Chart Performance: Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson has an impressive 31 top 10 hits in the US.  He's one of the few artists who has a top 10 hit for the last five decades - starting from the 70s, 80s, 90s, 00's, and 10's!  He also has 15 number one songs!

Below is the list of all his US top 10 hits!

1971 - Got to Be There (#4)
1972 - Rockin' Robin (#2)
1972 - Ben (#1)
1979 - Don't Stop Til You Get Enough (#1)
1979 - Rock With You (#1)
1979 - Off the Wall (#10)
1982 - The Girl is Mine (with Paul McCartney) (#2)
1982 - Muscles (with Diana Ross) (#10)
1983 - Say Say Say (with Paul McCartney) (#1)
1983 - Billie Jean (#1)
1983 - Beat It (#1)
1983 - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (#5)
1984 - Somebody's Watching Me (with Rockwell and Jermaine Jackson) (#2)
1984 - Human Nature (#7)
1984 - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Things) (#10)
1984 - Thriller (#4)
1985 - We Are the World (with USA For Africa) (#1)
1987 - I Just Can't Stop Loving You (with Siedah Garrett) (#1)
1987 - Bad (#1)
1987 - The Way You Make Me Feel (#1)
1988 - Man in the Mirror (#1)
1988 - Dirty Diana (#1)
1988 - Smooth Criminal (#7)
1991 - Black or White (#1)
1992 - Remember the Time (#3)
1992 - In the Closet (#6)
1993 - Will You Be There (#7)
1995 - Scream (with Janet Jackson) / Childhood (#1)
1995 - You Are Not Alone (#1)
2001 - You Rock My World (#10)
2014 - Love Never Felt So Good (with Justin Timberlake) (#9)

Michael Jackson's lucky thirteenth UK Top 10 album, Michael, a collection of unreleased singles, slips from #4 to #5 this week.  Below are his other Top 10 albums in the UK -

1979 - Off The Wall (#3)
1982 - Thriller (#1)
1983 - 18 Greatest Hits (#1)
1984 - Farewell My Summer Love (#9)
1987 - Bad (#1)
1991 - Dangerous (#1)
1995 - HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 (#1)
1997 - The Best of Michael Jackson & the Jackson 5ive (#5)
2003 - Number Ones (#1)
2005 - The Essential Michael Jackson (#1)
2007 - Les 50 Plus Belles Chansons (#4)
2008 - King Of Pop (#3)
2010 - Michael (#4)
2001 - Invincible (#1)

In the US, the same album debuts at #3.  That was his ninth Top 10 album in the US.  Below are his Top 10 albums in the US -

1972 - Ben (#5)
1979 - Off The Wall (#3)
1982 - Thriller (#1)
1987 - Bad (#1)
1991 - Dangerous (#1)
1995 - HIStory:  Past, Present and Future (#1)
2001 - Invincible (#1)
2009 - Michael Jackson's This Is It (#1)
2010 - Michael (#3)

Also, he gets his first posthumous Top 10 hit in the UK singles chart this week, as Hold My Hand, his collaboration with Akon, enters at #10.  This is also his forty-second Top 10 hit in the UK!  This brings his chart span in the UK Top 10 singles chart to forty years from his first Top 10 hit in 1971 to this year.  That is an impressive statistic!  Here are the Top 10 songs of Michael Jackson in the UK -

1971 - Got To Be There (#5)
1972 - Rockin' Robin (#3)
1972 - Ain't No Sunshine (#8)
1972 - Ben (#7)
1979 - Don't Stop Til You Get Enough (#3)
1979 - Rock With You (#7)
1979 - Off the Wall (#7)
1980 - She's Out of My Life (#3)
1981 - One Day in Your Life (#1)
1982 - The Girl Is Mind (#8)
1982 - Billie Jean (#1)
1983 - Beat It (#3)
1983 - Say, Say, Say (with Paul McCartney) (#2)
1984 - Thriller (#10)
1984 - Farewell My Summer Love (#7)
1984 - Somebody's Watching Me (with Rockwell and Jermaine Jackson) (#6)
1985 - We Are the World (with USA For Africa) (#1)
1987 - I Just Can't Stop Loving You (#1)
1987 - Bad (#3)
1987 - The Way You Make Me Feel (#3)
1988 - Man In the Mirror (#3)
1988 - I Want You Back (with the Jackson 5) (#8)
1988 - Dirty Diana (#4)
1988 - Smooth Criminal (#8)
1989 - Leave Me Alone (#2)
1990 - Do the Bartman (with the Simpsons) (#1)
1991 - Black or White (#1)
1992 - Remember the Time (#3)
1992 - In the Closet (#8)
1992 - Who Is It (#10)
1992 - Heal the World (#2)
1993 - Give In to Me (#2)
1993 - Will You Be There (#9)
1995 - Scream (with Janet Jackson) (#3)
1995 - You Are Not Alone (#1)
1995 - The Earth Song (#1)
1996 - Why (with 3T) (#2)
1996 - I Need You (with 3T) (#3)
1997 - HIStory/Ghosts (#5)
2001 - You Rock My World (#2)
2003 - One More Chance (#5)
2010 - Hold My Hand (with Akon) (#10)

