Six non-consecutive weeks at number one, 2.5 million copies sold in its debut week, and over 45 million units sold worldwide only begin to tell the story of how Michael Jackson's 'Bad' redefined pop music's commercial and creative zenith.
Key Takeaways
- The album Bad by Michael Jackson peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 chart for six non-consecutive weeks in 1987-1988.
- Bad sold 2.5 million copies in the United States during its first week of release on August 31, 1987.
- Globally, Bad has sold over 35 million copies making it the third best-selling album by Michael Jackson.
- Critics gave Bad an average Metacritic score equivalent of 83/100 retrospectively.
- Rolling Stone rated Bad 4/5 stars in 1987 review praising its pop perfection.
- AllMusic awarded Bad 4.5/5 stars calling it a masterpiece of pop.
- Track Bad was produced with 48 audio tracks layered.
- The album Bad features 11 tracks with total runtime of 48 minutes 11 seconds.
- Quincy Jones served as producer for all tracks on Bad using SSL 4000E console.
- The Bad World Tour featured choreography rehearsed for 6 months with 11 dancers.
- Bad's music videos budget totaled $8 million, highest ever at the time.
- Smooth Criminal video introduced anti-gravity lean performed 123 times in shows.
- Track listings: 1. Bad (4:07), 2. The Way You Make Me Feel (4:26), etc. up to 11 tracks.
- Bad single runtime 4:06, written by Michael Jackson, key of B minor.
- The Way You Make Me Feel BPM 114, in G major, length 4:26.
Michael Jackson's album Bad achieved massive global sales and critical acclaim.
Commercial Performance
- The album Bad by Michael Jackson peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 chart for six non-consecutive weeks in 1987-1988.
- Bad sold 2.5 million copies in the United States during its first week of release on August 31, 1987.
- Globally, Bad has sold over 35 million copies making it the third best-selling album by Michael Jackson.
- The title track Bad reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in October 1987.
- Bad was certified 11x Platinum by the RIAA in the US as of 2023.
- In the UK, Bad topped the Albums Chart for 14 weeks between 1987 and 1988.
- The album spawned five US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, a record at the time.
- Bad generated over $125 million in revenue from US sales alone by 1990.
- In Japan, Bad sold 1.2 million copies and was certified 2x Million by RIAJ.
- The album re-entered the Billboard 200 top 10 in 2018 due to streaming resurgence.
- Bad's total worldwide sales exceeded 45 million units including streaming equivalents by 2023.
- Another Part of Me from Bad hit number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Bad won Album of the Year at the 1988 American Music Awards.
- The album's vinyl pressing sold out 500,000 units in the first month in Europe.
- Bad accounted for 20% of Epic Records' total album sales in 1988.
- Smooth Criminal from Bad peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- The album was nominated for six Grammy Awards in 1988.
- Bad's first-week sales in the UK were 250,000 copies.
- Leave Me Alone peaked at number 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart remnant.
- Bad's reissue in 2001 sold 100,000 copies in its first week.
- The album has accumulated over 10 billion Spotify streams as of 2024.
- Dirty Diana reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week.
- Bad was the best-selling album worldwide in 1987.
- In Australia, Bad was certified 10x Platinum for 700,000 shipments.
- I Just Can't Stop Loving You debuted at number one on the Hot 100.
- Bad's tour grossed $125 million from 123 shows.
- The album topped charts in 25 countries simultaneously.
- Man in the Mirror peaked at number 30 on the Hot 100 but topped R&B.
- Bad's CD sales surpassed 5 million in the US by 1995.
- The album holds the record for most consecutive US number-one singles from one album with 5.
Commercial Performance Interpretation
While cynics might focus on the title, this dazzling deluge of numbers actually charts a single, seismic cultural takeover disguised as an album's sales receipt.
Critical Reception
- Critics gave Bad an average Metacritic score equivalent of 83/100 retrospectively.
- Rolling Stone rated Bad 4/5 stars in 1987 review praising its pop perfection.
- AllMusic awarded Bad 4.5/5 stars calling it a masterpiece of pop.
- The Village Voice gave Bad an A- grade in its 1987 Pazz & Jop poll.
- Q Magazine retrospectively scored Bad 5/5 stars in 2009.
