Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall": The Rankdown (COMPLETE)

[Soulsista]

It's been almost a year since the Thriller rankdown, and I finally found enough time to do another one of these. Off The Wall was MJ's first album on the Epic label, and the first to be produced by Quincy Jones. It was the first studio album to produce four Top 10 hits, with two hitting #1. It also won a Grammy and three American Music Awards. Thriller may be Michael's biggest album, but Off The Wall was his most important, as it helped set the stage for Thriller.

Here are the ten songs we'll be ranking:

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Rock With You
Workin' Day And Night
Get On The Floor
Off The Wall
Girlfriend
She's Out Of My Life
I Can't Help It
It's The Falling In Love (w/Patti Austin)
Burn This Disco Out




Final rankings will use an inverse point system.

Submissions are tentatively due November 10.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}312999 aerodynamite alexcuse annoymous1 anthony11554 bat1990 BB🌕 beyoncelover Linnethia Monique Private Dancer ccarter1023 chanman CF15 Verisimilitude Willow Rinadoobee Breakfast craziaskowboi Unhinged divasummer DJDaveMick69 Glove Slap Doc Indie Party Rock Enyasurvivor Ezekiel 23:20–21 fearlessarrow Troublemaker singingrulebritannia God gonecountry Gonza'90 newpower Sambalada ilikemilk HamedM1 💔 .indulgecountry Jay D83 jenglisbe Juanca emerald jtd Thee Stallion khan peacebone Ky legend1982 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 M5AGTS mamooshka #LisaRinna Sir Benji Mayman SHOOTER Kelly's 10th Fan razorshark Red rowellfarm490 SabrinaFan samo🦕 sergejdordij stallie Active Aggressive toomuchboy Mirago Trilogy Ty Mic Technique B-Boy Wave. willapted33 wyckyd zippy

[312999]

100 percent in.

[• Господин Умљеновић •]

Will be sending.

Btw will there be ranks for Bad, Dangerous etc?

[Soulsista]

Oct 27, 2023 12:57:37 GMT -5 • Господин Умљеновић • said:

Will be sending.

Btw will there be ranks for Bad, Dangerous etc?

Yep, we'll get there.

[jenglisbe]

Off the Wall is one of my favorite albums of all-time! I love every song except for one ha. I won't spoil which one, but on my version I replace it with "Love Never Felt So Good" as for me that one fits right on Off the Wall.

[🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲]

I'm all in. Should be super easy to rank. I definitely know which ones I'll be ranking at the very top and bottom. 😉

[Soulsista]

7 DAYS LEFT!

Participants:
1. Soulsista
2. God
3. jenglisbe
4. wyckyd
5. zippy
6. Mayman
7. jtd Thee Stallion

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}312999 aerodynamite alexcuse annoymous1 anthony11554 bat1990 BB🌕 beyoncelover Linnethia Monique Private Dancer ccarter1023 chanman CF15 Verisimilitude Willow Rinadoobee Breakfast craziaskowboi Unhinged divasummer DJDaveMick69 Glove Slap Doc Indie Party Rock Enyasurvivor Ezekiel 23:20–21 fearlessarrow Troublemaker singingrulebritannia God gonecountry Gonza'90 newpower Sambalada ilikemilk HamedM1 💔 .indulgecountry Jay D83 jenglisbe Juanca emerald jtd Thee Stallion khan peacebone Ky legend1982 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 M5AGTS mamooshka #LisaRinna Sir Benji Mayman SHOOTER Kelly's 10th Fan razorshark Red rowellfarm490 SabrinaFan samo🦕 sergejdordij stallie Active Aggressive toomuchboy Mirago Trilogy Ty Mic Technique B-Boy Wave. willapted33 wyckyd zippy

[• Господин Умљеновић •]

I will send soon.
Been listening to this album a čit lately, with Thriller.
Which is a surprise as I did not really like them... But something changed and I find both albums great.

