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Michael Jackson singles discography facts for kids

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Michael Jackson discography
Michael Jackson at the White House in 1984.
Michael Jackson at the White House in 1984.
Releases
Singles 59
Other singles 60

This page lists the songs that Michael Jackson released as singles. A single is usually a song released on its own, separate from an album. This list includes songs that were sold in stores (physical singles) and those played on the radio. It does not include songs that were re-released later.

The list shows how well each single did on music charts in different countries. A music chart ranks the most popular songs each week. The higher the number, the more popular the song was. The countries included are the United States, Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

At the bottom of the page, you will find information about how many copies each single sold. This is called a record sales certification. For example, a "Gold" award means a certain number of copies were sold. A "Platinum" award means it sold even more! These awards come from music organizations like RIAA in the US and BPI in the UK.

Michael Jackson's Hit Singles

This section lists Michael Jackson's singles that were released for sale in stores. It shows how high each song reached on the music charts in different countries.

Year Single Chart positions Album
US
AUS
CAN
FRA
GER
NL
NZ
SPN
SWZ
UK
1971 "Got to Be There" 4 83 3 5 Got to Be There
1972 "Rockin' Robin" 2 16 13 16 19 3
"I Wanna Be Where You Are" 16 57
"Ain't No Sunshine" 16 99 8
"Ben" 1 1 6 81 2 12 19 7 Ben
1973 "With a Child's Heart" 50 60 Music & Me
"Morning Glow" 98
"Music and Me" 34
"Happy" 31 21 52
1975 "We're Almost There" 54 79 61 21 46 Forever, Michael
"Just a Little Bit of You" 23 43
"One Day in Your Life" 55 9 1 48 1
1979 "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" 1 1 3 15 13 2 1 2 4 3 Off the Wall
"Rock with You" 1 4 3 59 58 3 1 68 7
"Off the Wall" 10 94 11 23 14 81 7
1980 "She's Out of My Life" 10 17 15 19 6 97 3
"Girlfriend" 49 41
1982 "The Girl Is Mine" (with Paul McCartney) 2 4 8 53 12 3 1 8 Thriller
1983 "Billie Jean" 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1
"Beat It" 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 3
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" 5 25 1 14 16 1 35 30 8
"Human Nature" 7 63 11 64 14 33 46 622
"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" 10 40 17 15 51 13 92 11
1984 "Thriller" 4 3 3 1 9 3 6 1 3 10
"Farewell My Summer Love" 38 68 46 51 35 7 Farewell My Summer Love
"Touch the One You Love"
"Girl You're So Together" 33
1987 "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (with Siedah Garrett) 1 10 2 12 2 1 3 5 2 1 Bad
"Bad" 1 4 5 4 4 1 2 1 3 3
"Twenty-Five Miles" The Original Soul of Michael Jackson
"The Way You Make Me Feel" 1 5 7 29 12 6 2 1 8 3 Bad
1988 "Man in the Mirror" 1 8 3 23 16 4 11 22 2
"Dirty Diana" 1 26 5 9 3 2 5 1 3 4
"Another Part of Me" 11 44 28 32 10 10 14 31 5 15
"Smooth Criminal" 7 16 4 9 1 29 1 5 8
1989 "Leave Me Alone" 37 17 16 6 9 1 10 2
"Liberian Girl" 50 15 23 15 31 12 13
1991 "Black or White" 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 1 1 1 Dangerous
1992 "Remember the Time" 3 6 2 5 8 3 1 2 4 3
"In the Closet" 6 5 16 9 15 9 5 2 25 8
"Jam" 26 11 29 8 18 9 2 1 22 13
"Who Is It" 14 34 6 8 9 15 16 19 14 10
"Heal the World" 27 20 21 2 3 6 3 1 5 2
1993 "Give In to Me" 4 7 10 3 1 6 7 2
"Will You Be There" 7 42 6 29 12 3 2 3 9
"Gone Too Soon" 76 32 45 31 6 33 33
1995 "Scream" (with Janet Jackson) 5 2 12 4 8 3 1 1 3 3 HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
"Childhood" 731
"You Are Not Alone" 1 7 11 1 4 9 1 1 1 1
"Earth Song" 15 40 2 1 4 4 1 1 1
1996 "They Don't Care About Us" 30 16 4 1 4 9 2 3 4
"Stranger in Moscow" 91 14 18 21 9 6 1 5 4
1997 "Blood on the Dance Floor" 42 5 4 10 5 4 1 1 5 1 Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix
"HIStory/Ghosts" 43 26 14 16 29 4 16 5
2001 "You Rock My World" 10 4 2 1 6 3 13 1 5 2 Invincible
"Cry" 43 30 76 6 42 25
2003 "One More Chance" 83 44 29 23 7 24 5 Number Ones
2008 "The Girl Is Mine 2008" (with will.i.am) 60 76 22 21 17 47 32 Thriller – 25th Anniversary Edition
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" (with Akon) 81 8 32 10 63 48 4 69
2010 "Hold My Hand" (with Akon) 39 37 16 27 7 28 6 7 9 10 Michael
2011 "Hollywood Tonight" 55 54 152
"Behind the Mask"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other Michael Jackson Singles

This section lists other singles that Michael Jackson was part of. This includes songs where he sang with other artists, or songs that were only released on the radio or as digital downloads.

