From The Jackson 5 to 'Thriller' and beyond.
In a career that spanned almost all 50 years of his life, Michael Jackson became a mainstay on the Billboard charts. It was his dominance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100, however, that entered him into the record books: As a solo artist, 13 of his singles went to No. 1 – the most by a male artist – and an additional four songs by the Jackson 5 also topped the chart.
He first saw success as part of the family band the Jackson 5, who notched massive hits for Motown right off the bat. Michael was earning solo hits even before parting ways with the group, although chart hits from the Jackson 5 and the Jacksons are well represented here on this list of his biggest hits.
Although 1979’s Quincy Jones-produced Off the Wall was his fifth album, it was there that Michael Jackson the adult artist began to take shape and he began to take those first few bolds steps toward claiming the King of Pop crown. The follow-up, 1982’s Thriller, became one of the best-selling albums of all time and spent an astonishing 37 weeks atop the Billboard 200; its seven singles all reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, with two Thriller classics topping the chart. Success continued throughout the ’90s, and while his chart power had waned at the time of his death at age 50 in 2009, he remains one of the biggest artists in music history.
This ranking is based on weekly performance on the Hot 100 (from its inception on Aug. 4, 1958, through April 16, 2022). Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at lower spots earning the least. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted differently to account for chart turnover rates during various periods. Songs are ranked based on a formula blending performance, as outlined above.
"Lookin' Through The Windows" The Jackson 5
Hot 100 Peak Position: 16
Peak Date: August 26, 1972
Weeks On Chart: 10
Jackson's Billboard chart history began with a streak of extraordinary success, as the Jackson 5's first 20 entries on what's now known as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs all reached the top 10. This song marked the 10th top 10 in-a-row for the act on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, reaching No. 5 in 1972. On the Billboard Hot 100, the track peaked at No. 16. The title cut from the group's fifth studio album illustrated the maturation of Michael, then 13, from boy soprano to the tenor who would subsequently reign as the King of Pop."Torture" The Jacksons
Hot 100 Peak Position: 28
Peak Date: October 6, 1973
Weeks On Chart: 13
The Jacksons' 1984 Victory album spawned multiple hits, including this funky rock number, which peaked at No. 17 on the Hot 100. While it was the second single from Victory, it yielded the first music video produced for the album. Ironically, though Michael and Jermaine Jackson share lead on the song, neither appears in the clip, which was choreographed by Paula Abdul."Get It Together" The Jackson 5
Hot 100 Peak Position: 28
Peak Date: October 6, 1973
Weeks On Chart: 13In 1973, Michael and his brothers weren't begging girls to stick around just yet. In fact, the Jackson 5's funk-flavored pop single "Get It Together" featured sweet vocals delivering a not-so-sweet message: "Get up off your high horse, girl." The band wasn't messing around in its lyrics or on the charts. Although the song peaked at No. 28 on the Hot 100, it was a No. 2 smash for the group on Billboard's R&B songs chart.
"You Rock My World" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 10
Peak Date: September 22, 2001
Weeks On Chart: 20The lead single from Jackson’s 2001 studio album Invincible peaked at No. 10 on the Hot 100. Co-produced by Jackson and Rodney Jerkins, the song was ushered in by an unsurprisingly lavish music video directed by Paul Hunter. The clip features Chris Tucker as Jackson’s comic foil, along with turns from Michael Madsen and Marlon Brando.
(Video) Michael Jackson’s 50 Top Songs on the Billboard Hot 100"Heartbreak Hotel" The Jacksons
Hot 100 Peak Position: 22
Peak Date: February 14, 1981
Weeks On Chart: 16"Heartbreak Hotel" was released June 17, 1980, and was the second single off the Jacksons' Triumph album. It peaked at No. 22 on the Hot 100. "One time Michael called me into a Hollywood studio to play a solo on a song that turned out to be 'Heartbreak Hotel,' " says Paul Jackson Jr., his longtime guitarist. "I asked him what kind of solo he wanted. The solo I played on the record is what he sang to me note for note."
"Corner Of The Sky" The Jackson 5
Hot 100 Peak Position: 18
Peak Date: December 16, 1972
Weeks On Chart: 12The Jackson 5 lent its soulful pop to the 1970s musical Pippin in the form of the track "Corner of the Sky." In line with the musical's plot, "Corner" is about seeking out happiness in life ("But I won't rest/ 'Til I know I have it all"). The song, which also appeared on the Jackson 5's 1973 album Skywriter, hit No. 18 on the Hot 100 and No. 9 on Billboard's R&B songs chart.