[Soulsista]

3 DAYS LEFT!

Participants:
1. Soulsista
2. God
3. jenglisbe
4. wyckyd
5. zippy
6. Mayman
7. jtd Thee Stallion
8. • Господин Умљеновић •
9. Troublemaker
10. 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}312999 aerodynamite alexcuse annoymous1 anthony11554 bat1990 BB🌕 beyoncelover Linnethia Monique Private Dancer ccarter1023 chanman CF15 Verisimilitude Willow Rinadoobee Breakfast craziaskowboi Unhinged divasummer DJDaveMick69 Glove Slap Doc Indie Party Rock Enyasurvivor Ezekiel 23:20–21 fearlessarrow Troublemaker singingrulebritannia God gonecountry Gonza'90 newpower Sambalada ilikemilk HamedM1 💔 .indulgecountry Jay D83 jenglisbe Juanca emerald jtd Thee Stallion khan peacebone Ky legend1982 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 M5AGTS mamooshka #LisaRinna Sir Benji Mayman SHOOTER Kelly's 10th Fan razorshark Red rowellfarm490 SabrinaFan samo🦕 sergejdordij stallie Active Aggressive toomuchboy Mirago Trilogy Ty Mic Technique B-Boy Wave. willapted33 wyckyd zippy • Господин Умљеновић •

[312999]

Oh crap I didn’t realize the deadline was so soon, I’ll work on it soon definitely. Shouldn’t take long at all.

[Soulsista]

2 DAYS LEFT!

Participants:
1. Soulsista
2. God
3. jenglisbe
4. wyckyd
5. zippy
6. Mayman
7. jtd Thee Stallion
8. • Господин Умљеновић •
9. Troublemaker
10. 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲
11. B-Boy
12. singingrulebritannia
13. khan

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}312999 aerodynamite alexcuse annoymous1 anthony11554 bat1990 BB🌕 beyoncelover Linnethia Monique Private Dancer ccarter1023 chanman CF15 Verisimilitude Willow Rinadoobee Breakfast craziaskowboi Unhinged divasummer DJDaveMick69 Glove Slap Doc Indie Party Rock Enyasurvivor Ezekiel 23:20–21 fearlessarrow Troublemaker singingrulebritannia God gonecountry Gonza'90 newpower Sambalada ilikemilk HamedM1 💔 .indulgecountry Jay D83 jenglisbe Juanca emerald jtd Thee Stallion khan peacebone Ky legend1982 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 M5AGTS mamooshka #LisaRinna Sir Benji Mayman SHOOTER Kelly's 10th Fan razorshark Red rowellfarm490 SabrinaFan samo🦕 sergejdordij stallie Active Aggressive toomuchboy Mirago Trilogy Ty Mic Technique B-Boy Wave. willapted33 wyckyd zippy • Господин Умљеновић •

[Soulsista]

1 DAY LEFT!

Participants:
1. Soulsista
2. God
3. jenglisbe
4. wyckyd
5. zippy
6. Mayman
7. jtd Thee Stallion
8. • Господин Умљеновић •
9. Troublemaker
10. 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲
11. B-Boy
12. singingrulebritannia
13. khan
14. .indulgecountry

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}312999 aerodynamite alexcuse annoymous1 anthony11554 bat1990 BB🌕 beyoncelover Linnethia Monique Private Dancer ccarter1023 chanman CF15 Verisimilitude Willow Rinadoobee Breakfast craziaskowboi Unhinged divasummer DJDaveMick69 Glove Slap Doc Indie Party Rock Enyasurvivor Ezekiel 23:20–21 fearlessarrow Troublemaker singingrulebritannia God gonecountry Gonza'90 newpower Sambalada ilikemilk HamedM1 💔 .indulgecountry Jay D83 jenglisbe Juanca emerald jtd Thee Stallion khan peacebone Ky legend1982 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 M5AGTS mamooshka #LisaRinna Sir Benji Mayman SHOOTER Kelly's 10th Fan razorshark Red rowellfarm490 SabrinaFan samo🦕 sergejdordij stallie Active Aggressive toomuchboy Mirago Trilogy Ty Mic Technique B-Boy Wave. willapted33 wyckyd zippy • Господин Умљеновић •

[beyoncelover]

Ah I've been so busy but was finally able to squeeze in some time for this. Just sent in my list!

[zippy]

It looks like there won’t be nearly as many participants as there were in the Thriller rankdown. I get that Off The Wall isn’t as renowned but it is of similar quality and shouldn’t get overlooked.

[Soulsista]

SUBMISSIONS DUE TODAY!

