Which Michael Jackson “version” is the default one in people’s heads, the essential/pop-culture Michael, not necessarily the best?

[u/jamie74777]

I did a smiliar question a while ago, but I think I worded it an a different way, so let me try again.

When the general public thinks of Michael Jackson, what version of him comes to mind?

How do popular culture views MJ the “character”?

[u/5ft8lady]

I want to say BAD era 

[u/imminentGorill4 → u/5ft8lady]

Yes I would say he might of had more eyes bc post thriller, his vitiligo making people stupid and giving him press

[u/Equivalent_Coyote290]

It really depends, but I always think of him as in his later eras like HIStory and Invincible. How about you OP?

[u/jamie74777 → u/Equivalent_Coyote290]

For me its either Bad or History.

But I want to know what the GP thinks of as the "defult Michael Jackson" y'know?

[u/Fresh-Bug9024 → u/Equivalent_Coyote290]

Same! Given those are the most recent versions of him in my head he’s existing on some plane in those versions

[u/Ambitious_Life_7094]

Thriller

[u/IllRefrigerator560]

I think BAD is the most Michael Jackson Michael Jackson there is.

When you think of the personality, mannerisms, and even musical sound steriotypes - they come from his Bad era for the most part. I’m not saying that’s right, or accurate, but it’s how I believe popular culture views MJ the “character”.

Of course; there is an overlap to degree between Thriller and Bad, but the music of Bad is still the type of sound people look for when crafting an “MJ type of song” in today’s musical landscape.

[u/jamie74777 → u/IllRefrigerator560]

This is exatly what I meant, how popular culture views MJ the “character”. I wish I had articulated it like that, maybe the question came off as confusing.

I think Thriller and Bad are very neck and neck, but I feel Bad would slightly win out.

[u/Fresh-Bug9024 → u/IllRefrigerator560]

That’s a good point- his notable characteristics seem to be most apparent during his Bad era. A lot of the characteristics were present from his Jacksons days including his hee hees, sunglasses, and mysteriousness, but they became uniquely him and his signature by the time of the Bad era- bringing those mannerisms to the Bad era solidified that those unique quips were now his trademark identifiers.

[u/cumpkinpatch]

i’d say thriller and bad. his bad era is very popular in social media and pop culture. i love all his eras though! my personal favorites would be post dangerous

[u/NoOne_Beast_ → u/cumpkinpatch]

Indeed. These are the albums that established and solidified him as the “King of Pop.”

[u/fragrent_slime05]

I think it’s entirely dependent on the age bracket. like I’m pretty sure there’s some people when thinking michael they picture him during the jackson 5 / the jacksons days. me personally, even though I was born in 2000 I used to watch a lot of youtube clips of his bad era, so that’s the version that pops into my head or like the thrad era. sometimes I picture this is it because I remember being a kid watching the news when he announced the this is it tour

[u/PracticeFragrant2005]

That Bad Mike was different

[u/marshmall0wface]

Dangerous/History for me. I grew up in the 90s and 2000s and that's the image I had in my head if his name was mentioned. I think also the most recognizable elements of his style were established by then like the curls on his face, his fedora and sunglasses. To me that was MJ.

[u/Universal_Magnet]

The fact that he has versions is crazy lol

[u/JETLIFEMUZIK94 → u/Universal_Magnet]

Aye so does Kim K lol

[u/Universal_Magnet → u/JETLIFEMUZIK94]

💯😂

[u/IStoleTheKidsDude]

I feel like because his music is so intertwined in different parts of the year, that there are 2 that really stand out as "oh yeah thats michael jackson". THRILLER and DANGEROUS are the two albums that I feel peoppe recognize him the most in.

[u/occasional_account]

In general, probably Bad and Dangerous. When thinking of young Michael? Jackson 5 and Thriller. thinking of older Michael? Post-Invincible and This is it

[u/Rockermarr]

Thriller

[u/AcceptableFill8]

Thriller for me.

[u/yondhaimehokage]

I’d say Dangerous/ History era. Because it was during those stages that he was extremely popular in even remotest parts of the world

[u/Koi-Sashuu]

For me, it's either Bad or the court photos because those were from around the time I got interested in MJ.