"Little Bitty Pretty One" The Jackson 5
Hot 100 Peak Position: 13
Peak Date: May 27, 1972
Weeks On Chart: 9Few songs show off artists' vocal chops as well as this one, and the Jackson 5 reinforced their timeless family harmonies on this well-loved doo-wop classic. Thurston Harris introduced the song to pop audiences in 1957 and it has since been recorded by a wide range of acts, including the Allman Brothers, Huey Lewis & the News and Aaron Carter. The Jackson 5's version reached No. 8 on the R&B songs chart and No. 13 on the Hot 100 in 1972.
"I Want To Be Where You Are" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 16
Peak Date: July 15, 1972
Weeks On Chart: 11"I Want to Be Where You Are" was released May 2, 1972, and appears on the album Got to Be There. It was Jackson's third consecutive top 40 pop hit in the beginning of his solo career with Motown. The single peaked at No. 16 on the Hot 100 and would become one of Jackson's most covered songs, with Marvin Gaye, the Fugees and Jason Weaver also recording their own renditions.
"Butterflies" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 14
Peak Date: January 26, 2002
Weeks On Chart: 20In what remains his last studio album, Invincible in 2001 served as the long-awaited follow-up to 1991's Dangerous. The former set featured three neo-soul-styled tracks, including "Butterflies." With the help of British duo Floetry on backing vocals, the single peaked at No. 14 on the Hot 100.
"I Am Love (Parts I & II)" The Jackson 5
Hot 100 Peak Position: 15
Peak Date: March 22, 1975
Weeks On Chart: 141975's "I Am Love" by the Jackson 5 was part soulful ballad (led by Jermaine) and part Michael-fronted, danceable funk/rock. But no matter the musical style, the message was the same: the brothers weren't letting their loves get away. The song was the Jackson 5's last top 20 hit with Motown, reaching No. 15 on the Hot 100 in 1975. It also went to No. 5 on Billboard's R&B songs chart.
"Lovely One" The Jacksons
Hot 100 Peak Position: 12
Peak Date: November 15, 1980
Weeks On Chart: 18Once the Jackson 5 grew up and parted ways with Motown, they became the Jacksons — and they knew all about the growing pains that come with young romance. The 1980 funk song "Lovely One" sees Michael, backed by brothers Jackie, Tito, Randy and Marlon, confronting a skeptical lover and trying to prove his dedication. The track peaked at No. 12 on the Hot 100 but hit No. 2 on Billboard's R&B songs chart and No. 1 on the Dance Club Songs chart.
"Another Part Of Me" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 11
Peak Date: September 10, 1988
Weeks On Chart: 13Released as the sixth single from Jackson’s Bad album in summer 1988, the synthy uptempo hit was actually first heard nearly two years earlier, in the most unlikely of places. On Sept. 12, 1986, visitors at the Epcot theme park at the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, Fla. got the first public taste of the song, one of two new compositions recorded for Jackson’s star turn in the 3D film Captain EO, which premiered that day in the park. The song ultimately reached No. 11 on the Hot 100. By 1998, all of the Captain EO attractions had ended their runs at the assorted Disney Parks throughout the world. The company was moved, however, to return the show to its parks in 2010, starting with Disneyland’s version.
"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 10
Peak Date: November 26, 1983
Weeks On Chart: 16"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" was released Sept. 19, 1983, as the sixth single from the Thriller album and features Janet Jackson and LaToya Jackson on backup vocals. The single peaked at No. 10 on the Hot 100, becoming the sixth consecutive top 10 song from the album. "P.Y.T." has been sampled by many artists, including Monica on "All Eyez on Me" and Kanye West on "Good Life."
"Sugar Daddy" The Jackson 5
Hot 100 Peak Position: 10
Peak Date: January 22, 1972
Weeks On Chart: 10Written and produced by The Corporation, a Motown collective assembled specifically for cranking out Jackson hits, "Sugar Daddy" peaked at No. 3 on Billboard's R&B songs chart. Older brothers Tito and Jermaine backed up Michael on the poppy, organ-filled ditty, which featured multiple food-related entendres ("I've got your lollipop / Well, my flavor's long lastin', girl"). It was included as a new track on the group's 1971 Greatest Hits album.
"In The Closet" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 6
Peak Date: May 30, 1992
Weeks On Chart: 20When the public first got a listen of "In the Closet" on Jackson's 1991 Dangerous album, people immediately began to wonder who his female duet partner was on the song. She was billed only as "Mystery Girl" in the set's liner notes and some began to assume — perhaps because of her whispery, come-hither vibe — that it was Madonna. As it turns out, the mysterious woman was revealed to be, of all people, Princess Stephanie of Monaco. But folks weren't far off in their theories: "In the Closet" was initially conceived as a collaboration between the King and Queen of Pop. The pair, however, couldn't come to an agreement on the song's direction and the singers parted ways.