Year Single Chart positions Album
US
AUS
AUT
CAN
FRA
GER
ITA
NL
NOR
NZ
SPN
SWE
SWZ
UK
1978 "Ease on Down the Road" (with Diana Ross) 41 35 47 45 The Wiz
1979 "You Can't Win" 81
"A Brand New Day" (with Diana Ross & The Wiz Stars) 1
1980 "Night Time Lover" (with La Toya Jackson) 1 3 La Toya Jackson
"Save Me" (with Dave Mason) 71 Old Crest on a New Wave
1982 "Muscles" (with Diana Ross) 3 10 18 69 10 18 12 6 15 Silk Electric
"State of Independence" (with Donna Summer & Friends) 3 41 1 14 Donna Summer
"Someone in the Dark" 1 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1983 "Say Say Say" (with Paul McCartney) 1 4 10 1 2 12 1 4 1 10 1 1 2 2 Pipes of Peace
1984 "Somebody's Watching Me" (with Rockwell and Jermaine Jackson) 3 2 12 14 2 5 2 14 2 7 5 1 4 3 6 Somebody's Watching Me
"Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)" (with Jermaine Jackson) 1 Jermaine Jackson
"Don't Stand Another Chance" (with Janet Jackson) 3 Dream Street
"Centipede" (with Rebbie Jackson & Weather Girls) 3 24 97 4 Centipede
"The Man" (with Paul McCartney) 1 Pipes of Peace
1985 "We Are the World" (as a member of the USA for Africa) 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 We Are the World
"Eaten Alive" (with Diana Ross) 3 77 81 79 38 10 26 26 14 17 71 Eaten Alive
1986 "Love's Gone Bad" (with The Jackson 5) 1 Looking Back to Yesterday
1987 "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" (with The Jackson 5) 91 Non-album single
"Get It" (with Stevie Wonder) 80 49 14 19 37 Characters
1988 "I Want You Back '88" (with The Jackson 5) 14 8 Non-album single
1989 "Speed Demon" 1 Bad
"2300 Jackson Street" (with The Jackson 5, Janet Jackson, Rebbie Jackson and Marlon Jackson) 3 48 76 2300 Jackson Street
1990 "Do the Bartman" (with The Simpsons) 3 1 17 14 5 2 1 1 2 3 12 1 The Simpsons Sing the Blues
1992 "Black or White (The Clivillés & Coles Remixes)" 18 14 Black or White (The Clivillés & Coles Remixes) CDS
1993 "Whatzupwitu" (with Eddie Murphy) 121 36 Love's Alright
1995 "Scream (David Morales Remix)" (with Janet Jackson) 43 Scream (David Morales Remix)
"This Time Around" (with The Notorious B.I.G.) 1 HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
1996 "Why" (with 3T) 112 46 21 9 29 10 9 14 11 2 Brotherhood
"I Need You" (with 3T) 3 17 5 22 5 30 42 9 3
"State of Independence (Remix)" (with Donna Summer & Friends) 3 13 State of Independence (Remix)
1997 "Is It Scary" 1 Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix
1998 "On the Line" 1 Ghosts – Deluxe Collector Box Set
2001 "Butterflies" 1 14 Invincible
"Speechless" 1
2002 "Heaven Can Wait" 1
2003 "What More Can I Give" (with the All Stars) 2 Non-album single
"Todo Para Ti" (with the All Stars) 2
2004 "Cheater" 1 The Ultimate Collection
2008 "Beat It 2008" (with Fergie) 2 14 77 8 26 177 Thriller – 25th Anniversary Edition
"Billie Jean 2008" (with Kanye West) 2 183
"Thriller Megamix" 2 80 96 King of Pop
2009 "Maria (You Were the Only One)" 2 62 Got to Be There
"Dangerous" 2 99 78 Dangerous
"Smile" 2 56 71 70 74 HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
"This Is It" (with The Jacksons) 2 118 56 22 18 Michael Jackson's This Is It
2010 "Mind Is the Magic" (for Siegfried & Roy) 80 Mind Is the Magic: Anthem for the Las Vegas Show
"Breaking News" 1 Michael
"Much Too Soon" 1
"(I Can't Make It) Another Day" (with Lenny Kravitz) 1
"Monster" (with 50 Cent) 2 197
2011 "(I Like) The Way You Love Me" 1
"All in Your Name" (with Barry Gibb) 2 Non-album single
"Immortal Megamix" 2 41 Immortal
"You Are Not Alone/I Just Can't Stop Loving You (Immortal Version)" 1
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Immortal Version)" 1
"I'll Be There (Immortal Version)" 1
"Dancing Machine/Blame It on the Boogie (Immortal Version)" 1
"This Place Hotel/Smooth Criminal/Dangerous (Immortal Version)" 1
"Is It Scary/Threatened/Thriller (Immortal Version)" 1
2012 "Bad (Afrojack Remix) (DJ Buddha Edit)" 2 (with Pitbull) Bad – 25th Anniversary Edition
"I'm So Blue"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Awards for Single Sales

