Six years ago today, the late great King of Pop Michael Jackson passed onto eternity aged just 50.
And while he may be gone in the flesh, his legacy remains everlasting.
To celebrate his indisputable impact on Pop music and culture, That Grape Juice are spotlighting some of our favourite underrated MJ gems. Because, despite the trailblazing success of cuts such as ‘Billie Jean,’ ‘Bad,’ and ‘Remember The Time,’ even Michael wasn’t exempt from releasing songs that – for one reason or the other – went under the radar.
Our picks await below in no particular order…
Unbreakable
A phrase that has attracted headlines of late thanks to sister Janet’s like titled world tour. For us, though, ‘Unbreakable’ is most synonymous with the funky, flavoursome fire that was this 2001 cut expertly carved by Rodney Jerkins and featured the late Notorious B.I.G.
We’ve Had Enough
Housed on 2004’s ‘Ultimate Collection’, this bonus track has us wondering why it wasn’t a full fledged single 11 years on. Said to have been recorded during–sessions-, ‘Enough’ boasts the passionate, progressiveness of ‘Earth Song’ and elevates said sound with its rockier production and captivating lyrical narrative.
Cry
Another cousin of Earth Song, this rousing R. Kelly song sat on MJ’s last traditional album, 2001’s ‘Invincible.’ Sadly, like much of its parent LP, ‘Cry’ is criminally underrated. An attempt was made to make it a single following ‘You Rock My World’ and a Michael-less video was even serviced. However, a very public spat between Michael and label Sony nipped those plans in the bud.
One More Chance
This beautiful ballad couldn’t have been any more unfortunate its timing, The sole new number of Michael’s 2003 ‘Number Ones’ compilation, it told the tale of a man pleading for “One More Chance at love.” Synonymously, there was a sense that the song’s lyrics saw Jackson asking to be re-embraced by a public whose opinion of him wasn’t as universally positive as it it had been in previous years. Sadly, allegations (from which he was eventually vindicated from) marred the release of the song and it’s already shot video.
2 Bad
Featured on Jackson’s 1995 ‘History’ greatest hits/ new album hybrid, this Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis production served as one of project’s standout numbers. For, despite the set’s angry under and overtones, ‘2 Bad’ pierced through on its own accord. Dynamic, danceable, and best listened to at dizzying decibels.
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My favorite song from Michael is Dirty Diana. R.I.P.
YESSSSSS That is my all time fav from him
He is the King of Music period. No one can’t achieve what he did ever again.
Beyonce did already. So she is the king. Sit down!
Thighyonce isn’t even on the level of modern greats like Adele much less All-Time legends like like MJ. Sit b1tch HIVe.
@KingB when? *sigh* You need to tumble a few stairs down off from my reply section…… like now. I’ve dealt with way too many delusions today.
https://youtu.be/x2LHiKk0vRs
At this King B troll, stop trolling.
B**** Better Have My Money
Bey already surpassed him. The world knows Bey is king of music.
Thighyonce’s receipts don’t match your claims though…
Flopyonce can’t even pass Rihanna lol you tried it!
RIP! YALL BETTER DO ARTICLE FOR AALIYAH DANA HAUGHTON ON HER UP COMING ANNIVERSARY! SHE IS LEGEND
They always do.
Yassssss. They need to Stan for the queen
I was partial to Stranger in Moscow. It always felt like a slightly underrated MJ song.
S******, I love you but try it on this post today and I’ll read you so far we finna finish the whole Game of Thrones book series. I have my reading glasses on.
Lol why?
KIII
My favorite underrated MJ gems are ‘Baby Be Mine’ (Thriller) and ‘Girlfriend'(Off the wall). The success Michael saw at the peak of his career is amazing! For an album to sell 65 – 110 million copies ww … It seems unreal! R.I.P MJ
MY FAV MJ SONG IS YOU’LL NEVER BE ALONE. SUCH GREAT HARMONIES WITH AN AMAZING MELODY. HE IS KING. RIP MJ.
Sooooo, now we’re glorifying p********* who were in their 50’s but acted like a child? This man was obvioussily mentally Ill. Who holds a baby outside the window? Who changed their appearance to look white? ( bleaching, nose job and relaxer) MJ was just a self hating, p********, mentally ILL person. Who needed to be listed as a child predator in the looney house taking hourly mess instead of being honored smh.
WE GET IT TROLL. NO ONE IS GOING TO DRAG NIPPY JUST BC U CAME TO TROLL ON THE KING’S POST. GO SUCK A D*** UNTIL YOU KICK THE BUCKET YOUR DAMN SELF
No artist today can match up with his groundbreaking success. So stop the delusions!
https://youtu.be/vk5TUKkuJTs
This man needed medication and to be locked up. Not money and dams
Michael Jackson is probably greatest performer of all time, he also some some of the most generic music of all time.
