Press Play: King of Pop

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 24 hours, you surely know that today the world is mourning the shocking death of a music legend. As a journalism grad, I know this could easily become a media circus, with hours of useless speculation and negativity.

I hope that Michael Jackson will always be remembered for his immense talent as opposed to the controversy that followed him in the past decade. The man could dance, sing, and I think all of us have tried to do the “Thriller” dance at some point or another. I just spent an hour on YouTube remembering how these videos and songs seriously defined the 80s.

My favorite was the “Black or White” video, because I remember watching it as a kid and feeling like it spoke to me because I actually was black and white! I lived for the shifting faces–oh heyyy Tyra!–and the Macauly Caulkin intro and rap is just a bonus. This video is so beautiful and awesome in the most 90s way.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI9OYMRwN1Q]

So here’s a weekend playlist, with old hits and some MJ inspired remixes.

Wanna Be Starting Something (MJ and Akon–check out this video, too, for a great tribute)

ABC (Jackson Five)

The Way You Make Me Feel

Billie Jean

Beat It (Fall Out Boy)

Burn This Disco Out

Come Together

Bad

Smooth Criminal (Alien Ant Farm)

Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough