Thriller has actually sold 104 million copies worldwide. This is the type of thing I am looking for, for the Beatles...

ALBUMS
Got to Be There - 4.1 million
Ben - 4.4 million
Music & Me - 2 million
Forever, Michael - 1.7 million
The Best of MJ - 2.2 million
Off The Wall - 20 million
One Day in Your Life - 1.6 million
Thriller - 104 million
18 Greatest Hits - 500,000
14 Greatest Hits - 300,000
Farewell My Summer Love - 2.1 million
Looking Back on Yesterday - 300,000
Love Songs - 600,000
The Originals Soul of MJ - 400,000
Bad - 30 million
Dangerous - 29 million
Motown Greatest Hits - 200,000
Anthology - 2.7 million
HIStory - 18 million (36 million discs)
Blood on the Dance Floor - 6 million
The Best of MJ & the J5 - 500,000
The Millenium Collection - 200,000
Invincible - 8 million
Greatest Hits (HIStory Vol 1) - 3 million
Number Ones - 6.5 million
The Ultimate Collection - 250, 000
Essential MJ - 2 million
TOTAL -  268,550,000

SINGLES
Got to Be There - 2,246,000
Rockin' Robin - 2,898,000
I Wanna Be Where You Are - 1,322,000
Ain't No Sunshine - 278,900
Ben - 2,865,000
With a Child's Heart - 341,000
Music and Me - 12,300
We're Almost There - 403,300
Just a Little Bit of You - 861,100
Ease on Down the Road - 100,000
You Can't Win - 50,000
A Brand New Day - 50,000
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - 2,500,000
Off The Wall - 950,000
Rock With You - 2,350,000
She's Out of My Life - 1,000,000
Girlfriend - 30,000
One Day In Your Life - 1,756,000
The Girl is Mine - 2,150,000
Billie Jean - 5,250,000
Beat It - 4,250,000
Wanna Be Startin' Something - 1,800,000
Human Nature - 1,050,000
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - 1,050,000
Say, Say, Say - 2,850,000
Thriller - 3,710,000
Farewell My Summer Love - 788,100
Girl You're So Together - 89,100
We Are The World - 8,000,000
I Just Can't Stop Loving You - 2,250,000
Bad - 1,530,000
The Way You Make Me Feel - 1,390,000
Man in the Mirror - 900,000
Get It - 180,000
Dirty Diana - 1,200,000
Another Part of Me - 830,000
Smooth Criminal - 1,350,000
Leave Me Alone - 485,000
Liberian Girl - 165,000
Black or White - 2,300,000
Remember the Time - 1,300,000
In the Closet - 620,000
Jam - 510,000
Who Is It - 540,000
Heal the World - 1,550,000
Give in to Me - 300,000
Will You Be There - 1,050,000
Gone Too Soon - 60,000
Scream - 1,900,000
You Are Not Alone - 3,000,000
Earth Song - 3,150,000
They Don't Care About Us - 1,680,000
Why - 440,000
Stranger In Moscow - 540,000
Blood on the Dance Floor - 960,000
HIStory/Ghosts - 375,000
You Rock My World - 915,000
Cry - 45,000
One More Chance - 225,000
Visionary singles - 350,000
TOTAL - 75,090,800

ALBUMS - 268,550,000
SINGLES - 83,090,800
TOTAL - 351,640,800

You are missing the big picture though.  Michael Jackson sucks

You are missing the big picture though.  Michael Jackson sucks

351,640,800 people disagree.

351,640,800 people disagree.




You mean 1 person with 351,640,799 split personalities

You mean 1 person with 351,640,799 split personalities

No... I mean 351,640,800 different people. That's how many records he sold, you see?

That's assuming one person purchased only one album or one single in their lifetime and nothing else.  That's highly implausible.  I think it's absurd to say that if he sold 351 million albums, it is equal to 351 individual people making 1 purchase and 1 purchase only.

No... I mean 351,640,800 different people. That's how many records he sold, you see?


Are you like related to Jacko or something?  You talk about the guy like he is a god

That's assuming one person purchased only one album or one single in their lifetime and nothing else.  That's highly implausible.  I think it's absurd to say that if he sold 351 million albums, it is equal to 351 individual people making 1 purchase and 1 purchase only.


Well yeah, I'm sure lots of people who bought Thriller later bought Bad when it came out, and people who maybe didn't get into him until the '90s probably went back and got his earlier stuff. There's also sales of different formats (i.e. vinyl, tape, CD), but...I think it's also equally not fair to say there wasn't a high number of people who are responsible for his album sales.

I'm not a diehard fan, but you've gotta admit he's one of the most important musicians of the late 20th Century. Almost any artist who had breakout success after 1983, particularly with image or music vidoes owes something to him.


P.S. I firmly admit I'm kinda iffy on this, never fully taking a side and sticking with it. I guess that's because I can see both sides of the argument. While I admit he's weird and controversial (and can understand why lots of people will dismiss him as a freak and a joke), I also acknowledge where his loyal fans are coming from too.

That's assuming one person purchased only one album or one single in their lifetime and nothing else.  That's highly implausible.  I think it's absurd to say that if he sold 351 million albums, it is equal to 351 individual people making 1 purchase and 1 purchase only.

Well Elvis equated 50 million record sales to 50 million fans. He can't be wrong.

While I admit he's weird and controversial (and can understand why lots of people will dismiss him as a freak and a joke), I also acknowledge where his loyal fans are coming from too.
I kind of have the same view point, except I not only acknowledge he has loyal fans, I am a loyal fan. Also, I don't understand why a lot of people dismiss him as a joke. I can understand some people may believe him guilty of child molestation and what not, but his cobtribution to 20th century music is no joke. I think he deserves a lot more respect than he gets, because the things people hate him for aren't that much of a big deal (the Beatles catalogue, face, skin etc.) the only thing that is a big deal is child molestation, but he proved himself not guilty. While I accept some people disagree with the verdict, I wish more people would accept it and move on. The accusers in both cases clearly have.

I kind of have the same view point, except I not only acknowledge he has loyal fans, I am a loyal fan. Also, I don't understand why a lot of people dismiss him as a joke. I can understand some people may believe him guilty of child molestation and what not, but his cobtribution to 20th century music is no joke. I think he deserves a lot more respect than he gets, because the things people hate him for aren't that much of a big deal (the Beatles catalogue, face, skin etc.) the only thing that is a big deal is child molestation, but he proved himself not guilty. While I accept some people disagree with the verdict, I wish more people would accept it and move on. The accusers in both cases clearly have.


I'm always a little iffy jumping into a Michael Jackson discussion, because I know it's gonna probably ultimately be about the child molestation thing. That aside though...I'll go on the record saying that if his new CD does sell well and gives him a musical comeback, I'd be glad to see it happen. I don't think it will, and I doubt any of the singles will even reach the level of "You Are Not Alone" (his last true "hit") much less those of Thriller, but I hope I'm proven wrong.

I'm always a little iffy jumping into a Michael Jackson discussion, because I know it's gonna probably ultimately be about the child molestation thing. That aside though...I'll go on the record saying that if his new CD does sell well and gives him a musical comeback, I'd be glad to see it happen. I don't think it will, and I doubt any of the singles will even reach the level of "You Are Not Alone" (his last true "hit") much less those of Thriller, but I hope I'm proven wrong.


I'd say "Butterflies" could reasonably be called a hit.

I'd also say this entire discussion is going nowhere and seems to be each side trying to prove the other wrong, but with no particular point to prove, making it a potentially eternal back-and-forth.

I kind of have the same view point, except I not only acknowledge he has loyal fans, I am a loyal fan. Also, I don't understand why a lot of people dismiss him as a joke. I can understand some people may believe him guilty of child molestation and what not, but his cobtribution to 20th century music is no joke. I think he deserves a lot more respect than he gets, because the things people hate him for aren't that much of a big deal (the Beatles catalogue, face, skin etc.) the only thing that is a big deal is child molestation, but he proved himself not guilty. While I accept some people disagree with the verdict, I wish more people would accept it and move on. The accusers in both cases clearly have.
Sorry, he didn't prove himself not guilty, the prosecution didn't prove him guilty.  There's a difference.  And, I'd beg to differ that "the accusers have accepted it and moved on."  If you're molested, you NEVER "accept it and move on," it affects you for the rest of your life.  AFA his being called "a joke," he has turned himself into a "joke."  Regardless of what he's done in the past, the past and present are 2 different things....
Well Elvis equated 50 million record sales to 50 million fans. He can't be wrong.
Back when Elvis was at the height of his career, many people couldn't afford records.  My mom LOVED him and has never owned an album....her best friend from high school never had either until about 10 years ago.  I doubt you could say the same about MJ.  So, I'd say the 50 million fans was pretty accurate.

I'd say "Butterflies" could reasonably be called a hit.

Yeah "Butterflies" was a hit in hitting #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2001 I think without no music video for the song too.

Well Elvis equated 50 million record sales to 50 million fans. He can't be wrong.


Elvis most certainly can be wrong.  He was a singer, not Albert Einstein. 

Yeah "Butterflies" was a hit in hitting #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2001 I think without no music video for the song too.


I don't think I ever heard that one (or if I did, I'm drawing a blank, lol), but yeah, that's a decent hit. I did hear about "You Rock My World" - which showed up on his Number Ones collection - so I assumed that was the best-known song off Invincible.

I guess I meant "You Are Not Alone" was his last really globally recognizable song that most people would probably know. This was very representitive of its time - i.e. '80s artists AC-ifying their sound in the '90s.

Where's AL-B when you need him?  Guess I'll do this ...

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHEVROLET SMALL-BLOCK V-8

Chevrolet's small-block V8 is a famous automobile engine. Nicknamed "mouse motor" for its compact dimensions compared to other V8 engines of the time, production began in 1955 with the 265 in³ (4.3 L) engine used to bring performance credentials to the Corvette. The displacement changed over the years, eventually reaching 400 in³ (6.6 L), but none caught on like the 350 in³ (5.7 L) small-block. This engine is still in production today at General Motors Toluca Mexico plant (primarily for the GM over-the-counter Goodwrench powerplants), but is no longer offered in current model year vehicles since the year 2004. Its production numbers were impressive, with more than 90,000,000 built.

From 1955-74, the small-block engine was known as the "Turbo-Fire V8".

Although Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac also designed V8 engines (see list of GM engines), it was Chevrolet's 350 in³ small-block that became the GM corporate standard. Over the years, every American General Motors division used the Chevrolet small-block, and its descendents (see GM LT engine and GM LS engine) continue as the company's mainstream V8 design today.

The small-block was on the Ward's 10 Best Engines of the 20th Century list.

I don't think I ever heard that one (or if I did, I'm drawing a blank, lol), but yeah, that's a decent hit. I did hear about "You Rock My World" - which showed up on his Number Ones collection - so I assumed that was the best-known song off Invincible.

I guess I meant "You Are Not Alone" was his last really globally recognizable song that most people would probably know. This was very representitive of its time - i.e. '80s artists AC-ifying their sound in the '90s.
I don't think I could tell you what ANY of those songs sound like.....nor could probably 1/2 the population ::)

You Rock My World was a worldwide hit. I don't know if it made #1 anywhere, but it certainly made top 10 charts around the world. Butterflies was probably the biggest hit, just because it got so far up on the charts without any promotion. Also, it's still remembered today (lots of people singing it on American Idol, for example, and the judges and audience always know it's a Michael Jackson song).

Also, it's still remembered today (lots of people singing it on American Idol, for example, and the judges and audience always know it's a Michael Jackson song).


Sung by those in the AI Auditions who the judges pass on

No, actually. Sung by some of the finalists through-out the years.

No, actually. Sung by some of the finalists through-out the years.



Finalists throughout the years have sung Butterflies by Michael Jackson? 


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol_%28Season_1%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol_%28Season_2%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol_%28Season_3%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol_%28Season_4%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol_%28Season_5%29



No one I can see sang that song.  I saw Rock With You during Season 2, I saw something by the Jackson 5 in season 5.....but I didn't see Butterflies.

No, actually. Sung by some of the finalists through-out the years.


No finalist on American Idol would sing that.  They want to win, not lose :P

I'm pretty sure Ace Young sang it at some point.



I don't remember him singing it.  That really isn't a song he should be singing.  Although if it turns out he did, that still doesn't equate to many people over the years....that would just be one person.

I'm pretty sure Ace Young sang it at some point.


He definitely did, I remember also, but I don't know when it was, maybe sometime in the top 24?

Finalists throughout the years have sung Butterflies by Michael Jackson? 


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol_%28Season_1%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol_%28Season_2%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol_%28Season_3%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol_%28Season_4%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol_%28Season_5%29



No one I can see sang that song.  I saw Rock With You during Season 2, I saw something by the Jackson 5 in season 5.....but I didn't see Butterflies.

I definately have seen two performances of that song in the the final rounds.

I looked the song up to see if perhaps it was noted anywhere that someone on American Idol sang it, and it only had one notation, which was for Ace Young who was mentioned above.  So I stand corrected in saying that no one sang it, but one person does not equal "finalists throughout the years".  Aside from Ace Young, I haven't seen anyone else mentioned as having sung it.  So tell me who you saw sing it and when it was, and I'll look it up.



Oh, you never did answer Whistle's question. 

Oh, you never did answer Whistle's question. 

What question would that be?

Someone (not Ace Young) sung it in the top 30 round (or whatever it is) about 2 years ago.

What question would that be?


Are you like related to Jacko or something?  You talk about the guy like he is a god




Look, I have artists that I really love but I don't talk about them like they have halos above their heads.  Every time people try and inject a little reason into this thread, ie., the fact that yes he was big.....but that ship has sailed...you get all indignant.  The honest truth is, no matter how good he was, he's not that good anymore.  The quality of music started to go down.  He fell victim to his own hype just like so many others before him, and his personal life....whether you choose to believe what goes on in it or not, has overshadowed any talent he has and it turns people off.  If you're turned off, you don't buy.  Simple as that.  I personally believe he was acquitted because there wasn't enough evidence to convict, which is different than acquittal because of innocence.  Any grown male who shares a bed with little boys to me, is a sick, sick man and I will not support that person by giving him my hard-earned money.  Whether you choose to face it or not, I'm not the only person in the world who feels that way.

