Thriller: 25th Anniversary Edition

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Remixes add some innuendo to a brilliant CD.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this anniversary album has the nine tracks from the original album and features remix versions with popular artists Kanye West, Fergie, Will.i.am, and Akon. Also included is a previously unreleased single, "For All Time."

  • Not applicable.
  • "Beat It" talks about fighting, gangs, and being macho.
  • Minor sexual innuendo: "Only you and I can make sweet love this way." Remix versions are a little more forward than the originals: "sexiest woman in a negligee/we hit it off til' morn" and "sexy thang/sex machine/peel (jeans) off like a tangerine."

What's the story?

Michael Jackson's THRILLER has been re-released 25 years after it made its way into everyone's homes. In addition to the original nine-song album that has been remastered, there are six remixes featuring Kanye West, Fergie, Will.i.am, and Akon, and a previously unreleased single "For All Time" that didn't make the cut for the first album. There's also a deluxe version with a DVD.


Is it any good?

 

Akon's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is commendable, with an added club beat and a few lyrics. Fergie's rendition of "Beat It" is a waste of time, and Kanye adds little to "Billie Jean" other than an "unh" and "yeh" here and there. (Maybe he wisely realized you shouldn't mess with a good thing.) Will.i.am adds some sleazy lyrics to "P.Y.T." and slows it down to where it barely resembles the original. On "The Girl Is Mine 08," there's no Sir Paul, but there are some annoying chants from Will.i.am saying "she mine she mine/she like the way I rock". Still, this album is Jacko in his element, dazzling and timeless, and reminds us why he was the pre-eminent pop star of a generation.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the lasting success of Thriller (still the greatest selling album of all time) and what makes it so. What kind of influence and effect did Michael Jackson have on artists and pop music today? Do you think his recent media attention, mostly negative, affects the way people view his music today? Or does his music stand on its own?


This review was written by Jessica Dawson
Teen, 16 years old
June 26, 2009
 
Michael Jackson & Death.
I love Michael Jackson, but I can't buy the albums I've been trying and trying to sneak them. But after the death of Michael Jackson at age 50. Is just sad, so my dad let me buy all the albums, Thank good-ness. Memory of Michael Jackson ~ 1958-2009 ~ Death Date & Time: 2:26 PM At June 25th Of 2009. At the L.A hospital with 2,456 people surrounding the hospital. I was there, but in the VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY back. I

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Teen, 16 years old
September 14, 2009
 
I'm So Happy I Bought This
The songs never swear, the beats are fun to dance to, the songs have actual meaning, and Michael Jackson was a great preformer as well as a great man.

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Kid, 10 years old
January 11, 2010
 
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
I LOVE THE SONG!I SAW IT ON TV!TV!STILL,LOVE THE SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

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Teen, 15 years old
October 31, 2009
 
Greatest Selling album of all time
Michael Jackson is the best! This is the greatest album of all time, the biggest selling of all time. It's the best. I never got to grow up with Michael Jacksons music. I was born in 1996 while he was beginning his HIStory World Tour.

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Teen, 14 years old
September 30, 2009
 
great for tweens and up
I thought thriller the song was great and the music video makes me want to dance it would be a little scary for kids under 10

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Kid, 12 years old
August 7, 2009
 
i love it!AND MICHAEL JACKSON!!!!!!
i love it!im 9 and my whole family lets us listen.we even let my 5 year old sister listen!cool huh?i love thriller! i can see why its such a hit!i dont get why some people think its so inapropriate.and yes theres a little violence and stuff but i just dont depend on the content,just the music!R.I.P michael!i love you!

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Teen, 14 years old
August 4, 2009
 
It's Okay for anyone older than 8
I personally think if they(kids)know whats right & wrong and what to belive in, then they will be fine.

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Teen, 15 years old
October 13, 2009
 
Best seller of all time and for good reason. Great music by the king of pop, with the greatest hit of all time, Thriller. This is his best CD ever (next is Bad). The music videos have a lot of sex content in them, but the songs are fine. It sucks how he passed away.

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Kid, 13 years old
September 14, 2009
 
AMAZONG!!!!!!!!
RIP Michael no one will replace you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Kid, 13 years old
August 23, 2009
 
Great Songs!
I really love his music I starting listen to his music when he pass away. RIP Micheal Jackson 1958-2009

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This review was written by Jessica Dawson
Artist:Michael Jackson
Release date:February 12, 2008
Label:Sony Music
Genre:Pop
Parental advisory:No

This review was written by Jessica Dawson
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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