Name a better pop song than "Billie Jean"

[Chiropteran]

everyone knows the most popular song in the universe is "happy birthday to you"

 

[lightstar]

the best ever!- Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: BrianH1
I honestly don't think you can.

I believe you are correct.

but I'm also a softie for "Rock With You"

 

[nervegrind3r]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Dawg, it's the 25th anniversary of Thriller.

absolutely, thriller is bigger than billie jean any day of the week.

 

[spittledip]

this is better if you can deal with the falsetto and polyester

 

[spittledip]

.............

 

[spittledip]

otherstuff

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

In those days I didn't mind some of his songs, but Billie Jean I always found extremely annoying. So much so that I dislike it at least as much as Country, male RnB, most Jazz, a lot of Rap and Bin Laden.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
Thriller > Billie Jean

Fixed.

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: QED

Originally posted by: moshquerade
Beat It > Billie Jean

I don't know... it's been 25 years since Billie Jean was first release and I've yet to hear a more catchy or recognizable intro, and the song only gets better from there. The bass line was an instant classic.

bzzzt... thanks for playing but we are out of time.

I am hearing Eddie's riffs in my head now just because Mosh posted the phrase "beat it".

 

[dmw16]

impossible! other songs that have been named are good (except some, which are crap) but the fall in a different genre.

 

[spittledip]

Here's another

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bd2B6SjMh_w&feature=related

edit: this is the best damn new song I have heard in years

 

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: dmw16
impossible! other songs that have been named are good (except some, which are crap) but the fall in a different genre.

The thing is it is hard to say one song is better than another, not that that isn't possible. I would say there are a lot of songs just as good, and alot of people out there who are better and were better song writers than MJ. Despite being a bit dated, the Bee Gees were excellent song writers, as was Abba, and very obviously Stevie.

King of Pop is more of a reference to his contribution to pop music as someone who was able to fuse black and white sounds effectively, and by that, gaining both a big black and white audience. It isn't necessarily a title due to the quality of his songwriting. He is a good song writer though, I am not saying otherwise. This is much like people calling Jimi Hendrix the world's greatest guitarist, which is really a very silly thing to say as there are hundreds of guitarists out there who are better than he ever was. He was great b/c of his contribution to the evolution of rock guitar. Arguably, he has had the greatest contribution in that sense. Kinda like Eric Clapton, who also had the great contribution of helping fuse blues guitar into rock, but is a mediocre guitarist when you get right down to it.

Also, pop is a huge classification and is not really a genre b/c genre refers to style. The term "pop" doesn't refer to style, I think it might be more accurate to say "contemporary" and also "produced for the masses."

edit: maybe as an example of comparison I would say that the instrumental arrangement in Billie Jean is better than Chiquitita as it is a bit more timeless, but the melody in Chiquitita is superior in complexity and the correspondence between lyrics and melody among other things.

 

[waggy]

hahahha i love singing the song to my wife. Her name is Billie Jean lol

 

[BurnItDwn]

Satyricon - Dark Medieval Times, black metas is surely "pop music" in at least one part of the world.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: spittledip
Here's another

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bd2B6SjMh_w&feature=related

edit: this is the best damn new song I have heard in years

It would be so much better if it weren't for Cee-Lo's annoying voice.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

The people that think AAF's version (Smooth Criminal) is better than MJ's version are crazy. Crazy, I tellya!

My favorite Jacko song would be The Way You Make Me Feel

 

[alkemyst]

lady sovereign, those were the days.

/thread

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: BrianH1

Originally posted by: moshquerade
Beat It > Billie Jean

This is a long debate among MJ fans. I still believe BJ beats Beat it just because Billie Jean has had more staying power and has a bit more substance.

BJ's are always better than Beating it.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

My Generation, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Help!, Twist and Shout, Under My Thumb, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Ruby Tuesday, Revolution, Lola, Hound Dog, Love Me Tender, Heartbreak Hotel, Rock Around the Clock.............
honestly, there are literally dozens of songs that are better.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: venkman

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: Agentbolt
You're all wrong, Smooth Criminal blows them all out of the water.

Whose version? AAF or MJ

AAF Smooth Criminal > MJ Smooth Criminal


*dons flame suit*

i agree 100%!

:shocked:

That song is usually on the top of my list of the worst cover songs ever. The singer's voice makes my ears bleed.

 

[JDub02]

Phil Collins / Genesis had some hits that would have to be considered in the running.

in the air tonight
sussudio
i can't dance


How about the Monkees - Daydream Believer? That one might top Billie Jean. Maybe Last Train to Clarksville.


The #1 pop song of all time would go to the Beatles. Choosing which song is hard. Any of these, really ..

1. Love Me Do
2. From Me to You
3. She Loves You
4. I Want to Hold Your Hand
5. Can't Buy Me Love
6. A Hard Day's Night
7. I Feel Fine
8. Eight Days a Week
9. Ticket to Ride
10. Help!

Probably "I Want to Hold Your Hand", although it's far from my favorite Beatles song.

 

[NL5]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
Beat It > Billie Jean

Yep. BJ didn't have EVH!

 

[ChairShot]

hammer Smashed face by cannibal corpse! as close to pop as it can be!

 

[Abe Froman]

PYT