At a mere 10 years of age, Michael Jackson had already danced his way into the hearts of his global audience, and as he grew older and into his unparalleled talents, we came to realise that there would never be anyone else who could command the stage quite like him.

Now, with 10 albums and countless masterpieces in his discography, his music is heard everywhere, from clubs in downtown L.A. to the slums in India, and has brought people of every race and religion together.

Here’s a little taste of pop at its absolute finest.

1972, Got to Be There

“You don’t have to worry ’cause I’m coming/

Back to where I should have always stayed

And now I’ve heard the maybe to your story/

And it’s enough love for me to stay”

“I Wanna Be Where You Are”, written by Lean Ware and Arthur Ross

1972, Ben

“Ben, the two of us need look no more/

We both found what we were looking for

With a friend to call my own/

I’ll never be alone

And you, my friend, will see/

You’ve got a friend in me”

“Ben”, written by Don Black and Walter Scharf

1973, Music & Me

“Sadness had been close as my next of kin/

Then happy came one day, chased my blues away

My life began when happy smiled/

Sweet, like candy to a child

Stay here and love me just a while/

Let sadness see what happy does

Let happy be where sadness was”

“Happy”, written by Michel Legrand and Smokey Robinson

1975, Forever, Michael

“Just a little bit of you every day/

Will surely keep the doctor away

Eeny weeny teeny bit of your love/

Baby it’s all I need, it’s all I need”

“Just a Little Bit of You”, written by Edward Holland Jr and Brian Holland

1979, Off The Wall

“Just take it slow/

‘Cause we got so far to go

When you feel that heat/

And we’re gonna ride the boogie

Share that beat of love”

“Rock With You”, written by Rod Temperton

1982, Thriller

“People always told me be careful of what you do /

And don’t go around breaking young girls’ hearts

And mother always told me be careful of who you love /

And be careful of what you do ’cause the lie becomes the truth”

“Billie Jean”, written by Michael Jackson

1987, Bad

“I’m starting with man in the mirror/

I’m asking him to change his ways

And no message could have been any clearer/

If you wanna make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself/

And then make a change”

“Man in the Mirror”, written by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett

1991, Dangerous

“But they told me/

A man should be faithful

And walk when not able/

And fight till the end

But I’m only human”

“Will You Be There”, written by Michael Jackson

1996, HIStory

“With such confusion don’t it make you wanna scream/

Your bash abusin’ victimise within the scheme

You find your pleasure scandalizin ‘every lie/

Oh brother, please have mercy cause I just can’t take it

Stop pressurin’ me”

“Scream”, written by James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson

2001, Invincible

“You can change the world (I can’t do it by myself)/

You can touch the sky (Gonna take somebody’s help)

You’re the chosen one (I’m gonna need some kind of sign)/

If we all cry at the same time tonight”

“Cry”, written by R. Kelly