Participants:
1. Soulsista
2. God
3. jenglisbe
4. wyckyd
5. zippy
6. Mayman
7. jtd Thee Stallion
8. • Господин Умљеновић •
9. Troublemaker
10. 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲
11. B-Boy
12. singingrulebritannia
13. khan
14. .indulgecountry
15. beyoncelover
16. emerald
17. rowellfarm490
18. 312999
19. mamooshka
20. willapted33
21. divasummer
22. samo🦕

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}312999 aerodynamite alexcuse annoymous1 anthony11554 bat1990 BB🌕 beyoncelover Linnethia Monique Private Dancer ccarter1023 chanman CF15 Verisimilitude Willow Rinadoobee Breakfast craziaskowboi Unhinged divasummer DJDaveMick69 Glove Slap Doc Indie Party Rock Enyasurvivor Ezekiel 23:20–21 fearlessarrow Troublemaker singingrulebritannia God gonecountry Gonza'90 newpower Sambalada ilikemilk HamedM1 💔 .indulgecountry Jay D83 jenglisbe Juanca emerald jtd Thee Stallion khan peacebone Ky legend1982 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 M5AGTS mamooshka #LisaRinna Sir Benji Mayman SHOOTER Kelly's 10th Fan razorshark Red rowellfarm490 SabrinaFan samo🦕 sergejdordij stallie Active Aggressive toomuchboy Mirago Trilogy Ty Mic Technique B-Boy Wave. willapted33 wyckyd zippy • Господин Умљеновић •

[Soulsista]

LAST CALL!

Participants:
1. Soulsista
2. God
3. jenglisbe
4. wyckyd
5. zippy
6. Mayman
7. jtd Thee Stallion
8. • Господин Умљеновић •
9. Troublemaker
10. 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲
11. B-Boy
12. singingrulebritannia
13. khan
14. .indulgecountry
15. beyoncelover
16. emerald
17. rowellfarm490
18. 312999
19. mamooshka
20. willapted33
21. divasummer
22. samo🦕
23. newpower
24. annoymous1


SUBMISSIONS WILL CLOSE AT NOON EASTERN TOMORROW, SO IF YOU STILL WANT TO PARTICIPATE THEN GET YOUR LIST IN NOW!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}312999 aerodynamite alexcuse annoymous1 anthony11554 bat1990 BB🌕 beyoncelover Linnethia Monique Private Dancer ccarter1023 chanman CF15 Verisimilitude Willow Rinadoobee Breakfast craziaskowboi Unhinged divasummer DJDaveMick69 Glove Slap Doc Indie Party Rock Enyasurvivor Ezekiel 23:20–21 fearlessarrow Troublemaker singingrulebritannia God gonecountry Gonza'90 newpower Sambalada ilikemilk HamedM1 💔 .indulgecountry Jay D83 jenglisbe Juanca emerald jtd Thee Stallion khan peacebone Ky legend1982 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 M5AGTS mamooshka #LisaRinna Sir Benji Mayman SHOOTER Kelly's 10th Fan razorshark Red rowellfarm490 SabrinaFan samo🦕 sergejdordij stallie Active Aggressive toomuchboy Mirago Trilogy Ty Mic Technique B-Boy Wave. willapted33 wyckyd zippy • Господин Умљеновић •

[Active Aggressive]

Thanks for the extension. Been uber busy but will submit tonight.

[Soulsista]

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED!

Final List Of Participants:
1. Soulsista
2. God
3. jenglisbe
4. wyckyd
5. zippy
6. Mayman
7. jtd Thee Stallion
8. • Господин Умљеновић •
9. Troublemaker
10. 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲
11. B-Boy
12. singingrulebritannia
13. khan
14. .indulgecountry
15. beyoncelover
16. emerald
17. rowellfarm490
18. 312999
19. mamooshka
20. willapted33
21. divasummer
22. samo🦕
23. newpower
24. annoymous1
25. Kelly's 10th Fan
26. Active Aggressive


REVEALS WILL START TOMORROW!

[SHOOTER]

I submitted for this in my head. Can’t wait for reveals.

[Soulsista]

Welcome to Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall": The Rankdown!

As a reminder, here are the ten songs you were asked to rank:

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Rock With You
Workin' Day And Night
Get On The Floor
Off The Wall
Girlfriend
She's Out Of My Life
I Can't Help It
It's The Falling In Love (w/Patti Austin)
Burn This Disco Out


We kick off this rankdown with the song that has the 2nd lowest SD. Eight of us will get a perfect ranking, and just one person placed this in their Top 5.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}God jenglisbe wyckyd @zipppulse Mayman jtd Thee Stallion • Господин Умљеновић • Troublemaker 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 B-Boy singingrulebritannia khan .indulgecountry beyoncelover emerald rowellfarm490 312999 mamooshka willapted33 divasummer samo🦕 newpower annoymous1 Kelly's 10th Fan Active Aggressive SHOOTER

[Soulsista]

We're gonna have to tell him
You'll only be a girlfriend of mine



10. Girlfriend

Written by Paul McCartney, "Girlfriend" was the fifth and final single from Off The Wall, released exclusively in the UK in July 1980. It peaked at #41 on the British chart.

