The Jacksons Tracks - Smooth CrimiPOLL results1!!1!!!!

http://michaeljacksonanimatedgifs.com/images/others/mjgif169.jpg

http://youtu.be/IpFa3APLf0Y?t=1m59s

http://michaeljacksonanimatedgifs.com/images/others/mjgifs9.gif

Okay here we go. We had 27 ballots in total, thanks to everyone who sent one in! 145 songs were voted for. I'll count down the top 50 doing 10 per day ending on friday with the top 10.

http://michaeljacksonanimatedgifs.com/images/others/mjgifs4.gif

50. The Jacksons - Walk Right Now (78 points, 3 votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYvIKsIPrOs

49. Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do Without You (79 points, 3 votes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbEA1AErUGo

Good start to the list. Triumph is such a great album, Walk Right Now is easily the highlight for me.

I ended up voting for a different track from Rhythm Nation but that's a really good choice.

If it's not too much trouble, maybe add the original year of release to the results data? I'm pretty clueless on what came out when, especially as regards Janet. Per wikip:

#50 is 1981
#49 is 1989

yep sorry, i do usually do that and will add for future tracks

I really like 'Walk Right Now'

i think "love will never do" just missed my ballot. she looks probably the best she's ever looked in its video (that doesn't seem to be on youtube), it's totally gorgeous.

this is a surprise. I expected Love Will Never Do Without You to be a lot more popular around here. it was number five on my ballot.

have no idea how this list will look

some surprises in the top 50 definitely both in terms of omissions and high placings

she looks the best she's ever looked in the "pleasure principle" video. "love will never do" video is post-cosmetic surgery. >:[

tbf i don't really care about her looking pretty/she always looks pretty. in pleasure principle she looks like she could fuck you up.

48. Michael Jackson - In the Closet (82 points, 4 votes) (from Dangerous, 1991)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwvix7uEQg0

^ one of the few MJ songs i could imagine Prince doing a great version of

One of my picks.

47. The Jacksons featuring Mick Jagger - State Of Shock (85 points, 4 votes) (from Victory, 1984) - take your pick of both versions...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0e2jN2D7Kg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbkFiM15Yhc

This week just got a whole lot better.

xpost I didn't vote for that song, but I'll admit to being one of its secret fans.

Has there ever been a SEVENTH SINGLE from an album anywhere near as strong as "Love Will Never Do"?

Oops, guess Michael's Thriller did.

"In The Closet" was top five for me, & some days it would be even higher.

It's begun! Glad I helped "Love Will Never Do" make the top 50.

Here's a spotify playlist http://open.spotify.com/user/mondosalvo/playlist/10p71pWZgUg51RLWu9lXSL

46. Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious (85 points, 5 votes) from Let's Get Serious, 1980

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMLKb4or8yg

45. The Jackson 5 - Dancing Machine (86 points, 4 votes) from G.I.T.: Get It Together, 1973

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8HkEprSaAs&feature=related

"Let's Get Serious" is fantastic – my favorite Stevie Wonder freelance production.

Always sounded like a "Hotter Than July" outtake to me. (Which is to say, simple, clean and immensely listenable.)

I've only known of Let's Get Serious for the last few years (I was 6 years old when it came out), but it took no time at all to move up into my personal Jacksons canon near the very top.

Has there ever been a SEVENTH SINGLE from an album anywhere near as strong as "Love Will Never Do"?

Was there ever a seventh single released from an album?

Def Leppard probably got to seven with Hysteria.

Apparently Bad also got to a seventh single ... and an eighth and a ninth.

Come on Over went all the way to twelve.

Dancing Machine was my #2. so good.

I meant at the time.

I mean: Rhythm Nation was the first and only album to boast seven top five singles.

Isn't the Katy Perry album almost there - it has 6 number ones so far doesn't it?

44. Janet Jackson - Let's Wait Awhile (87 points, 4 votes) from Control, 1986

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvKhDiNME4E

Yeah, even though my point ended up getting undercut by cursory, post-research, I think it's still a pretty amazing feat that "Love Will Never Do" went number one something like 18 months after the album was released?

43. Michael & Janet Jackson - Scream (90 points, 5 votes) from HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, 1995

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P4A1K4lXDo

Since Thriller essentially invented a new cross-promotional model for pop albums, it may have been the first notable record to spin off more than 5 singles, but in that area and many others it set a precedent. Born in the U.S.A. was probably the first and most famous to follow the template of the Thriller juggernaut - as with Thriller, all 7 of its singles went top 10. Dangerous also had 7 singles released domestically along with 2 more internationally. Hysteria indeed had 7 singles, though the first, "Women", was a non-starter.

Anyway, sorry to get all chart-nerd there.

^^first one I actually voted for to place

I love the end of album ballad progression from Control through to janet. - from "Let's Wait Awhile" to "Someday Is Tonight" to fuck it, let's do it "Anytime, Anyplace".

I'd have to go back and check, but I think "Scream" generated as much commentary as anything when I was putting out Radio On. It remember it as people who found Michael-the-head-case endlessly fascinating on one side, and people who thought he'd descended into caricature on the other.

42. Michael Jackson - Remember The Time (93 points, 5 votes) from Dnagerous, 1992

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeiFF0gvqcc

41. The Jacksons - Torture (95 points, 4 votes) from Victory, 1984

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXzquw4bi5o

remember the time - TOO LOW

it's sooooooo the best single from Dangerous. total summer jam aceness.

I don't much like Remember the Time...too new jack swingy.

much as i love torture it probably shouldn't be ahead of remember the time

good thing i didn't end up voting for it

"State of the World" would have been the eighth single had the record company reneged on a physical single.

Its seven commercial singles all peaked within the top five on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first and only album to achieve that feat.

Hah - I didn't even think "Torture" was gonna place. And over "Remember the Time"? Wow. Both were in my top 10, but damn - if I'd known it was gonna come out like this I would've switched their places. I love "Torture", but RTT is the better song, no doubt.

Also Jamie OTM.

it's sooooooo the best single from Dangerous.

would agree with this were "who is it" not a single from dangerous

that's enough for today - 10 more coming tomorrow

"Who Is It" is my favorite.

too new jack swingy.

― Johnny Fever, Monday, February 20, 2012 12:55 PM (12 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

does not compute

i cut dangerous from my ballot entirely, but it was excruciating. love "remember the time" and "in the closet"

Somehow, "She Drives Me Wild" is my most played Dangerous track as per iTunes, by a whole lot. (Not a single, I know.)

(Also, not that it was on my ballot.)

lol xp

There's something about the swing in the new jack swing (and the snare sounds) that are like kryptonite for my ears.

I wish "Give In To Me" had been a single – his best use of metal hysterics.

everything should be new jack swingier

I wish "Give In To Me" had been a single – his best use of metal hysterics.

Wow, I don't think I've listened to this since 92 or so, but it's great.

did "state of shock" place because of mick jagger's creepy ad-libs at the end

kind of a worthless song imo especially when compared to its immediate surroundings in this list

"Shock"s placement feels sort of like classic ILX lurker results, but, again, I think the animosity it inspires is way overstated.

"Looka me...looka me...lookame...lookame....look...at...me..lookame...(unhh!)"

hey, old-timers: how was "State of Shock" received in '84? I read an issue of Billboard published that July which noted how the single apparently stalled for a few weeks before peaking in the top five.

damn! so glad I helped LWNDWY, In The Closet and Remember the Time place

Looks like Control will have more songs place than Rhythm Nation. weird

I love "State of Shock" unreservedly.

Looks like Control will have more songs place than Rhythm Nation. weird

― gospodin simmel, Monday, February 20, 2012 1:37 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

don't get how you can know this? i voted for a bunch of rythm nation singles; none of them was love will never do, though i like it.

but also, if that does happen, it won't be that weird; control is awesome

It's a little too soon to suggest the poll's going to give Janet the short end. But I have the fear.

xxp I always think of RN as the biggest Janet album, nothing against Control (which must have three more songs on this thing, right?)

lot of love on ilx for velvet rope iirc. for example, i love velvet rope. it's more vibe-y and less singles-y, i guess.

