Michael Jackson is arguably the most successful musician of all time. He broke barriers and set the bars so high that it is virtually impossible for any other singer to replicate his enviable achievements.
Sadly, he became a victim of his own success. Albums released after the ?Dangerous? album were unfairly regarded as underwhelming and failed to make huge impact on charts. We must cut him some slack, because Jackson?s unsuccessful runs on music charts should be blamed on the audience and critics who preferred to buy tabloids and read lies about him than buying his great albums.
So it was not Jackson who stopped making good music, it was rather the bias media and public who were rather interested in his private life than his flawless music. Some of his songs were deemed as flops just because they were a poor on charts by Jackson?s high standards. These songs were so underrated. They were musically good.
Now check out my top ten criminally underrated MJ songs below
10. BUTTERFLIES
?I caress you, let you taste us, just so blissful listen I would give you anything baby, just make my dreams come true,?
That is a vintage Michael breathtakingly crooning. ?Butterflies? is a beautiful and romantic R&B ballad. On the song, MJ was vocally at his best. His falsetto was scintillating.
Released as the second single off ?Invincible?, ?Butterflies? peaked at No.14 on the Billboard Hot 100.
9. Music & Me
A power ballad released in 1973, It is one of the lesser known Michael Jackson songs. With ?Music and Me?, Michael professes unconditional love for music and that nothing could separate them. He sings: ?There have been others but never two lovers like music and me?.
8. Blood On the Dance Floor
Blood On The Dance Floor is a perfect blend of New Jack Swing, R&B and Pop. It is a bit similar to fan favourite ?Smooth Criminal?. The song is filled all the trademark vocal traits of Michael: gasps, yelps, snarls, whispers. One can?t resist dancing when the track is played.
7. Give In To Me
In my view this is Jackson?s greatest rock song. Miles better than ?Beat It? and ?Dirty Diana?. It has a far more interesting theme and incredibly catchy pre-chorus and chorus. The song is hard rock compared to the pop-rock of ?Beat It? and ?Dirty Diana?. And the guitar solo by Slash is fantastic even though I admit Van Halen?s guitar solo for ?Beat It? is the greatest of all?
6. Leave Me Alone
Leave Me Alone is anti-tabloid pop record. It was released in 1989 as the eight single off ?Bad?
It is an angry track with a frustrated Jackson yelping and growling on the hard hitting beat. ?Leave Me Alone? is pulsating!
5. One More Chance
A lovely R&B ballad written by R Kelly and released in 2003 as a single.
The chorus of ?One More Chance? may be a tad repetitive but very catchy. Jackson?s smooth vocals soar throughout the song. Pure gem!
4. Dangerous
Another criminally underrated track by MJ. Even some of the hardcore fans of the King of Pop are not aware of a seductive and haunting track called ?Dangerous?. Jackson whispers throughout the verses then sings in full force in the chorus. Dance-pop at it finest.
3. Who Is It
?Who Is It? is the best song on the ?Dangerous? album. It is vintage R&B track with Jackson exhibiting sublime vocals. The composition of the song is fantastic. The verses, pre-chorus, chorus, the ?hee hees? and even the ad libs showcase a fantastic record.
2. Stranger In Moscow
It is really shocking that such a melodious R&B ballad like ?Stranger In Moscow? only peaked at No.91 on the Hot 100 chart. Listening to the song creates an image of a sad and lonely Jackson. A man who seeking to be loved. Longtime collaborators of Jackson, Rod Temperton and Bruce Swedien say the song is one of his best records.
1. Speechless
?Speechless? is a beautiful love song from Jackson?s 2001 album ?Invincible?. The King of Pop displayed smoothest of vocals for the song. He opens with a sweet acapella and seals the song with another breathtaking acapella. It?s amazing. The chorus of the song is absolutely hypnotizing, plus the backing vocals from Andrae Crouch and his choir is very moving.