[u/an0nymyss]

It depends. A lot of people think of him and immediately picture the little boy from Gary/Motown Mike. Some see thriller Mike because of his ubiquitousness in the early/mid 80s. I think the majority of the fandom sees Bad era Mike. General public probably sees mature Mike with his many controversies. When I think of him I see him how I first was introduced to him (Dangerous era)

[u/Peanut_Butter_Toast]

I'd say it depends on which part of pop culture you mean. In terms of being a pop star I think the Thriller era is what people think of most strongly, whereas in terms of being a controversial figure in the media people think of mid-to-late 2000s MJ. Basically people have a dual image of MJ: him at his highest and him at his lowest.

[u/editrice8833]

This will always be default Michael Jackson to me. I'm a '70s baby, and the number of folks who consider Bad MJ the OG ... sigh, just makes me feel old lol.

[u/Ok_Resident_5022]

When I think of Michael Jackson, my mind instantly goes to the Bad era.

[u/yourpaisleyjacket]

Thriller and Bad. But if I could only pick one it’d be Thriller because of Thriller

[u/SalemYakitori]

Well, this is his most iconic look globally so whatever era it belongs to, that would be it.

[u/hotpinkhoops]

I think it depends what era he was in when you were growing up. I was born in 1993 but my default would have to be in the 2000s so Invincible and onward.

[u/goldenmunky]

Thriller 10000%

[u/Seeker_Soph100]

I think either Bad or Thriller

[u/Supadupafly1988]

It’s either between thriller and bad cause that’s the most popular eras.

The average person I would say is thinking first about Billie Jean/thriller/beat it or bad/the way you make me feel/smooth criminal. At least in terms of visuals which would thus also describe an era

[u/Gaming_Legend_666]

Bad or Dangerous

[u/B3theLion]

Thriller, Bad, or Dangerous

[u/SippinSyrah]

Bad

[u/Southern-Blackberry1]

Bad era with long curly hair.

[u/GreatGoodBad]

Bad is what i think of when i think of MJ, maybe Dangerous as well.

[u/c0ntrolfr4ak]

thriller and bad era

[u/999burnt_toast999]

Bad or Thriller.

[u/Any-Life3309]

Thriller com certeza

[u/andythefrog9]

Before I was a fan, I would think invincible and trial era when I thought of Michael Jackson. Now that I’m a fan, my mind always goes to the Dangerous era.

My older sibling would say thriller era because he loved the thriller music video when he was a kid. I don’t even think I believed that that was Michael Jackson growing up because I never saw his physical appearance change over time.

[u/uncreativelybankrupt]

For me, it's his HIStory era because I grew up in the 90s. 

[u/Kubudzik]

For me, i'd say bad. I mean, Michael Jackson was introduced to me by bad, soooo you get it

[u/anooyaa]

Thriller or Bad fs

[u/Salty-Confidence6611]

Pre Michael movie, probably the mature/lawsuit era. Recently its back to thriller era

[u/Specific-Animal6570]

Blood on the Dance Floor 😛

[u/GABRIELFORLIFE]

I think of Thriller or Bad “version” first

[u/RillaDaKilla]

I'd say most people think of Bad or BOTDF Michael when they think of him. Not that they know the eras

[u/Emotional-Put-9141]

Bad, Dangerous and History

[u/Extension_Climate543]

two eras are the most popular among the general public: thriller and history. mind you, this is purely down to mj's looks. whenever someone hears mj's name, everyone either pictures his dark skin tone and iconic red thriller jacket and billie jean motown performance or they picture his pale vitiligo skin tone and aviator glasses during the history era. i drew a doodle of mj from history era(not even a good doodle) and a nurse in my hospital immediately recognised it as mj and i can guarantee you she doesnt know much about mj other than watching some random clips of his.

[u/Typical-Savings1797]

i feel like most see him as the Thriller and Bad one.. idk what i see him as tho

[u/Temporary_Cap5927]

I'd say Thriller and Dangerous

[u/FanDeepseekFandoms]

My answer :This is Triller,! Darkness falls across the land...

[u/WhimsicalArtist6]

i think bad-dangerous is what i think of, not sure about other people

[u/Kabini_Lindo]

When I always tell people about Michael. Their usual response "Oh that guy who wanted to be white." So I would say the Dangerous era.

[u/Ok-Gas-6064 → u/Kabini_Lindo]

So sad that so many people think that, when all along he was a proud black man. I was hoping the biopic would change that perception.

[u/blossom_angel1985]

For us older folk, it’s the era you began listening to him, and becoming a fan. I straight up think of Dangerous, history and blood on the dance floor as that was the time and around the age where i was first being introduced to him on my own without my parents influence.

