When this album first became a huge seller it meant a lot to me. I was young and that was all the validation I needed to prove to my big brother the power of the record. Over time, I couldn't care less about it. That title seems to go back and forth between Thriller and the Eagles' Greatest Hits. Album sales don't always dictate quality but in this case, it certainly dictated the impact of great music, showmanship, keen marketing and the early power of MTV (once they came around to MJ).

We've never seen anything like Thriller-mania since.

2freaky4church1 said:

Not worldwide, just in the states. Then only possibly. That was re-certified only a couple of years ago. Thriller hasn't been in a good while.

Marrk said:

Not even possibly. That Eagles Greatest Hits probably isn't even Top 5 worldwide. It's not even the main GH of theirs that gets sold anywhere else. Back In Black is #2 worldwide now I think.

CinisterCee said:

So true.I remember the 'Thriller' mania of 1983/84 and it was unlike anything I had ever seen.He ruled the world back then.I would go to school and the kids would be dressed like him hell,even I had the red "Beat It" jacket,lol.

2freaky4church1 said:

I love the Eagles but imo,their album shouldn't count,since it's a greatest hits collection featuring songs that were previously released.'Thriller' is a studio album and thus,it's sales are far more impressive.

vainandy said:

Disagree on that one. People's expectations of artists are so high after they become so successful, that as a result, all they can do is "fail" in some people's eyes.

scorp84 said:

Indeed.

Maybe for a pop/rock artist but it's totally different with an R&B artist. When an R&B artist gets a pop hit, they usually water down the R&B with pop to continually stay on the pop charts.

I like my funk hard with no pop influence whatsoever. If it's good and the pop crowd just happens to like it, that's fine. Just don't intentionally go after that crowd. The music becomes weaker. Anything that gives an artist a reason to do less funk, I'm against.
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[Edited 10/13/06 8:27am]

SoulAlive said:

oh SHIT, is that in a photo album somewhere? lol!

vainandy said:

Since Thriller Michael music has become so bland, and he tends to stick to a particular formula that really waters down the album; One rock song in the vein of Dirty Diana/Beat it/Black and White/Scream, one or two sugary/disney songs in the vein of Heal the World/Earth Song/Lost childhood etc, a couple of dance songs that have become more watered down over the years like Wannabe Starting Something/Jam. Wannabe Starting something is the last, real, great dance song he did. Songs like Jam and They Don't Care about us just sound awful with all that shouting.

And that's another thing since Thriller he can't seem to just sing especially on the faster songs, he shouts, screeches and screams rather than just sings.