Music is timeless; however, it is constantly reinventing itself. Over the course of history, music has given us voices that will stand the test of time. One of those voices is Michael Jackson’s. Over 20 years after the legendary album, “Thriller,” a new breakout star has surfaced atop the pop genre scene, a girl by the name of Taylor Swift.

Swift is arguably pop’s current biggest star; however, some people are going to extremes, and saying that she could eventually surpass the legacy of Michael Jackson. I just want to throw a quick fun fact out there for your amusement: they don’t call Jackson the “King of Pop” for nothing. Jackson revolutionized what it means to be, not only a pop singer, but an entertainer in general. He set the standard for years to come. While Swift may become a huge hit, she will never, ever surpass Michael Jackson, and here’s why.

Jackson devoted his entire life to changing the world and making a difference. While both of them participate in visiting hospitals and working with charities, Jackson went above and beyond what was even expected of him. He created music that had a purpose, music that will live on for centuries to come. Swift is like any other mainstream artist of the 21st century. Her music, while catchy and upbeat, doesn’t have meaning. Jackson sang about healing the world and helping the children. Swift sings about her breakups. Jackson chose to use his gift as means to help other people. So, point 1 goes to MJ.

Let’s move right along to the dancing, everyone’s favorite part. Michael Jackson’s middle name is dance, let’s just admit it. We were all 101% sure that Jackson wasn’t from planet earth when he hit the dance floor. His footwork was just incredible; Swift, on the other hand, is a bit of a different story. We give her an “A” for effort. Taylor Swift should really just stick to her incredible vocal ability and leave the dancing to, well, the dancers. No one compares to Michael Jackson on the dance floor. Sorry, Taylor.

Our next category might be a more even playing field. (Probably not, but one can only hope.) Music videos are crucial to an entertainer’s success. Over time, Swift has been able to create timeless and entertaining videos to accompany her grand musical talent. Her videos are classy, spontaneous, and artistic. The angles that she uses really show off the modern-esque feel that she is trailblazing. Jackson, on the flip side, is the founding father of the term “music video.” Jackson danced with zombies before dancing with zombies was cool. Jackson captivated his audience with his impeccable artistic and creative style. All of his videos were enigmatic  in nature, which always kept his audience guessing.

While I believe that Taylor Swift is on her way to building a memorable legacy of her own, I don’t believe that she can come close to the King of Pop. Swift is fun, outspoken, and friendly, and her future is bright; however, if we continue to compare her to uncomparable people, she will be outshined.