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He ruled the 90s with iron clad hits, but his music could not hold a candle to what BabyFace or Pedo_Kelly were cooking up.
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That said, his legacy and impact is undeniable, he is most likely one of the biggest artists ever and the biggest entertainer ever. He impacted and inspired billions around he world and opened doors for many in the music industry. His legacy is solid and undeniable.
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Michael’s shoes are just too big to fill, he is a once in a 100 years type of entertainer.
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Having said that, here are my top Michael Jackson pics below.
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5. I’ll be there
https://youtu.be/b0yNdCCubyI
4. Remember the time
https://youtu.be/LeiFF0gvqcc
3. Stranger in Moscow
https://youtu.be/pEEMi2j6lYE
Omg you have taste after all!
2. Who’s loving you
https://youtu.be/ofR5AWwi2k0
1. Heal the world
https://youtu.be/BWf-eARnf6U
You better Stan boo! Michael vocally SLAYED who’s loving you one of his best vocal performances as a kid. Remember the Time is one of my favorite videos. ( OK I have a lot of favorites from Michael). He revolutionalized the music video and made it an event, a short movie if you will.
https://youtu.be/9ElddgJCgyg legendary
You are trying so hard!
First Brandy says …
Then Monica says …
Now Nippy… LOL
Who is next? Janet, Madonna, Mariah, Celine … Oprah?
Let me guess, your saving these names for a Bey or Rih post?
The thirst!
NOT OPRAH!!!!!!
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http://giant.gfycat.com/ThriftySpottedCoati.gif
^LOL
My favorite MJ song is Baby Be Mine off the Thriller album
R.I.P to the legendary king of pop
RIP to Rihannas walls
Rip to trannyaras career rip to trannyara relevancy
YES TGJ! Michael had so many underrated songs. There was so much more to him than Thriller, Bad etc. He was so versatile, so creative so innovative with his sound. He was pop, soul, disco, rock you name it! There wasn’t a genre the King couldn’t do and might in add he did it WELL. Upon his death, I immediately went and bought his #1s album, watched his documentaries and tried to understand the man behind the music and i am so appreciative of his talent, his craft.
One more chance is one of my FAVORITE songs by Michael, Break of Dawn and State of Shock with Freddie Mercury.
Man I get so emotional every year. RIP TO THE MOTHAFKIN KING!!
State of Shock with Freddie Mercury
__________________________
^ This happened? I have to see if this one sounds familiar.
Hey RoyalKev! When I first heard it I thought it was so DOPE. Two legends together. I can’t tell if it’s a demo or a song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmIojYmyBVc
Wow, I like it! MJ sounds a little different on this song!
I listened to break of dawn today. Definitely a gem
@pytfromal
Amen to that
RIP to Michael. RIP also to Slayhives hairline too when BBHMM came out.
https://youtu.be/mUamGEInpJI
But Rihanna didn’t have enough money to bury Grandolly
Icon, Legend, Groundbreaking.
Rip King. Their will never be another MJ????????????
Legend.
That’s the thing with real artist like Michael as many album he sold worldwide
How many grammys and number 1 hits he had?
He made music not hits for the charts
Beyonce shade?
What?
Is she the only singer on the planet?
Im talking about multiple artists
Who gets Grammys after grammys for crappy songs or albums
If I wanted to say beyondfakes
i would
LOL she’s too scared to say that name, after the way her body got sent to the emergency room two nights ago.
Kong of Pop! The GOAT! This will not be a rough queen or an angry White boys battle field.
wass waiting to see when the trolls would show up but I see I’m late they’re here smh y’all are so childish on here…..Long live the king!
Damn dude used to make people cry at his concerts
The closest person that can touch him performance wise is janet
I can watch janet perform on mute like no other….shes captivating. ..
LMFAOOO B******! I can’t stand your ass but I about choked at “I can watch Janet perform on mute like no other…she’s captivating” ????????????????????????????????????????????????????.
And LMFAO at y’all coming for S****** when he hasn’t even commented yet ????☕️
PUNK ASS CLĮTLESS TROLLING ASS CÜNT 😆 hahaha I saw your little flop ass comment. I work 9-5 GMT time and I have a social life which I was I why I didn’t clock that ass kissing ass yesterday. You’re a troll that used to rock the name “Hydroquinone’ when you were trolling ‘I stan(d) for flops’, then your ass got dragged and resurrected this flop ass @rihslavey account to go and troll the navy. Just like a weak dog ass Mimi-Faust-Looking Ass ho, you’re on here being a pússsy claiming that you want a ‘truce’ so you can avoid a dragging. Me, @Slay_Hive, @DelBey, @Tyler, @Naomi, @Richie_Rich, are the originals and you are just a farrah franklin understudy that has been brought on to fill the gap @Beysus left when stopped commenting. You’re my s**** that I used and abused, and now I have sold you off to the rest of the hive, so always remember where your bread buttered.. BÏTCH
Also @DiggerBey, @Fatusankoh, @Suprise(Dec13), @YouTriedIt, @TruthSerum, @CarryOn etc are true fans that don’t change their standpoints just because of peer pressure. Come correct the next time you namedrop the CEO AnnaliseKeatingsNewWig 😆
You know you’re powerful when you make people go crazy and faint by just standing in place for a minute.
