LindsayBW's Full Review: Number Ones by Michael Jackson
When it comes to Michael Jackson, I've come to realize that I'm in a small minority. For those of you who are with me, you are not alone. (No pun intended... seriously.) And let me make it very clear to those who aren't:
There are people don't care much about his personal life.
Yes, that's right. So maybe he had 657 surgeries on his nose. Maybe he bleaches his skin with peroxide. Maybe he tried to throw his (or maybe NOT his) baby off of a balcony. And maybe he raped some little boys. And while I don't condone any of his actions (except maybe the pet chimp), I'll quote Clark Gable and say: Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
Few people seem to realize that "Wacko Jacko" (as the media has so lovingly dubbed him) actually makes music! No, I'm not kidding! Between tree climbing and surgeries, somehow Michael Jackson has managed to make millions upon millions of dollars making good pop music! Seriously!
So since he spent his fortune on statues of Peter Pan and rollercoasters, MJ decided to come out with another greatest hits album. Yes, he already covered most of the bases with HIStory, but that's not making any money.
And out with Number Ones it is, an 18 track collection of MJ's biggest hits.
Now don't confuse this with Mariah Carey's #1s; these are not actually Number Ones. Why it's called that, I'll never know. And I don't really know what songs they picked to go on this thing, but the tracklist is good enough to keep me satisfied.
Though it's quite hard to believe, there was actually a time when Jacko was a sex symbol. I know, it sounds crazy, but he wasn't always an albino molerat. Back in the early 80s, he was just the former frontkid of a little group called Jackson 5, breaking it big on his own with disco-infused pop of Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough and Rock With You. These are just awesome songs. Don't Stop has MJ singing in a high falsetto about... eh, who knows, but it's good stuff. He sounds more like himself on Rock With You, even though it's kind of nasty to imagine him rocking with anyone. Back in the day, all the girls wanted to Rock With MJ, and if he looked as good as this song still sounds, they still probably would.
But things really started to happen with this dude with a little diddy called Billie Jean. For those of you who have been living in the Big Brother house since the early 80s, this song made Michael Jackson. And the song is pure genius - definitely one of the best pop songs ever made. Jackson sings about a girl (Billie Jean) accusing him of knocking her up. Now it's an unlikely story (most people think MJ doesn't really prefer the ladies), but back then, this was nothing but an ace pop song that launched that kid from Jackson Five into the King of Pop. He also historically moonwalked to this song, which changed dance the way we know it. (If you've ever been at an office party with an open bar, you hear me.)
During the 80s, when he was still cafe au lait colored, Jackson had a string of hits - Beat It is the most easily recognizable song on the planet. It's anti-violence theme and Eddie Van Halen guitar solo make this a definitive song of the 80s. And then there's Thriller (Woo-hoo!). This is one of MJ's most successful songs, with a theatric music video and a spoken solo by Vincent Price. Does it get much better? This song is apparently about a haunted house or something, but it doesn't really matter when you crank it up and sing along at the top of your lungs. Woo-hoo!
Next up is I Just Can't Stop Loving You, a song I'd never heard before picking up this CD. It's a decent track, even if it's kind of schmaltzy. I think someone else sings on this (honestly, I can't really tell), but for a ballad, his voice sounds pretty good and this is a pretty catchy track.
The tempo is brought back up again with the cheesiest song ever made... Bad. It's all in the title. Just kidding! I love this song! I mean, it is, for lack of better word, bad, but it's a classic. I don't think there's any one on the planet who doesn't crack a smile in hearing those back up singers going "Really really bad." I don't know how relevant this song was in MJ's career, but I like it for what it is. Next up is Smooth Criminal, a song about... a smooth criminal. Duh. This song was covered by rock band Alien Ant Farm a few years ago, and as a pop fan I'm ashamed to say that was the first I'd heard of this song. I really like the AAF version, but Michael's is the original and it's cool. But I've been tainted by the cover, and make fun as you will, I happen to the reworking better.
But nobody can surpass my love for The Way You Make Me Feel. This is probably my favorite MJ song. It's just the most light-hearted of pop songs. One of those tracks where you sing you're own back up. Don't lie, you sing it all the time. This is the catchiest song ever, which is why I love finding myself singing it all the time. The popiness continues with Man In The Mirror, a song about changing the world. Aw. I really like this song! I can't really take it seriously, but it's still a really good pop song with a great message! C'mon, take a look at yourself and make a change!
Almost at the same level as my love for the cheesy The Way You Make Me Feel, is the even cheesier Dirty Diana. This song is totally under rated, as most casual MJ fans I know have never even heard of it. This sounds like some kind of attempt to do power rock, but it's just cool as Michael shouts "Dirty Diana, ohhh!" I love this song to death!
During the 90s, Michael was much more of a controversial artist. Some of this was because of his skin color changing, so he came back with a voice with the great song Black & White. This is just a great track. It's so fun to dance to, and it's about the time when I could start to take Michael Jackson's music seriously and not just fun 80s pop. You can't beat a good tune with a good message.
Michael decides to go all schmaltzy again with You Are Not Alone and Earth Song. You'll recognize the former as the track from the cheesiest film ever made, Free Willy. It's okay... just sounds like your basic sappy ballad. And Earth Song, I don't even know. Never even heard of it. And I'm sure it's fine, but considering I've only listened to the CD twice, I honestly don't even remember it.
After all that Jacko was turned into a freak by the media. He tried to make a comeback a few years ago with You Rock My World, and while it's a decent track, it sounds like some kind of recreation of his success, and it doesn't shine as much as it should. Also included on this collection is an album cut, Break Of Dawn, an unreleased gem from Invincible. This is a really good song, an R&B sex song, even though I never want to imagine Michael doing it until the break of dawn.
He did record a new song for this CD, and that's the R. Kelly penned One More Chance. It's nothing really special - your basic R. Kelly banter - but MJ proves he still sounds good, and it's nice to get something new from this CD.
And finally is a live version of Ben, MJ's first #1. I'll be honest: I don't know this song. I guess he released it as a kid, but I've never heard it. Listening to it though, it's okay, even though I don't really know what it's about, but I really would have liked to hear the original.
There are a few exclusions I wasn't too happy about with this CD. Wanna Be Starting Something, Heal The World, We Are The World, and Say Say Say were all excluded from this collection, even though the last 2 were actually #1s and Smooth Criminal, Thriller, You Rock My World and some others weren't. But, hey, you can't please everyone.
Overall, I don't have to say it: You know this music's good. And while you may be afraid of what the cashier might say, it's really worth it to go pick this CD up. If you don't own any MJ CDs (like I didn't), this is a terrific collection by an always terrific artist.
Includes 17 No. 1 hits from the Gloved Wonder, including Rock with You, Man in the Mirror, Billie Jean, and Beat It. The disc also features a new song...More at Buy.com
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.