The new Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, is scheduled to hit theaters on April 24. Starring Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, as the titular lead, Michael will spotlight Jackson’s rise to stardom and will feature 13 songs from his impressive career. It’ll feature some of the classics we all know and love, like “Billie Jean” and “Bad,” in addition to songs from his time in the Jackson Five, like “Who’s Loving You” and “I’ll Be There.” In anticipation of the film’s musical soundtrack, here are my top 5 favorite severely underrated songs by the King of Pop. These songs won’t be featured in the movie, yet they will always stand out to me for their strong lyricism, emotion, and groove.
- “We’ve Had Enough”
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Originally written in 1999, yet released in November 2004, “We’ve Had Enough” was released about a year after the Iraq War began. It was initially titled “Stop the War,” with some of the opening lines being: “She innocently questioned why / Why her father had to die / She asked the men in blue / How is it that you get to choose / Who will live and who will die?” Its powerful critique of the brutality and hypocrisy of war remains ever relevant today, especially as a majority of Americans condemn the U.S. war on Iran today.
That being said, this song is also notoriously unavailable on popular streaming platforms like Spotify. With profound lyrics and an awesome guitar, “We’ve Had Enough” is a timeless classic that I wish were more well-known.
@michaeljacksonVEVO via YouTube - “(I Like) The Way You Love Me”
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Similarly unavailable on many popular streaming platforms, this song was originally slated for the tracklist of Invincible and ultimately didn’t make the final cut. The opening features an audio of Jackson describing the song’s tempo to composer Brad Buxer before a gentle piano melody takes over. My favorite aspect of this song is the sweetness of the lyrics, particularly the following lines from the chorus: “I like the way how you’re loving me / (It doesn’t matter how you are loving me).”
@michaeljacksonVEVO via YouTube - “On the Line”
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I fell instantly in love with this song the first time I listened to it. It was originally written in 1997 for the Spike Lee film Get on the Bus, but ultimately did not make the final movie soundtrack. I truly can’t imagine why, as the song is a powerful call to action for all listeners to “put their heart on the line.” This song is hopeful, above all else, a motivating melody that urges the audience to try to be the best version of themselves they can be.
@Sven Nelson via YouTube - “Another Part of Me”
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Released in 1988 on the famous Bad album, this song was originally produced for the movie Captain EO, which was shown in Disney theme parks up until 2015. The result was an endlessly catchy song (with actually insane synths) focused on promoting global unity and kindness, with lines like “The planets are linin’ up, bringin’ brighter days / They’re all in line waitin’ for you, can’t you see?”
@Michael Jackson – Topic via YouTube - “Baby Be Mine”
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Originally featured on Jackson’s Thriller album, this song was written as a sequel to the hit “Rock with You.” It was recorded in 1982 and seamlessly crosses into disco, pop, and jazz all at once. While not as popular as some of his other ballads like “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” and “You Rock My World,” “Baby Me Mine” remains a fun love song that will always get me on the dance floor.
@michaeljacksonVEVO via YouTube
Jackson was crowned the King of Pop for a reason, and these songs serve as reminders of why. Jackson’s experimentation with sound and politically aware lyricism not only make for a groovy listen, but also remind us of the impact of music in general. Jackson famously said, “To live is to be musical, starting with the blood dancing in your veins. Everything living has a rhythm. Do you feel your music?”
As we wait for the release of Michael on April 24, let this article be your sign to embrace the music and rhythm of your life, however that may look for you!