Ten Strikes: In Memorandum, Michael Jackson

In spite of what you may have thought about Michael Jackson, and in spite of what his personal life entailed, there's no denying that he was king when it came to music, dance, and all out entertainment. Michael Jackson was a man many generations grew up with. Whether you were there during Jackson Five's days, or there during his Smooth Criminal years, Michael Jackson was a dominant force of nature in the history of pop music. I grew up to his music and odds are many of you did, too. Gone much too soon, here is our top ten favorite Michael Jackson songs of all time. Good night Mr. Jackson.

10. I'll be There

This Motown ballad was a great hit with Jackson leading the record with his brothers as they sang to a girl who'd found another lover. Here they say goodbye to her and wish her well in spite of the broken heart they endure. "I'll Be There" had a considerable impact as one of the best from the Jackson Five and was covered by Mariah Carey in the early nineties to great success and reintroduced us to the classic by the young Motown lads.

9. Smooth Criminal

Michael Jackson was like Elvis to those who grew up in the eighties and nineties and in no video is it proven more than "Smooth Criminal." Though nonsensical and weird in the context of his movie "Moonwalker," Jackson is the larger than life presence who is warped in to a nineteen twenties night club where he and gangsters perform the slick "Smooth Criminal." It's a dazzling video that's demonstrative of Jackson's dancing skills and it's a great pad to the run time of the unreal movie starring Jackson as a magical man who is pulled in to a world of fantasy with three children.

8. I Want you Back

Where as "I'll be there" was a ballad that declared the heartbroken brothers saying goodbye to a love, "I Want you Back" is where they get down on their knees begging their girl to come back to them declaring they made a mistake in letting their girl go so early and want a second try. As we learned, sometimes there's no such thing as a second chance.

7. Beat It

Very reminiscent of "West Side Story" two warring gangs go at it in alleyways and abandoned warehouses while Jackson emerges from his home to play peacekeeper unable to decide his loyalty. Through the magic of his peace making both major groups manage to dance along and unite in a hail of Jackson's raucous lyrics. This is then driven home by the amazing guitar work of Eddie Van Halen who is given a great solo midway. It's one of the best videos Jackson ever starred in.

6. ABC

Very similar to "I Want you Back" this 1970 hit knocked "Let it Be" off the charts with simplistic storytelling about that one girl who the boys are trying to get the attention of. ABC is as simple as One Two Three and the boys expose us to the feeling of love and how easy it can be to fall for someone in your life. It's not a hit that should be taken lightly as it's been sampled, covered, and used by many pop culture facets including the likes of Kevin Smith whose recent critical hit "Clerks 2" featured a musical number with "ABC" blasting through a dance montage.