40. The Jacksons - Blame It on the Boogie (100 points, 5 votes) from Destiny, 1978

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amN8UynV5pA

39. Janet Jackson - Someone To Call My Lover (103 points, 4 votes) from All for You, 2001

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGjKASt6hmw

Blame It on the Boogie! It still would've placed w/o my vote, but I'm glad I could give it a bump.

This Janet track is nice. I've not spent any time with the All For You album and missed it as a single, but I like it.

God, I love me some disco-era Jacksons.

alright "Someone To Call My Lover"! thought "Scream" would be higher though

38. The Jacksons - This Place Hotel / Heartbreak Hotel (104 points, 6 votes) from Triumph, 1980

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDqO4nxk3xI

37. The Jacksons - Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) (109 points, 5 votes) Tied with 36 from Destiny, 1979

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPQmHwALAck

this is the only poll were every song is guaranteed to be amazing; I didn't even vote because how could I? too much awesome

Pretty much OTM, even if I'm not the biggest fan of "Let's Wait Awhile."

So glad to see This Place Hotel make it, it ended up being one of three tracks from that album that made my list.

I really don't remember Someone To Call My Lover, think I only know the title track from that album. It's never occured to me to check out any of her albums past Janet which I wasn't a big fan of. I Love Control and Rhythm Nation of course.

Janet's albums don't start becoming suspect until they start getting Dupri-ified, and even then there will be at least one face-melting song of greatness on there.

You should really check out The Velvet Rope and All For You

Blame it on the Boogie way too friggin' low but at least

i didn't even realize until i looked it up for my ballot that the Jacksons' "Heartbreak Hotel" technically was released under a different title; Whitney wasn't as scared of the Elvis estate when she released hers in the '90s

A weird suspicion on their part: titles aren't subject to copyright violations.

maybe it was more of act of deference/respect

36. Michael Jackson - Who Is It (109 points, 5 votes) Tied with 37 from Dangerous, 1992

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0M4EKhJHmI

35. Janet Jackson - Alright (109 points, 6 votes) from Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgeAUejUZhg

Excellent twosome.

this poll has been amazing so far.

All For You was the first Janet album I bought. I was on holiday with my mum in America to visit fam and I'd hang out w/ similar aged cousins watching lol TRL (lol America) when the vid came out and my cousins were crazy over it and I got hooked in. When I came home my brother told me about how great Velvet Rope and Janet were and my sis with the two before that and it was kinda this weird family-based love.

(don't think I voted for All For You the song though I gave points to Someone To Call My Lover, China Love and Doesn't Really Matter. Maybe the Carly Simon song too, which is :D)

"Alright" is so warm and inviting.

Alright was my #16 vote. Warm and inviting otm. Its like a hug at the end of a party.

I voted for "Alright." What an odd chorus! All these breathy couplets, then the resolution is "You're alright with me"? Awesome.

Chorus and verse and bridge (at least in the album version) melt together in "Alright."

Like three well-selected cheeses in a grilled sandwich.

Like a nylon lemon peel.

i voted for the cj mackintosh and dave dorrell house mix of 'alright' so i guess that counted towards the total, in which case that's my first to place. that mix is so gorgeous.

34. Janet Jackson - Nasty (111 points, 4 votes, 1 1st Place Vote) from Control, 1986

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvh47EQnmu0

33. Janet Jackson - Escapade (112 points, 6 votes) from Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFX3gQHIroU

Nasty @ 34. :(

(the #1 vote was mine, btw)

Janet is doing a lot better in this poll than I thought she would. Hoping When I Think Of You will place later on, the highest of hers in my list.

i think what's gonna happen is michael-heavy top half, janet-heavy bottom half

Not only is Janet doing better than I expected, "cute Janet" (i.e. "Someone to Call My Lover," "Escapade") is doing waaaaay better. I expect "When I Think Of You" and "Together Again" to place in the top 20.

Escapade! The most recent track on my ballot iirc.

okay gotta go out so will do the last 2 for today now...

32. Michael Jackson - Get On The Floor (114 points, 4 votes, 2 1st Place Votes) from Off The Wall, 1979

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ierY2nOVX64

31. Janet Jackson - Empty (115 points, 5 votes) from The Velvet Rope, 1997

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxHbIoo3_xU

"Get On the Floor" just missed my ballot. Really, 30 different songs, easy, could have been my #11-20.

oh god EMPTY is just one of the GREATEST SONGS

Wow, 2 1st place votes for "Get on the Floor"? (It was on my ballot, in slot #20 iirc.)

greatest poll ever

No wait, "Empty" was the most recent track on my ballot.

(Not that anyone cares, just don't want to have a falsehood associated with my username for posterity)

Just listened to Velvet Rope for the first time this afternoon, Empty was the higlight by a long way.

Not one thing on my ballot has shown up so far, which is rather disconcerting. Am also slightly baffled at the love for "Get On the Floor". I voted for most of OTW in the end but didn't feel too sad at cutting that one.

Oh well, still 30 to go...

Am also slightly baffled at the love for "Get On the Floor".

Two (or maybe one) words: Bass. Line.

fuck yesssssss at those two. really pleasant surprise to see them place.

really hope those Bad (as in the album "Bad") singles won't make much of an impact on this list. only Smooth Criminal deserves to be in this company imo

Yay for the Jacksons!! "Let's dance, let's shout..."

What? That is crazy; "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Dirty Diana" and "Liberian Girl" are all fantastic songs, not to mention "Another Part of Me", and "Man in the Mirror" was the original MJ aspirational song before it became a ridiculous cliche.

oh also "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"! I mean, Bad is a fucking great album, in many ways superior to Dangerous

I like more songs on Bad than I dislike, but it's the least of the 4 big ones, I think.

Still, I'm positive "The Way You Make Me Feel" was my highest-ranking post-Thriller track.

I mean, I do agree that "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Smooth Criminal" are the two clear standout tracks on the album, but the rest of the songs on the album are in the "good" to "amazing" spectrum.

Even "Bad" sounded pretty not bad the last time I heard it.

i dunno, i always considered "the way you make me feel" to be super-corny and not especially badass

which is strange because i'm pretty sure "man in the mirror" is my favorite song from "Bad" right now pretty much entirely due to the vocal performance and the structure... like you think the song is almost over about 2 minutes from the end, but it turns out he's just getting started...

Always loved the combination of shuffle beats and simple blues progression on "Feel."

I don't like Bad: the boy on autopilot. "Smooth Criminal" and "Man in the Mirror" are the exceptions.

Dangerous sounds like Jackson has become conversant enough with a contemporary R&B/dance trend (i.e. new jack swing) to adapt it to his own rhythms; "Jam" and "Why You Wanna Trip On Me" are harder and trippier than the competition; and lyrically it's often astounding.

Off The Wall is the biggest disco album, Thriller is the biggest album ever, Dangerous is the biggest new jack album.

"Bad: the boy on autopilot."

I agree

"who is it" has my favorite michael jackson lyric

i am the damned
i am the dead
i am the agony inside the dying head

Empty was my last 'i've already picked 6 or 7 songs off TVR, I need to vote for other albums' omission. Most prob. would have voted for it on another day though.

"Alright" and "Empty" were #14 and #6 on my ballot, respectively. they are TOO LOW on this impossible poll fyi

"Man in the Mirror" was the original MJ aspirational song before it became a ridiculous cliche.

― (thinks and smiles) (DJP), Tuesday, February 21, 2012 3:36 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i have a lot of feelings about this song. i think i would have selected a different group of michael songs had he not died tbh.

i've been a victim of
a selfish kind of love

;_;

I'm with DJP here. On all of Bad, only "Liberian Girl" and the throwaway duet with Stevie Wonder do nothing for me.

and "Speed Demon"?

