5. "Everything She Wants"
"Everything She Wants" has everything you could want in a pop hit. It’s dramatic, well-sung, and oddly danceable. The song’s beat sounds like funk music from another planet as if Klingons produced Michael Jackson’s "Thriller." In some ways, the infectious rhythm might mask the dark lyrics, which are about someone questioning their commitment to their lover.
In that way, "Everything She Wants" typifies dark 1980s dance music. That era gave us songs made for the club that had unsettling lyrics, like "Billie Jean" or "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)." While those hits are still radio staples, “Everything She Wants” deserves to get more airplay.
4. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"
"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" is an incredibly upbeat-sounding song. If it catches you in the right mood, it could be a pick-me-up. If it catches you in the wrong mood, it can be incredibly grating.
Regardless, "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" has a melody that is impossible to forget. Ariana Grande’s hit "Bang Bang" has a chorus that sounds quite similar to part of "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," so clearly the latter song was influential.
3. "One More Try"
Michael had an absolutely captivating voice. While he made some great dance songs, his vocals really shined on ballads. Michael really showed off his prowess as a singer with "One More Try."
In addition, the instrumentation of "One More Try" is almost otherworldly. It sounds like the score of a sci-fi film combined with the music you’d hear during a Latin Mass. "One More Try" is a great example of how the 1980s were a wonderful time for power ballads.
2. "Careless Whisper"
"Careless Whisper" is ubiquitous. Rather, a few seconds of it is ubiquitous. The saxophone riff from the song has become known as "sexy sax" online and gets used in many comedic videos.
"Careless Whisper" has become a meme song. Many meme songs aren’t considered great songs, however, "Careless Whisper" is actually a top-tier 1980s pop. It combines Shakespearean themes of lust, regret, and sadness into a top 40-friendly package.
1. "Faith"
Many superb songs from Leonard Cohen’s "Hallelujah" to Elvis Presley’s "Burning Love" compare love to a religious experience. "Faith" was Michael’s stab at the same subject.
It’s got an energetic beat reminiscent of early rock ‘n’ roll. The song spoke to multiple generations when a cover by Limp Bizkit started getting radio play in the late 1990s. "Faith" works just as well as a pop song as it does as a rap-rock song, which shows how great it is.
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