'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Years after his passing, Michael Jackson continues to be a renowned artist. His influence on pop culture is undeniable, and as of 2024, Jackson continues to remain a staple in music playlists.
While it has been more than 40 years since many of his hits first topped the charts, Jackson's music is now enjoyed by a new generation of listeners. The King of Pop had an affinity for blending pop, rock, R&B, and funk, and as of August 2024, based on the Spotify streaming numbers, Jackson’s greatest hits, including Billie Jean, Beat It, and Smooth Criminal, are still dominating charts.
Here are 8 of Michael Jackson’s biggest hits
1) Billie Jean
Trending
Billie Jean came out on January 3, 1983, as part of his sixth studio album, Thriller. It is arguably one of Jackson’s most iconic songs. Its lyrics revolve around a woman named Billie Jean. She claims that Jackson is the father of her child, but he vehemently denies it.
The track topped charts worldwide and became one of the best-selling singles of all time. According to Kworb, it has accumulated over 1.83 billion streams on Spotify. It reappeared on the Billboard Global 200 in August 2024. The RIAA has since certified it Diamond.
2) Beat It
Released on February 14, 1983, Beat It is a rock track featuring a guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen. It was produced by Quincy Jones and Jackson himself as part of the Thriller album.
Known for its blend of rock and pop, the track reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It won several awards, including two Grammys, and has amassed over 1.17 billion streams on Spotify thus far.
3) Smooth Criminal
The 2012 remaster of Smooth Criminal came out as a standout track from Jackson's seventh studio album, Bad (1987). It was released on November 14, 1988, and its lyrics revolve around a woman being attacked in her apartment by a “smooth criminal.”
The track reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of Jackson's most acclaimed songs. According to Kworb, it has since amassed over 738 million streams on Spotify.
4) Thriller
The title track of Jackson's landmark album Thriller (1982) was released as a single on January 23, 1984. It featured a spoken-word segment by Vincent Price and has sold millions of copies worldwide.
Kworb reported that the track has amassed over 616 million streams on Spotify. In 1983, Thriller went on to become the best-selling album of all time and remains so to this day, solidifying Jackson's influence.
5) Rock with You
Rock With You was released in October 1979 as a single from the album Off the Wall. It peaked at number one on both the US pop and R&B charts. While it held the position for four weeks on the former, it did so for six weeks on the R&B charts.
Till date, the song has garnered over 541 million streams on Spotify, Kworb reports. Billboard reported that the song was the fourth biggest single hit in 1980. The music video came out not long after the song was released.
6) Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
As the lead single from Jackson's Off the Wall (1979), Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough was released on July 10, 1979. The track represented Jackson’s first significant solo success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and on the Billboard Soul Singles.
Kworb reports that it has amassed approximately 510 million streams on Spotify to date. It has been certified 5× Platinum by the RIAA, and its music video came out months after the song was released. Notably, Jackson won his first Grammy Award and American Music Awards for this track.
7) Don’t Matter to Me (with Michael Jackson)
Don’t Matter to Me was a posthumous collaboration between Drake and Jackson. It came out as part of the album Scorpion (2018) and features previously unreleased vocals from Jackson. His vocals were drawn from a collaboration between him and Paul Anka.
The track has soared in success, having amassed over 502 million streams on Spotify. It even reached number one in Sweden and Greece and touched on the top 10 in over 11 countries.
8) The Way You Make Me Feel
The Way You Make Me Feel debuted as part of Jackson’s seventh album, Bad, on November 9, 1987. It was the third consecutive single from the album to peak at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
As of August 2024, the song has garnered around 475 million streams on Spotify, Kworb reports.
The singer’s songs have been etched into the annals of music history. Listeners continue to enjoy some of the classics even in 2024, around 25 years after his passing.
