The album “Thriller”, by singer Michael Jackson (1958-2009), returned to the top of the charts Billboard’s “R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” this Tuesday (12) forty years after launch.
One of the artist’s hits was the release of the first part of his biopic, “Michael”, which generated nostalgia among the King of Pop’s fans. In 1982, “Thriller” is considered by Guinness World Records as the best-selling album in the world.
“Thriller” contains successful tracks from the singer’s career, such as “Billie Jean”, “Beat It”, “Human Nature” and the hit of the same name. In the years following its release, the album spent 37 weeks at number one on the rankings — between 1983 and 1984 — breaking the record for the most weeks at the top since the ranking was launched in 1965.
The album was only surpassed by singer SZA’s project, “SOS”, in June 2025, which achieved numbers that beat the King of Pop.
And Michael Jackson’s success didn’t stop at number one on Billboard this week.
Another album by the singer, “Number Ones” (2003), rose in the rankings and reached second place — making him the first artist to simultaneously occupy the first two positions on the chart.
Dominating the charts
Michael Jackson reached the top of the UK album chart last Friday (8), with the compilation “The Essential Michael Jackson”, which covers the singer’s entire career.
The singer was competing against Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap and Spice Girls member Melanie C, but managed the feat.
It is the first time in 17 years that Michael has won the position.
The album remained at the top of the charts for seven weeks after the news of his death, according to information from the American magazine Billboard.
In addition to “The Essential Michael Jackson”, two other albums by the singer gained prominence. “Thriller”, from 1982, came in 6th place and “Bad” in 8th.
*With information from Ana Julia Bertolaccini, from CNN Brasil
