Few albums can claim to be good at what they represent, whether in their genre or the current music scene. Michael Jackson’s Thriller (1982) was not only great sonically, but some say it revolutionized the music industry and the genre as a whole, becoming a cultural phenomenon. It was the best-selling album of all time, changing pop music, music videos, and even live performances as we see them today.
I personally haven’t ever listened to this album in its entirety, but of course, I have heard songs like “Thriller” and “Beat It”. But my first ever full listen was definitely an interesting one.
The album’s opener, “Wanna Be Starting Something,” is a very high-energy, attention-grabbing song with a very catchy chorus. However, I felt it dragged on a bit due to its 6-minute length and the repetition of the chorus. His powerful vocal performance definitely set the tone for the album.
“Baby Be Mine” is so smooth with the jazzy groove to it and is definitely a step up from the opener. The vocals on this song are just like how I described the beat, being very smooth yet powerful. I’ve never heard this song before, but it was definitely one of the highlights for me on this album
“The Girl is Mine” differs a lot from the previous songs, being an almost love ballad, a slow song that has powerful backup vocals and calming instrumentation. I also found that Paul McCartney helped with production on this track, and I can definitely see his influence on the song.
Of course, “Thriller,” the most famous track on the album, is an absolute banger and, with Halloween coming in swing, will definitely find its way back in the rotation. This is the only song where I paused it to go listen to and watch the music video instead, with the great choreography helping push pop culture on its own. Also, “Beat It” is such a punchy song and energetic, especially with Eddie Van Halen’s guitar solo, which to me is my favorite part of the whole album. “Billie Jean” is one of Jackson’s most famous songs, with one of the best basslines on the album, and just such a great track to add on top of a loaded tracklist.
Beyond the hit singles, the album also has songs like “PYT,” keeping the album fun and being just a danceable anthem. The final track, “The Lady of My Life,” ends the album smoothly, but for me, it doesn’t really stand out a lot compared to the action-packed tracklist.
My favorite part about Thriller is just how many hits it has, and no matter how much I listen to it, it’s just one of those albums that doesn’t get old for me, and also the general public still being regarded as one of the best albums of all time 40 years later. The mixing of genres can appeal to everyone, with Michael Jackson’s creativity showing on every track.
In conclusion, Thriller isn’t just an album but a milestone in music history. With the combination of Jazz, pop, and rock, with a creative flow to the record. The songs and music videos with record-breaking singles and sales changed the way we view music. Even today, it remains a timeless project that reminds us why Michael Jackson was the king of pop, despite the questionable personal reputation Jackson has.