Well, it's over fast.

30. Janet Jackson - Doesn't Really Matter (119 points, 5 votes) from Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, 2000 (later appeared on All For You, 2001)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyLQ1muosqQ

29. Janet Jackson - Control (121 points, 5 votes) from Control, 1986

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH8xbDGv7oY

i love "Doesn't Really Matter" so fucking much

me too

it's my go-to get-happy jam

Janet, Janet, Janet!!

control was low on my ballot because it sounds so much like "pleasure principle" and i like pleasure principle more, but it's a great song.

"doesn't really matter" was my #9, which was TOO LOW

Janet's "Number Ones" album is possibly one of the most essential albums for anyone's record collection; it's just track after track after track of amazing, and it includes every song that hit #1 on any chart

I tend to forget "Doesn't Really Matter" when thinking of good Janet songs – it didn't make my ballads – but that's part of its charm. And it was a terrific summer jam in '00: I lump it with "It's Gonna Be Me" and "Ride Wit Me."

*my ballot

it took me a long time to figure out that she was singing "what matters to me is you're nuttynuttynutty for me" which is just so cute

God, I miss summer of 2000.

i have nothing to say itt but I LOVE THIS SONG

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MDPBGCZ6L._SL500_AA300_.jpg

The only bad thing I'll say about "Doesn't Really Matter" is that those chirpy sixteenth-note snaps atop the whole thing are incredibly annoying in a dentist's office.

Those "snaps" = dental hygienist scraping tartars from your bicuspids.

"Doesn't Really Matter" is an exercise in how awesome syncopation can be.

Doesn't matter if I floss.

IknowIknowIknow

28. Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation (122 points, 6 votes) from Janet Jackson's
Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAwaNWGLM0c

27. Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel (124 points, 6 votes) from Bad, 1987

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzZ_urpj4As

Some truly top 5 material is showing up way too low.

This whole poll is about vote splitting.

I shoulda voted "Rhythm Nation" but it looks like I let it slip...but "Earth Song" made my ballot, evidently. Nutty professor indeed.

Might as well get this challops out of the way now. If "ABC" and "I Want You Back" place above "If" and "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough," I'll be pissed.

yeah...no criticism to the poll runner but for better or worse i think the results would be MUCH different if we were allowed 30 or 40-song ballots

i've been trying to figure out what Janet's top-placing song will be and i feel like it might be "If"?

yeah xp I voted "Miss You Much" pretty high & I guess it was either that or "Rhythm Nation" for me, which in retrospect seems dumb.

reminder: spotify playlist is here (http://open.spotify.com/user/mondosalvo/playlist/10p71pWZgUg51RLWu9lXSL) and it's collaborate, so if some of the tracks I've selected aren't showing up in other regions or whatever, feel free to add the ones that work in yours.

*collaborative

26. Michael Jackson - Got To Be There (129 point, 5 votes) from Got to Be There, 1971

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1ODaEq9n3Y

25. Michael Jackson - Thriller (138 points, 5 votes, 1 1st Place Vote) from Thriller, 1982

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA

O_O

Hey! Something I voted for! The way MJ hits and holds those top notes on "Got To Be There" is just awe inspiring.

lol I somehow completely forgot about "Thriller" the song when voting.

i made sure to vote for "Thriller" the song because i love it and feel like it tends to get overshadowed by "Thriller" the video and Thriller the album

i made sure i gave 'thriller' top spot because i just *knew* it'd get overlooked by ilx. surprised it was overlooked that much though. the bassline and the bridge are just undeniable. it's one song that i've heard a million times that i can still get along with, in fact i probably like it more now than i did back then.

Got to be There really is one of the most beautiful songs I can think of, such an amazing vocal too.

'Thriller' placing so low is why I tend to think these rundowns should ideally be top 20 only - it'd be quite exciting to reach the top five and find all these classics that hadn't shown yet.

(no criticism intended btw Jamie, I always err on the long side myself)

Almost sure that nothing from the Motown era made my ballot, but it was at least in part a strategic move.

I didn't mention a single pre- or puberty hit song.

24. The Jackson 5 - Never Can Say Goodbye (138 points, 6 votes) from Maybe Tomorrow, 1971

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snihdG1rE0Y

23. The Jackson 5 - I'll Be There (143 points, 6 votes, 1 1st Place Vote) from Third Album, 1970

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6pAxF2br_U&feature=related

how is "I'll Be There" so low

just started listening to the Spotify playlist, 50 may have been too much...huge improvement starting in the high 30s. great countdown so far though!

how is "I'll Be There" so low

because either "Centipede" or "Diamonds" will be #1 with a bullet

i would've been surprised if "I'll Be There" placed higher tbh

because either "Centipede" or "Diamonds" will be #1 with a bullet

Not if my ballot box stuffing on behalf of "Hot Potato" has anything to say about it.

Might as well get this challops out of the way now. If "ABC" and "I Want You Back" place above "If" and "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough," I'll be pissed.

― dead-trius (Eric H.), Wednesday, February 22, 2012 10:49 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

listen, "i want you back" has to be reckoned with

also, regarding "if":

here is my janet jackson challop: "rhythm nation" and "if" are essentially the same song, except "rhythm nation" is better.

― horseshoe, Thursday, February 16, 2012 10:45 PM (6 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

in conclusion:

IT'S TIME TO GIVE A DAMN LET'S WORK TOGETHER

that's not a challop, that's true

here is my janet jackson challop: "rhythm nation" and "if" are essentially the same song, except "rhythm nation" is better.

It's not a challop!

I like "If" fine though, especially her feral tone on the verses.

"thriller" didn't even make my ballot but it seems too low. everything on this poll is too low.

i thought it was a challop because "If" is such an ilx fave

ha I was just about to post that the main thing "If" has going for it is Janet singing in a low tenor register for most of the verse and the rising scale out of it that leads into the pre-chorus

her outfit in the "if" video is the cutest thing she's ever worn, maybe

it actually shocked college-aged me that I was taken aback at Janet Jackson cooing "your silky smooth/It feels so good against my lips, sugar" at me

I mean, I got over it in like 5 seconds but at first I was all "well I guess we're done with waiting!"

"Got To Be There," "Never Can Say Goodbye," and "I'll Be There" are pretty much the alpha & omega of music

I mean, I got over it in like 5 seconds but at first I was all "well I guess we're done with waiting!"

― (thinks and smiles) (DJP), Wednesday, February 22, 2012 12:56 PM (7 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

haha rich juzwiak had a good summary at some point of the evolution of janet's thematic concerns, album-by-album. i tried to find it to link on the nominations thread. even when it becomes and sort of stays the sex chronicles with janet there's a lot of variation of focus in the later albums.

last two for today

22. Janet Jackson - What Have You Done for Me Lately? (161 points, 8 votes) Tied with 21
from Control, 1986

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9uizdKZAGE

21. Janet Jackson - Got ‘til It’s Gone (161 points, 8 votes, 1 1st Place Vote) Tied with 22 from The Velvet Rope, 1997

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uznTHSEgx4U

"I'll Be There" was my #1; would've expected a Top 10 finish.

yay "what have you done for me lately"!!! that has aged better for me than "nasty." is also a much better song than "got 'til it's gone" imo, though i love velvet rope.

yay "what have you done for me lately"!!! that has aged better for me than "nasty."

Agreed

"empty" should be higher than "got til it's gone," y'all

Awesome songs today on the whole.

Really not hearing "Rhythm Nation, Part 2" in "If." If there's a zero-effort "Rhythm Nation, Part 2," it's the two songs that follow it on the RN1814 album.

The main thing "If" has going for it is that psycho-intense filtering on the Supremes sample that turns it into some sort of android killing machine.

