The new biopic about Michael Jackson brings together some of the most well-known songs from his career, but it does not include everything fans might expect. The film has a runtime of under two hours, which means it can only include a limited number of tracks. Because of this, the soundtrack focuses on key moments from his early life and his rise to global fame.
The movie follows Michael Jackson’s journey starting from his time as a child star in the Jackson 5 and moves into his solo career. It shows how he slowly built his identity as an artist and became one of the biggest names in music. The timeline of the film ends in 1988, so it does not cover his later years or the music he released after that period.
How the Soundtrack Follows Michael Jackson’s Journey from Jackson 5 to Global Stardom
The soundtrack is designed to match this timeline. It begins with songs from his early days with the Jackson 5. These songs highlight how he stood out even as a young performer. Tracks like “I’ll Be There,” “Never Can Say Goodbye,” and “Who’s Lovin’ You” reflect that phase of his life and show his emotional singing style at a young age. There is also a medley that includes “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “The Love You Save,” which captures the energy of his early group performances.
As the film moves forward, it shifts into his solo career. This part of the soundtrack focuses on some of his most famous songs from albums like Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. These songs show how he changed pop music and became a global icon. The film includes tracks such as “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough,” “Beat It,” “Thriller,” and “Billie Jean.” These songs are widely known and represent his peak years as a performer.
Other songs featured in the movie include “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” “Human Nature,” “Workin’ Day and Night,” and “Bad.” Together, these tracks create a clear picture of his musical journey and the different stages of his career. The soundtrack is not just a collection of songs. It is arranged in a way that follows his growth as an artist and helps tell his story on screen.
However, because the film only covers a specific period, many songs are not included. Since the story ends in 1988, anything released after that year is automatically left out. This means that several well-known tracks from the 1990s and later are not part of the movie. At the same time, even within the timeline covered in the film, not every major song makes it into the final cut. The limited runtime means that the filmmakers had to make careful choices about which songs to include. As a result, some fan-favorite tracks from before 1988 are also missing from the soundtrack.
Major Songs Before 1988 That Were Not Used in the Movie
Based on the official soundtrack list and the time period covered, these well-known songs from before 1988 were not included:
- “Rock with You”
- “She’s Out of My Life”
- “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”
- “The Girl Is Mine”
- “Smooth Criminal”
- “Dirty Diana”
-
“Man in the Mirror”
