Michael Jackson Album: “Bad”

I know some of you are going to say it's just plain sacrilegious but hey, just because everybody jumps into the lake.... "Thriller" is a great album with great tracks and because of a variety of fortunate reasons e.g. timeliness, MTV etc, has become the biggest selling album of all-time but that doesn't mean that everything else that MJ comes up with later that doesn't sell as much is crap.

In fact, this is the album when MJ's weirdness first became pretty obvious. "Hey! Is that really Michael on the cover?" was my reaction as well but I chose to look beyond the looks and not to judge the book by the cover and just listened to the tunes. Some of my favourite MJ songs ever are on this disc.

"The Way You Make Me Feel" is an MJ classic and clearly among his top 5 ever songs. "Smooth Criminal" was always a great track even before Alien Ant Farm showed us why, "Liberian Girl" and "Man in the Mirror" are also great tracks and the rest of the tracks cannot be called album filler by any stretch of the imagination.

The sound quality of this special edition has also been remastered to near perfection and the bonus interviews and tracks are a real bonus to fans. This album grows on you over time and for me has aged a lot better than "Thriller" has. Maybe I've heard "Thriller" too many times but give me a choice between the two if I had to put one of them on the cd player, I'd choose "Bad" any time and if not "Off the Wall" before I'd reach for "Thriller."

Get over the Wacko Jacko hangup and just judge the cd for the tracks if you can and then you'll see just how great this album really is. This very well remastered and special edition is very highly recommended.

Like most people, after the sudden death of the King of Pop, my interest in his music grew. Now I'm not one of those guys who ridiculed the man and only started listening to his music after his death, but I only had Thriller and Off the Wall. This album was a welcome addition.

By the time this album came out, Jackson was changing, gaining him the moniker of Wacko Jacko. He had apparently tried to buy the Elephant Man's bones, he was caught sleeping in an oxygen chamber, and as shown on the cover, his skin was steadily lightening. I find it amusing that near the end of his life, he was known more for his escapades than what he should have been known for: his music. This album is a prime example of why he is the King of Pop.

The album has a perfect combination of danceable songs, some gritty rockers, and emotional ballads. From the darker songs, like the opening title track, a rocker about a groupie called Dirty Diana, and the fast-paced Smooth Criminal, it shows MJ's more adult side. Some other catchy tracks include Speed Demon and the mysterious-sounding Another Part of Me, and Leave Me Alone. The more emotional ballads, such as Liberian Girl, I Just Can't Stop Loving You with Siedah Garrett, and the more personal track, Man in the Mirror. He also has a duet with Stevie Wonder in Just Good Friends.

And who could forget the music videos? His one for Bad is an 18-minute classic with Wesley Snipes, where he dons that leather outfit. And Leave me Alone is a facetious response toward the tabloids.

The bonus tracks consist of interviews from producer Quincy Jones, two unreleased tracks, and a Spanish version of I Just Can't Stop Loving You. There could have been more, but it doesn't matter.

This album is a classic, rivaling Thriller. RIP MJ. But don't worry, we still got great pop artists like Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and Lady Gaga. That was sarcasm.