"Off The Wall" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 10
Peak Date: April 12, 1980
Weeks On Chart: 17When the title track to his fifth studio album debuted on the Hot 100 dated Feb. 16, 1980, Jackson was following up back-to-back No. 1s for the first time in his solo career. The single could not match the success of the album's previous singles, but managed to land the album's third top 10 peak, reaching No. 10 in April 1980.
"She's Out Of My Life" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 10
Peak Date: June 21, 1980
Weeks On Chart: 16Quincy Jones used simple instrumentation to produce this ballad from Off the Wall. Over the lyrics "I don't know whether to laugh or cry / I don't know whether to live or die," the song's tempo sounds nearly at a stand-still compared to his best-known dance jams. (Jackson is even heard crying at song's end). The cut peaked at No. 10 on the Hot 100 in 1980.
(Video) MichaelJackson Greatest Hits 2022 - TOP 100 Songs of the Weeks 2022"Scream/Childhood" Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 5
Peak Date: June 17, 1995
Weeks On Chart: 17The double A-side single was released as the lead off Jackson’s 1995 set, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. “Scream” was his first duet with sister Janet Jackson; the song is an effort to retaliate against the media’s obsession with his personal life and it resulted in a memorable video directed by Mark Romanek. “Childhood” was solely written and composed by Michael. The single peaked at No. 5 on the Hot 100.
"Will You Be There" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 7
Peak Date: September 11, 1993
Weeks On Chart: 20This gospel-tinged track became the seventh song to reach the Hot 100's top 40 from Jackson's Dangerous album, peaking at No. 7 in 1993. The song was truly a whale of a hit: doubling as the theme to the film Free Willy, it won the MTV Movie Award for Best Song in a Movie in 1994. American Idol season nine finalist Michael Lynche introduced the song to a new generation with his faithful rendition.
"Human Nature" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 7
Peak Date: September 17, 1983
Weeks On Chart: 14As one of seven consecutive Hot 100 top 10s from Jackson's Thriller album, "Human Nature" was the mellowest. It also spent the least amount of time on the chart of the set's seven singles (14 weeks), peaking at No. 7. Female R&B trio SWV carried elements of the song to No. 2 in 1993 with its "Right Here"/"Human Nature" mash-up sampling Jackson's original recording.
"Smooth Criminal" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 7
Peak Date: January 14, 1989
Weeks On Chart: 15"Smooth Criminal," like "Thriller," is one of Michael Jackson's songs whose memory in the public's collective consciousness is intrinsically tied to its music video. With "Smooth Criminal," Jackson further lifted the art of music videos, serving as the centerpiece of his theatrical film Moonwalker, co-starring Joe Pesci. "Smooth Criminal" was the seventh and final single from Jackson's Bad album, peaking at No. 7 on the Hot 100 in January 1989.
"Mama's Pearl" The Jackson 5
Hot 100 Peak Position: 2
Peak Date: February 27, 1971
Weeks On Chart: 10"Mama's Pearl" features pretty mature lyrics for the young Michael: "You send cold chills up and down my spine / We kiss for thrills, then you draw the line," he belts over classic Motown string arrangements and plucky piano. Peaking at No. 2 on both the Hot 100 and Billboard's R&B songs charts in 1971, the song was the second single from the group's Third Album.
"Enjoy Yourself" The Jacksons
Hot 100 Peak Position: 6
Peak Date: February 19, 1977
Weeks On Chart: 21The Jacksons' first single after their departure from Motown and subsequent name change from the Jackson 5, 1976's "Enjoy Yourself" featured jazzy, cheery horns and a funky guitar lick. Imploring the listener to "enjoy yourself with me," the voice of the then 18-year-old Michael bridged the gap between his cutesy pre-adolescent falsetto and his more mature adult tone. Audiences apparently enjoyed the track — it hit No. 6 on the Hot 100 and No. 2 on Billboard's R&B songs chart.
"Thriller" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 4
Peak Date: March 3, 1984
Weeks On Chart: 14“Thriller” was one of seven top 10 singles from the groundbreaking album of the same name, which leads with 33-times Platinum status, according to the RIAA, ahead of the Eagles’ Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (29-times Platinum). Written by Rod Temperton and featuring Vincent Price’s iconic cameo, Jackson’s zombie fest peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100. “After Off the Wall,” producer Quincy Jones recalls, “we were kicking booty and fearless; ready to do anything. It was a very exciting time.”
"Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" The Jacksons
Hot 100 Peak Position: 7
Peak Date: May 19, 1979
Weeks On Chart: 22In one of the most familiar hooks in dance music history, Michael Jackson implores listeners, "Let's dance / Let's shout / Shake your body down to the ground." The track was produced, written, and performed by the talented brothers and ended up being their biggest dance record ever. The song was a mainstream success and charted at No. 3 on Billboard's R&B songs chart, and No. 7 on the Hot 100.