Uh-oh. Woulda figured at least one of those two Janet songs in the top 10 - and I wouldn't have even been surprised at "What Have You Done" going top 5. Guess I really should've voted for more Janet tracks.

So are any Janet songs gonna place top 10?

Aside from maybe "That's the Way Love Goes," I mean?

Right now, it's looking like "If" is it for the top 10. Maybe "Pleasure Principal."

omg, new (old?) pron title

Would love "Throb" or "What About" to place, but I think it's probably too late for that now.

Is this going to turn into the Stevie Wonder poll all over again, with Innervisions (or, in this case, Thriller) taking up over half the top 10?

I can see "Don't Stop Till Tou Get Enough" winning though.

The way these results have been going, it's too soon to make calls, but I'm starting to feel an "I Want You Back" triumph over "Billie Jean."

"Billie Jean" didn't even win the Thriller poll: THRILLER POLL

i really think "Don't Stop" is gonna take it all, since it's kind of THE Off The Wall hit where most of the other big Michael/Janet albums will kind of have votes split between a bunch of different songs

when "PYT" wins I'm going to give you all such a look

My dentist had 'Black or White' on earlier, I think that was a sign.

Plenty more from Off the Wall to come, I think (hope). Maybe more than from Thriller?

i went to an office birthday party today and "PYT" was playing on the stereo, goddamn i love that song

there are at least 4 songs from Thriller guaranteed to show up later, i seriously doubt that many from Off The Wall will place this high

I dunno how anyone could listen to PYT and not be creeped out by it

Yeah, unless you are receptive to an awesome song full of great hooks.

haha i was actually gonna say it's amazing that "PYT" hasn't been tainted at all by MJ's later life, at least not for me

"Don't Stop" and "Rock With You" are shoo-ins at least.

no doubt. but so are "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" and "Human Nature" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'."

wait so "Miss You Much" isn't going to place?

i honestly have no idea, seems like a 50/50 shot at this point

"Miss You Much" is totally a top 20 song, come on

yeah I mean you'd think it's a given

bold prediction: I think "Beat It" won't make this poll

you're probably right, but i'd be more confident if i hadn't cut it from my ballot at the last minute (xpost)

euler you crazy

"Miss You Much" is my least favorite RN single :(

I love "Beat It" but it's a lot harder for me to separate from the hype when it was new than any other MJ song. plus the video while classic is also hilariously lame: Michael as killer is such a bad look.

that is a very weird image to take away from the "Beat It" video

were the knifes just for cutting salad?

(avoiding a circumcision joke)

Michael didn't have a knife!

he looked so lame in that vdeo that every teenager in america tried to copy his outfit for years

like the entire story of the video was "Michael wanders around town singing to himself before showing up at a rumble to stop it with choreographed dance", I am not quite sure how that translates to "Michael as killer"

imo the bigger question is "which Paul duet cracked the top 20?"

I thought he had a knife! it's been years. & it is true that the look was popular. but I dunno: I'll retreat to the view that "Michael wanders around town singing to himself before showing up at a rumble to stop it with choreographed dance" is hilariously lame

btw I voted for "Ben"

Here's the video for reference: http://youtu.be/meT2eqgDjiM

some really rong things being said about "beat it" itt. the choreography in that video is my favorite MJ choreography ever. on those turns, he looks like he's about to take flight. also one of the songs that took on new resonance for me after his death; i had never noticed how sad the lyrics are before. it was my top-placing Thriller song.

Here's my challop: I only started being able to listen to "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" without turning it off in disgust last year. It is easily my least favorite of Janet's classic period and good bit worse than some of her later not-so-classic-period singles (particularly "Feedback" and "All Nite (Don't Stop)")

I suspect this might be the only poll where most of my ballot is in the top 20. Didn't vote for 'Beat It.

i don't need to turn "love will never do" off but i have no particular attachment to it, either. the song itself was sort of overshadowed by the video and boobs! and different-looking-nose! iirc

i should have done an all-janet ballot. i hope she's not blocked out of the top 10.

"love will never do" is the first janet song i remember as a current hit single during the period that i was gradually becoming actively engaged with popular music as a child. i had a conversation with my step-sister about how she thought they were saying something like "rockaway choo choo" at the end of the song.

no man, michael jackson dancing down a hallway is still literally the coolest thing in the world

Euler must also think West Side Story + every other sublime thing under the sun is lame.

I am assuming no one felt they needed to rewatch the video

lol what is that?

maybe "lame" is too strong but yeah West Side Story is hilarious! gangs! dancing!

I love "Beat It" btw even though I didn't vote for it here

u r my sworn enemy

let's dance it out

Can't believe you're hating on Beat It, when Bad exists

http://i.imgur.com/8z4o9.png

so cool

Billie Jean's gonna win anyway so I only voted for Beat It

instead of both

Can't believe you're hating on Beat It, when Bad exists

lol after much deliberation I gave "Bad" the slot above "Beat It" on my ballot

and by deliberation I mean vodka

just rewatched the actual beat it video to double-check; the choreography at the end once mj has broken up the fight: still breathtaking

oh crut

ismael otm, anything hollow or ridic about the tough guy poses of "beat it" was totally eclipsed by "bad"

although really one thing i love about the '80s is that whole quaint pre-gangsta rap run dmc era when you could just wear a leather jacket and frown and instantly be the toughest dude on MTV

horseshoe: that was the Pomplemoose cover of "Beat It"

gross

some people think it's gross but it's pretty good on toast

Got Til Its Gone was my #1. It is p much everything I love in music wrapped up in one awesome pop song. Plus I think the video factored in although I bet we all kinda voted on videos as well as the songs themselves. This must be the most obvious artist poll yet for that to happen?

I don't dislike a song yet! And this poll is making me think I should revisit Bad, even though I already know I dislike half of it.

Feel like I honestly can't make an obvious guess at what the top 2 will be either, which is refreshing for an ilx poll. Gonna guess at 6 Janet, 4 J5/TJ, 1 Other Jackson solo and 9 Michael.

"got til it's gone" is a great video, but it doesn't cohere as a song for me.

I'm not taken with "Love Will Never Do" either, and, interestingly, like "Miss You Much" it's the only RN single for which Janet gets no songwriting credit.

oh see I think "Miss You Much" is the biznizz

basically all of the stompy non-"Rhythm Nation"esque songs on Rhythm Nation suffer in my eyes because they aren't "Miss You Much" (although there was a remix of "Escapade" that helped me fall in love with it, also "onn annn escapaade, BEHBEH")

have you heard the album version on LWND -- with the Herb Alpert solo? I prefer it!

on = of

I have heard the album version. Like I said, I don't detest it anymore but it's not my fave.

Miss results much.

I'm going to die of old age before I get to do my depeche mode ballot poll

Dude, you're at #18, and #14 is next! Pity the poor schmoe in the 40s. Maybe Chap will trade his Bowie spot with you.

crut, as one of the youngest ilxors, if you die of old age, all your potential voters will have already shuffled off this mortal coil.

busy busy busy today, will post these tonight when i get home

20. Michael Jackson - Stranger in Moscow (164 points, 9 votes) from HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, 1996

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEEMi2j6lYE

dang, just leaving work now, but look forward to coming back to see more results tonight

19. The Jackson 5 - ABC (166 points, 7 votes) from ABC, 1970

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho7796-au8U

Didn't vote for 'ABC' - I always see it as 'I Want You Back II', only inferior in every way.

Stranger in Moscow is an okay song (I probably haven't even thought about it since the 90s). How the hell did it end up so high?

because it's a great song

There's nothing obviously "Michael Jackson" about it, though. meh.

