Jackson Picks Best for "Ones"

Perhaps Michael Jackson should have saved the title Invincible, because his upcoming collection packs more chart-muscle than his disappointing last studio album mustered. The November 18th release Number Ones pulls together sixteen biggest hits from the past three decades as Jackson positioned himself as the King of Pop. The set also includes the new song "One More Chance," written by R. Kelly.

The criteria for a song's inclusion weren't limited to U.S. charts, as the songs on Number Ones include a handful of U.K. chart-toppers like "Black or White" and "You Are Not Alone." Actually, some of the songs -- like "You Rock My World," "Thriller" and "Smooth Criminal" -- weren't Number Ones on either side of the Atlantic, but merely hits. And one Number One, "Say Say Say," Jackson's collaboration with Paul McCartney, was excluded from the record. But the collection spans Jackson's solo career, dating back to his 1972 ode to a mouse, "Ben," and running through "Break of Dawn," from last year's Invincible.

A fifteen-song DVD with the same title is also in the works for a November release, compiling the now-legendary videos for his hits like "Thriller," "Bad" and "Beat It."

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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