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 5
Peak Date: July 16, 1983
Weeks On Chart: 15To say that 1983 was the year of Michael Jackson would be a gross understatement. Between January and December, he charted seven Hot 100 top 10 hits, six from Thriller. This single was the fourth released from the set and peaked at No. 5 on the Hot 100. The song returned to the chart in 2008 after Jackson reissued Thriller in an expanded 25th anniversary form, with a remix of this song by Akon. The redux peaked at No. 81.
"Remember The Time" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 3
Peak Date: March 7, 1992
Weeks On Chart: 20Partnered with producer Teddy Riley, Jackson’s eighth studio album Dangerous in 1991 marked the singer’s leap into New Jack Swing. This single peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 in March 1992. Its video premiered not just on cable (BET and MTV), but the Fox network, as well. The star-studded clip includes appearances by Eddie Murphy, supermodel Iman and Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
"State Of Shock" The Jacksons
Hot 100 Peak Position: 3
Peak Date: August 4, 1984
Weeks On Chart: 15With lead vocals shared between Michael and the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, "State of Shock" was the first single from the Jacksons' much-anticipated 1984 reunion album Victory. The single entered the Hot 100 at No. 30 on June 30 — at that point the second-highest entry of the year — and peaked at No. 3. "State of Shock" initially began as a duet between Jackson and Queen's Freddie Mercury when the two were collaborating on material in the early '80s. Though the Mercury version was never released, you can easily find demo recordings of it floating around the web.
"You Are Not Alone" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (one week)
Peak Date: September 2, 1995
Weeks On Chart: 20(Video) MichaelJackson Greatest Hits 2022 - TOP 100 Songs of the Weeks 2022Written and co-produced by R. Kelly, "You Are Not Alone" made history as the first song to enter the Hot 100 at No. 1, bowing atop the chart dated Sept. 2, 1995. The ballad became Jackson's last No. 1 to date and the 13th of his solo career, a sum that stands as the most by a male artist in the chart's history.
"Ben" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (one week)
Peak Date: October 14, 1972
Weeks On Chart: 16Jackson scored his first No. 1 Hot 100 single as a solo artist with this love song to a trained rat. The title track to the 1972 hit movie spent one week at No. 1 in mid-October. In Fred Bronson's The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits, the song's co-writer Don Black says, "When Michael saw the song, he was anxious to do it. He [was] quite an animal lover — very sensitive. He enjoyed anything that crawls or flies."
"Never Can Say Goodbye" The Jackson 5
Hot 100 Peak Position: 2
Peak Date: May 8, 1971
Weeks On Chart: 12Not many 12-year-olds can maturely depict a romantic situation like Michael did in the Jackson 5's hit single, "Never Can Say Goodbye." Michael describes a situation where he is incapable of leaving his partner, no matter how close he gets. "There's that same unhappy feeling / There's that anguish / There's that doubt," Michael expertly croons in the ballad. The song struck a chord with a relating crowd, charting at No. 1 on Billboard's R&B songs chart and No. 2 on the Hot 100.
"Rockin' Robin" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 2
Peak Date: April 22, 1972
Weeks On Chart: 13Michael Jackson's cover of "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 and Billboard's R&B songs chart in 1972. 13-year-old Michael brings playfulness to the classic, with more advanced production including a bird-like melody. The star keenly reports on a popular local songbird, "All the little birdies on Jaybird street / Love to hear the robin go tweet, tweet, tweet" — not dissimilar from the effect Jackson's singing had on his audience.
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (1 week)
Peak Date: October 13, 1979
Weeks On Chart: 21While Michael had first topped the Hot 100 apart from the Jackson 5 with the ballad "Ben" at age 14 in 1972, his second No. 1 and first on Epic Records set in motion his monumental rise to superstardom as a solo performer, while introducing fans to a more mature artist in both sound and lyrical content. This Michael Jackson song ushered in his Off the Wall album and became the first of the set's four Hot 100 top 10s.
"Dirty Diana" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (1 week)
Peak Date: July 2, 1988
Weeks On Chart: 14In the world of stalky, creepy women in Michael Jackson’s lyrics, “Dirty Diana” is right up there with “Billie Jean” and Susie from “Blood on the Dance Floor.” The R&B/rock tune about a groupie gone all sorts of wrong features Steve Stevens on guitar and became the Bad album’s fifth and final No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1988. With the song’s coronation, Jackson set a record that still stands for most Hot 100 No. 1s (five) from one album. (Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream equaled the mark with five No. 1s in 2010-11.)
"Got To Be There" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 4
Peak Date: December 11, 1971
Weeks On Chart: 14Smartly capitalizing on the group's immense success, Motown Records released Michael's debut single while the Jackson 5 was still enjoying chart achievements with its third album. "Got to Be There" peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100 dated Dec. 11, 1971, the same date as the debut of the Jackson 5's "Sugar Daddy," which would later peak at No. 10.
