Michael Jackson’s career spanned four decades and he had a string of top hits (Picture: Getty) Today marks what would have been Michael Jackson’s 60th birthday. The King Of Pop was born on 29 August 1958 in Gary, Indiana. However, he sadly died at the age of 50 on 25 June 2009 in Los Angeles. Jackson’s career spanned four decades, with him starting off in The Jackson Five with his siblings, later going solo in the 80s. To celebrate his birthday, here are 10 of MJ’s best tracks, as well as the meanings behind them and the lyrics. Smooth Criminal Released thirty years ago in 1988, Smooth Criminal was on Jackson’s 1987 album Bad. It peaked at number eight in the UK singles chart. The track is about a woman named Annie who is violently attacked in her apartment. It was used as the theme song to Moonwalker, Jackson’s 1988 film. Smooth Criminal lyrics Uh, as he came into the window It was the sound of a crescendo, uh! He came into her apartment He left the bloodstains on the carpet, uh! She ran underneath the table He could see she was unable So she ran into the bedroom She was struck down It was her doom Annie are you OK? So, Annie are you OK? Are you OK, Annie? Annie are you OK? So, Annie are you OK? Are you OK, Annie? Annie are you OK? So, Annie are you OK? Are you OK, Annie? Annie are you OK? So, Annie are you OK? Are you OK, Annie? Annie are you OK? Will you tell us that you’re OK ( uh!) There’s a sign in the window That he struck you – A crescendo Annie He came into your apartment He left the bloodstains on the carpet ( uh!) Then you ran into the bedroom You were struck down It was your doom Annie are you OK? So, Annie are you OK? Are you OK Annie? Annie are you OK? So, Annie are you OK? Are you OK Annie? Annie are you OK? So, Annie are you OK? Are you OK Annie? You’ve been hit by You’ve been hit by A Smooth Criminal So they came into the outway It was Sunday – What a black day, uh! Mouth to mouth resuscitation Sounding heartbeats – Intimidations Annie are you OK? So, Annie are you OK? Are you OK Annie? Annie are you OK? So, Annie are you OK? Are you OK Annie? Annie are you OK? So, Annie are you OK? Are you OK Annie? Annie are you OK? So, Annie are you OK? Annie are you OK? Will you tell us that you’re OK There’s a sign in the window That he struck you – A crescendo Annie He came into your apartment He left the bloodstains on the carpet, uh! Then you ran into the bedroom You were struck down It was your doom Annie are you OK? Are you OK Annie? You’ve been hit by You’ve been struck by A Smooth Criminal I don’t know! (Annie are you OK, Will you tell us, that you’re OK) I don’t know! (There’s a sign in the window) I don’t know! (That he struck you – A crescendo Annie) I don’t know! (He came into your apartment) I don’t know! (Left bloodstains on the carpet) I don’t know why baby! (Then you ran into the bedroom) I don’t know! (You were struck down) (It was your doom – Annie!) (Annie are you OK?) Dang, gone it – Baby! (Will you tell us, that you’re OK) Dang, gone it – Baby! (There’s a sign in the window) Dang, gone it – baby! (That he struck you – A crescendo Annie) Hoo! Hoo! (He came into your apartment) Dang, gone it! (Left bloodstains on the carpet, uh!) Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! (Then you ran into the bedroom) Dang gone it! (You were struck down) (It was your doom – Annie!) You’ve been hit by You’ve been struck by A Smooth Criminal Songwriters: Michael Jackson Beat It Released in 1983, Beat It was from this sixth studio album Thriller 1982. It peaked at number three in the UK. The track has been described as a ‘sad commentary on human nature’ and is influenced by Michael’s childhood and growing up in a gang culture, as well as his dislike of violence, hence lyrics such as ‘don’t be a a macho man’. For the acclaimed video, Jackson famously brought together the ring leaders of two of Los Angeles’ notorious gangs – the Crips and Bloods – to not only add authenticity, but also in an attempt to neutralise their issues. Beat It lyrics They told him don’t you ever come around here Don’t want to see your face, you better disappear The fire’s in their eyes and their words are really clear So beat it, just beat it You better run, you better do what you can Don’t want to see no blood, don’t be a macho man You want to be tough, better do what you can So beat it, but you want to be bad Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right Just beat it, beat it Just beat it, beat it Just beat it, beat it Just beat it, beat it They’re out to get you, better leave while you can Don’t want to be a boy, you want to be a man You want to stay alive, better do what you can So beat it, just beat it You have to show them that you’re really not scared You’re playin’ with your life, this ain’t no truth or dare They’ll kick you, then they beat you, Then they’ll tell you it’s fair So beat it, but you want to be bad Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right Just beat it, beat it Beat it, beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or who’s right Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it No one wants to be defeated Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right Just beat it, beat it Beat it, beat it, beat it Songwriters: Michael Jackson Blood On The Dance Floor Released in 1997, Blood On The Dance Floor is from the remix album Blood On the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix. It was originally written in 1991 and set to go on his album that year Dangerous, however he left it off to give himself more time to tweak and perfect it. Blood On The Dance Floor is about a woman called Susie who seduced Jackson and then plots to stab him with a knife on a dance floor. Blood On The Dance Floor She got your number She know your game She put you under It’s so insane Since you seduced her How does it feel To know that woman Is out to kill Every night stance is like takin’ a chance It’s not about love and romance And now you’re gonna get it