The 20 best Michael Jackson songs for your wedding playlist (2023)

August 29, 1958: Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana and went on to become one of the most successful artists in the history of all recorded music. From the late 1970s through the turn of the millennium, Michael Jackson compiled a string of albums that dominated the pop and R&B charts and filled dance floors around the world. He would later be given the title "King of Pop". It is hard to believe that only 9 years have passed since his untimely death on June 25, 2009. Despite his death, his great contribution to music continues to this day and his music is still highly requested by wedding guests and performed by himDJs throughout Charleston during weddingsand private events. Hopefully it's very few, but there are actually quite a few brides and grooms who happily cross Michael Jackson off their Charleston wedding playlists. I really have no explanation for this, other than that some couples like to give their wedding a very different tone.

I've been a DJ long enough to say that Michael Jackson's music is universally recognized and known for attracting all types of guests to the dance floor. Even now in 2018, it's hard not to think of hitting the dance floor while listening to some of the familiar intros to some of MJ's biggest hits. as one ofCharleston's Best Wedding DJs, I thought it was a great time to be celebrating some of the most popular dance music of all time on his 60th birthday.

Download these 20 most requested Michael Jackson songs on Spotify NOW
Find all Charleston Wedding DJ Mike Bills playlists on Spotify. Not only will you find these great MJ and Jackson 5 songs, you'll also find a wide range of other playlists perfect for the modern bride and groom looking to get a head start on their wedding playlist. Now go to Spotify and search DJ Mike Bills and get ready to turn your speakers up loud and put your headphones or earphones in your ears.

"I want you back" | Jackson 5 | 1969
Although this song was released in 1969, it remains a favorite at weddings in the greater Charleston, South Carolina area. In the video below you can see an 11-year-old Michael Jackson singing and dancing. You only knew from some of those early pictures that he was going to be the star. The song spent several weeks at No. 1 in the early 1970s and was on the Rolling Stones list of greatest songs of all time.

"ABC" | Jackson 5 | 1970
ABC is probably the most popular Jackson 5 on wedding playlists in Charleston. The song peaked at number 1 in early 1970 and stayed at the top of the soul charts for 4 weeks. In the video below you can see another early performance by Michael Jackson on American Bandstand, showing his greatness as a performer and dancer.

Don't stop until you've had enough | 1979
This was the first single to reach No. 1 since his softer ballad "Ben" in 1972. Released in the summer of 1979, the song would go to number one on the soul chart and stay there for 6 weeks. In terms of a song to get the party started at your Charleston wedding, this song is definitely a popular one to get you and your guests on the dance floor.

"Rock with you" | 1979
"Rock With You" was the second single from Michael Jackson's Off The Wall album to be aired. It's the first hint of a carefree cocktail hour at your Charleston wedding or at the end of your musical dinner when you move on to a long night of dancing at The Cedar Room, the Historic Rice Mill or the Seabrook Island Club. 🇧🇷

"Billie Jean" | 1983
1983 was a big year for Michael Jackson. "Billie Jean" was released in January 1983 and became one of the best-selling singles of the year. It would reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stay there for seven weeks.

"Go Away" | 1983
"Beat It" would hit the radio as the third single from "Thriller". Released on Valentine's Day 1983, the song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. Beat It and Billie Jean have both been in the top 5 at the same time. Both "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" continue to be popular at Charleston weddings.

"I want to start something" | 1983
If you remember above, when I was reading "Billie Jean," I mentioned that 1983 was going to be one of the greatest years of Michael Jackson's career. Well, in the spring of 1983, fourth single "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" was released and it became his fourth consecutive Top 10 song on the Billboard charts.

"PIT" | 1983
And with the release of PYT in the fall of 1983, Michael Jackson continued his dominance of the Billboard charts that year, and that song earned him another Top 10 song on the charts. Wedding guests, young and old, still respond very well to PYT at Charleston weddings.

"Locked" | 1984
I remember when Thriller debuted on MTV in late 1983 (when they were playing music videos). The actual full video would have been around 14 minutes long (much longer than the original single). The song would be the seventh song to be released from the Thriller album and would reach #3 on the Billboard charts. When this song appears on my wedding playlists here in Charleston, it is usually accompanied by an attempt by the guests to try their hand at the dance scenes that occurred during the video.

"The Way You Make Me Feel" | 1987
After a brief hiatus following the huge success of Thriller, Michael Jackson took a break before releasing another of his masterpieces, Bad, in the fall of 1987. "The Way You Make Me Feel" was the third single released. album and would go to number one on the Hot 100. It's not often that this song doesn't appear on Charleston wedding playlists.

"location" | 1987
"Bad" became the second single from the album of the same name and reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Dance charts.

"White or Black" | 1991
After the huge success of Bad, Michael Jackson took another break in the fall of 1991 to produce and release his album Dangerous, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Dance Charts.

"Soft Criminal" | 1987
"Smooth Criminal" became the seventh song on Michael Jackson's 1987 album Bad. The song became the sixth song to make the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, according to Michael Jackson himself.