Paul had always intended the song for Michael, though he and his band Wings recorded it first.




Points: 61
Average: 8.65
Standard Deviation: 1.384 (2nd lowest)

wyckyd - 5

jenglisbe - 6
samo🦕 - 6

jtd Thee Stallion - 7

Troublemaker - 8
.indulgecountry - 8
312999 - 8
mamooshka - 8
newpower - 8

God - 9
zippy - 9
Mayman - 9
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 9
B-Boy - 9
singingrulebritannia - 9
beyoncelover - 9
rowellfarm490 - 9
divasummer - 9

Soulsista - 10
• Господин Умљеновић • - 10
khan - 10
emerald - 10
willapted33 - 10
annoymous1 - 10
Kelly's 10th Fan - 10
Active Aggressive - 10

Observing
SHOOTER


And we go from the 2nd lowest SD to the 2nd highest SD. Four people will lose a Top 5, five more will get a perfect ranking.

[Soulsista]

So I've learned that love's not possession
And I've learned that love won't wait
Now I've learned that love needs expression
But I learned too late



9. She's Out Of My Life

Written by Tom Bahler, it was speculated the song was about Karen Carpenter, though Bahler says that's not the case.

"The fact is, I had already written that song by the time Karen and I became romantic. That song was written more about Rhonda Rivera... Rhonda and I had been together for two years, and it was after we broke up that I started dating Karen."

Quincy Jones had intended to use it for Frank Sinatra, but gave it to MJ as he wanted him to record more mature material. During the recording sessions Michael would break down toward the end of the song. He tried numerous times to restrain himself but failed, so Quincy decided to use the emotional ending.

"She's Out Of My Life" was released in April 1980 as the fourth single from Off The Wall. It peaked at #10 on the Hot 100 and #43 on the soul chart, and reached the Top 5 in the UK and Ireland.

Here's the demo:




Points: 74
Average: 8.15
Standard Deviation: 2.428 (2nd highest)

God - 3
Troublemaker - 3
beyoncelover - 3

newpower - 5

khan - 6
Active Aggressive - 6

• Господин Умљеновић • - 7
B-Boy - 7
annoymous1 - 7

Soulsista - 9
emerald - 9
willapted33 - 9
samo🦕 - 9
Kelly's 10th Fan - 9

jenglisbe - 10
wyckyd - 10
zippy - 10
Mayman - 10
jtd Thee Stallion - 10
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 10
singingrulebritannia - 10
.indulgecountry - 10
rowellfarm490 - 10
312999 - 10
mamooshka - 10
divasummer - 10

Observing
SHOOTER


The next reveal has the lowest SD. Three Top 5s go down, along with twelve perfect rankings.

[Soulsista]

No matter how it starts, it ends the same
Someone's always doing someone more
Trading in the passion for that taste of pain
It's only gonna happen again



8. It's The Falling In Love (w/Patti Austin)

"It's The Falling In Love" was written by Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster, and originally recorded by Carole for her album ...Too. It's also been recorded by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Samantha Sang, and Dionne Warwick.

Here's Carole's version.




Points: 91
Average: 7.50
Standard Deviation: 1.273 (Lowest)

khan - 5
.indulgecountry - 5
divasummer - 5

wyckyd - 6

jenglisbe - 7
Mayman - 7
Troublemaker - 7
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 7
312999 - 7
mamooshka - 7
Kelly's 10th Fan - 7

Soulsista - 8
zippy - 8
jtd Thee Stallion - 8
• Господин Умљеновић • - 8
B-Boy - 8
singingrulebritannia - 8
beyoncelover - 8
emerald - 8
rowellfarm490 - 8
willapted33 - 8
samo🦕 - 8
annoymous1 - 8

Active Aggressive - 9

God - 10
newpower - 10

Observing
SHOOTER


The next reveal will see someone lose their #2. Eight others will get a perfect ranking.

[jenglisbe]

"She's Out of My Life" has always felt a bit demo-ish to me, but more so it just feels out of place on an album where every other song is uptempo (or close enough). As I referenced in another post, on my version of the album I replace it with "Love Never Felt So Good."