….and no one in this history should Nev-VER re-do and can’t actually re-do a classic “Lady in my life”. Thank you
i never hear a micheal jackson song i didn’t like, so miss me with that underrated gem talk sam.not everything got to be top 100 are top 50 to be good.
Exactly!
I see somebody mentioned lady in my life chillleeeeee that’s a classic underrated jam grown and s***
Dedicated to S****** Blonde since you love Michael and the Beatles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHp0s2wKajw
I see you rocking from side to side LMAO! “Paul I thought I told you, Imma LOVER NOT A FIGHTER”-MJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibX2AGv10VY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRqYVFr7sL4
This song is so sad tho, if you listen to the lyrics, he was so tortured and felt alone and he reflected it in his music, they tore that man down I still feel bad for him I hope he’s at peace.
R.I.P Michael you and Gaga have truly changed my life. Gaga imo is my Michael Jackson she has an impact on me and others. MJ you’ll always be king.
How did the years go by so quickly? Where did these 6 years go? Time really flies. I still can not accept or believe that Michael is gone from this world 🙁
Michael’s most underrated songs are Heaven Can Wait, Stranger in Moscow, and Another Part of Me. And the unreleased song called Carousal has always been a favorite of mine. He has a very strong discography. There is something for everyone.
R.I.P Michael Jackson <3<3
Little monsters love you mj
My favorite songs by Michael were Liberian Girl, Off The Wall Scream (Him & Janet’s harmonies were incredible on that song) Stranger in Moscow.
Favorite videos were Smooth Criminal and the mashup of Two Bad and Ghost he upped his Game with that video from what he did with Thriller especially the dancing.
THE UNDISPUTED KING OF POP
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This man truly was the ‘King Of Popular’ music. His catalog is so memorable & timeless. Ok, here’s my top 50 Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 songs (In No Particular Order):
1.) Stranger In Moscow
2.) They Don’t Really Care About Us
3.) With A Child’s Heart
4.) I Wanna Be Where You Are
5.) Give In To Me
6.) The Way You Make Me Feel
7.) Heartbreak Hotel
8.) I Just Can’t Stop Loving You
9.) Remember The Time
10.) Bad
11.) Smooth Criminal
12.) Who Is It
13.) The Lady Of My Life
14.) Off The Wall
15.) One Day In Your Life
16.) Say, Say, Say
17.) Beat It
18.) Pretty Young Thing
19.) Billie Jean
20.) Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough
21.) Rock With You
22.) Wanna Be Startin Somethin
23.) Human Nature
24.) Someone Put Your Hand Out
25.) Heaven Can Wait
26.) Scream
27.) You Rock My World
28.) Butterflies
29.) Got To Be There
30.) Ben
31.) Ain’t No Sunshine
32.) Jam
33.) Will You Be There
34.) Earth Song
35.) You Are Not Alone
36.) Rockin Robin
37.) The Love You Save
38.) I’ll Be There
39.) Whatever Happens
40.) Lovely One
41.) Can You Feel It
42.) Dirty Diana
43.) Man In The Mirror
44.) Tell Me I’m Not Dreaming
45.) Music & Me
46.) Another Part Of Me
47.) I Can’t Help It
48.) Unbreakable
49.) Heal The World
50.) Understand Your Ways
…
Also, I didn’t even mention “Thriller, Black Or White, Dangerous, The Girl Is Mine, Show You The Way To Go, She’s Out Of My Life, Blame It On The Boogie, Shake Your Body, Enjoy Yourself, Leave Me Alone, Keep The Faith” etc… This man just had a career FULL of excellent/hit songs. Just incredible. RIP MJ.
Swagger so bright I don’t even need lights, I’m with a model broad she dont even eat rice
Beyonce has not & probably will NEVER surpass Michael Jackson. Her catalog of music just doesn’t compete with his (she can’t even touch Madonnas, Janet’s & Mariah’s catalog either imo). But, Beyonce is the closest LIVE performer in the industry… That can kinda create that type of intensity & excitement on stage. But, Beyonce is no where near MJ’s thrown. She needs to build her catalog up more.. And, create more CLASSICS. She’s a better VOCALIST than MJ tho. That’s it.