"Bad" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (2 weeks)
Peak Date: October 24, 1987
Weeks On Chart: 14Although braggadocious at first listen, Jackson's "Bad" was actually inspired by a real-life story about a boy who went off to a private boarding school and was murdered out of jealousy when he returned back home. The track was helmed by longtime producer Quincy Jones and released as the second single from the Bad album. The song peaked at No. 1 on the Hot 100, staying there for two weeks.
"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" Michael Jackson with Siedah Garrett
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (1 week)
Peak Date: September 19, 1987
Weeks On Chart: 14Despite the majority of uptempo tracks on Bad, Epic introduced the follow-up album to Thriller with a sleek, sultry love song. This duet with Quincy Jones protégé Siedah Garrett soared to No. 1 on the Hot 100 in its seventh week in September 1987. The cut scaled Adult Contemporary even more quickly, reaching the summit in four weeks to become Jackson's second of two career leaders on the list, following "The Girl Is Mine," with Paul McCartney, in 1982-83.
"Black Or White" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (7 weeks)
Peak Date: December 7, 1991
Weeks On Chart: 20The pop music landscape was shifting in late 1991, with Nirvana introducing grunge and rap gaining a larger foothold. Jackson’s appeal, however, proved impenetrable with the first single from Dangerous. Featuring guitarist Slash, “Black or White” tallied seven weeks atop the Hot 100, matching “Billie Jean” for Jackson’s longest reign. The song’s video remains memorable for its pioneering use of morphing technology and subsequently deleted scenes of Jackson violently smashing car windows against a backdrop of racist graffiti.
"The Way You Make Me Feel" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (1 week)
Peak Date: January 23, 1988
Weeks On Chart: 18The third single from Bad became the album's third consecutive Hot 100 No. 1 in January 1988, marking Jackson's only set to yield more than two toppers ("Bad" would eventually yield a record five Hot 100 leaders; see No. 17, "Dirty Diana"). In 2005, veteran pop crooner Paul Anka stamped a lounge spin on the song on his jazz-inflected covers album, Rock Swings.
"The Love You Save/ I Found That Girl" The Jackson 5
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (2 weeks)
Peak Date: June 27, 1970
Weeks On Chart: 13Jackson knew all about growing up too fast and trying to preserve youth. That's why it comes as no surprise that 1970's "The Love You Save," by the Jackson 5, finds him, along with brother Jermaine, warning a "fast" girl to slow down atop an uptempo production. "The Jackson 5 was the only group in history to have their first four singles go to [No. 1]," Motown founder Berry Gordy wrote in the introduction to Jackson's 1988 autobiography Moonwalk. "For Michael, it was the inspiration to break all the rest [of the chart records]. And he did."
"The Girl Is Mine" Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney
Hot 100 Peak Position: 2
Peak Date: January 8, 1983
Weeks On Chart: 18Surprising to some, "The Girl Is Mine" was actually the first single from Michael Jackson's 1982 Thriller album — not "Billie Jean" or "Beat It." A duet with McCartney, the song was released in October 1982 and quickly debuted on the Hot 100 at No. 45, eventually rising to No. 2. "The Girl Is Mine" also famously kicked off an incredible run of hits from the Thriller album; It was the first of seven straight Hot 100 top 10 hits from the release, the first album to yield such a streak.
(Video) Michael Jackson - Top 50 songs (Fans Choice) 2022 | (GMJHD)"ABC" The Jackson 5
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (2 weeks)
Peak Date: April 25, 1970
Weeks On Chart: 13In somewhat of a case of chart fortune-telling, it was perhaps fitting that the Jackson 5's second Hot 100 No. 1 dislodged The Beatles' second-to-last No. 1, "Let It Be," from the top of the chart dated April 25, 1970, as arguably the most influential group in the history of pop music symbolically passed the baton to the format's future King. The Jackson 5's next leader, "The Love You Save" (see No. 11), would likewise bump The Beatles' last No. 1, "The Long and Winding Road," from the summit in June 1970.
"I Want You Back" The Jackson 5
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (1 week)
Peak Date: January 31, 1970
Weeks On Chart: 19A new era in Motown's storied history — and one of the most impressive chart resumes in Billboard's archives — began rather unassumingly. Michael Jackson's six-decade tenancy on the Billboard charts began the week of Nov. 15, 1969, when the then-11-year-old and his four brothers entered the chart at No. 90 with "I Want You Back." On Jan. 31, 1970, the song completed the first of Jackson's 17 trips to the top (four with the Jackson 5, 13 solo).