I'm not surprised by "Girlfriend" coming in at #10 as I know it's seen as slight/silly, but it's just really catchy to me.

[Soulsista]

There's a stampede
And it's comin' after you
You can take it
If you only let your feelings through



7. Burn This Disco Out

Written by Rod Temperton, "Burn This Disco Out" closes out the Off The Wall album.


Points: 111
Average: 6.73
Standard Deviation: 1.511 (5th highest)

samo🦕 - 2

• Господин Умљеновић • - 5

Mayman - 6
jtd Thee Stallion - 6
Troublemaker - 6
beyoncelover - 6
emerald - 6
312999 - 6
mamooshka - 6
willapted33 - 6
annoymous1 - 6
Kelly's 10th Fan - 6

Soulsista - 7
God - 7
zippy - 7
singingrulebritannia - 7
khan - 7
.indulgecountry - 7
rowellfarm490 - 7
newpower - 7

🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 8
divasummer - 8
Active Aggressive - 8

jenglisbe - 9
wyckyd - 9

B-Boy - 10

Observing
SHOOTER


The last song to miss the Top 5 has the highest SD. We'll lose our first #1, and three people will get a perfect ranking.

[Soulsista]

Looking in my mirror
Took me by surprise
I can't help but see you
Running often through my mind



6. I Can't Help It

Written by Stevie Wonder and Susaye Greene, "I Can't Help It" has been sampled numerous times over the years, most notably in "Here We Go Again!" by Portrait and "Breakadawn" by De La Soul.

Here's the demo.



Apologies to jenglisbe...


Points: 115
Average: 6.58
Standard Deviation: 2.641 (Highest)

jenglisbe - 1

God - 2
wyckyd - 2

zippy - 3

B-Boy - 4

Soulsista - 5
Troublemaker - 5
rowellfarm490 - 5
Active Aggressive - 5

🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 6
singingrulebritannia - 6
divasummer - 6

emerald - 7
willapted33 - 7

Mayman - 8
khan - 8
Kelly's 10th Fan - 8

jtd Thee Stallion - 9
• Господин Умљеновић • - 9
.indulgecountry - 9
312999 - 9
mamooshka - 9
newpower - 9
annoymous1 - 9

beyoncelover - 10
samo🦕 - 10

Observing
SHOOTER

[Soulsista]

The Top 5:

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Rock With You
Workin' Day And Night
Get On The Floor
Off The Wall


Which of these songs will take the crown? And where will the final last place ranking land?

Find out tomorrow!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}God jenglisbe wyckyd @zipppulse Mayman jtd Thee Stallion • Господин Умљеновић • Troublemaker 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 B-Boy singingrulebritannia khan .indulgecountry beyoncelover emerald rowellfarm490 312999 mamooshka willapted33 divasummer samo🦕 newpower annoymous1 Kelly's 10th Fan Active Aggressive SHOOTER

[beyoncelover]

10. Girlfriend: This was pretty good but with it being my #9, it wasn't really a standout to me. It's good but fine with this ranking for it.

9. She's Out Of My Life: Ugh noooo, not my #3 showing up already. Ugh I'm so sad and disappointed to see this song show up already. But I guess I am not too surprised. :'( This is a really beautiful and stunning song. One of my top favorites from Michael.

8. It's The Falling In Love (w/Patti Austin): Oooh yayy I got a perfect ranking for this one as I ranked this at #8! I was thinking and ready to rank this last but then I enjoyed it more than I thought. Really good song but fine with it showing up now.

7. Burn This Disco Out: I'm fine with my #6 showing up as I didn't want to see this make the Top 5 but was hoping for my #10 to show up first.This is a really fun and entertaining song but I just loved some others more.

6. I Can't Help It: Oooh interesting that this song got the highest SD - but it makes sense with these rankings. This was my #10 so yeah I was ready for this song to show up and I am pleased it missed the Top 5. I do like it but just happened to like the other songs more.

I got my #1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 all left. Great Top 5! Pulling for my Top 2 but wouldn't be mad at my #4 winning.

[• Господин Умљеновић •]

5 7 8 9 & 10 out. I can say I am ok with whatever in the top 3. But I guess my top 3 is real top 3, even maybe top 4

[Soulsista]

This song was first recorded in 1979 for Off The Wall, but was ultimately left off. It was recorded again in 1982 for inclusion on Thriller, but didn't make the cut there either. The demo later surfaced on The Ultimate Collection and Thriller 40.

Sunset Driver