Recently in Michael Jackson Category

Any star is an unknowable quantity, one from whom we expect distance but crave intimacy -- it’s the paradox that drives the star-making industry. With our pop stars, we literally can’t get enough: we flock to flawed films, hungry for a glimpse of the “true” person behind the persona. We’ve watched Bette Midler channel Janis Joplin (sort of) in “The Rose,” Elvis remain himself even when he should be acting (just about any film), U2’s self-aggrandizing at the dawn of its career in “Rattle and Hum,” Madonna playing herself in both fiction (“Desperately Seeking Susan”) and documentary (“Truth or Dare”). The latest in line? Michael Jackson, who’s drawn a flood of viewers to the posthumously released rehearsal doc “This Is It,” which topped the box office last weekend.

It has been said that every movie worth watching since 1939 contains some reference to The Wizard of Oz. But what about music? This week, Wu-Tanger Ghostface Killah releases his new album, Ghostdini: The Wizard of Poetry, the cover artwork of which features a yellow brick road extended across hottie-bedecked poppy fields toward Emerald City. And on October 3, in honor of the movie's 70th anniversary, Netflix is streaming Oz free, in a new high-definition version. Last week, to commemorate the same landmark, Jennifer Hudson, Julianne Hough, and ?Uestlove of the Roots performed songs from the movie in New York. Rock and pop have been in love with the classic for years, but there's never been a better time to count down the highlights of Oz-rock history.

On Saturday, August 29, Michael Jackson would've been 51 years old. Obviously this is a very bittersweet occasion. As news that Jackon's death was ruled a homicide, and the obvious loss that we all felt with his passing, it's tempting to get bogged down in a sadness. But, we'd like to take this opportunity to celebrate his life and his music. Below, you'll find a sample of some of his best songs, and you can listen to a full playlist right here. And, of course, you can always sign up for your free Rhapsody trial membership to get the full experience: dozens of playlists, radio stations, blog post and, of course, all of his best work in high-quality audio. So, kick back, throw Thriller on repeat and celebrate one of the best who ever did it.

Today, Saturday, August 29, Michael Jackson would've been 51 years old. Obviously this is a very bittersweet occasion. As news unfolded that Jackon's death was ruled a homicide, and with the obvious loss that we all felt with his passing, it's tempting to get bogged down in sadness. But, we'd like to take this opportunity to celebrate his life and his music.

Below, you'll find a sample of some of his best songs, and you can listen to a full playlist right here. And, of course, you can always sign up for your free Rhapsody trial membership to get the full experience: dozens of playlists, radio stations, blog posts and, of course, all of his best work in high-quality audio. So kick back, throw Thriller on repeat and celebrate one of the best who ever did it.

Michael Jackson passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2009, at the age of 50. The monumental loss has been felt around the world. Jackson was a prodigiously talented singer and dancer -- an icon that transcended borders, race and age. Beginning in 1969 with the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson loomed over the pop landscape like no one before. Thriller, Off The Wall and Bad rank as three of the greatest pop albums of all time. But more than just the music, Jackson understood the value of spectacle in pop entertainment, and his own life took on a mythical quality. Sure, the fall in the '90s was fast and hard, but Rhapsody would like to take this moment to remember the numerous career highlights from the King of Pop.

	LISTEN: Michael Jackson’s pinnacle, the unforgettable Thriller		PLAY: MJ’s best songs not on Thriller
	REMEMBER: Our Editors reflect on the man, the music and his legacy		FAMILY: The greatest music from the Jackson clan
	DISCOVER: Songs from Aaliyah, Jay-Z, Kanye and Bjork that sampled MJ		READ: The Top 25 Pop Albums of the 1980s

Michael Jackson passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2009, at the age of 50. From his childhood days as a member of the Jackson 5 to his coronation as the King of Pop in the 1980s, Jackson was one of the most universally celebrated performers of his generation. He was a limitlessly talented and immeasurably influential singer, dancer and songwriter, and his string of great albums, beginning with 1979's Off the Wall and continuing through 1983's Thriller and 1987's Bad, rank among the best pop records ever. Though his personal life took on a tragicomic tone in the '90s and '00s, he remained an icon to millions. More so than perhaps anyone, he embodied the age of the mega-star - Thriller is still the best-selling album in pop music history - and his appeal crossed cultural, racial and national boundaries. For literally millions around the globe, MJ was our cultural common denominator.

Over the next few days, the Rhapsody editorial staff will be sharing its thoughts on and memories of Michael in the comments section of this post. We encourage our readers to do the same.