Each year, the Library of Congress chooses 25 recordings to add to the National Recording Registry, in an attempt to preserve our nation's aural history. Nominations are made by a Library of Congress preservation board along with input from the public, and this year's additions bring the total up to 250 screams, croons, and stories from the good old U.S. of A. Among the titles announced yesterday, one struck me as particularly appropriate: Michael Jackson's 1982 album, Thriller, which is currently the best-selling record on planet Earth. Not only will these slices of sound be considered "culturally significant" from here on in, they also receive the honor of being blasted off into deep space to remain in orbit. Finally, MJ (or a semblance of him anyway) will be understood by someone, because the human race hasn't done too well in that department.

Among the other recordings honored are the first trans-Atlantic broadcast (1925), the original cast recording of the My Fair Lady soundtrack (1956), and Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman".

See who else gets to run around yelling "YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO! I'M CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT!" under the cut.

1. The first trans-Atlantic broadcast (March 14, 1925)

2. ‘‘Allons a Lafayette,’’ Joseph Falcon (1928)

3. ‘‘Casta Diva,’’ from Bellini’s ‘‘Norma’’; Rosa Ponselle, accompanied by the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Giulio Setti. (recorded Dec. 31, 1928, and Jan. 30, 1929)

4. ‘‘If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again,’’ Thomas A. Dorsey (1934)

5. ‘‘Sweet Lorraine,’’ Art Tatum (Feb. 22, 1940)

6. Fibber’s Closet Opens for the First Time, ‘‘Fibber McGee and Molly’’ radio program (March 4, 1940)

7. Wings Over Jordan, Wings Over Jordan (1941)

8. Fiorello LaGuardia reading the comics (1945)

9. ‘‘Call It Stormy Monday but Tuesday Is Just as Bad,’’ T-Bone Walker (1947)

10. Harry S. Truman speech at the 1948 Democratic National Convention (July 15, 1948)

11. ‘‘The Jazz Scene,’’ various artists (1949)

12. ‘‘It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,’’ Kitty Wells (May 30, 1952)

13. ‘‘My Fair Lady,’’ original cast recording (1956)

14. Navajo Shootingway Ceremony Field Recordings, recorded by David McAllester (1957-1958)

15. ‘‘ ‘Freight Train,’ and Other North Carolina Folk Songs and Tunes,’’ Elizabeth Cotten (1959)

16. Marine Band Concert Album to Help Benefit the National Cultural Center (1963)

17. ‘‘Oh, Pretty Woman,’’ Roy Orbison (1964)

18. ‘‘Tracks of My Tears,’’ Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (1965)

19. ‘‘You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song,’’ Ella Jenkins (1966)

20. ‘‘Music from the Morning of the World,’’ various artists; recorded by David Lewiston (1966)

21. ‘‘For the Roses,’’ Joni Mitchell (1972)

22. ‘‘Headhunters,’’ Herbie Hancock (1973)

23. Ronald Reagan Radio Broadcasts (1976-1979)

24. ‘‘The Sounds of Earth,’’ disc prepared for the Voyager spacecraft (1977)

25. ‘‘Thriller,’’ Michael Jackson (1982)