He Caused a Scene: When MTV Was Michael TV

My favorite was "Off the Wall" although I do think that Thriller was an amazing album. And one of my favorite memories was the "We are the World" video. I included that video on my post about the Michael Jackson that I'll remember: http://connectwithyourteens.blogspot.com/2009/06/michael-jackson-ill-remember-early.html

I concur; Jackson's Billie Jean is to music video what Marilyn was to pinup. He set the standard, and few have come close to matching that brilliance.

[...] One may never be quite sure about the man, but the talent - the talent was something amazing. Time’s Poniewozik with the observation of Michael Jackson who made MTV what it was; he also embedded to a fascinating cover of Billie Jean. Tucker also has a [...]

[...] He Caused a Scene: When MTV was Michael TV [...]

@JP Can't argue with you "Thriller". "Billie Jean" is still my favorite single off that album (most others feel dated). As for his albums I have to agree with Jen..."Off the Wall" is a great album (yes better than "Thriller") that still holds up well 30 years later. Every time I hear the opening notes of "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" I want to put on a Ligthning Bolt shirt, a pair of roller skates, and get ready for the DJ at Sunshine Skateway to announce "All Skate! All Skate! Everybody Skates!"

Who doesn't get a smile on their face and want to get up and dance when you hear songs like "PYT", "Rock With You", "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough"etc. Interesting that with so many pronounced memories of the darker songs - Thriller, Billie Jean etc. that he did have the upbeat, light music too. I loved my "Off The Wall" album!

Crystal clear I remember watching the Motown 25th special and seeing the moonwalk.

As one of the whitest people on earth, who was all of three when it came out, before the opinionating power of MTV... even I have to admit that "Off the Wall" is a fantastic album and the high point of his career.
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And I too would have to vote for Billie Jean for best video, solely because of the music to video ratio. A summer cold had me up in the wee hours of the night this morning watching MTV/VH1, and I had forgotten just how absurd the spectacle got on his later videos. I actually checked my clock while watching Remember the Time - the video is over twice the length of the actual song!

While I also love the Billie Jean video, one of my all-time favorite MJ videos was "Remember the Time".

But I loved them all. When MJ went, he took "Another Part of Me" with him.

Talking about Thriller, I think I watched the "Making Of..." segment more often than the actual music video, because it showed the real Michael Jackson talking, rehearsing, goofing around, etc., instead of just the boyfriend-turned-monster-turned-zombie character (I had a copy of the whole thing on Betamax videotape, because MTV didn't yet exist in Indonesia back in the mid-80s . When I moved to the U.S. in 1985, just imagine how glued I was to MTV!

But the quintessential MJ video for me is "Beat It"... and most of his videos afterward that involve group choreography (with Michael front-and-center, of course!). They are brilliant feasts for the eyes.

My favorite tunes are mostly from his Jackson 5 days up to Thriller, then just a few of his post-1985 stuff (Black or White, The Way You Make Me Feel). His music was so personal to me and I'm heartbroken over his death, but his music will always bring me joy, especially this one: http://bit.ly/D0oRZ (at the bottom of the written piece). Let's boogie!