I don't care who you are, everyone likes early MJ, even if they don't know it yet.
Played Thriller (album, not just song) for my daughter in the car the other day. She's been requesting "the Halloween music" every day since.
The popular music I listened to as a teenager is now played on oldies stations.
Ashamed to admit it, but I just play acid jazz. I'll even let iTunes build me a 5-6 hour playlist off of Lebanese Blonde. Probably says not-good things about my friends that they always compliment me on my taste. Thievery Corporation: The Percy Faith of the new millennium.
I have a couple of go-to jazz albums that seem universally appealing and tend to get put on when people I don't know well are coming over. I put on Joao Gilberto/Stan Getz Bossanova or some big band, Count Basie.
I love really early MJ as well - edit: I just realized this might be interpreted as one-upmanship. Not intended that way, just sharing the love.
Guy I know, very southern country-boy surprised me one night. I asked him who his favorite artist/what song was his favorite. Came out with Man in the Mirror by MJ - I was shocked. Could have guessed a hundred songs and never come up with MJ, let alone Man in the Mirror. My favorite MJ song is his production with Paul McCartney, Say, Say, Say - Don't Stop is a close second.