"Man In The Mirror" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (2 weeks)
Peak Date: March 26, 1988
Weeks On Chart: 17When “Man in the Mirror” reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1988, Jackson became the first artist in the chart’s history to pull four No. 1 songs from one album — in this case, Bad. After Jackson’s death in 2009, “Mirror” re-entered the U.K. singles chart at No. 11 and peaked at No. 2. “I wrote the music, and [Siedah Garrett] wrote the words,” co-writer Glen Ballard told Billboard in 2001. “It only took a couple of hours to write.”
"Dancing Machine" The Jackson 5
Hot 100 Peak Position: 2
Peak Date: May 18, 1974
Weeks On Chart: 22The funky, early-disco title track from the group's 1974 album danced close to the top of the Hot 100, halting at No. 2 (stuck behind Ray Stevens' "The Streak.") "Dancing Machine" was the final Hot 100 top 10 for the group on Motown Records, as the act departed the label for Epic in 1976, re-christened as The Jacksons.
"Rock With You" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (4 weeks)
Peak Date: January 19, 1980
Weeks On Chart: 24Penned by British songwriter Rod Temperton of the R&B group Heatwave, Jackson's third No. 1 spent four weeks in the Hot 100's top slot, the longest of any of his singles at the time. The track ranked at No. 4 on Billboard's top Hot 100 songs of 1980, helping Jackson earn Top Singles Artist honors that year.
"Beat It" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (3 weeks)
Peak Date: April 30, 1983
Weeks On Chart: 25Jackson wasted little time in achieving his second Hot 100 No. 1 from Thriller, with only two weeks separating the last of seven weeks on top for "Billie Jean" and the first frame in charge for "Beat It." The dancefloor gem "Beat It" also reached No. 14 on the Mainstream Rock Songs chart, thanks to Eddie Van Halen's guitar work.
"I'll Be There" The Jackson 5
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (5 weeks)
Peak Date: October 17, 1970
Weeks On Chart: 16This single was the last and longest-reigning (five weeks) of four consecutive Hot 100 No. 1s in 1970 for the brothers from Gary, Indiana. The group earned seven more Hot 100 top 10s by the end of its active recording career in 1989 but never again reached No. 1. Mariah Carey — who was seven months old when the Jackson 5's version of the song topped the Hot 100 — returned the composition to the chart's top spot when her version from MTV's Unplugged series led the list for two weeks in 1992.
"Billie Jean" Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (7 weeks)
Peak Date: March 5, 1983
Weeks On Chart: 24Jackson was already a superstar after earning three solo Hot 100 No. 1s — including two from Off the Wall, his first album for Epic — but “Billie Jean” propelled the singer to a true worldwide sensation. With seven weeks at No. 1, the song perhaps most famously introduced the iconic Thriller album to the masses.
"Say Say Say" Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (six weeks)
Peak Date: December 10, 1983
Weeks On Chart: 22After the success of Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson's "The Girl Is Mine" duet, the former Beatle recruited the King of Pop for this collaboration on his 1983 album, Pipes of Peace. "Paul and I shared the same idea of how a pop song should work and it was a real treat to work with him," Jackson wrote in Moonwalk.
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Michael Jackson’s 50 Top Songs on the Billboard Hot 100? ›
Jackson had 36 top 40 hits on the Top 100 Singles charts.
How many top 100 hits does Michael Jackson have? ›Jackson had 36 top 40 hits on the Top 100 Singles charts.
How many number 1 Billboard hits does Michael Jackson have? ›In the United States, Jackson amassed 13 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles (more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era) and was the first artist to have a top-ten single in the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades.
Who has the most #1 songs ever on the Billboard Top 100? ›The Beatles, unsurprisingly, lead the way with a record 20 No. 1s, all earned between 1964 and 1970. The Fab Four also scored 34 top 10s (second only to Madonna's 38), hitting No.
What is Michael Jackson's most listened to song? ›The Beatles have tallied the most No. 1 hits in the 61-year history of the Hot 100, with 20. Their closest competitor is Mariah Carey, with 18.
Who has the #1 hit of all time? ›| Rank | Single | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Blinding Lights" | The Weeknd |
| 2. | "The Twist" | Chubby Checker |
| 3. | "Smooth" | Santana featuring Rob Thomas |
| 4. | "Mack the Knife" | Bobby Darin |
Michael boasts 13 No. 1s among his 30 top 10s, both higher sums than Janet's respective totals of 10 and 27. (Michael's numbers reflect only his solo career, not the four No. 1s, among 11 top 10s, that he earned as a member of The Jackson 5 and The Jacksons.)
Who was #1 on Billboard for the longest? ›Harry Belafonte (37 weeks)
Notes: The legendary singer's Belafonte album was No. 1 on the very first weekly Billboard 200 chart. Calypso is tied with the South Pacific soundtrack as the longest-running No. 1 album of the 1956-59 period.
