Just One of Your Kisses

Ralfi Pagan, Latin soul legend whose voice is reminiscent of Michael Jackson here. Unless I'm imagining it, it's almost as if Michael is singing right now. This guy beats Joe Bataan any day. 

Never Can Say Goodbye

For all the loved ones, ancestors, and people who have helped make our lives a little easier. 

Michael Jackson's Black Or White

One of the best by Michael Jackson, an Afrocentric book I read several years ago dismissed it as Michael Jackson singing from his experience being both black and white. "Black or White," seemingly a pro-colorblind jam, Michael "I ain't scared of no sheets" Jackson challenges white racism and clearly uses images from a Ku Klux Klan event to express his stance. Unfortunately, the rap portion ends with "I'm not gonna spend my life being a color," which could allude to a colorblind ideal, but I still think this song is more nuanced than a simple crazy MJ forgetting he's black. 

In addition, it's perfect pop, with a perfect guitar-driven hook and some famous celebrities in the music video. The music video, however, does feature some rather stereotypical depictions of Africans hunting a lion but counteracts that with landmarks and representatives from all over the world to give a complete portrayal of humanity (though the Native Americans, Russians, Indians, etc. are all depicted in the most stereotypical ways while dancing alongside Michael). Indeed, the fact that Jackson sees race as beyond the black-white binary in the US may shows his complex understanding of race relations in the United States.

 It could also just be another way of showing a colorblind ideal world that may or may not be his vision, but it's difficult to say. Remember, MJ's racial views likely changed over time, and by the late 1990s or early 2000s, he was affiliated with the Nation of Islam in some form and owned property in Bahrain, perhaps suggestive of  a shift from Michael's "white wannabe" days to what Huey Freeman deems the "renegrofication of our most famous racial defector."

On another level, the song is clearly about interracial love, and most likely, that between a black man and a white woman. The following lyrics make that quite clear:

I Took My Baby

On A Saturday Bang

Boy Is That Girl With You

Yes We're One And The Same

So, Michael is singing in response to racists opposed to miscegenation, which would fit into the broader message of the song, not just illustrate a 'colorblind' world that surely Jackson was not foolish enough to believe. As he makes quite clear, he isn't afraid of blood or sheets, the forces of white racism. Of course, by the time this song came out, most racism is not just the terrain of fringe white supremacist groups, but structural, a factor lacking in "Black or White." Perhaps it is best to view this song as a pro-interracial love song and not extrapolate too much into the rest of society. Regardless, it's a catchy tune!

Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson: Let's Dance, Let's Shout!

"Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" is one of my favorite jams from Michael Jackson's pre-Thriller days. The chorus of Michael Jackson's song was taken from the popular "Got To Give It Up" and note the influence of Gaye on D'Angelo's vocal style, particularly the falsetto, and don't forget that funky beat with Latin percussion incorporated and some jazz-funk in this extended version of the song. Anyway, the chorus lien repeated by Gaye, "let's dance, let's shout, gettin' funky is what it's all about" morphed into "let's dance, let's shout, shake your body down to the ground." Although the Gaye song is much better and funkier than the straight-up disco sensibilities of "Shake Your Body," Michael's singing is enticing.

Best of Michael Jackson

I've always loved Michael Jackson. Great singer, dancer, entertainer, and worked with some of the music industry's best, like Quincy Jones. I'm a little ashamed of myself for not compiling a list of my favorite Michael Jackson songs a long time ago, given my extreme love for the man. Well, the good news is here is a list of my current favorites featuring our hero, Michael Jackson! This is where it began, however, a performance by the Jackson Five of James Brown's "I Got the Feelin."

1. Who's Lovin' You

2. Rockin' Robin

3. ABC

4. I'll Be There

5. Ben

6. I Want You Back

7. Dancing Machine

8. Enjoy Yourself

9. Shake Your Body Down to the Ground

10. Blame It On the Boogie

11. The Love You Save

12. Ain't No Sunshine

13. Don't Stop Til You Get Enough

14. Rock With You

15. Workin' Day and Night

16. Off the Wall

17. Wanna Be Startin' Something

18. Baby Be Mine

19. Thriller

20. Beat It

21. Billie Jean and here

22. Human Nature

23. P.Y.T.

24. Bad

25. The Way You Make Me Feel

26. Speed Demon

27. Liberian Girl

28. Man in the Mirror

29. Another Part of Me

30. Smooth Criminal

31. Jam

32. Dangerous

33. In the Closet

34. She Drives Me Wild

35. Remember the Time

36. Black or White

37. Will You Be There?

38. Can't Let Her Get Away

39. Blood on the Dance Floor

40. You Rock My World

41. Smile

42. Ease on Down the Road

43. The Girl Is Mine

44. Somebody's Watching Me

45. Just Good Friends

46. Leave Me Alone

The Girl Is Mine

An "interesting" cover of a classic by two insane vocalists in need of serious training. Enjoy!