Music

Michael Jackson created the pop music soundtrack for worldwide generations. His recorded output with his brothers as part of the Jackson 5, later renamed the Jacksons, and as a solo artist found fans just about everywhere, from the United States to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands to New Zealand, Mexico to Japan to Australia. His music was universal, a melody-and-rhythm-intensive blend of pop, rock and R&B that remained relevant no matter in which decade it was released.

Now that the self-proclaimed "King of Pop" is gone, what we have left is an expansive body of work that easily eclipses his oddly reclusive lifestyle and tabloid-fodder persona. With Jackson, it starts and ends with the music. Play 1982's blockbuster Thriller, 1991's edgy Dangerous or even 2001's uneven Invincible, and there's no arguing the point – Michael Jackson's contributions to popular music are unequalled.

So let's take a trip through his sonic legacy. Don't forget to crank it up.

1. "Jam" – That title says it all. The song, from Dangerous, is a dance floor onslaught. It's all percussion and guitars punctuated by Jackson's frenetic vocals.

2. "Rock With You" – Rod Temperton (of Heatwave fame) wrote this super-smooth, pop-soul-disco gem for Jackson to immortalize. From 1979's Off the Wall.

3. "Beat It" – Rock, pop and R&B merge swimmingly on this Thriller staple. What a great music video, too.

4. "Dirty Diana" – Was it about Diana Ross? Who cares. All that matters is this rocker from 1987's Bad explodes right from the get-go.

5. "Human Nature" – Perhaps one of the most beautiful pop melodies ever penned. The ballad from Thriller is the audio equivalent of a plush cushion.

1. "Give in to Me" – Drama, six-string riffs from Slash and a decidedly rock vocal from Jackson make this Dangerous track irresistible.

2. "One Day in Your Life" – The breezy pop nugget from 1975's Forever, Michael is a lovely example of how youthful and tender his pipes were.

3. "Gone Too Soon" – Lovely ode to AIDS victim Ryan White from the Dangerous CD never got its due Stateside, although it was a British hit.

4. "Workin' Day and Night" – Play this Off the Wall track right after "Jam" and you have the makings of a never-ending dance party.

5. "Ease on Down the Road" – Not totally unknown, but for being the centerpiece of The Wiz and a duet with Ross, it didn't get the attention it deserved.

The nine children born to Joseph and Katherine Jackson pursued a music career. A quintet of them were the Jackson 5, of course. Of those, Michael, Jermaine, Jackie and Marlon released solo albums. The remaining four – Rebbie, Randy, LaToya and Janet – also turned out records. Some were huge (Michael, Janet), while others faded almost instantly (Jackie, Randy).

The Jacksons' triumphant Victory tour in 1984, the group's final trek, drew 40,000 rabid fans each night for three consecutive shows in mid-July at Texas Stadium, then home of the Dallas Cowboys. Later, to further Jackson's connection to the Cowboys, Michael was the sole performer on the halftime show at Super Bowl XXVII in late January 1993 in Pasadena, Calif. That was a Dallas Cowboys victory; they beat the Buffalo Bills 52-17.

Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever aired in May 1983 on NBC. It was intended to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the legendary Motown Records. But it was Michael's show, folks. When he performed "Billie Jean," unleashing for the first time his signature moonwalk dance, the attention shifted from Berry Gordy's empire to Michael Jackson's talent.

United Support of Artists for Africa, a musical consortium led by Jackson, Lionel Richie, Harry Belafonte and Stevie Wonder, released the uplifting anthem "We Are the World" in 1985. The song was a No. 1 pop smash in 17 countries, including the United States, and helped raise $100 million to relieve famine and disease in Africa.

His vocal style, musical breadth and expert showmanship have proven invaluable for artists such as Mariah Carey, Neal McCoy, Usher, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, R. Kelly and Ne-Yo, to name a few. Singer, songwriter, producer and dancer Ne-Yo is essentially the Michael Jackson of the 2000s. In concert his stage presence is all but an imitation of Jackson.