According to Guinness World Records, Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" (1942) as performed by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies.
Who has 7 consecutive Billboard Top 100? ›
April 1988: Whitney Houston Becomes the First Artist To Score Seven Consecutive No. 1's. With the release of her single "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" in early '88, Whitney Houston set the record as the only artist ever to reach the milestone of seven consecutive No. 1 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100.
What is the longest song to make the Billboard Top 100? ›“Fear Inoculum”, the title track from the fifth studio album by rock band Tool (USA), debuted at No.
What was Michael Jackson's best selling record? ›And “Thriller” is recognized as the biggest selling album of all time. “Jackson won 17 Grammy Awards, including eight in one year, a record, and received 26 American Music Awards, including the Artist of the Century Award,” states the PR Newswire release.
Where does Michael Jackson rank all time? ›Rolling Stone Ranks Michael Jackson as the 86th Greatest Singer of All Time.
Who has the most top 5 hits of all time? ›For 23 years, no artist had matched Michael Jackson's record of five No. 1s from a single album (Bad).
Who had 5 number one hits? ›Michael Jackson Official Site
On this date in 1988, Michael Jackson became the first artist is music history to have five consecutive #1 singles from one album when “Dirty Diana” topped the Billboard Hot 100.
Top-selling artists worldwide as of 2022
Perhaps unsurprisingly, British rock band The Beatles are top of the list for best-selling artists worldwide, with 183 million units certified sales. Second is Garth Brooks with over 157 million units sales, followed by Elvis Presley with 139 million units.
- Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana (1991)
- Imagine - John Lennon (1971)
- One - U2 (1992)
- Billie Jean - Michael Jackson (1982)
- Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen (1975)
- Hey Jude - The Beatles (1968)
- Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan (1967)
- I Can't Get No Satisfaction - Rolling Stones (1965)
1, Stevie became the youngest solo artist to have topped the Billboard Hot 100 – though another future Motown superstar, Michael Jackson, was aged just 11 years 155 days when The Jackson Five's “I Want You Back” topped the Billboard charts in January 1970.
Who has the most #1 albums? ›- As a musician, Paul McCartney has the most No. 1 albums, with 27. This includes 19 albums from his work with The Beatles, three solo albums and five albums as a part of his 1970s group Wings. ...
- Barbra Streisand is the only artist to have No. 1 albums in six different decades.
Who is the biggest pop star after Michael Jackson? ›
| Artist | Country | Claimed sales |
|---|---|---|
| Elvis Presley | United States | 500 million |
| Michael Jackson | United States | 400 million |
| Elton John | United Kingdom | 300 million 250 million |
| Queen | United Kingdom | 300 million 250 million |
The only other artists to have achieved more than 20 chart toppers are Rihanna (33) and Beyonce (22). Janet Jackson has accumulated 20 number-ones during her career, followed by Katy Perry with 19, and Jennifer Lopez with 18.
Is Michael Jackson the biggest Singer of all time? ›Michael Jackson is regarded as the highest-selling individual music artist of all time. He has won various accolades throughout the years, including 15 Grammy Awards, 6 Brit Awards, and a Golden Globe Award, among others. The artist has also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
Did Nicki Minaj surpass Michael Jackson? ›The rapper has surpassed Michael Jackson and now holds the distinction of having the most appearances on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. According to Yahoo!, Minaj has made history by logging her 51st Hot 100 entry with her new offering, “Anaconda,” which entered the chart at #19 this week.
Is The Weekend bigger than Michael Jackson? ›The Weeknd has tied Michael Jackson's longstanding Billboard chart record of being the only artist to have multiple No. 1 hits from numerous albums. According to Chart Data, both artists are the only individuals in Hot 100 history to achieve such a feat.
Is Michael Jackson one of the best singers ever? ›Michael Jackson is without a doubt one of the best singers of all time, if not the greatest. Like others, he was given a title: the “King of Pop”. He's one of the most significant cultural figures and is the greatest entertainer in the history of music.
Who knocked Elvis off the charts? ›Gogi Grant, Who Knocked Elvis Off Top of Chart, Dies at 91 - The New York Times.
Who has the most songs with 1 billion streams? ›It's official: Miley Cyrus's hit song “Flowers” danced itself into the record books yet again, reaching one billion streams faster than any other song in Spotify history.
What song went platinum the most? ›1. "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus.
Who has the most Billboard songs all time? ›The Beatles haven't released a new studio album since 1970's Let It Be, but the foursome certainly made their mark in music history — decades later, the group still holds the record for the most No. 1 songs in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, with a total of 20 chart-toppers.
Who has the most songs in the Billboard top 10 at the same time? ›
Drake Charts Nine Top 10 Hits Simultaneously, Breaking The All-Time Record.