What Christina Aguilera Should Sing in Michael Jackson's Tribute Gig

Christina Aguilera is one of the headline acts that would be performing in Michael Jackson's tribute gig in the UK in October.  Being more of a chanteuse than a dance act, it would be great if Christina can do some of Michael Jackson's more poignant ballads, like Ben, maybe, or something more recent like The Earth Song.  What do you think?

The Sweet Energy of Gary Valenciano

 

“Teach me to trust in you with all of my heart, to lean not on my own understanding, cause I just forget, you won’t give me what I can’t bear, take me out of the dark, my lord, I don’t want to be there, ooh, ooh my lord.”  Such was the sweet and inspirational lines that served as a “lullaby song” for me during one night of the 80s.  I was alone in the darkness of my room, and as if, a certain electrical powers run through my veins as I was virtually touched by the message of the song.  I didn’t know the singer, but I really felt that he performed the song from the very core of his heart.  In fact , I could sense that the song, mirrored or reflected something about this man’s past life.  Because of my curiosity, I came to know that the man behind the song is no other than Gary Valenciano, Mr. Pure Energy, or Gary V. as he is fondly called.  Born on August 6,1964, to a bicolano father and to a Puerto Rican mother of Italian descent, the boy was christened Edgardo Jose Martin Santiago Valenciano.(1)  Gary’s mother used to sang opera in manila during 1960s.  It is given that Gary inherited his beautiful voice from his mother.  He attended his primary and secondary schooling at the La Salle Greenhills.  That is why he can be seen sometimes at the gallery of “Animo La Salle” fans during the UAAP basketball games.  The fact that music and singing are very much in his veins and blood, and coupled with gifts of dancing and energy, Gary V, made his debut in the music industry and later, as an actor.  Early on in his career, lady luck already smiled on him by reaping accolades, recognition, and praises not only from the music industry, but also from the movie industry.  Without doubt, Teenagers, young adults, and even the “oldies” idolize Gary’s voice and his signature movements and dance.  The songs, ‘eto na naman (here comes again), ‘di bale na lang (just don’t give a piece of mind),’ were welcomed with so much enthusiasm and fervor.  Imagine Gary V. singing the tunes together with ala Michael Jackson moves, surely, the viewers cannot but be struck in awe and amazements.  I once saw unbelievable energy when he performed at the SM North Edsa, sometime in the 80s.  I was really petrified by his dazzling moves and indefatigable energy.  We have many singers cum dancers here in the Philippines, but, no one magnetize me so much to his mini or major concerts than, Mr. Pure Energy.  He is really enjoyable and inspiring to behold once he performs in any show.  The audience don’t get tired of watching him because they, too, are electrified by his energy.  However, in all of those seemingly “superman” activities of Mr. Gary V, we can also hear some sad, dramatic events, and trials that somehow just exposes the human side of Mr. Pure Energy.  In his 23 year career, one can hardly see that he has a “sweet cross” that he carries with sweetness and serenity---Gary V. is a diabetic.  When Angeli Pangilinan married him, she knew that Gary’ zest and fervor cannot be hindered by this trial.  So, she decided to manage her husband’s affairs so that she could moderate and take care of his health.  The couple even have three kids who are all energetic just like their father.  Another trial that crossed his career was the famous rivalry with Martin Nievera, his contemporary.  Martin is also well-loved by his generations, and in fact, even to the present, Martin’s style is a crowd drawer.  Actually, he is dubbed as the concert king of the Philippines.  With this kind of rivalry, where Gary V. somehow felt the “underdog,” he drifted into a false sense of insecurity.  He pitied himself.  He thought that his career would come to an end.  But God, has other plans for Gary.  He doesn’t want that Mr. Pure Energy’s talents be put into waste.  Hence, Mr. Gary V. reflected again on his composition: “teach me to trust in you with all of my heart, to lean not on my own understanding, cause I just forget you won’t give me what I can’t bear, take me out of the dark my lord, I don’t want to be there.”  Gary V. became a changed man and a singer.  He accepted other’s god-given talents and recognized his own and weaknesses.  He turned to the Lord and offer his talents for god’s greater glory.  Later, Martin and Gary V. became friends and they consolidated their friendship by staging a major concert at the Araneta Coliseum.  Dubbed as “As 1”, they really performed their hearts out to the delight and amusements of their fans.  Indeed, the warrior in Gary V’s person is a child.  A child, because he humbled himself like a little one, so as to be helped and taken out from the darkness of insecurities in life.  The sweetness of his perseverance and his ever enduring courage and energy will actually rub on to his fans and admirers.

