'I Want You Back,' the Jackson 5
From 1969's 'Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5'

Look, I'm pretty young. I missed the Jackson 5's breakthrough hit, 'I Want You Back,' by a long shot, and I wasn't even born when the 'Thriller' video hit the scene. On the cusp of my 11th birthday, I fell in love not with the Jacksons, but with a certain other band of brothers who were seemingly following the path of churning out pop gems. Just -- lightly -- compare Taylor Hanson's style circa 'Mmmbop' to the youthful wail of Michael Jackson, and you might get where I'm going with this; the attitude and range of Jackson's soulful vocals influenced what I was listening to as a kid, before I even knew it. The appreciation came later.

'I Want You Back,' courtesy of Motown, served to be the Jackson 5's first No. 1 song. It is a song that I would've undoubtedly turned the radio up to every day in my bedroom, had I grown up in the right decade. I listen to it now and can't help but smile. I enjoy it for everything you should enjoy a delightful pop song for: its groove, its ability to turn somewhat sad lyrics into a good time and most of all, its memorable melody sung by that little guy with a big voice.



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