Every hot man is out takin’ a chance It’s not about love and romance And now you do regret it To escape the world I’ve got to enjoy that simple dance And it seemed that everything was on my side (Blood on my side) She seemed sincere like it was love and true romance And now she’s out to get me And I just can’t take it Just can’t break it Susie got your number And Susie ain’t your friend Look who took you under With seven inches in Blood is on the dance floor Blood is on the knife Susie’s got your number And Susie says its right She got your number How does it feel To know this stranger Is out to kill She got your baby It happened fast If you could only Erase the past Every night stance is like takin a chances It’s not about love and romance And now you’re gonna get it Every hot man is out takin’ a chance It’s not about love and romance And now you do regret it To escape the world I got to enjoy this simple dance And it seemed that everything was on my side (Blood on my side) It seemed sincere like it was love and true romance And now she’s out to get me And I just can’t take it Just can’t break it Susie got your number And Susie ain’t your friend Look who took you under With seven inches in Blood is on the dance floor Blood is on the knife Susie got your number You know Susie says its right Susie’s got your number Susie ain’t your friend Look who took you under She put seven inches in Blood is on the dance floor Blood is on the knife Susie’s got your number Susie says its right It was blood on the dance floor (blood on the dance floor) It was blood on the dance floor (blood on the dance floor) It was blood on the dance floor (blood on the dance floor) It was blood on the dance floor (blood on the dance floor) And I just can’t take it The girl won’t break it Ooo… Songwriters: Michael Joe Jackson / Edward Theodore Riley Man In The Mirror Another track from Bad, Man In The Mirror was released in 1988, peaking at number two in the UK. While not written by him, it is believed it was one of Jackson’s favourite tracks and was one of his famous socially conscious works. Man In The Mirror lyrics I’m gonna make a change, For once I’m my life It’s gonna feel real good, Gonna make a difference Gonna make it right As I, turn up the collar on My favorite winter coat This wind is blowing my mind I see the kids in the streets, With not enough to eat Who am I to be blind? Pretending not to see their needs A summer disregard, a broken bottle top And a one man soul They follow each other on the wind ya’ know ‘Cause they got nowhere to go That’s why I want you to know I’m starting with the man in the mirror I’m asking him to change his ways And no message could have been any clearer If you want to make the world a better place (If you want to make the world a better place) Take a look at yourself, and then make a change (Take a look at yourself, and then make a change) (Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah) I’ve been a victim of a selfish kind of love It’s time that I realize That there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan Could it be really me, pretending that they’re not alone? A willow deeply scarred, somebody’s broken heart And a washed-out dream (Washed-out dream) They follow the pattern of the wind ya’ see ‘Cause they got no place to be That’s why I’m starting with me (Starting with me!) I’m starting with the man in the mirror (Ooh!) I’m asking him to change his ways (Ooh!) And no message could have been any clearer If you want to make the world a better place (If you want to make the world a better place) Take a look at yourself, and then make a change<doc-sep>Michael Jackson would have celebrated his 60th birthday on Wednesday, August 29. Although he’s been dead for nearly a decade, fans still intend to gather to honor his memory on this special day. Celebrations are being organized around the globe as a way to remember the Thriller singer on his birthday. Michael’s family is expected to take part in the Michael Jackson Diamond Birthday Celebration taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday. Events are being set up all around the globe to mark what would have been Michael Jackson's 60th birthday on Wednesday Michael Jackson died suddenly on June 25, 2009 after ingesting a lethal mix of prescription drugs administered by his doctor According to Billboard, the event is organized by the Estate of Michael Jackson in conjunction with Sony Music. The fun is expected to kick off in the early evening hours with a performance of Michael Jackson One by Cirque du Soleil. After the circus show, guests will be invited to participate in an exclusive after party at Daylight Beach Club. Both events are being held at Mandalay Bay. Sway Calloway will host the beach party, which is expected to include inspiration from Michael’s popular music videos and more. Invited guests and those with tickets to Michael Jackson One are the only people allowed to attend. Won’t make it to Vegas for the festivities? There are plenty of other ways to celebrate Michael Jackson’s birthday. Here’s what you need to know. SiriusXM Michael Jackson hour SiriusXM’s Heart & Soul channel will celebrate Michael Jackson’s birthday with one hour of his most popular song. Listeners will also get to hear memories shared by those closest to Michael, including Bobby Brown, Marsha Ambrosius and more. Catch the Michael Jackson hour at 8am, 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm ET. The Groove will be taking calls from guests close to Michael Jackson from 12pm – 6pm and will be playing his music all day long. SiriusXM FLY will host a Michael Jackson hour of music once every hour on the musician’s birthday. The Heat will be doing something similar on their station every hour. Find more channels running special Michael Jackson programming on Wednesday here. MJ B-Day Celebration at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame If you happen to be near the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Wednesday