I don’t think you can have a favorite Michael jackson song, his discography is so wide and great and elite its impossible
Can’t believe people hate on “The Girl is Mine” SMH
Anyway the only person in history who can be compared to Mike is none other than Prince.They both released the best two albums of the 1980s and to this day im torn between Thriller and Purple Rain
Thats michael..his swagger so bright he doesn’t even lights
Meaning he didn’t need to be all over the charts because his albums spoke for him
People now and days wouldnt be able to handle his music..because everything is about hits
The majority of his songs were not hits
I’m sorry there’s no way in helllllll that beyonce is a better vocalist than michael….
Michael can do things to his voice that nobody can do
He can go from pop to r&b to rock to soul in just one song
Even my neighbors cat is a better vocalist than b eyonce..I want to choke his furry asss many times
Dont do it..not today sir
Girl shut up, you only get up here to shade Beyonce, this is about Michael Jackson! Take your tired shade and attempts at dragging to another post and yes she is a better vocailist but not a better performer and most definitely not the better artist. Beyonce shits all over that hippo you stan for though In every way possible, I’d be pressed for almost a decade too if my fave turned out to be a run of the mill fluke who couldn’t push 100K with streams included or go gold when when most R&B albums were still doing that with ease. Jazmine fatback Sullivan flop circa 2008 and beyond!
Even his demos sh1t on 99% of other artist.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEjH4-Pzsao
This was a pretty smooth jam as well. Man, 2001 had some great albums. I think almost everyone dropped an album that year.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyIWfz7JXIk
RIP MJ,he actually died a day before my 21 birthday 🙁
Favorite MJ songs:-
1.All In Your Name (with Barry Gibb)
2.Speechless
3.Will You Be There
4.Lady In My Life
5.Stranger In Moscow
6.Liberian Girl
7.Smooth Criminal
8.Black Or White
9.Ben
10.Butterflies
11.You Rock My World
12.Gone Too Soon
13.Cry
14.Dirty Diana
15.She’s Out Of My Life
16.You Are Not Alone
17.They Don’t Care About Us
18.Who Is It.
19.Remember The Time
20.In The Closet
My favorite mj song are bad and remember the time also screams feat his sister Janet Jackson
Micheal Jackson is the best performance rip to him
I noticed something,MJ died at 50,Nippy died at 48…All of a sudden everybody’s like “He/she died so young” but if they were still alive and actively putting out music,the same people would be like “Retire already,you are too old”.SMH
Too many great songs, but I love Speechless from the Invincible album. You can really hear the emotion in Michael’s voice. Amazing vocal as well.
Legenddddd <3
1. Like A Prayer
2. Vogue
3. The Power Of Goodbye
4. Frozen
5. Ray Of Light
6. Material Girl
7. Hung Up
8. Into the Groove
9. Like A Virgin
10. Music
11. La Isla Bonita
12. Rebel Heart (Avicci demo version)
13. Express Yourself
14. Open Your Heart
15. Papa Don’t Preach
16. Don’t Tell Me
17. Bedtime Story
18. Beautiful Stranger
19. 4 Minutes
20. Til Death Do Us Part
21. Nothing Really Matters
22. Drowned World/Substitute For Love
23. You’ll See
24. Celebration
25. Sorry
26. Impressive Instant
27. Easy Ride
28. Die Another Day
29. American Life
30. Cherish
31. I’m Addicted
32. Gang Bang
33. Give Me All Your Luvin’
34. Human Nature
35. Dress You Up
36. Holiday
37. Ghosttown
38. Nothing Fails
39. Take A Bow
40. Secret
41. Oh Father
42. Heartbeat
43. Love Spent
44. Hollywood
45. Live To Tell
46. True Blue
47. Justify My Love
48. Erotica
49. Spanish Eyes
50. Wash All Over Me
And that’s without even mentioning Everybody, Crazy For You, Love Song with Prince, Rescue Me, This Used To Be My Playground, I’ll Remember, Deeper and Deeper, Rain, Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, Swim, Skin, Sky Fits Heaven, What It Feels Like For A Girl, Gone, Paradise (Not For Me), Love Profusion, Mother and Father, Nobody Knows Me, Get Together, Jump, Push, How High, Give It 2 Me, Miles Away, Devil Wouldn’t Recognise You, She’s Not Me, Turn Up The Radio, Some Girls, Masterpiece, Inside Out…
and a wealth of amazing unreleased tracks.
No one else’s catalogue even compares.
Nice try, S****** Blonde. But, this is a MJ post. Nothing to do with the Witch. And, most of those songs you named aren’t even memorable to the general public.
37 of the songs were Top Ten hits in either the UK or US – or both. And she has Number 1 hits in both the UK and US that aren’t even on this list. Who else could? Only Madonna. Deal.
And? Most of those songs are forgettable “dance hits”. Lol, Michael Jackson has THE most memorable pop catalog of all time. Period. And, he sold more record than MAdonna with HALF the album’s/single releases. DEAL