I had never even heard "Stranger In Moscow" until MJ died

This feels like the first real challop in this poll (or maybe I'm the one being challopy).

nah, "Stranger in Moscow" is terrific, made my ballot

It's kind of boring

There's nothing obviously "Michael Jackson" about it, though. meh.

eh, dude, the rhythm of the song is pretty michael jackson, and the way the rest of the song seems to phase in out of nowhere? way exquisite

18. Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror (170 points, 8 votes) from Bad, 1987

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PivWY9wn5ps

17. Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle (176 points, 7 votes) from Control, 1986

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-gu1KETjVY

I only learned to love "The Pleasure Principle" in the last five years, particularly the remix.

"pleasure principle" is my favorite janet song that is not "if"

every time i hear it is like hearing it for the first time

"pleasure principle" is my favorite janet song that is not "if"

^^^

wow, "stranger in moscow" was on my ballot at #20 but i can't believe it placed so high!

<3 the video for "pleasure principle"

"pleasure principle" was my #4

16. Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal (180 points, 8 votes) from Bad, 1987

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWucYbAp8Lk

15. Rebbie Jackson - Centipede (206 points, 8 votes, 1 1st Place Vote) from Centipede, 1984

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8SdzwoIcwo

Hold on, 'Smooth Criminal' way down here?! Only eight votes out of 27?!

these polls always throw up at least one incredible song that i'm amazed i've never heard; 'centipede' was it this time.

what the

didn't even know there WAS a Rebbie Jackson

NICE

My reaction to this pair:

Smooth Criminal TOO LOW
Centipede THIS SONG RULES HOW CAN PEOPLE NOT KNOW ABOUT IT

I'd never heard of "Centipede" before people started talking about it on the prepoll thread.

Rebbie Jackson is actually Condoleeza Rice rite

14. Janet Jackson - When I Think Of You (214 points, 8 votes, 1 1st Place Vote) from Control, 1986

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaleKN9GQ54

13. Michael Jackson - Off The Wall (235 points, 10 votes, 1 1st Place Vote) from Off The Wall, 1979

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S11eGmzM-4E

best michael track.

man. i voted "off the wall" but i should have voted it higher.

wow Stranger In Moscow.. always been a fave of mine.

12. Janet Jackson - That's The Way Love Goes (240 points, 9 votes) from janet., 1993

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S11eGmzM-4E

11. Michael Jackson - PYT (Pretty Young Thing) (240 points, 10 votes, 1 1st Place Vote) from Thriller, 1982

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rebkOM8RQDo

damn it, janet. sorry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUOkg4jFNus

oh shit.. its gettin heated

i really hoped #11 and #12 would have made it to the top 10

pyt really is just about the best thing EVER.

ok if PYT made it, Beat It obv is also gonna

expected more J5, not that my ballot helped with that

Awesomeness all around yet again today. Really shocked "Smooth Criminal" landed outside the top 10.

I guess this means I can stop holding out hope for the as-awesome-as-"Centipede"-in-my-opinion "Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming."

Is it heretical to claim Robert Palmer's cover of "Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming" is superior?

Nope.

It's just a great song, in either version. Same with "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On."

For a while the guy had impeccable pitch for electrosoul.

"that's the way love goes" was my top janet track. :( TOO LOW

Is it a coincidence that the vibraphone beat in "Empty" reminds me Peter Gabriel's "San Jacinto"?

I would like to thank this thread for making me listen to lots of Janet Jackson again, because sometimes I forget even though the "Miss You Much" cassingle was the first music thing I ever owned and I made my cousins all learn the "Rhythm Nation" dance

Glad to see "Centipede" (my #1) and "Stranger in Moscow" (my #6) made it so high. "Stranger in Moscow" was the last time I was really moved by a MJ song, I think it's just a brilliant slow tune without the theatrics that mar some of his other ballads. And "Centipede" is just a mindblowing, disturbing-in-its-sexiness/sexy-in-its-disturbedness beast of a tune. The off-kilter beat, the wtf lyrics, Rebbie's histrionic performance, they all meld together to push this one to the next level. Everyone should get a hold of the 12" extended version of "Centipede", by the way, it works even better than the shorter version.

ha, glad to see centipede and blame it on the boogie make the cut, didn't vote but very fond of those tunes

Never heard of "Centipede" before this poll! (In fact, I wasn't even aware that Rebbie made records.) Will check it out at the weekend.

didn't even know there WAS a Rebbie Jackson

― Artful Dodderer (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, February 23, 2012 6:33 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

^

prediction time!

Locks?:
I Want You Back
If
Beat It
Wanna Be Starting Something
Billie Jean
Miss You Much
Don't Stop Till You Get Enough

Guesswork:
Nasty
Human Nature
Together Again

???

At a point there I just started clutching at straws. The Jackson fam are so great that lol there could be a totally different 10 from them.

I think "Miss You Much" might have missed the poll at this point. "Rock With You" is a lock.

"Can You Feel It" hasn't appeared yet, that one must be in the top 10.

I'm hoping "Together Again" will place (it was the top Janet tune in my ballot), but I kinda fear it's too positive a song for ILM to love it.

I think it'll place, actually. I didn't vote for it, but "Together Again" is an ILX kinda tune.

I think Together Again was another song from TVR I dropped :( I just thought it was the other big Janet single for people to get behind other than like Black Cat or oh shit Twenty Fourplay why didn't I vote for that, I love 24P! I guess All For You maybe has a chance too?

I dunno, ILM usually doesn't love that kind of unabashedly sunny and cheerful tunes. I'll be happy to be proven wrong, though.

(x-post)

"Together Again" def won't be in the top 10, but it's not because of whatever dumbass theory you have about ILM being too negative to appreciate it, you dope

Together Again is about the death of a friend, not exactly unabashedly sunny and cheerful

I meant sonically, not lyrically.

4 from Thriller
2 from Off The Wall
3 by Janet
1 by Jackson 5

I'd love You Rock My World, but no way is it outpointing Smooth Criminal. Black or White has maybe a slightly better chance, but ditto really.

I thought Darling Dear would show, but maybe that's just me.

1 by The Jacksons, no way "Can You Feel It" isn't in the top 50.

so I agree with hoy hoy, just replace Nasty (which placed already) with Rock With You.

gospodin otm

oh my bad on Nasty

did a 50-11 get posted?

Can You Feel It VS Together Again?

i've never even heard of "can you feel it," it's not gonna be in the top 10. "centipede" was the last curveball.

pffft this poll is made for a curveball or four. like i wonder how many of you also voted for ilx-favourite busta ft. janet

lol as if

"Human Nature" is the one you had down as a maybe that's a lock btw

i've never even heard of "can you feel it," it's not gonna be in the top 10. "centipede" was the last curveball.

Er, what? Is this a joke? "Can You Feel It" is like the best-known The Jacksons tune there is (alongside "Blame It on the Boogie") + the classic video will probably help it get high points + Madonna stole the bassline for "Material Girl" + The Tamperer sampled it for "Feel It".

the only video i've ever seen from '80s Jacksons is "Torture"

it looks like it did WAY better on european charts than in the u.s., though, so that's probably where our disconnect is stemming from. still don't think it'll place.

The best known Jacksons song in the states is "Shake Your Body...," Tuomas.

Okay... But "Can You Feel It" really played a lot on MTV. My family didn't get MTV until 1990, and I still saw it there several times.

(xx-post)

you realize you didn't grow up with the same MTV as most of the rest of us, though, right

Hmm, okay, maybe there really is some kind of Europe/US disconnect here? MTV Europe certainly loved that tune.

"Can You Feel It" is like the best-known The Jacksons tune there is

Chart (1981) 	Peak position
Dutch Singles Chart 	2
UK Singles Chart 	6
US Billboard Hot 100 	77
US Billboard R&B 	30

(xpost)

Ummm Tuomas fyi Europe in itself has many seperate MTVs.

I think it's a draw between "Can You Feel It" and "Shake Your Body."

That's weird... I wonder why it was so much more popular in here than over there?

xpost I knew the former well before being exposed to the latter.