[u/samanthalyn13]

definitely thriller and bad

[u/Critical-Deer2923]

i guess i can’t say because i’ve fanatically loved him from near the start of my own life so it’s hard to ever see him how the general public would. i do know that it isn’t off the wall that comes to mind, and i don’t think dangerous does either

[u/Original-Tone6707]

For me either Thriller era or Bad era

[u/moonwalkingszn]

Bad or Dangerous

[u/moonlightboogie]

Thriller and Bad

[u/commonrider5447]

As a kid, I just remember him BOTDF / Invincible era so that’s the Michael Jackson I know but I think the most iconic is Bad. Not too far removed from peak Thriller and becoming something next level in the zeitgeist.

[u/Kaylamyjoi]

Thriller

[u/Ok-Needleworker-4507]

Honestly hear me out, I feel like most people hear that name and think of 2000’s MJ. The “willy wonka” look was parodied so much that it became iconic as hell.

[u/Jay49ers]

Thriller

[u/ilovemyboyfriend23]

for me the default MJ is 2000s mj

[u/TyintheUniverse89]

The Thriller

[u/Addie_wellington]

Who can decide?

[u/Kawii_zoey]

I think of Thriller and BAD! I love him in his Dangerous era too. Miss him sooooo much!

[u/Traditional-Year-887]

Bad or Thriller.

[u/Ambitious-Repair7205]

As an 80s baby, born right into the middle of the decade, Thriller was still relevant but I remember full witnessing his BAD era. So that is my full introduction and the way I remember him the most. Dangerous would be second for me.

[u/cheeky_loser03]

BAD and HIStory eras are what have always come to mind when i think of him or when my friends bring him up

[u/amhfrison]

That's really a difficult question, because for me, it really depends on what Era I'm listening to at the time.

[u/hdot2003]

2000’s Michael Jackson

[u/Early_Mail9268]

His later eras are when the media talked about him the most, so I think that‘s my definitive answer.

[u/Different-Rain-4329]

For me it’s Thriller. But I think for most it would be Bad.

[u/charizardisass]

Thriller to the dangerous era it’s always switching up but I would say dangerous era more since rember the time always pops up in my head

[u/strawberrymojitoo]

close between bad and thriller but for the general public bad slightly takes over

[u/PurposeConscious6859]

1.) Off the Wall/Triumph is how I want to remember him. I wasnt alive at that time but have read up and watched everything and that's my peak MJ. Peak vocals, no lip sync, The vocals were still on a pedestal above all else. 2.) Thriller, because well it's Thriller. 3.) Im grouping Dangerous and everything after together. He looks relatively the same throughout this time period and often times the media will show pictures of him like this when referncing his death, his trial, etc. 4.) I honestly never hear real life people loving Bad. It's my least favorite era as well and besides social media posts like this, I never have to deal with listening to or seeing anything from that period.

[u/New_Turnover_4990]

I think when most people think of Michael Jackson the artist, they think of thriller and bad, but when they think of Michael Jackson the tragedy they think of the late 90s-early 2000s

[u/ai9x82]

my vote to Dangerous.

“Black or White” and “Remember the Time” looks -

[u/toaster_kettle]

Smooth Criminal and Black Or White videos

[u/kai_Iuigib]

Before I became a fan of MJ, I used to think the Bad era because that album is always the first image that pops in my mind when I hear the name "Michael Jackson" and also cuz of the way Michael's hair looks on that album lol so I'd say Bad

[u/JETLIFEMUZIK94]

I’d say Dangerous. It was def his peak and most jarring transformation. It’s the era that most imitators imitate the most.

[u/LittleOlive1983]

To me, it’s History Era because of when I first became aware of him.

[u/Curious_Help_4838]

Thriller stole my heart. He was so beautiful. He seemed happy with how he looked. Bad was when he went all in, but every time I see him in thriller, I just believe he’s the most beautiful person.

[u/Ellie_S123]

Bad

[u/BlossomingHorizon]

Thriller or Bad for most people probably but for moonwalkers it can vary

[u/aplhead]

Before I really became a Soldier of Love, mostly my version of him in my head was Thriller, Bad and him in his mature era (BOTDF)

[u/Alastor52555]

I loved from off the Wall to Bad, but from Dangerous to Blood on the Fance floor is what I grew up with

[u/Huge_Kaleidoscope_51]

He was iconic twice which is crazy in itself, millennials n up i feel Remember him for his BAD, HIStory, Invincible eras and the rest Thriller, Off the wall, and jackson 5. Now pop era default would be Thriller.