Although I was only 6 when this CD came out, I still know every song from it. The only album in history to have had 5 No.1 singles. At the time (back in the '80's) the No.2 album of all time. Who didn't know who Michael Jackson was? Who didn't know these killer songs? Like 'Bad', who doesn't know that song? The infamous video in the N.Y subway, the organ solo in the middle of the song? Great song, classic. Now 'The Way You Make Me Feel' is a great Michael Jackson song that deserves a lot of credit not only for its barely visable new-jack swing (yes its there, don't even say it isn't) and great beat. This song rocks from beginning to end. Now 'Speed Demon' isn't too bad, it is a bit repetitive, but good. I like the video for it that is in the mini-movie 'Moonwalker'. Check it out. 'Liberian Girl' was never released in the US but was released in England to huge response and it is deserving because this is a beautiful song. I really, really like the duet with Stevie Wonder 'Just Good Friends' the song is kickin' from beginning to end. Their vocals sound great together. It is a rare classic of a song that shows what can happen when two great artists such as these get together. 'Another Part Of Me' is also kickin', it was also featured in the Disneyland theme ride 'Captain EO' in which Michael starred but is no longer in service. Now 'Man In The Mirror' is the greatest song of the '80's. It is the whole message behind it that makes it great. The song is just beautiful. Pure genius. Quincy and Michael created a magic in the studio that can never be duplicated. Never. 'I Just Can't Stop Loving You' is also another great duet, this time with Siedah Garrett, who in fact co-wrote 'Man In The Mirror' with Glen Ballard. The song is great, though the intro leaves something to be desired. 'Dirty Diana' is a great power rock-song, it was actually one of Princess Diana's favorite songs. Now 'Smooth Criminal' is my favorite track on this CD, the best song on Bad! By far! The video is slammin' but the song is great! I love it! Now if you can, buy the version of Bad with the extra bonus track 'Leave Me Alone' on it which I think is a great song (though others don't) I love this song. Great beat, great hook, one of the best! So with 'Thriller', this album is one of the best of the '80's. Five out of Five.

It is truly sad that at the event of someone's death that their fame grows to epic proportions, sometimes even more so than when they were at their peak. Jackson has always been a fixation throughout the world as a cultural icon, through and through the controversies that sought to undo "The King of Pop". But even with his less critically praised efforts (INVINCIBLE), Jackson has always had the voice and the showmanship, that is untouchable by anyone else. He has paved the way for Usher, Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown and countless other performers today. BAD, is one phenomenal contribution to pop/R&B music, exploiting Michael Jackson's more rock/pop side. Instilled with hit after hit, one won't find one lax selection on BAD. Sure, THRILLER and sometimes OFF THE WALL are praised as Michael Jackson's signature works, but BAD can't be discounted giving its seven singles, its Grammy nomination for Album of the Year (1987) and its overall commercial success (even if less so than THRILLER).

The album opens up brilliantly with "Bad", the title track, and a #1 single. The production, though from 1987, still sounds cutting edge to this day. Something about Quincy Jones production skills on yet another Jackson album make for one of the most timeless tracks ("Bad") and most timeless albums of our time. My favorite line must definitely be "your butt is mine" with an energized MJ showing off his machismo through this signature track. Here on "Bad", you can hear Michael Jackson borrowing from the groove oriented nature that made James Brown, Michael's idol, such a revolutionary force in rhythm and blues, and the pop music of his time. Vocally, Michael sounds perfectly in tune and gets a grade "A".

"The Way You Make Me Feel" may have an inherit, signature 1980s sound, but as far as songwriting, vocal performance, and even the classicism of the production work is concerned, "The Way You Make Me Feel" is timeless. It ranks in my mind as one of Michael Jackson's very best performances. I'd stack it against any pop or R&B song today and it would easily outdo most or all of them.

"Speed Demon" is given less credit than most of the "hits" from BAD. While it falls bridesmaid to many of the other tracks on BAD for me personally, it is still a killer track. The production rocks with all the synthesized instruments and the electric guitar(s). The hook is incredibly catchy and as always MJ sounds like signature MJ. MJ sounds particularly charged when he facilitates his falsetto.

"Liberian Girl", like "Speed Demon" is also underrated in comparison to the "hits" of BAD. However, it is as consistent as every other track that appears here. "Liberian Girl" tends to be a smooth, mid-tempo track exploiting the utter beauty of MJ's voice. Again, the production is typical of the 1980s, but a certain timelessness is apparent, much like the timelessness of the greatest pop albums of the 1980s (Prince's PURPLE RAIN, George Michael's FAITH, or MJ's own THRILLER). Another sound, highly enjoyable track.

