“Bad” is the title track from Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’ album, released August 31st, 1987 on Epic Records.
The song “Bad” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts on October 24th, 1987, stayed at the #1 position for two consecutive weeks, and has sold over 8.5 million copies worldwide to date.
“Bad” is the second in a string of five consecutive number one hit singles from the multi-platinum album of the same name, and was conceived initially as a duet with Prince.
Michael Jackson: “People used to underestimate my ability as a songwriter. They didn’t think of me as a songwriter, so when I started coming up with songs, they’d look at me like: ‘Who really wrote that?’ I don’t know what they must have thought – that I had someone back in the garage who was writing them for me? But time cleared up those misconceptions. You always have to prove yourself to people and so many of them don’t want to believe.”
The song “Bad” also marks one of the first appearances of a Michael Jackson signature vocal move frequently referred to as “shamone”. The liner notes of the album officially list this as “come on”.
“Bad” was released as a 7” promo single on Epic Records on September 7th, 1987. It was the 2nd single to be released from the ‘Bad’ album. The ‘B’-side of the 7″ promo single is “I Can’t Help It” (4:28).
“Bad” was released as a 12” single on Epic Records on September 7th, 1987. The 12″ single includes the songs “Bad – Extended Dance Mix, Includes False Fade” (8:24), and “Bad – 7″ Single Mix” (4:05) on the ‘A’-side; and the songs “Bad – Dance Remix Radio Edit” (4:50), “Bad – Dub Version” (4:05), and “Bad – A Cappella” (3:49) on the ‘B’-side.
“Bad” was released as a promotional CD single on Epic Records on September 7th, 1987. The promo CD single includes the songs “Bad – Extended Dance Mix, Includes False Fade” (8:24), “Bad – 7″ Single Mix” (4:05), “Bad – Dance Remix Radio Edit” (4:50), “Bad – Dub Version” (4:05), and “Bad – A Cappella” (3:49).
Written and Composed by Michael Jackson
Your butt is mine
Gonna tell you right
Just show your face
In broad daylight
I’m telling you
On how I feel
Gonna hurt your mind
Don’t shoot to kill
Come on,
Come on,
Lay it on me
All right…
I’m giving you
On count of three
To show your stuff
Or let it be…
I’m telling you
Just watch your mouth
I know your game
What you’re about
Well they say the sky’s the limit
And to me that’s really true
But my friend you have seen nothin’
Just wait ’till I get through
Because I’m bad, I’m bad – come on
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
You know I’m bad, I’m bad – you know it
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
You know I’m bad, I’m bad – come on, you know
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
And the whole world has to
Answer right now
Just to tell you once again,
Who’s bad…
The word is out
You’re doin’ wrong
Gonna lock you up
Before too long,
Your lyin’ eyes
Gonna tell you right
So listen up
Don’t make a fight,
Your talk is cheap
You’re not a man
You’re throwin’ stones
To hide your hands
But they say the sky’s the limit
And to me that’s really true
And my friends you have seen nothin’
Just wait ’till I get through…
Because I’m bad, I’m bad – come on
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
You know I’m bad, I’m bad – you know it
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
You know I’m bad, I’m bad – you know it, you know
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
And the whole world has to answer right now
(And the whole world has to answer right now)
Just to tell you once again,
(Just to tell you once again)
Who’s bad…
We can change the world tomorrow
This could be a better place
If you don’t like what I’m sayin’
Then won’t you slap my face…
Because I’m bad, I’m bad – come on
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
You know I’m bad, I’m bad – you know it
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
You know I’m bad, I’m bad – you know it, you know
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
Woo! Woo! Woo!
(And the whole world has to answer right now
Just to tell you once again…)
You know I’m bad, I’m bad – come on
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
You know I’m bad, I’m bad – you know it – you know it
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
You know, you know, you know – come on
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
And the whole world has to answer right now
(And the whole world has to answer right now)
Just to tell you
(Just to tell you once again)
You know I’m smooth – I’m bad – you know it
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
You know I’m bad – I’m bad baby
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
You know, you know, you know it – come on
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
And the whole world has to answer right now
(And the whole world has to answer right now)
Woo!
(Just to tell you once again)
You know I’m bad, I’m bad – you know it
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
You know I’m bad – you know – hoo!
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
You know I’m bad – I’m bad – you know it, you know
(Bad bad – really, really bad)
And the whole world has to answer right now
(And the whole world has to answer right now)
Just to tell you once again…
(Just to tell you once again…)
Who’s bad?
©1987 Mijac Music. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
CREDITS:
“Bad” - written and composed by Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson: Solo and background vocals.
Percussion—How Now Brown Cow.
Jimmy Smith: Hammond B3 Midi organ solo.
Greg Phillinganes: Synthesizer solo.
John Robinson: Drums.
Douglas Getschal: Drum programming.
David Williams: Guitar.
Kim Hutchcroft, Larry Williams: Saxophones.
Gary Grant, Jerry Hey: Trumpets.
Paulinho Da Costa: Percussion.
Christopher Currell: Synclavier keyboards, Digital Guitar, Rubba.
John Barnes, Michael Boddicker, Greg Phillinganes: Synthesizers.
Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson, Christopher Currell and Quincy Jones.
Horn arrangement by Jerry Hey.
Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson.
©1987 Mijac Music.