Who is the only singer to have consecutive number 1 singles? ›The fourth single from Houston's second album, "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" launched the glamour girl into the stratosphere, officially setting her apart as the only artist ever to wind up with seven consecutive No. 1's.
What is the shortest song on the Billboard? ›Kid Cudi's 'Beautiful Trip' Is Shortest Hot 100 Hit Ever – Billboard.
Who wrote the most number one songs? ›Paul McCartney (32) and John Lennon (26), of The Beatles, rank first and second, respectively, for having written the most Hot 100 No. 1s, thanks to their respective group and solo outputs.
How many #1 does Michael Jackson have? ›With 13 No. 1s – and one more to which he contributed vocals – Jackson leads the list of male artists with the most chart-topping hits. His catalog has both legendary breadth and depth, considering Jackson was the first artist to score No.
Did Michael Jackson sell more records than Elvis? ›However, Elvis did sell more records than Michael, although, it's fair to say he released more albums, and his albums have been around for much longer than Michael's.
Does Michael Jackson have a diamond album? ›Thriller, the album, gained its overall Diamond certification back in 1983 and became 34 times multi-platinum in August 2021.
How many Guinness World Records does Michael Jackson hold? ›Jackson's career was rewarded with 13 Grammy Awards, as well as the Grammy Legend Award and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; 6 Brit Awards, 5 Billboard Music Awards and 24 American Music Awards. He currently holds 20 Guinness World Records.
Who is more popular Michael Jackson or Prince? ›Yes, Jackson does reign with the top-selling album (“Thriller,” 32 million copies sold in America) and ranks seventh among artists for all-times sales (79 million). Prince, meanwhile, languishes far down the list (20.5 million) — below lesser fads such as Meat Loaf, Nelly and Nickelback.
How much was Michael Jackson worth at the top of his career? ›Michael made the most of his money through his record sales, concerts, endorsement deals, merchandise sales, and more. It is believed that he earned more than $4 billion throughout his music career.
What is Michael Jackson's #1 hit? ›
Jackson became the first artist to simultaneously top Billboard's album chart and the number one single on both the pop and R&B charts, with Thriller and "Billie Jean" in the week of March 5, 1983.
Who has the most top 100 hits? ›Artists with most songs in the Billboard Top 100 in the U.S. 2012-2021. During the time period from 2012 to 2021, Drake was the top performer in the charts, with 46 songs in the Billboard Top 100. Ranking in joint second place were Ariana Grande with 22 and Nicki Minaj with 21 songs each.
How many #1 hits did Elvis have? ›Elvis has had no less than 149 songs to appear on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Chart in America. Of these, 114 were in the top forty, 40 were in the top 10, and 18 went to number one. His number one singles spent a total of 80 weeks at number one.
What records do Michael Jackson hold? ›Jackson's career was rewarded with 13 Grammy Awards, as well as the Grammy Legend Award and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; 6 Brit Awards, 5 Billboard Music Awards and 24 American Music Awards. He currently holds 20 Guinness World Records.
What is #1 Hot 100 song of all time? ›More Stories by Gary Trust. The Weeknd's “Blinding Lights” shines brightest among the nearly 30,000 titles ever to hit the Billboard Hot 100 over the chart's 63-year history, as the single, released in November 2019, is the newly crowned No. 1 on Billboard's Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs recap.
What is the No 1 song of all time? ›According to Guinness World Records, Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" (1942) as performed by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies.
What song stayed number 1 the longest? ›"Old Town Road" holds the record for the longest stretch at No. 1 with 19 weeks. It also became the fastest song in history to be certified diamond. "The Box" charted at No.
Who sold more albums Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley? ›...
Top-selling artists worldwide as of August 2022, based on certified sales (in million units)
| Characteristic | Units sales in millions |
|---|---|
| Elvis Presley | 139 |
| Eagles | 120 |
| Led Zeppelin | 122.5 |
| Michael Jackson | 89 |
1. The Beatles — 183 million units.
What is the highest grossing Elvis songs? ›It's Now or Never (1960)
This Number One hit became his best-selling single worldwide, and is currently one of the best-selling singles of all time.
What was Elvis biggest hit? ›
| POS | TITLE | ARTIST |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | It's Now Or Never | Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires |
| 2 | Jailhouse Rock** | Elvis Presley |
| 3 | Are You Lonesome Tonight | Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires |
| 4 | A Little Less Conversation | Elvis vs JXL |
And “Thriller” is recognized as the biggest selling album of all time. “Jackson won 17 Grammy Awards, including eight in one year, a record, and received 26 American Music Awards, including the Artist of the Century Award,” states the PR Newswire release.
What is Michael Jackson's last word? ›Michael Jackson's last words were a plea for "milk" – his alleged nickname for propofol, the powerful hospital anaesthetic the singer overdosed on the day he died, according to Conrad Murray.