Ummm Tuomas fyi Europe in itself has many seperate MTVs.

Not until the late 90s, IIRC. Certainly not when I started watching it.

hell I hadn't heard "Lovely One" until two years ago.

In late seventies America the Jacksons weren't a major pop force; the success of Off The Wall eclipsed his bros' records.

oh shit yeah 1997... which is when i started paying attention to music and videos and whatever. Did they just show everything in English then or were there shows in Finnish shown in Greece etc. etc.?

Did they just show everything in English then or were there shows in Finnish shown in Greece etc. etc.?

It was just one English language MTV for the whole Europe. It was produced in Britain, though many of the hosts were from other countries.

I guess it was just vids+beavus and butthead/real word repeats at the time

10. Janet Jackson - Miss You Much (248 points, 10 votes) from Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, 1989

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVF0zcqr9Dg

9. The Jacksons - Can You Feel It (249 points, 11 votes, 1 1st Place Vote) from Triumph, 1980

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW1fXL3s7bk

hahahaha

also "Miss You Much" is SUCH A FUCKING JAM

lol I had typoed "HAM", I might start saying that now ("ooh watch out, that's my HAM")

lol

I nearly made this my number one, just awesome in so many ways.

after Michael died i started hearing "This Place Hotel" a lot but never "Can You Feel It," weird

'Can You Feel It', that is.

re: "Can You Feel It":

This video contains content from SME, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds.
Sorry about that.

;_;

so Together Again didn't make it and If is the highest placing Janet song, right?

RIP "Runaway", you continue to be underrated ;_;

Watch out for 'Janet in Super Bowl Boob Mishap' straight in at #3.

CYFI is dope and as a Europeaner it does seem odd people would know it. Seems like such a ubiquitus (sp?) song. Also I now need to go find a dictionary after finding out I'm not sure how to spell ubiquitus (sp?).

Also Tuomas the happy-sounding thing discouraging votes in this poll is crazy considering how many of these songs are just downright =) type jams.

would NOT know it, xpost to myself.

"ubiquitous"

Took me a few tries before I learned to spell that one right.

ty

Yeah, despite chart rankings, obv CYFI's stock in the Jackson canon has risen considerably.

Because it's killer, mostly.

i'm listening to it right now and...eh. might be more into it w/o the backing vocals singing the title over and over.

8. Janet Jackson - If (274 points, 10 votes, 2 1st Place Votes) from janet., 1993

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyciLWAv9BA

7. Michael Jackson - Beat It (337 points, 15 votes, 2 1st Place Votes) from Thriller, 1982

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0hZG-zNOk

pleased with this placement for "beat it," whatever to the placement for "if"

lol remember when someone predicted "beat it" would miss the top 50

wow @ 50+ point differential between #8 and #7

"If" is just the motherfucking greatest. My #1.

michael looks so sad when he sings "no one wants to be defeated" sitting on his bed in the beginning

i am obsessed with the "beat it" video

Damn, Janet's highest ranking is #8?!

(I was the other 1st place vote for "If," obv.)

not surprised tbh

Still, I can only think of one song that's going to place in the top 6 that's going to make me wish it was lower than "If."

Beat It was my no.1. Perfect record (like that distinguishes it in this poll).

they'll kick you and they beat you and they'll tell you it's fair, btw ;_;

so pissed i have no idea how to search for a gif of the guy who does the crazy head wobble dance move in the "beat it" vid

so many gifs needed from the "beat it" vid

http://boardreader.com/thread/You_know_that_guy_in_the_Beat_It_video_w_gkezX2cuc7v.html

6. Michael Jackson - Rock With You (370 points, 15 votes, 1 1st Place Vote) from Off The Wall, 1979

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X-Mrc2l1d0

5. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (384 points, 15 votes, 1 1st Place Vote) from Thriller, 1982

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi_XLOBDo_Y

seems ridic to complain about "rock with you" placing too low and yet

there should have been like a 10-way tie for #1

Damn, "Billie Jean" lower than "Human Nature"?

Fingers crossed "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" and "Wanna Be Startin' Something" are tied for 1st.

not only is "human nature" better than "billie jean," but i believe that's ilm orthodoxy at this point

it wasn't 5 months ago! THRILLER POLL

oh...lurkers.

i think i may have heard "billie jean" too many times at this point.

Fingers crossed "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" and "Wanna Be Startin' Something" are tied for 1st.

idg the love for "Wanna Be..." and never have. It's such a minor track in every way.

pshhhhhh

It's an 800-percale tapestry of hooks.

i voted for "billie jean" and everything, don't get me wrong. didn't vote for "wanna be startin' something" but that's only because the poll was impossible

I actually like the way this poll has turned out for the most part. Only gripes: Nasty too low, Stranger in Moscow way way too high (any placing would've been too high imo), and the weird praise Wanna Be... gets that vaults it way up lists like this. So, over all this poll rollout gets an A-.

Also, I haven't listened to The Velvet Rope a whole lot in the years since its release, so I'd forgotten about Empty. Great song! Thanks for reacquainting us, poll.

Only half my ballot is going to place, so...B+/could do better.

Only gripes: Nasty too low, Stranger in Moscow way way too high (any placing would've been too high imo), and the weird praise Wanna Be... gets that vaults it way up lists like this. So, over all this poll rollout gets an A-.

I mean, I am no fan of Motown-era Jacksons, but you don't hear me complaining about it.

... oh wait.

I think I need to memorise the style in these Michael videos and throw out all my clothes.

I voted all Janet, in part so I could hit the deadline, in part because I knew she'd be totally under-appreciated (true) and in part because I have become pretty sick of Michael after the past decade reading any sort of media at any time. But god damn if he didn't make some perfect records. I think I need to spend the rest of my life forgetting the horrible bullshit and just remembering the good times.

amazing how non-dated Billie Jean sounds even though it uses all sorts of quirky '80s production tricks and musical elements.

4. Michael Jackson - Human Nature (443 points, 16 votes, 3 1st Place Votes) from Thriller, 1982

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BlKDXmdiUQ

3. Michael Jackson - Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough (449 points, 16 votes, 3 1st Place Votes) from Off The Wall, 1979

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yURRmWtbTbo

oh shit i need to leave for work in ten minutes plz hurry! or dont, and i'll have a nice surprise in the morning.

1. Rockwell feat Michael Jackson - Somebody's Watching Me (5000 points, 48 votes 20 1st Place Votes)

wtf these results are crazy!

i mean that in a good way.

except Thats the way love goes >> If

i didn't vote for "don't stop til you get enough," which i can't really defend. it's definitely the mj song that most immediately and consistently makes me want to dance. one time i was at a bakery and it came on and i had to suppress dancey vibes. then a dude came in and immediately started to dance up and down the narrow space in front of the counter. that dude otm.

lol

"human nature" was my #2 and is very beautiful.

I can't believe "The Girl Is Mine" got #2, well done everyone

wtf how did that not make #1

2 = Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
1 = I Want You Back

Now, Dan, we're not going to fight about this, ok?

#2 Do The Bartman

you know what song I really, really like in spite of myself, is "They Don't Care About Us"

okay had a long day so without further ado...

1 & 2. Hold My Hand - Michael Jackson feat. Akon from some terrible fucking album except for that Yellow Magic Orchestra track which sort of rules actually, 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oCCnxBos10

hahaha

you know what song I really, really like in spite of myself, is "They Don't Care About Us"

― robbery by sudden snatching (DJP), Friday, February 24, 2012 4:42 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i almost voted for it, heard the non-"kick me kike me" edit a lot after MJ died and it grew on me

no lie, "They Don't Care About Us" was one of the most thrilling parts of "This Is It" (the other being "Earth Song")

i still need to see that!

seriously though i know this cover is actually hella old but this is great and also the video is wonderful - watch it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx2ZmhYHxH4

This is killing me.