night, you may want to consider RSVPing to their Michael Jackson birthday celebration event. The fun kicks off at 6pm and goes until 9pm. The party will take place on the plaza at the museum. Attendees can expect an appearance from DJ HazMatt and the 93.1 WZAK crew, dance crew performances and tutorials, costume contests, MJ-inspired art installations and so much more. Michael Jackson Tribute Party at Taj Lounge in New York City New York City’s Taj Lounge will be hosting a tribute party to the late Michael Jackson on Wednesday. The event will feature live DJs playing Michael’s best songs and a costume contest. Taj’s birthday bash will be free to the public until 6pm ET and cost $10 afterward. Visit the Michael Jackson mural in New York’s Lower East Side Over the summer, artist Eduardo Kobra painted a colorful mural honoring Michael Jackson. The full-building size mural shows Michael as a baby and an adult, painted in a bright, multi-color design. You can find it on the corner of First Avenue and 11th Street. Sport your very own Thriller suit One of Michael Jackson’s more iconic looks is the now-infamous white suit he wore on the cover of Thriller. The original suit was designed by Hugo Boss, who redesigned the suit in celebration of what would have been Michael’s 60th birthday. The suit is selling in stores and online for $1,195. The Hugo Boss store in Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island, New York will be offering three different T-shirts with the singer’s face on them for $68 in store only. Buy Thriller Michael Jackson’s Thriller lost its title as the top-selling album of all time when it was surpassed by The Eagles’ greatest hits album. Fans have been buzzing about getting it back in position for some time now, and what better day to do it than Michael’s birthday?<doc-sep>
A view of the pool during the Michael Jackson diamond birthday celebration at Daylight Beach Club at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on August 29, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo : Randy Shropshire ( Getty Images for Sony Music and The Estate of Michael Jackson ) Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am a huge Michael Jackson fan. I would go so far as to say I stan harder for Michael Jackson than I do for Cardi B. I have never offered to give anyone the hands over Cardi B, but I am absolutely intolerant of Michael Jackson slander, and I absolutely will fight you over it. Just kidding. Kinda. On Aug. 29, the estate of Michael Jackson and Sony Music hosted a huge star-studded event at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas to honor of the King of Pop on what would have been his 60th birthday. The evening included a performance of the Michael Jackson ONE Cirque du Soleil show and “The Diamond Celebration” party at Daylight Beach Club. When I was invited to attend the event, I was immediately excited. I had never seen the Cirque du Soleil show, and the opportunity to do so on the 60th anniversary of the day Michael was gifted to this world was something I could not pass up. Roughly 36 hours after the experience, I am still coasting on the high from the experience. It was a family reunion, a party at your best friend’s house, an amazing show and a vivid display of love all rolled up in one. I will never forget it as long as I live. The Michael Jackson ONE show is a spectacle that anyone who calls themselves a Michael Jackson fan has to witness at least once in their lifetime. As Sway Calloway and I discussed later that night, this show was created for the Michael Jackson superfan. It takes a deep dive into his catalog of music and uses bits of practically every album to weave a story of four misfits who go on a journey to overcome their personal obstacles by taking on various attributes of Michael Jackson. They each get one item belonging to Jackson—his famous single glove, his shoes (complete with glittery socks! ), his fedora, and his sunglasses—and with it a newfound ability or trait—his playfulness, his agility, his gracefulness and his courage, respectively. I experienced a range of emotions watching the show—nostalgia, happiness, mirth, excitement, sadness and joy. It was that deep. It was interactive and entertaining. The combination of Jackson’s music and Cirque du Soleil’s signature acrobatics was the right kind of sensory overload. Everything was happening at once, and the entire audience was thoroughly engaged. I came out of the dark theater feeling exhilarated. After the show, we made the trek—and yes, it was a trek—from the theater to Mandalay Bay’s Daylight Beach Club for “The Diamond Celebration,” a poolside birthday party that featured live performances by Mark Ronson and Usher. The birthday party was a gathering for family, friends and fans alike—and the best part is everyone mingled with everyone. It was just that kind of night. Everyone was laughing, singing, dancing, hugging, reminiscing and sharing stories of their experiences with Michael and his music. Sway Calloway was the host for the night, and he kept the crowd hype in between sets. The scene in the VIP area was the same as it was everywhere else. Everyone was greeting each other with hugs and smiles, and there were those candid moments where you caught random celebrities have fan moments with each other. Angela Bassett, Nelson George, DJ Quik, Hi-C, Blake Griffin, Evan Ross and Ashlee Simpson Ross are just a few of the many people wandering the area taking pictures, dancing and singing right along with the rest of us. The best moment of the night had to be watching everyone swarm hip-hop veteran Doug E. Fresh when he walked in, taking group pictures and paying respect to another legend in his own right. Doug E. told me about his respect for Michael as both a man and an artist, and that was a common theme throughout the evening. Sway told me the show made him emotional as well. “His messages are still so relevant today,” he said, and it’s true.