There may have never been more pressure on a performer to maintain momentum than on Michael Jackson after the phenomenal success of Thriller. Thriller still stands as the best non-compilation album of all time and it would be easy to choke trying to follow up such an accomplishment. After a reunion album with his brothers and a supporting tour he began working on his next studio album. When it was released Michael Jackson’s Bad was another blockbuster success for the King of Pop spawning an impressive five number one hits. In my opinion its not as strong or as enduring as Off The Wall or Thriller but it definitely has some fantastic moments. It also has a few tracks that are truly forgettable. Yet, in the end its still a blue print and an iconic album in pop history.
The album begins with the bombastic smash “Bad”. This song is really more of a “Beat It Pt. II” where Jackson once again pushes the boundaries of both R&B and rock. The song is one that he is well known for and although I do like it I think it doesn’t stand as one of the stronger moments in his discography and quite possibly one of his weakest number one hits. On the other hand, “The Way You Make Me Feel” is one of the best songs of his career. Jackson is in flirty form on this one as he attempts to romance a girl walking by. The vocals are filled with charisma and a nice balance of confidence and charm. This song just makes me feel exuberant every time I hear it. “Smooth Criminal” is another smash from this album that stand up to the test of the time. It has a crisp, aggressive attitude giving Jackson far more of the “bad” image than the title track. The three songs were tracks you could not avoid in the mid eighties. “Dirty Diana: is just as smoldering with its rock edge and bitter vocals. Then we have two wonderful ballads. “Man In The Mirror” is a beautiful song filled with heart and soul. I really do think this song is one of the first that really made me think of how important it is to help others. If any song helped instill the value of altruism for me it would be this one. I remember watching the video and just feeling a profound sense of sadness. Putting the message aside, the song itself is filled with such emotion and his delivery is passionate and definitive. The tinkling synthesizers, the gospel choir all conspire to make another essential Michael Jackson moment. “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” is a song I thought was a bit boring back in the day but now I enjoy it much more now. It’s subtle and romantic with lots of swirling piano and keyboards.
Some have described the exotic “Liberian Girl” as filler but I’ve never really seen it that way. I thought it was something very different from what he offered in the past and I think the harmonies and melody are intoxicating. I think everything from the keyboards to the lush vocals create an ambiance very successfully. Definitely a beautiful and enchanting song with vocals proving yet again Jackson has the skill to back up his status as a legend. “Speed Demon” has definitely grown on me over the years. It’s not the song of his career by any means but it makes for an interesting listen. Definitely does something different here as well.
Another odd little track that turned out to be a hit is the defiant “Leave Me Alone” Half admonishment, half plea for privacy this song is Jackson beginning to lash out at the media’s relentless obsession with him and his more eccentric choices. Jackson and his relationship with the media is one we would see echoed ever since. Whether it be intense scrutiny of Miley Cyrus’s photoshoot or Britney’s bald head….Jackson was one of the first celebrities I can remember who was literally stalked by a media circus.
While Off The Wall and Thriller had no skippable tracks Bad gives us a few. The first one is the duet between Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder “Just Good Friends”. How a song featuring two of the best singers and performers of our time could be so forgettable is beyond me. The production is dated and cheesy sounding and even though both of them riff off each other beautifully you can’t really hear it. The horrendous production drowns them both out. “Another Part of Me” is disposable as well. Sounds like there was a debate whether an outtake called “Streetwalker” or this song were going on the album. They should have gone with “Streetwalker”. While neither one is a high point in his career the later was far more likable.
Overall Bad is another strong and dynamic entry into Michael Jackson’s catalog. When compared to Thriller it comes up a little short but if you compare it to most pop albums nowadays it’s a consistent, strong piece of work. Another collection of songs that testify to his impact on the industry and his unstoppable talent. This is yet another must for any music collector to have in their collection.
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