C'mon mama say, mama saw, et al.

2. Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (455 points, 16 votes) from Thriller, 1982

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VaveOTQEZg

1. The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back (521 points, 17 votes, 3 1st Place Votes) from Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, 1969

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfJu_Bom2sA

SMH

the only predictable part of this poll

Thanks to everyone that voted!

I want you back wins any ts ever.

― horseshoe, Sunday, September 9, 2007 1:56 PM (4 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i want you back wins all polls

― horseshoe, Tuesday, March 16, 2010 8:07 PM (1 year ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i want you back is the greatest song of all time so

― horseshoe, Monday, June 13, 2011 2:24 PM (8 months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Best debut single by anyone, ever, in the history of everything.

thank you, Jamie_ATP!

ZERO #1 votes???????????????

My blind spot is the rest of y'alls deaf spot.

your deaf spot is my def spot

horseshoe otm, even though "Don't Stop" was my #1 and I Want You Back wasn't my top J5 song

I'm going to glass-half-full today's results and thank voters for recognizing Janet's best single.

thanks, Jamie! My favorite poll in months.

Awesome Jamie, thanks (except that Say Say Say didn't make it)

cool poll, deserved winner

thanks Jamie!
xp also bummed about no Say Say Say even though I forgot to vote for it

actually it's now striking me as amazing that "State of shock" placed but not "say say say" which is a better and more popular song

Perfect 1-2. Good job.

Make that perfect 1-2-3.

SMH

― dead-trius (Eric H.), Friday, February 24, 2012 9:58 PM (33 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

SMH AT U

horseshoe otm up there.

I can't really argue with the #1 - I mean it is one of the most perfect pop singles ever, but still, "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" shoulda won this. It's perfecter.

"Don't Stop" wasn't even my #1 though - I picked "Beat It", which was probably my favorite song in the world from age 8 to 10.

I prefer Don't Stop to Wanna Be but come on, I Want You Back is basically the perfect pop song.

I asked my coworker what the real appeal of Wanna Be... is, and she said "that's one of those songs where the singer catches the holy ghost in a way that can't be faked." I still don't get that from it, but I think I can see why people like it so much now.

Yr coworker is OTM

amazing, you know oddly i didn't think people thought THAT much of Wanna Be Startin.. so glad that they do. what a TUNE.

"Wanna Be Startin' Something" was my #2, and it's definitely my favourite MJ single of all time. Everything about is just perfect: the way it starts full-force (thus mirroring the chorus lyric), no intro or anything, with that ridiculously catchy bassline; the way the verses just repeat the same things over and over again, but the way Michael emotes them manages to give each line poignancy; the way the production and arranging on the tune is so impeccable, so aurally pleasing it practically shines; the oddball lyrical injections only MJ could pull of so convincingly ("you're a vegetable", wtf?); the mama-se mama-sa mama mako-ssa coda that (controversy ahoy!) he pulls off with more soul than Manu Dibango ever did in the original. I just love every second of this tune!

the mama-se mama-sa mama mako-ssa coda that (controversy ahoy!) he pulls off with more soul than Manu Dibango ever did in the original.

tbf, I don't feel like that part of the Manu Dibango song was supposed to be "soulful" in the first place aside from appearing in a song called "Soul Makossa," unless for some reason you think afropop + African folk chants are supposed to resemble U.S. soul music

I didn't mean to say it should sound like American soul, but I'm always surprised how flat the mama-se chant sounds in the original, especially compared to Dibango's very funky saxophone playing. I guess that may have been intentional, but I still prefer Michael's version of it.

the only tracks on my ballot that didn't make it were "The Love You Save," "Bad," and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (lol)

My ballot:

01. If, Janet Jackson
02. Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, Michael Jackson
03. Alright, Janet Jackson
04. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', Michael Jackson
05. Can You Feel It, The Jacksons
06. The Way You Make Me Feel, Michael Jackson
07. The Pleasure Principle, Janet Jackson
08. Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground), The Jacksons
09. What Have You Done For Me Lately, Janet Jackson
10. I Wanna Be Where You Are, Michael Jackson
11. Rhythm Nation, Janet Jackson
12. Too Good To Be True (Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming), Jermaine Jackson feat. Michael Jackson
13. Centipede, Rebbie Jackson
14. Got 'Til It's Gone, Janet Jackson
15. Dangerous, Michael Jackson
16. Stranger in Moscow, Michael Jackson
17. Human Nature, Michael Jackson
18. Funky Big Band, Janet Jackson
19. Get on the Floor, Michael Jackson
20. Empty, Janet Jackson

<3 for Wanna Be Starting Something. that song triggers an early childhood memory, at age 5 or so, me being in the car with my parents coming home from the local pizza place, hearing this song, and vibing to it even though I barely understood the concept of music yet.

My ballot:

1. Got Til Its Gone
2. Rope Burn
3. Miss You Much
4. If
5. When I Think Of You
6. Someone To Call My Lover
7. Every Time
8. Doesn't Really Matter
9. The Pleasure Principle
10. What's Its Gonna Be w/ Busta Rhymes
11. You
12. I Get Lonely
13. That's The Way Love Goes
14. This Time
15. Lets Wait A While
16. Alright
17. Black Cat
18. Velvet Rope
19. China Love
20. Go Deep

Thank you for this Jamie. This was one of the most fun polls we've had so far. We couldn't get the master list tho plz?

full ballot:
Michael Jackson - Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough
Jackson 5 - Dancing Machine
Michael Jackson - Rock With You
Jackson 5 - Never Can Say Goodbye
Jackson 5 - ABC
Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
Michael Jackson - Got To Be There
Jackson 5 - Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Jackson 5 - I'll Be There
Janet Jackson - Miss You Much
Michael Jackson - Human Nature
Jackson 5 - The Love You Save
Michael Jackson - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
The Jacksons featuring Mick Jagger - State of Shock
Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror
The Jacksons - Can You Feel It
Michael Jackson - Bad
Michael Jackson - Beat It

<3 all-Janet ballot

1. “I’ll Be There” – Jackson 5 (40)
2. “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” – Michael Jackson (36)
3. “I Want You Back” – Jackson 5 (33)
4. “When I Think of You” – Janet Jackson (30)
5. “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” – Michael Jackson (28)
6. “ABC” – Jackson 5 (26)
7. “Lisa, It’s Your Birthday” – Leon Kompowsky (Kipp Lennon) (25)
8. “Escapade” – Janet Jackson (24)
9. “Let’s Wait Awhile” – Janet Jackson (23)
10. “Human Nature” – Michael Jackson (22)

I feel as if there was an orchestrated effort, perhaps led by Eric H., to suppress the Leon Kowpowsky vote.

Jackson 5 - I want you back
Jackson 5 - Maybe tomorrow
The Jacksons - Show you the way to go
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Jackson 5 - Life of a party
Jackson 5 - Forever came today
Michael Jackson - Rock with you
Michael Jackson - Don't stop 'til you get enough
Jackson 5 - I am love
Jackson 5 - Never can say goodbye
Michael Jackson - Wanna be startin' somethin'
Janet Jackson - Empty
Jermaine Jackson and Pia Zadora - When the rain begins to fall
Rebbie Jackson - Centipede
Jackson 5 - Dancing machine
Janet Jackson - When I think of you
Jermaine Jackson - Let's get serious
The Jacksons - This place hotel
Janet Jackson - Escapade
The Jacksons - Can you feel it

1. Beat It
2. That's The Way Love Goes
3. I Want You Back
4. You Rock My World
5. Black Or White
6. Darling Dear
7. Smooth Criminal
8. They Don't Care About Us
9. Thriller
10. Bad

11. Billie Jean
12. I Just Can't Stop Loving You
13. Dirty Diana
14. Can You Feel It?
15. I'll Be There
16. The Way You Make Me Feel
17. Say Say Say
18. Blood On The Dancefloor
19. Blame It On The Boogie
20. Jam

1. Michael Jackson - Get on the Floor
2. Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Something
3. Janet Jackson - Control
4. The Jacksons - Can You Feel It
5. Rebbie Jackson - Centipede
6. Herb Alpert ft. Janet Jackson - Diamonds
7. Michael Jackson - Morphine
8. Michael Jackson - She's Out of My Life
9. The Jacksons - Torture
10. Janet Jackson - Escapade
11. Janet Jackson - Pleasure Principle
12. Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious
13. Michael Jackson - In the Closet
14. Michael Jackson - Beat It
15. Michael Jackson - I Can't Help It
16. The Jacksons - Heartbreak Hotel
17. Janet Jackson - Go Deep
18. Janet Jackson - Alright
19. Michael Jackson - Jam
20. Janet Jackson - If

I feel as if there was an orchestrated effort, perhaps led by Eric H., to suppress the Leon Kowpowsky vote.

