In November of 1982, Michael Jackson released his sixth studio album “Thriller,” arguably the greatest album ever of all time. This album broke multiple racial barriers on MTV, won a record-setting eight Grammys in one night (including Album Of the Year), and was the first album to generate seven Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits.
Beyond its success, Thriller transformed the music industry through its sound, blending multiple genres of music into one style and album that touched a vast global audience. Songs like “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “Thriller,” became classical and memorable hits, each followed by amazing music videos that changed the importance of storytelling in music. It’s crazy to think that Jackson was 24 when he made this album. In fact, all of his top albums came before he hit age 30.
“Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin”
As the first song on the album, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin” was an instant hit. I love how composed Jackson stayed while recording this, and the way he expresses himself while still having a happy tone throughout the song is just amazing. Jackson decided to write this song and put it first on the album because he wanted to let the world know about the huge amount of pressure he was getting from the media, as well as his family tensions and problems with his brothers. Jackson was still a part of the Jackson 5 when “Thriller” came out. Jackson had much greater talent than his four other brothers, and ongoing conflicts with his father, Joe Jackson, led Jackson to officially leave the Jackson 5 after their “Victory Tour” in 1984.
“Baby Be Mine”
In this song, Michael Jackson speaks about how he wants to fall in love with someone. He sings about giving all of his love to one person and being in paradise together. This song is one of my personal favorites on the album. I love this song specifically for the reason that if I can’t tell someone how I feel, music can explain what I’m trying to say in the right way. Most people can agree that “Baby Be Mine” is one of the more underrated gems on his album. The song originated from Ron Temperton, as Temperton wrote this song to have a romantic, up-tempo, and jazzy follow up to Jackson’s song “Rock with You,” which was Jackson’s second single, spending four weeks at number one on the Billboard hot 100.
“The Girl Is Mine” (Featuring Paul McCartney)
For being the only song on the album with a feature, it is fantastic. Hearing Paul McCartney without the Beatles feels weird, but Jackson and McCartney both speak very passionately and argue about a girl they both love. It’s incredible how both artists can go back and forth with each other while staying on beat, and not creating a harmful tone about the song. In fact, “The Girl Is Mine” was the first lead single off of “Thriller.” Jackson released the song a month ahead before the album’s release in November to build up anticipation, and it later peaked at number 2 on the billboard top 100.
“Thriller”
This is one of Jackson’s most acclaimed songs in music history. I have a very strong connection with this song. When I was a kid, this was the first music video I remember watching. My parents showed it to me and I instantly fell in love with it. My dad was my age when this album came out and he still loves this song to this day.
In 2025, “Thriller” returned to the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Jackson the only artist to have a song in the top 10 across six consecutive decades, which just goes to show how appreciated the song is. Besides “Billie Jean” being considered the most groundbreaking song on the album, “Thriller” earned Best Pop Vocal Performance, and the first music video to be added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. To this day, I would still consider “Thriller” a hit, and I can’t go on the radio, or spend my Halloween without hearing this song.I hope future generations can enjoy this song just like past generations have done.
“Beat it”
Jackson’s 5th song on “Thriller” is one of his most popular songs on the album. I don’t really like this song, and don’t have much to say about it. This was the second song I listened too, and I just wasn’t feeling Jackson’s vocals with the beats and tone of the song. In 1984 when “Thriller” earned Best Pop Vocal Performance, “Beat It” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and won two Grammy Awards (Record of the Year, and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance).
¨Billie Jean¨
In my opinion, this track lacks excitement. I have tried to listen to this song multiple times and I just don’t like it as much as I used to. Every time I go on social media, I hear it, and I hear people constantly overplaying it. A positive outcome of the song was that it won two Grammys, and propelled “Thriller” to best-selling status. “Billie Jean” also introduced a number of Jackson’s signatures, including his rhinestone glove, his black, sequined jacket, high-water pants, and his famous “moonwalk” dance, which he first performed during the television special “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever “on May 16, 1983, which later helped the song win Best R&B Song and Best R&B Male Vocal Performance. This song is most people’s favorite of Jackson’s catalog, and even if you are a new fan of Michael Jackson, I recommend you listen to “Billie Jean.”
¨Human Nature¨
Jackson goes into this song singing about yearning for freedom, expressing his true feelings which a lot of people can relate to. This song captures a sense of loneliness and a desire to escape the pedestal of fame so he can connect with someone, and he highlights the contradictions of human emotions. “Human Nature” is another one of my favorites. Jackson has made so many songs that are relatable and create such an easy way to understand where he is coming from.
“Human Nature” was actually written by Steve Porcaro of the band ¨Toto,” rather than Jackson himself. It was inspired by a real life event where Porcaro comforted his young daughter after she was bullied at school, telling her that the boy’s actions, while being hurtful, were just “human nature,” which is a key reason I love this song. Porcaro and Jackson wrote this masterpiece with the meaning that no matter where you’re coming from, every one has failings.
¨P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)¨
¨Pretty Young Thing¨ has similar beats and vocals as ¨Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin¨, but this song is an even better listen. I always want to just get up and dance whenever this song comes on. Even if I’m feeling down, ¨Pretty Young Thing¨ always gets me out of that funk. Jackson wrote this song to even out the calmness with craziness in between songs. Jackson’s producer Quincy Jones requested a fun, dance-orientated song based on a title by a piece of clothing his wife had brought home. This song makes up for the lack of excitement that ¨Billie Jean¨ had. ¨Pretty Young Thing¨ peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 4x Platinum certification. As the sixth consecutive Top 10 hit from “Thriller,” it helped cement the album’s record breaking legacy, and was even later used as a sample in “Good Life” on Kanye West’s album ¨Graduation,¨ released on September 11th 2007.
¨The Lady in My Life¨
The final song on the album is not a great way to end such a classic album. I feel like this song was trying to be a slower version of “Baby Be Mine.” Despite not being released as a single, or having a music video, it achieved gold certification by the RIAA in 2022 and is widely considered a fan-favorite, soulful hidden gem. Maybe I have to listen to the song more to like it, but my feelings about “The Lady in My Life” are going to stay the same for now.
Overall I give this album a 9.8/10. The fact that Michael Jackson was 24 when he made this album is just astonishing. I’m happy that Jackson can have all of these feelings that he can express without having to deal with family or other issues. It reflects a level of independence and emotional expression that allowed him to connect with listeners, giving his fans music they could relate to on a personal level. Even though he is no longer here, his impact on the world through his album has been profound, and what makes “Thriller” so special is its timelessness. Older generations still love it, and new generations will continue to appreciate it for years to come, making it a true masterpiece in his legendary career.
Check out the album on Spotify, Apple Music, or any other streaming website.
