Michael Jackson will likely always remain one of the most versatile artists of all time. After years of success as part of The Jackson 5, Jackson also enjoyed almost 40 years as a solo artist.
Part of Jackson’s appeal was his ability to perform all kinds of music. Among his many hits are these three energetic songs, which still make me want to dance today.
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“Rock With You”
One of Jackson’s earlier hits, “Rock With You” came out in 1979. The song, written by Rod Temperton, is part of Jackson’s Off The Wall record.
A dance song if there ever was one, “Rock With You” begins with, “Girl, close your eyes / Let that rhythm get into you / Don’t try to fight it / There ain’t nothin’ that you can do / Relax your mind / Lay back and groove with mine.“
Temperton also wrote the title track to Off The Wall, along with “Burn This Disco Out” from the record.
“Beat It”
There probably isn’t a kid from the 80s who didn’t have a dance routine to “Beat It”, even if it was just in their own living room. Written by Jackson, “Beat It” is part of Jackson’s iconic Thriller album,
“Beat It” says, “Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it / No one wants to be defeated / Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight / It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right / Just beat it.”
The success of “Beat It’ is a bit surprising, since the song is almost five minutes long. It remains among the best-selling songs of all time. Although Jackson won a total of 13 Grammy Awards, “Beat It” gave him his only win for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
“Bad”
Jackson is the only writer of “Bad”, a song that is the title track of his seventh studio album. It became a two-week No. 1 single.
A song of determination, “Bad” says, “Because I’m bad, I’m bad, come on / You know I′m bad, I′m bad / You know it / You know I’m bad, I′m bad / Come on, you know / And the whole world has to answer right now / Just to tell you once again who’s bad.”
Tragically, “Bad” was based on a true story about a kid from the ghetto who was killed by his friends. He went to school in upstate New York to try to create a new life for himself. However, his so-called friends were allegedly jealous of his new way of life, resulting in his death.
Photo by Robin Platzer/Images/Getty Images
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Picture taken in 1974 in Stockholm shows the Swedish pop group Abba with its members (L-R) Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus posing after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Waterloo". – Sweden's legendary disco group ABBA announced on April 27, 2018 that they have reunited to record two new songs, 35 years after their last single. The quartet split up in 1982 after dominating the disco scene for more than a decade with hits like "Waterloo", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Super Trouper". (Photo by Olle LINDEBORG / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo credit should read OLLE LINDEBORG/AFP via Getty Images) -
IN CONCERT – Airdate: March 1, 1974. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) LINDA RONSTADT -
HOLLYWOOD, CA – 1979: Teens dance to the music at the 1979 Hollywood High School prom held in Hollywood, California. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) -
British musician Christine McVie, of the group Fleetwood Mac, performs onstage at the Alpine Valley Music Theater, East Troy, Wisconsin, July 19, 1978. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
