Michael Jackson - THRILLER 25th Anniversary Edition

25 years ago I tuned into the sounds of the remarkable Michael Jackson when his album Thriller came out. Now they have released a 25^th anniversary specialof the album which includes a few remakes with Akon, Will I Am, Fergie and Kanye West.

After listening to the old songs, I just concluded that this has to be my favourite album of all time. Number 1 on my album chart! This album spawned so many hits –we know the big ones “Thirller”, “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” but what about P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) where his sister Janet sang backing vocals, Human Nature, Wanna’ be Starting Something, The Girl is Mine. I would say that every song on the album was a hit with me.

As for the remixes, the Akon version of “Wanna be Startin’ Somethin’” is awesome. “Beat I” which features Fergie is average as all she does is sing a few of the lines. Kanye’s work on “Billie Jean” is poor as all he does is a few “ehhs, yo’s, ahah’s”. Nothing special about that.

Overall, it was a great listen. But let us look at the phenomenon that this album had on the world.

This album was the highest selling album EVER. It took over the world. Everyone loved MJ, wanted to meet him and wanted to dance like him.

He changed the way the world listened to music as people would not see and hear rather than just hear. In a way he kind of killed the radio star.

This choreography that was on display in the film clips to “Beat It” and “Thriller” took things to another plain of entertainment and musical enjoyment. I remember being young but people would just go on and on about what a star and entertainer MJ was.

So regardless of what people thing of him and what has happened the last decade or so, to me Michael Jackson is an amazing performer. That we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the best selling album of all time is testament to his skill.

I believe the genesis of my love for music and dancing came after seeing MJ perform Billie Jean at the 25^th Anniversary Motown Awards where he unleashed the moonwalk on an unsuspecting world. It was one of those magical events that just resonates with you throughout life.