Look, I have artists that I really love but I don't talk about them like they have halos above their heads.  Every time people try and inject a little reason into this thread, ie., the fact that yes he was big.....but that ship has sailed...you get all indignant.  The honest truth is, no matter how good he was, he's not that good anymore.  The quality of music started to go down.  He fell victim to his own hype just like so many others before him, and his personal life....whether you choose to believe what goes on in it or not, has overshadowed any talent he has and it turns people off.  If you're turned off, you don't buy.  Simple as that.  I personally believe he was acquitted because there wasn't enough evidence to convict, which is different than acquittal because of innocence.  Any grown male who shares a bed with little boys to me, is a sick, sick man and I will not support that person by giving him my hard-earned money.  Whether you choose to face it or not, I'm not the only person in the world who feels that way.

And I'm not the only person who believes he is innocent. That's not to say that he wasn't (even just a little bit) careless in his actions in spending time with people who would readily sell their soul for a piece of his money or celebrity.

The fact that the Arvizo family used the same lawyers as those used by the Chandler family in 1993 was all that I needed to know he didn't do it.

The 1993 case was ludicrous and there are documents and interviews that prove that Jordie Chandler and /or Evan Chandler were lying.

I feel so passionate about all this, I won't go into too much more unless I am asked specific facts. People regularly ask me whether Michael is innocent and I always say "yes". They say 'How do you know?" and I say I have researched it to the ends of the Earth and if they have specific questions I will answer them. If I start talking about it, people never hear the end of it! lol

I cried when Michael was vindicated, and it took my by surprise (my tears)! I knew he would never be found guilty, but it was such a relief that he was found not guilty by a court of law, I just balled my eyes out all day!

Once again, you never answered Whistle's question.  Quel surprise.


It has nothing to do with selling souls.  It's about a grown man sleeping in a bed with little boys.  You haven't said anything about whether or not you feel it was intelligent for him to do that and open himself up to people speculating that he's a pedophile.  You make your bed, you lie in it.  If he doesn't want people thinking he's a pedophile, well then maybe he oughta keep the little boys out of his bed.  Do you agree or disagree with that statement?

Once again, you never answered Whistle's question.  Quel surprise.


It has nothing to do with selling souls.  It's about a grown man sleeping in a bed with little boys.  You haven't said anything about whether or not you feel it was intelligent for him to do that and open himself up to people speculating that he's a pedophile.  You make your bed, you lie in it.  If he doesn't want people thinking he's a pedophile, well then maybe he oughta keep the little boys out of his bed.  Do you agree or disagree with that statement?

I disagree with the statement "a grown man sleeping in a bed with little boys". He denied sleeping in a bed with little boys and in the documentary that everyone keeps raving about (Living with Michael Jackson) he actually explains what the bed sharing comment meant. Ofcourse that bit was edited out. They aired the unedited version on TV, but ofcourse, less than half the people who watched LWMJ watched "The Footage You Weren't Meant To See".

But I do agree with other statements you made, "If he doesn't want people thinking he's a pedophile, well then maybe he oughta keep the little boys out of his bed". I agree with this. I did open himself up to speculation of sexual misconduct, and the police did the right thing in investigating the case. But they investigated the case and found nothing. No substantial evidence to prove that there was any sexual misconduct on Michael Jackson's part.

If you want me to answer that ridiculous question, no, I am not related to Michael Jackson (as far as I know).

Once again, you never answered Whistle's question.  Quel surprise.


Why should Zoso answer that question? It's obvious that whistle is just mocking him (or her).Just because people think that Michasel Jackson is a pervert doesn't give them the right to make fun of others just because they like him.

Thank you for your support, but I didn't feel offended by those comments. I'm a Michael Jackson fan, lol. I get crap thrown at me all the time.

If you want me to answer that ridiculous question, no, I am not related to Michael Jackson (as far as I know).


It's not a ridiculous question.  For all we know, YOU are Michael Jackson, just looking to regain all the billions of fans that you lost

Whether Jacko is innocent, guilty, acquitted or whatever, it still doesn't excuse the fact that he opened up his bed to children, and risked that little baby's life when he dangled it over the balcony.  There's no excuse in the world that can or will explain why he did those things, other than the fact that he is a very sick individual.

Whether he can still sing or not is no longer an issue.  He's basically destroyed his career.