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 Once upon a time, Michael was "Bad"!! Aug 29, 2008
Amazingly, Michael Jackson turns 50 today. While these days, he's in the press for all the wrong reasons (well, most of the time), there was a time he was also in the press mainly about the great music he released.
1987 was such a time. The world was waiting hungrily for his follow up to the Grammy guzzling, best selling album ever (a record it holds to date), and Michael wisely reteamed with super producer Quincy Jones. The album found Michael penning 9 of the 11 tracks, the first time so many of his songs were used on any of his albums and showing his growing confidence as a songwriter.
While there are those that believe "Thriller" to be the best album ever released, I feel "Bad" was an excellent follow up, as good as, or even better than "Thriller". Lead-off single, the syrupy sweet duet with sound alike Sieddah Garret (the #1 hit "I just can't stop loving you") aside, every track is a delight.
#1 hit "Bad" has a deep sonuous riff and blaring horns racing ahead at full speed. #1 hit "The way you make me feel" has a swinging retro whiplash feel, "Speed demon" with its sparse funky riff and skeletal beats finds Michael treading in Prince territory, the bewitching ballad "Liberian girl" with excellent vocal layering and a sensuous groove (which oddly features some lyrics in the un-Liberian language Swahili. The video was a star studded affair), and the energetic funky duet "Just good friends" with Stevie Wonder. Michael would return the favour on "Get it" from Wonder's "Characters" album.
"Another part of me" is a funky horn peppered futuristic tale which will get you moving. The #1 hit "Man in the mirror" features one of Michael's most emotional performances, backed by a stunning choral performance by the Andre Crouch Choir. Unfortunately, it seems he was so inspired by this song, he later went on to pen the rather maudlin "Heal the world", "Earth song", et all.
The #1 hit "Dirty diana" is a hard Rock number alternating between gentle haunting verses and an explosive chorus, telling the tale of a Rock groupie. It features a blistering guitar solo by Steve Stevens.
"Smooth criminal" is high-octane Dance/Pop, one of the catchiest songs on the album (and featured the heartbeat of his then manager Frank DiLeo, no doubt worrying about sales of the album), and closing is his message to the press, the rolicking Pop song "Leave me alone", a UK #2 hit.
The album "Bad" had an unprecedented 5 US #1 singles (the only album to date to achieve this feat) and 8 UK top 20 hits, and sold about 25 million copies worldwide (including becoming his biggest selling album ever in the UK). While not matching sales of "Thriller", I bet it helped calm Mr DiLeo's pulse rate.
 Not too "Bad" at all... Jul 31, 2008
Having released the best-selling-album-ever just five years before pushing this one out to the market was, already, a quite difficult milestone. However, "Bad" still delivers good music not to disappoint the true fans, even though it did disapointed the critics and the profane masses expecting a "Thriller v.2".
If compared with "Thriller" this one would definitely look unfairly like a poor recording, but when listened as a standalone project (what it really is) you'll find quite a good R&B dance pop album, delivering quality, creativity and a several pop gems. Remarkable collaborations also helped to made this one an essential.
Keeping in mind it was dated on 1987, you'll understand why this chap was used to be considered then the "king of pop" as it sounds far ahead from it's era... far so good that it even gave the enough reasons for the jealous to start the harassment that lead to Michael Jackson decline. It marks the beginning of the end of a legend, away from the music scenario.
A personal masterpiece on Michael Jackson's career, carefully produced by Quincy Jones, who also deserves a special recognition on being the one who put "Off the Wall", "Thriller", "Bad" and Michael Jackson himself on the place they are, even today, no matter the resentful: at the pop highest.
For a full "Bad experience" customers and real fans might find interesting to get also a copy of the complementary movie, 'Moonwalker', which showcases a kindo story around the "Bad" songs (keeping also in mind that the imdb rating is 4.7/10 as of today...):
Micheal Jackson - Moonwalker [Non-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import]
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Mislead Jun 18, 2008
Advertisement promises no scratches on CD. Not so, there are many blimishes on item, but it plays.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
BAD, as good as Thriller May 01, 2008
This is an amazing album with 5 top 10 hits. This is Michael at the peak of his powers. Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, Dirty Diana, Leave Me Alone, I just Can't Stop Loving You, Another Part of Me, Man in the Mirror, and Smooth Criminal are all iconic Michael Jackson tracks. The quality of these songs are comparable to that of Beat It, Thriller, Billie Jean, Human Nature, PYT, Baby Be Mine and the other hits from the Thriller album.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
BAD, a classic masterpiece from the Michael Jackson, the God of Pop, Rock and Soul Jul 13, 2007
Michael Jackson is an inspiration. From his breathtaking "hee hee"s to his stunning "aow!"s to his vocals - which make every other artist on the planet seem like crap - everything about this incredible voice is unbelievable. BAD is a personification of Michael Jackson - dangerous, sexy, and with a rough edge - and the way this album makes you feel is incredible. Eleven stunning tracks, each individual in its own right, and yet the album is united by the common elements which make Michael such a wonderful singer. Michael Jackson is and always will be the King of Music, and I cannot wait for his new album, which promises to be another wonderful masterpiece. Treasure BAD - there will be nothing like it by any other artist ever again. It is a masterpiece.
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