album or the "Number Ones" compiltion album.
40) Cry (link)
39) One More Chance (see note 1) (link)
38) Man In The Mirror (link)
37) Liberian Girl (link)
36) Another Part of Me (link)
35) Jam (link)
34) Who is It (link)
33) Ben (see note 2) (link)
32) Will You be There (link)
31) In The Closet (link)
30) Thriller (link)
29) Ghosts (see note 3) (link)
28) Dirty Diana (link)
27) Why (with 3T; see note 4) (link)
26) Stranger in Moscow (link)
25) Blood On The Dance Floor (see note 5) (link)
24) Give In To Me (link)
23) Rock With You (link)
22) Scream (duet with younger sister Janet Jackson) (link)
21) You Rock My World (link)
Note 1: "One More Chance" is a song written by R. Kelly for Michael Jackson on his Number Ones compilation album. It was the last original single released during MJ's life.
Note 2: "Ben" is a number-one hit song written by Don Black and Walter Scharf and recorded by the then-adolescent Michael Jackson for the Motown label in 1972. Originally written for Donny Osmond, "Ben" was offered to Jackson as Osmond was on tour at the time and unavailable for recording. The single, theme of a 1972 film of the same name (the sequel to the 1971 killer rat movie Willard), spent one week at the top of the U.S. pop chart. It also reached number-one on the Australian pop chart, spending eight weeks at the top spot. The song also later reached a peak of number seven on the British pop chart.
Note 3: "Ghosts" was one of the five new tracks on the "Blood On The Dance Floor" remix album. It was written, composed and produced by Jackson and Teddy Riley. Instruments played on the track include a guitar and piano. Jackson's vocal range on the song is B4–B5, the song is in the key G major. The Washington Post noted, " 'Ghosts' is another new jack swing collaboration with Teddy Riley for a similarly titled short film. It is a bit unsettling, particularly when Jackson spits out this line: 'Who gave you the right to share my family tree?'".
Note 4: "Why" is a song by 3T (three sons of Tito Jackson), written by Babyface and it featured Michael Jackson (who also produced it). This single belongs to the album Brotherhood and it was released in 1996. The song was originally selected to be part of HIStory: Past, Present and Future - Book I, but it was taken out and MJ decided to give it away to his nephews. This song was well received in European and Asian charts.
Note 5: "Blood on the Dance Floor" is the first single from Michael Jackson's remix album Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix. Jackson and Teddy Riley created the track in time for the 1991 release of Dangerous. However, it did not appear on that record and was minimally altered before commercial release in 1997. The song is about a predatory woman by the name of Susie, who seduces Jackson before plotting to stab him with a knife. The composition explores a variety of genres ranging from rock to funk. Commentators compared "Blood on the Dance Floor" to music from Dangerous. Others commented on the songs perceived aggressive tone and the vocal style, the broad genres heard and possible lyrical interpretations of the song. Reviews at the time of release were largely mixed, but contemporary reviews have been favorable.
To be continued in Part 2...
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