Actually, How Many Songs Does Michael Jackson Have?
You may ask how many songs does Michael Jackson have? Well, Michael Jackson released a large number of songs throughout his career, but giving an exact count is challenging due to several factors:
- Solo career vs. Jackson 5: Michael Jackson had both a solo career and was part of the Jackson 5.
- Album tracks vs. singles: Some songs were released as singles, while others were only album tracks.
- Unreleased material: Many songs were recorded but never officially released.
- Remixes and alternate versions: Some songs have multiple versions.
- Posthumous releases: New compilations and previously unreleased tracks have come out since his death in 2009.
As a rough estimate, Michael Jackson released:
- Over 100 songs as a solo artist across his studio albums
- Dozens more as part of the Jackson 5/The Jacksons
- Numerous non-album singles and collaborations
How Many Songs Does Michael Jackson Have?
Michael Jackson, throughout his career, recorded numerous songs spanning various albums, compilations, and unreleased tracks.
He is credited with having released approximately 10 studio albums as a solo artist, which together contain about 150 songs.
In addition to these, there are various posthumous releases, compilations that include previously unreleased tracks, and singles, which add to his extensive catalog.
Including these additional tracks, it’s estimated that Michael Jackson’s entire song count might exceed 200 tracks.
However, the exact number can vary depending on whether you count unreleased tracks, guest appearances, and other compilations.
The total number of officially released songs likely exceeds 200, but the exact figure depends on how one counts different versions and collaborations.
How Many Platinum Songs Does Michael Jackson Have?
Platinum certification is typically applied to albums rather than individual songs. However, we can discuss Michael Jackson’s platinum achievements:
- In the US, singles are usually certified gold (500,000 units) and multi-platinum (2 million+ units), skipping the platinum level.
- Many of Jackson’s singles have achieved multi-platinum status. For example, “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” are both certified multi-platinum.
- As for albums, Jackson has an impressive list of platinum and multi-platinum certifications. “Thriller” alone is certified 34x platinum in the US, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.
While we can’t provide a specific number of “platinum songs,” it’s worth noting that many of Jackson’s singles have sold well over a million copies, which would qualify as platinum if such a certification existed for singles.
How Many Diamond Songs Does Michael Jackson Have?
Like platinum certification, diamond certification is typically reserved for albums, not individual songs.
In the US, diamond certification is awarded to albums that have sold 10 million or more copies.
Michael Jackson has achieved this prestigious certification with three albums:
- “Thriller” (1982) – Certified diamond in 1984, currently 34x platinum
- “Bad” (1987) – Certified diamond in 1999
- “HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I” (1995) – Certified diamond in 1999
While individual songs aren’t certified diamond, it’s worth noting that the singles from these diamond albums, particularly from “Thriller,” have had phenomenal sales and cultural impact.
How Many Hit Songs Does Michael Jackson Have?
The definition of a “hit” can vary, but we can use chart performance as a metric:
- Billboard Hot 100: Jackson had 13 #1 hits as a solo artist, and 4 with the Jackson 5, totaling 17.
- Top 10 hits: He had 29 Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist, and 11 with the Jackson 5, totaling 40.
- Top 40 hits: Over 50 of his songs reached the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Internationally, Jackson’s hit count is even higher. For example, in the UK, he had 7 #1 singles and 44 Top 10 hits.
How Many #1 Songs Does Michael Jackson Have?
On the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US:
- As a solo artist: 13 #1 hits
- With the Jackson 5: 4 #1 hits
- Total: 17 #1 hits
His #1 hits as a solo artist include iconic songs like “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Black or White,” and “Man in the Mirror.”
In the UK, Michael Jackson had 7 #1 singles as a solo artist, and 2 with the Jackson 5, totaling 9 #1 hits.
How Many Songs Does Michael Jackson Have (Total/In Total)?
Providing an exact count of Michael Jackson’s songs is challenging due to several factors:
- Solo career: Jackson released 10 studio albums as a solo artist, containing approximately 120-130 songs.
- Jackson 5/The Jacksons: He recorded about 70-80 songs with his family group.
- Posthumous releases: Since his death in 2009, several albums of previously unreleased material have been published, adding roughly 30-40 more songs to his catalog.
- Non-album singles and collaborations: Throughout his career, Jackson released several standalone singles and collaborated with other artists, adding another 20-30 songs.
- Unreleased material: It’s known that Jackson recorded many songs that were never officially released. Estimates suggest there could be over 100 unreleased tracks.
- Remixes and alternate versions: Many of Jackson’s songs have multiple versions or remixes, which could be counted separately.
Taking all these factors into account, a conservative estimate would put the total number of songs Michael Jackson was involved in creating at around 300-350.
However, if we include all alternate versions, remixes, and known unreleased material, this number could potentially exceed 500.
It’s important to note that these numbers are estimates and can vary depending on how one defines and counts the songs.
For the most accurate count, one would need access to Jackson’s complete recording archives, including unreleased material.