MICHAEL JACKSON
The 6 Hidden Gems You Should Know
Every artist has one song that hits big. That single may dominate an album and an artist’s entire discography. For the best, however, there are hidden gems that are arguably better than these mega-hits.
For one “King of Pop,” this rings true. He may be arguably the greatest, but most-polarizing artist in history. He’s Michael Jackson with a host of gems that may overshadow even his most iconic songs. There are examples in every album he released. What singles are the hidden gems? Let’s take a look:
Note: This list will cover solo studio albums when Jackson recorded for Epic Records. (The post-Jackson 5 era, starting with 1979’s Off The Wall.)
Off The Wall (1979): “Off The Wall”
“Can a song named after the album be a hidden gem?” The answer is yes.
“Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” and “Rock with You” were the pillars of this album. Yet what gets lost is a song that makes you groove as young Mike would. With all the embedded tropes in the instrumental that you would hear in later records.
Thriller (1982): “The Girl is Mine”
Let’s start by saying this: the next two entries come from untouchable albums.
From “Thriller” to “Beat It” to “P.Y.T.,” the album has songs that are generational classics.
One gem is a song that features Beatles’ legend, Paul McCartney. A dream-team pairing, it was a love-triangle trope used by so many artists since.
Bad (1987): “Dirty Diana”
Alleged to be about Diana Ross, the song became one of the most electrifying songs of his career.
Though denied by him, if it was meant to be about Ross and their intriguing, relatively close relationship, then it would stand as the greatest diss track ever. No contest.
Dangerous (1991): “Gone Too Soon”
“Gone Too Soon” was in honor of Ryan White, a late teenager from Indiana who had passed away from HIV/AIDS. A song first performed by Dionne Warwick for late artists in the ‘80s, Jackson added his cadence to the piece, and it delivered.
HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book 1 (1995): “They Don’t Care About Us”
By this time, Jackson started to become a polarizing celebrity for all the wrong reasons. In the meantime, Jackson, different in appearance, looked to focus on the humane aspect of art, shedding light on people struggling throughout the world.
While “Earth Song” really offered a lovely melody for a better world, “They Don’t Care About Us” embodies everything, in ways still relevant to this day.
Invincible (2001): “Unbreakable”
Michael Jackson featuring Biggie Smalls. Need I say more? (Let’s give some more context, just for kicks.)
By the 2000s, the “King of Pop” had acclimated himself to the hip hop & R&B world. With Babyface, Teddy Riley, and Dr. Freeze producing this album, these songs took on a different feel, while retaining the same electricity that M.J. had in his prime. To this day, the song and the album stand timeless. And, in turn, unbreakable.
