12 songs by Michael Jackson rise to new peaks on both the Billboard Global 200 and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S., while several classics debut. PASADENA, CA – 1993: Singer Michael Jackson performs at the 1993 Pasadena, California, Superbowl XXVII halftime show. The “King of Pop” performed several songs including “Billie Jean,” during the 15-minute show. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Michael Jackson spent his entire career as a true global superstar and as one of the most successful musicians in the history of humanity. He passed away more than a decade before Billboard introduced truly worldwide charts, as in 2020, both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. launched. The first of those rankings lists the most-consumed 200 tracks on the planet, while the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. is nearly identical, except for the fact that streams and sales from American consumers are completely left out of its composure. Instead, the tally focuses on what the rest of the human race is listening to each and every week.
Following the incredible success of his biopic, Michael, Jackson has been soaring up the two rankings for several weeks. This time around, many of his most popular singles reach new peak positions, and several others manage to finally become wins on the rundowns.
12 Michael Jackson Songs Rise to New Peaks
A dozen songs by Jackson climb to never-before-seen highs on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. simultaneously. Jackson currently fills two spaces within the top 10 as “Billie Jean” makes a play for No. 1, settling for third place, while “Beat It” surges to No. 5 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. and No. 7 on the Billboard Global 200.
Here are all 12 of Jackson’s singles that reach new peak positions on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. at the same time.
“Billie Jean”
Billboard Global 200 – No. 3
Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – No. 3
“Beat It”
Billboard Global 200 – No. 7
Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – No. 5
“Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”
Billboard Global 200 – No. 15
Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – No. 13
“Human Nature”
Billboard Global 200 – No. 17
Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – No. 27
“Smooth Criminal”
Billboard Global 200 – No. 31
Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – No. 29
“Bad”
Billboard Global 200 – No. 45
Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – No. 39
“Dirty Diana”
Billboard Global 200 – No. 49
Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – No. 62
“Rock With You”
Billboard Global 200 – No. 60
Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – No. 91
“The Way You Make Me Feel”
Billboard Global 200 – No. 61
Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – No. 67
“They Don’t Care About Us”
Billboard Global 200 – No. 62
Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – No. 47
“You Rock My World”
Billboard Global 200 – No. 77
Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – No. 96
“Remember The Time”
Billboard Global 200 – No. 106
Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – No. 151
Michael Jackson Pushes “Chicago” and “P.Y.T.” Higher
Another three of Jackson’s hits establish more impressive highs than just a week ago on only the Billboard Global 200. “Chicago” surges to No. 97, “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” improves to No. 107 and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'” improves to No. 114.
“Thriller,” which becomes a hit on a number of Billboard tallies every year in the fall when Halloween rolls around, returns to its all-time high on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S., crawling to No. 46, though it does not push to a new peak on the Billboard Global 200.
“I Want You Back” and “Man in the Mirror” Debut
Another pair of hit songs by Jackson – one solo cut and another that credits him as a member of the Jackson 5 – debut on the charts this week, decades after they became favorites of millions all around the planet. “I Want You Back,” a Jackson 5 classic, opens at No. 120 on the two lists. “Man in the Mirror” is new at No. 123 on the Billboard Global 200, and it starts on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. at No. 153.
“Chicago” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'” Arrive
As both “Chicago” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'” rise on the Billboard Global 200, they finally crack the Billboard Global Excl. U.S., and they manage to open in impressive spots. “Chicago” is the higher-ranking of the two, but not by much, as it begins its time at No. 127. “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'” is new at No. 130.