The late Michael Jackson is one of the most famous people of all time. At his peak, in a time where there was no social media, he amassed an estimated 4.8 billion fans. As famous as Taylor Swift is, no one will ever be as revolutionary as Jackson was, and it’s easy to see why.
On August 10, 1979, Jackson released “Off the Wall.” It wasn’t his first solo album, but it began a rise to fame nobody could ever see coming. The album featured the hit songs “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Rock With You,” which both topped number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Two other songs, “She’s Out of My Life” and “Off the Wall” also made the top 10, making it the first solo album ever to have four Hot 100 Top 10s.
Jackson went with a disco direction for most of the songs, and from the moment the first single was released, it was clear his ability to come up with catchy melodies to groovy beats was on par with the greatest at the time like Prince or Madonna.
It didn’t stop there, on November 29, 1982, “Thriller” released to universal acclaim. The album blew “Off the Wall” out of the water selling over 70 million copies compared to its predecessor’s 20 million copies. It’s natural to understand why, especially when it features some of Jackson’s most iconic songs; “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” and “Human Nature.” Not to mention underrated gems like “Baby Be Mine” and “The Lady in My Life.”
With “Thriller,” Jackson proved he could do more than just the disco-pop genre. “Beat It” tapped into rock elements, featuring one of the greatest electric guitar solos of all time, “Billie Jean” opens with the simplest yet most iconic drum beat ever, and “Thriller” is a staple of any Halloween playlist.
Jackson’s popularity skyrocketed, to the point where he was the second-most famous person of all time, only behind Jesus Christ. Jackson undoubtedly reached the peak of his career in the 1980s, however, many questioned his ability to follow up such a monumental album, to which Jackson responded with another spectacular release.
“Bad” was released on August 31, 1987, and while it may not have been as groundbreaking as “Thriller,” it was still a massive success. It sold over 35 million copies worldwide behind more hit songs like “Bad,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Speed Demon,” “Dirty Diana,” and “Man in the Mirror.”
Recently, I was listening to some of these songs when I realized that I’d forgot to mention one of his greatest songs in this article, “Smooth Criminal.” For someone to forget one of the best songs thanks to being clouded by other greats, is a true testament to Jackson’s talent.
Following the release of “Bad,” Jackson went on his first solo concert world tour in support of the album. The tour was a massive success, with the first of 123 shows being performed on September 12, 1987 in Japan, and the last on January 27, 1989 in the U.S. The tour grossed an estimated $125 million, and about 4.4 million people across all shows attended, making it at the time the largest grossing and most attended tour of all time.
Two years following the “Bad” tour, “Dangerous” was the next album Jackson released, on November 21, 1991. Just like its predecessors, “Dangerous” was a huge success, selling around 32 million copies. Jackson showed no signs of slowing down as the album featured hits like “Remember the Time,” “Jam,” “Who Is It,” “Give In to Me,” and “In The Closet.”
Around this time, Jackson’s songs started to convey more clear messages, such as with “Heal the World,” which he wrote with the hope to inspire global peace and love, as well as to raise awareness about struggling children, and “Black or White” was expressing his anti-racism views.
In 1993, Jackson was the headline of the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show. It was the first time a major solo artist headlined the show. His performance was not only legendary, but revolutionary. With ratings that surpassed the football game itself, this show redefined what the Super Bowl halftime show was, and Jackson tried to carry the momentum from the show to his next album.
With the release of “HIStory” on June 20, 1995, sales began to decline a bit, as it only sold 20 million copies, which is still insane numbers overall. Jackson expressed his frustration with sexual abuse allegations against him. This album featured five singles: “Scream,” “You Are Not Alone,” “Earth Song,” “Stranger In Moscow,” and the very controversial yet very catchy “They Don’t Care About Us.”
By this time, Jackson was in the twilight of his career, and on October 30, 2001, Jackson released what would be his final studio album, “Invincible.” Despite him being out of his prime, this album still featured great songs like “Unbreakable,” “Heaven Can Wait,” “Break of Dawn,” and the iconic “You Rock My World.” It sold around 10 million copies, making it his lowest selling album in his adult era.
If there’s one thing Jackson had proved throughout his career, it’s that he made good songs that could convey almost any emotion. “Thriller,” of course is the Halloween classic, “The Way You Make Me Feel” is flirty, “Beat It” is motivational, “She’s Out of My Life” conveys the feeling following a breakup, “Who Is It” is similar, but more about betrayal, “Stranger In Moscow” conveys loneliness, “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” is a go-to for any disco party, and “Rock With You” is great for a quick dance with your significant other.
Tragically, at the age of 50, on June 25, 2009, Jackson passed away due to cardiac arrest, caused by propofol intoxication. He left behind a legacy of almost 800 awards, including 13 Grammy Awards. It’s a legacy that will never be touched, and with the upcoming biopic “Michael” releasing in theaters on April 24, 2026, it’s still as clear as ever that Jackson will forever be celebrated as the King of Pop.