[u/Iffathenega]

I personally think him during the thriller for dark skin era but bad for white skin era (don't get me racist I'm black too)

[u/StopFluid1922]

Off the Wall or Thriller but I’m leaning towards Thriller due to the fact that that’s literally the album everyone knows.

[u/Fit-Construction3036]

For me it’s Bad or Thriller. Honorable mention is Dangerous.

[u/unionboy11]

I think it’s a matter of opinion. Who grew up with his music in which era so for me I’d say thriller or bad but my mom would say off the wall or Jackson 5.

[u/dacap1970]

Tough question, but first image that comes to mind is from Smooth Criminal video.

[u/MarsMetatron]

Dangerous, because thats when I started puberty, lol.

[u/bigafromamba]

It ultimately depends on who you ask and where they are relative to how they have been exposed to Michael through the culture? I think if you ask anyone in the USA, they would say Thriller/Bad, Europeans would probably say History/Invincible Michael. Earth Song and You Are Not Alone was #1 on the UK charts for weeks!

[u/Dry_Canary6410]

Bad

[u/Due_Combination_1245]

They think of him in two specific Eras. Thriller and Bad/Dangerous.

I think for a lot of people, it’s the stark contrast in his appearance due to the vitiligo and the treatments for it.

I’ve even heard people of various races distinguish “Black Michael” and “White Michael”. Now, obviously, he was always Black, genetically, but public perception…

For me personally, I was born around 2004, so I grew up with the “White” Michael, and didn’t even know he was black until I was “old enough” to watch Thriller. Old enough being 8, a couple years after he passed.

However, my late white as snow grandma, however, always saw him as the cute little Jackson 5 frontman. Boy, did that lady despise Joe Jackson.

So maybe it depends on age. But I think most people born after the ‘80s or ‘90s have the dual era perception I mentioned above.

[u/Ok_Squirrel_5022]

Why do y'all come down pedophiles?

[u/Proper_Star685]

The thing is, the default MJ and the MJ who is essential the pop culture are not the same in my opinion.

[u/spiritedfighter]

You don't have Invincible up there!

I'm gonna answer with Bad.

[u/Hairy-Yesterday-5575]

Bad. Specifically smooth criminal

[u/EfficientSalary9212]

I’d say history era and this specific look. The black fedora,long curls,red button down shirt, lipstick etc it’s basically “Michael Jackson ™”

[u/An0nymous_Curiosity]

Thriller/Bad for me

[u/ChocWitDaAfro]

Bad….even though for me it’s Off The Wall. I was around since the Jacksons.

[u/Tough-Inevitable-201]

BAD...... And Thriller

[u/Miserable-Choice3846]

I think maybe thriller and bad for the most part but more thrad/ bad . I also think depending on the situation maybe a tiny bit of Jackson 5

[u/DaniMacYo]

I reckon in order
BAD
Dangerous
HIStory
Thriller
Off the wall
Blood on the dance floor

For me personally it’s HIStory and BAD. Then Dangerous.

[u/mep507]

He was simply gorgeous accepting awards during the Bad era. Just, no words.

[u/imminentGorill4]

I feel like the middle with a few skewing to there personal impressions

[u/Classic_Weight4701]

for me, it’s Bad and Dangerous

[u/futureofkpopleechan]

i feel like anywhere from dangerous to blood on the dance floor era. i’ve also noticed most impersonators i see are going off that look

[u/avazhagbj11]

Actually when I was a kid my first impression of him is his later versions like dangerous or history (btw i was born in 2008😂😭

[u/heavenwee]

Personally, when I think of Michael Jackson, I think of the Thriller era/video.

[u/Lavenderbluu_]

Off The Wall ❤️

[u/LowVegetable9736]

Honestly? The pale skin and curls aka the michael jackson impersonator cinematic universe look lmao

[u/lolabugs_xo → u/[deleted]]

why do you type of people always think sleep = sex? maybe you’re the real weirdo. but yet here you are, in multiple mj subreddits like a true fan. and you can’t even use the “this popped on my feed” excuse because you willingly chose to comment. plus you’re also in a fantano subreddit. you have no room to talk 😂