Footnotes:

1.    WikiPilipinas

      

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Remembering Michael Jackson - Do The Bartman

As I was compiling Michael's discography, I discovered that the The Simpsons 1991 hit, Do The Bartman, included Michael Jackson in its credits! I knew the song had references to the King of Pop, but I didn't know that he really had an active part in creating the song. The chorus part though does sounds like Michael singing, and the lyrics has many references to Michael too - like "I'm bad"! At this point in Michael's career, he was coming from the highs of his 1991 release Black or White - which also featured another child celebrity - McCauley Culkin!

My Favorite Pre-Thriller Michael Jackson Song - Rock With You

Would you believe that this song is already 30 years old? Has it been that long? This is my most favorite pre-Thriller Michael Jackson song too. Michael is just so cute in this song - don't understand why he had to do all those procedures to his beautiful face! This is just an uber-cool song - a wonderful antithesis to the disco music that was so popular at that time.

Remembering Michael Jackson - Ben

When I was a kid, my Uncle Ben, Papa's younger brother, would play this song - a 45 - in his huge record player. To the younger kids now, a 45 was a record that contained only one song, and was played using a stereo with a stylus on it. It also had a B-side, although I didn't know which song was the B-side for this. If you want the record to repeat itself, Uncle Ben's sophisticated record player could do that! So Ben was played again and again until Uncle Ben wanted another song.

At that time, I didn't know that this song was about a rat! It was so simple and beautiful that the last thing you would connect it too would be a pet rat.

Justin Bieber Touted as the next Michael Jackson

As I've been doing research on Michael Jackson's discography, I've come across many articles comparing today's current pop heartthrob, Justin Bieber, to Michael Jackson.  Well, there are many loyal fans who say no way, the Bieber is like Michael, but there are also believers out there, who think Justin's got what it takes to be like Michael - at least in the hitmaking department.

My two cents worth?  Just listen to Michael Jackson's One Day In Your Life in my previous post.  Doesn't Justin sound like that?  Michael was about Justin's age too when he sang that song.  At that time, we had no inkling yet that Michael was going to be the King of Pop.  After that song, he did the Off the Wall album, which was a respectable hit in itself, yet after that came the lthe legendary Thriller album - and that was when Michael caught the whole world's imagination!

For now, Justin has been releasing different versions of his My World album. Except for Baby, there hasn't yet been a really big worldwide hit from it.  However, who knows what he can achieve in the future?  He has a beautiful voice and the charismatic presence.  And yeah, he has many fans worldwide who just adore him.  Now if we can only find a Quincy Jones - like mentor for him - who can help him mold his unique sound.  Now wouldn't that be grand!

Remembering Michael Jackson - One Day In Your Life

I was still a kid when this song was a big hit, and I remember it being used in many local TV drama shows and radio shows as well, especially when there were many dramatic scenes involved. It's incredible how beautiful Michael's voice was as a kid, and it's really exemplified in this song, as he slowly turns into a man. The clarity and the earnestness of his voice, especially when he sings this song is superb, no wonder this song reached #1 in the UK!

Remembering Michael Jackson - His First Hit - Got to Be There

Now that Michael returns to the top 10 of the UK charts, I got to discover his unique musical journey. I didn't know that he had his first hit on the year I was born! I was just a baby and he was already churning hits! According to wikipedia, this was his first UK top 10 hit, credited solely to himself, although you can hear the Jackson 5 in the background.