"Just Good Friends" utilizes more cutting edge, electronic-based production work, providing for a cool-sounding, up-tempo number. MJ truly commands the track as always with his unrequited, undeniable swagger and his pitch-perfect, energetic vocals.

"Another Part of Me" features bombastic production work with the King of Pop evoking his signature "hee hee" in falsetto. Few performers manage this "scream" and perhaps the only one still living is Prince (both James Brown and MJ are now gone). Not my favorite track from BAD, but certainly worth the listen, as with anything else on BAD.

"Man In The Mirror" is songwriting gold and there is simply no other way to put it. Like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder before, this song is socially conscious, a theme that many of todays pop and R&B artists fail to incorporate within their albums. After the phenomenal "We Are The World", so many of Jackson's songs took on this socially conscious aspect. Definitely one of my favorites from BAD and one of Jackson's very best. The choir just adds more depth and grandness to this fantastic song.

"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" is another brilliant Jackson song, also notably another Jackson #1. As far as the #1s from BAD, I think it falls victim to being forgotten, though personally I think it is an absolutely lovely song that is very unforgettable. Maybe it doesn't possess the greatness of say "Billie Jean" or "Rock With You", but it certainly shows off Jackson on his "A" game.

"Dirty Diana", yet another #1 shows of MJ getting his Mick Jagger on. Michael Jackson goes all out rock star on this extremely well produced single that is undeniably catchy, filled with soaring electric guitars and all the machismo that goes with rock and roll. A great song, not my personal favorite Jackson hit, but definitely timeless.

"Smooth Criminal" is definitely one of Jackson's best, BEST songs. The production is slick, Jackson's frantic vocals are perfect, and honestly it's just plain COOL!

"Leave Me Alone", like all other BAD tracks is well written and another clear-cut hit. It definitely deserves its accolades and its place in history as a hit by the King of Pop. The production, Michael's vocals, and the songwriting are magnificent.

The above mentioned tracks all appeared from the original release of BAD. Included on the SPECIAL EDITION are a couple of worthwhile bonus tracks including the funky "Streetwalker", a spanish version of "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" ("Todo mi amor eres tu"), and the slick"Fly Away", an unreleased ballad. Also, included are interviews regarding BAD.

Overall, no one can deny this is a 5 star album. Sure, it may play bridesmaid to THRILLER or OFF THE WALL, but it is every bit as notable and enjoyable. MJ doesn't miss a beat. 5 stars.

Michael Jackson had the insurmountable task of following up what was not only the biggest selling album of time, but a real cultural phenomenon. Thriller was released in late 1982 and due to its success it took Mr. Jackson five years to release its follow-up. While Bad obviously was not half as big as Thriller in terms of sales, it is still a great record. The title track finds Mr. Jackson taking a defiant stance and instead of running away from trouble as he did in "Beat It", he stakes it head-on. "The Way You Make Me Feel" is a bright and sunny song that has an incredibly infectious groove. "Just Good Friends" is a real treat as he duets with Stevie Wonder and you get to hear two masters at work. "Man In the Mirror" is a spiritual song that begs one to look at themselves and see that we can all make a difference. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" is a good ballad that is a duet with Siediah Garrett, the songs writer. It was original written to be sung with Whitney Houston, but when she was unavailable, Ms. Garrett stepped in and does a nice good. "Dirty Diana" is a blazing rocker and "Leave Me Alone" is angry tirade against the circus atmosphere that his life had become due to the media. "Smooth Criminal" is a pumping track that has vicious beat and tremendous vocal. Bad does hold one record over Thriller, it became the first album to produce five number one singles ("I Just Can't Stop Loving You", "Bad", "Dirty Diana", "Man In the Mirror" & "The Way You Make Me Feel"). The remastered version has an excellent song that is making its first appearance anywhere, "Streetwalker". The song would have easily fit on the album and fits Mr. Jackson's persona of the time perfectly. "Fly Away" is solid, while the Spanish version of "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" is worth a listen for curiosity's sake, but doesn't offer much else.