Let the ballots -- and the first-place showing of "I Want You Back" -- speak for themselves.

Mostly singles:

1. Don't Stop Til You Get Enough
2. Can You Feel It - The Jacksons
3. I Want You Back - Jackson 5
4. Rock With You
5. Human Nature
6. When I Think Of You - Janet Jackson
7. Wanna Be Startin' Something
8. Let's Wait Awhile - Janet Jackson
9. The Girl is Mine
10. ABC - Jackson 5
11. Wanna Be Startin' Something
12. Billie Jean
13. What Have You Done For Me Lately? - Janet Jackson
14. Rhythm Nation - Janet Jackson
15. Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) - Jacksons
16. Stranger in Moscow
17. Off the Wall
18. Remember the Time
19. PYT (Pretty Young Thing)
20. What Have You Done For Me Lately - Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson - Nasty - 40
Michael Jackson - Beat It - 36
Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson - Scream - 33
Janet Jackson - If - 30
Michael Jackson - Rock With You - 28
The Jackson 5 - Who's Loving You - 26
Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious - 25
The Jacksons - Dreamer - 24
Rebbie Jackson - Centipede - 23
Janet Jackson - What Have You Done for Me Lately - 22
The Jackson 5 - Dancing Machine - 21
The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back - 20
Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal - 19
Michael Jackson - Human Nature - 18
Janet Jackson - All for You - 17
Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror - 16
Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do (Without You) - 15
The Jackson 5 - (You Were Made) Especially for Me - 14
The Jacksons - Blame It on the Boogie - 13
Jermaine Jackson - Let Me Tickle Your Fancy - 12

Might look different if compiling today (or tomorrow or any other day)

Ha, just noticed that 'What Have You Done For Me Lately?" features twice in my ballot!

FRAUD

The only ones of mine that didn't make it were "I Get Lonely" and "Runaway"

1. I Want You Back - Jackson 5
2. Human Nature - MJ
3. That's The Way Love Goes - Janet
4. The Pleasure Principle - Janet
5. Rock With You - MJ
6. Empty - Janet Jackson
7. Off the Wall - MJ
8. Man in the Mirror - MJ
9. Doesn't Really Matter - Janet
10. Beat It - MJ
11. Rhythm Nation - Janet
12. Miss You Much - Janet
13. Never Can Say Goodbye - Jackson 5
14. Alright - Janet Jackson
15. Billie Jean - MJ
16. Runaway - Janet
17. What have you done for me lately - Janet
18. Control - Janet
19. I Get Lonely - Janet
20. Stranger in Moscow - MJ

I'm disappointed "Morphine" didn't make this poll.

Janet Jackson - When I Think of You
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Michael Jackson - Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Janet Jackson - If
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Janet Jackson - Doesn't Really Matter
Michael Jackson - Jam
Michael Jackson - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
The Jackson 5 - ABC
Janet Jackson - Someone To Call My Lover
Michael Jackson - Butterflies
Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle
Michael Jackson - Baby Be Mine
The Jacksons - This Place Hotel (aka Heartbreak Hotel)
Michael Jackson - Leave Me Alone
Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson - Scream
Michael Jackson - Beat It
Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel
The Jackson 5 - It's Great To Be Here

1. Can You Feel It? - The Jacksons
2. I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
3. Who is It - Michael Jackson
4. If - Janet Jackson
5. Leave Me Alone - Michael Jackson
6. When I Think of You - Janet Jackson
7. Centipede - Rebbie Jackson
8. Walk Right Now - The Jacksons
9. Human Nature - Michael Jackson
10. The Pleasure Principle - Janet jackson
11. Morphine - Michael Jackson
12. Will You be There - Michael Jackson
13. Stranger in Moscow - Michael Jackson
14. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
15. P.Y.T. - Michael Jackson
16. Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson
17. Again - Janet Jackson
18. Got Til It's Gone - Janet Jackson
19. Let's Get Serious - Jermaine Jackson
20. Butterflies - Michael Jackson

ship! way to also vote for "butterflies"! so groovy

yeah it's kinda sad it hasn't gotten its due as one of MJ's last great songs like "Stranger In Moscow" has

1. michael - thriller
2. michael - human nature
3. michael - the way you make me feel
4. michael - smooth criminal
5. michael - billie jean
6. michael - beat it
7. michael - you rock my world
8. michael - man in the mirror
9. janet - miss you much
10. michael - one day in your life
11. michael - jam
12. the jacksons - can you feel it?
13. janet - escapade
14. janet - that's the way love goes
15. michael - don't stop til you get enough
16. janet - if
17. janet - alright (cj mackintosh & dave dorrell house mix)
18. rebbie - centipede
19. janet & herb alpert - diamonds
20. michael - wanna be startin somethin

disappointed 'you rock my world' didn't make it, mildly surprised 'diamonds' didn't.

oh and 'one day in your life' ;_;

My ballot:

1. Rebbie Jackson – Centipede
2. Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
3. Janet Jackson – Together Again
4. The Jacksons – Blame It on the Boogie
5. Janet Jackson – Control
6. Michael Jackson – Stranger in Moscow
7. The Jacksons – Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)
8. Michael Jackson – They Don’t Care About Us
9. Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation
10. Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough
11. The Jacksons – Walk Right Now
12. Janet Jackson – Got ‘til It’s Gone
13. Michael Jackson – Blood on the Dancefloor
14. La Toya Jackson – If You Feel the Funk
15. Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal
16. Michael Jackson – Black or White
17. Janet Jackson – What Have You Done for Me Lately?
18. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
19. The Jacksons – Can You Feel It
20. Michael Jackson – In the Closet

Did nobody else vote for my #2 and #3? Philistines!

Michael Jackson - Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
Michael Jackson - Ain’t No Sunshine
The Jackson 5 - Hum Along And Dance
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Starting Something
The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
Michael Jackson - Working Day And Night
Michael Jackson - Got To Be There
The Jackson 5 - Skywriter
Michael Jackson - We’ve Got A Good Thing Going
Michael Jackson - Off the Wall

The Jackson 5 - Doctor My Eyes
Michael Jackson - Rock With You
The Jackson 5 - Never Can Say Goodbye
Michael Jackson - Burn This Disco Out
Michael Jackson - People Make The World Go ‘Round
The Jackson 5 - Hallelujah Day
The Jackson 5 - I’ll Be There
The Jackson 5 - ABC
Michael Jackson ft. Patti Austin - It’s The Falling In Love
Michael Jackson - Rockin’ Robin

I don't think many people think of MJ when they think of Aint No Sunshine

True, but they should! It's a great arrangement and a truly stunning vocal.

How could I have not voted for "Forever Came Today"?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqOzPDB_L2g

that's one of my favorite J5 tracks, though it's a Supremes cover isn't it?

Yeah, but a most ebullient one.

I asked my coworker what the real appeal of Wanna Be... is, and she said "that's one of those songs where the singer catches the holy ghost in a way that can't be faked."

Thought about this comment today.