This table shows the awards Michael Jackson's singles received for selling many copies. These awards are called certifications. For example, a "Gold" award means a song sold 500,000 copies in the US. A "Platinum" award means it sold 1,000,000 copies!

Year Single US AUS CAN DEN FRA GER NOR NZ SPA SWI UK
1979 "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" Platinum
(1,000,000)
Gold
(35,000)
Platinum
(20,000)
Silver
(250,000)
1980 "Rock with You" Platinum
(1,000,000)
Gold
(10,000)
"Off the Wall" Gold
(500,000)
"She's Out of My Life" Gold
(500,000)
1981 "One Day in Your Life" Gold
(500,000)
1982 "The Girl Is Mine" Gold
(1,000,000)
Gold
(10,000)
1983 "Billie Jean" Platinum
(1,000,000)
Platinum
(70,000)
2× Platinum
(200,000)
Gold
(15,000)
Platinum
(1,000,000)
Gold
(10,000)
Gold
(20,000)
Gold
(500,000)
"Beat It" Platinum
(1,000,000)
Platinum
(70,000)
Platinum
(100,000)
Gold
(15,000)
Platinum
(1,000,000)
Gold
(10,000)
Silver
(250,000)
"Say Say Say" Platinum
(1,000,000)
Gold
(500,000)
Silver
(250,000)
1984 "Thriller" Platinum
(1,000,000)
Platinum
(70,000)
Platinum
(1,000,000)
2× Platinum
(80,000)
Silver
(250,000)
1987 "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" Gold
(1,000,000)
Silver
(5,000)
"Bad" Platinum
(70,000)
Silver
(200,000)
"The Way You Make Me Feel" Gold
(35,000)
1988 "Man in the Mirror" Gold
(15,000)
"The 12" Mixes" Platinum
(70,000)
1989 "Smooth Criminal" Silver
(200,000)
1991 "Black or White" Platinum
(1,000,000)
2× Platinum
(140,000)
Gold
(50,000)
Silver
(125,000)
Gold
(250,000)
Platinum
(10,000)
Silver
(200,000)
1992 "Remember the Time" Gold
(500,000)
Gold
(35,000)
"In the Closet" Gold
(500,000)
Gold
(35,000)
"Heal the World" Gold
(35,000)
Silver
(125,000)
Gold
(250,000)
Gold
(5,000)
Gold
(400,000)
1993 "Give In to Me" Gold
(35,000)
Gold
(5,000)
"Will You Be There" Gold
(500,000)
Gold
(5,000)
1995 "Scream/Childhood" Platinum
(1,000,000)
Gold
(35,000)
Gold
(5,000)
"You Are Not Alone" Platinum
(1,000,000)
Platinum
(70,000)
Gold
(250,000)
Gold
(250,000)
Gold
(5,000)
Gold
(400,000)
"Earth Song" Gold
(250,000)
2× Platinum
(1,000,000)
Gold
(25,000)
Platinum
(50,000)
Platinum
(600,000)
1996 "They Don't Care About Us" Gold
(35,000)
Silver
(125,000)
3× Gold
(750,000)
Gold
(25,000)
Silver
(200,000)
1997 "Blood on the Dance Floor" Gold
(35,000)
Gold
(250,000)
Gold
(5,000)
2001 "You Rock My World" Gold
(35,000)
Gold
(250,000)
Gold
(25,000)
2008 "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" Gold
(35,000)
2010 "Hold My Hand" Gold
(7,500)
  • In the United States, "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Thriller" also won a Gold Award (500,000 sales) for digital downloads. "Billie Jean" won a 2x Platinum award (2,000,000 sales) for digital downloads.
  • In the United States, "Billie Jean", "Beat It" and "Thriller" also won a Gold Award (500,000 sales) for ringtones.
  • Awards from Denmark are for digital "Track" sales.
  • Awards from Spain are for digital sales.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Sencillos de Michael Jackson para niños

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