IFLTS: 'ABC,' the Jackson 5

Posted on Jun 30th 2009 3:30PM by Beville Darden
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'ABC,' the Jackson 5
From 1970's 'ABC'

The simplistic, kindergarten-lesson-like lyrics of 'ABC' obviously take me back to my childhood. But they also take me back to Michael's. This is one of those songs I can't hear without visualizing who's singing it. When the 12-year-old future King of Pop yells, "Sit down girl! I think I love you!," in that high-pitched voice, I picture that adorable kid in his natural, pre-plastic surgery state and remember that there was this astronomically talented prodigy who single-handedly changed the course of pop music. And all deep thoughts aside, 'ABC' is just damn catchy. No other song has stood my own test of time from early '80s mix tapes to current iPod playlists. I'll never get tired of putting my Is before Es except after Cs, or adding two plus two to make four.