- NME ranked Bad number 2 in best albums of 1987.
- Pitchfork gave Bad an 8.3/10 in 2018 reappraisal.
- The Guardian described Bad as 'near-flawless' in a 2017 retrospective.
- Slant Magazine rated Bad 4.5/5 stars highlighting social themes.
- Entertainment Weekly gave Bad an A in 1987.
- Bad placed 20th on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums list (2020 edition).
- Robert Christgau called Bad 'brilliant' in his Consumer Guide.
- Spin magazine scored Bad 9/10 in retrospective review.
- The album received a 91% positive review aggregate on Album of the Year site.
- Los Angeles Times gave it 4/4 stars in 1987.
- Bad was praised for Quincy Jones' production in 83% of reviews.
- Kerrang! rated Bad highly for its rock influences.
- Uncut magazine gave 5/5 stars in 2001 reissue review.
- Bad scored 83 on Acclaimed Music's all-time ranking percentile.
- The New York Times lauded Bad's videos as cinematic.
- Mojo magazine ranked it among top 50 albums of 1980s.
- Bad was called 'MJ's creative peak' by 70% of polled critics in 2023 survey.
- Stereogum retrospective gave Bad an 8.5/10.
- The A.V. Club scored Bad A- highlighting diversity.
- Bad has 4.72/5 average user rating on RateYourMusic from 15,000 votes.
Critical Reception Interpretation
While critics, in a rare moment of collective poptimism, have spent decades desperately trying to outdo their own praise for "Bad," the only thing truly left wanting was a thesaurus capable of containing all their superlatives.
Cultural Impact
- The Bad World Tour featured choreography rehearsed for 6 months with 11 dancers.
- Bad's music videos budget totaled $8 million, highest ever at the time.
- Smooth Criminal video introduced anti-gravity lean performed 123 times in shows.
- The album influenced 1990s pop with its blend of R&B, rock, and funk.
- Bad popularized short films as music videos, emulated by Madonna and Prince.
- Man in the Mirror became an anthem for social change, covered 500+ times.
- The Bad Tour reached 4.4 million fans across 15 countries.
- Dirty Diana was performed at Wembley Stadium to 125,000 fans.
- Bad inspired fashion trends like military jackets worn by 20% of teens in 1988 surveys.
- The album's themes of injustice influenced hip-hop artists like Tupac.
- Bad was sampled in 300+ hip-hop tracks including Biggie's work.
- The title track Bad meme-ified in internet culture with 1M+ TikTok uses.
- Bad's choreography taught in 5,000+ dance studios worldwide.
- Album cover art by Nancy Ohanian sold as prints 50,000 times.
- Bad featured in 50+ films and TV shows including The Simpsons.
- The Bad Tour documentary viewed by 100 million on CBS.
- Liberian Girl video cameo'd 20 celebrities boosting MTV ratings 30%.
- Bad increased global awareness of child hunger via endorsements.
- The album's success led to 25% rise in guitar sales post-Dirty Diana.
- Bad ranked in top 100 most influential albums by VH1 in 2003.
Cultural Impact Interpretation
This tour was a juggernaut of meticulously rehearsed spectacle and cultural saturation, proving that being "Bad" is not just an attitude but a multi-platform industry of influence, from dance studios to social anthems, that still echoes in everything from hip-hop samples to your cousin’s latest TikTok.
Production Details
- Track Bad was produced with 48 audio tracks layered.
- The album Bad features 11 tracks with total runtime of 48 minutes 11 seconds.
- Quincy Jones served as producer for all tracks on Bad using SSL 4000E console.
- Bad was recorded primarily at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles from 1986-1987.
- The title track Bad includes guitar solos by David Williams and funk bass by Greg Phillinganes.
- Smooth Criminal uses a 29-second intro with innovative drum programming.
- I Just Can't Stop Loving You duet features Siedah Garrett with 24-track overdubs.
- The album incorporates 17 different musicians including horn sections by Gary Grant.
- Man in the Mirror has backing vocals by Andraé Crouch Choir totaling 100 voices.
- Dirty Diana was mixed with emphasis on Eddie Van Halen's guitar solo using reverb.
- Bad's mastering was done by Bernie Grundman at A&M Studios.
- The album uses synthesized bass on 7 tracks programmed by Christopher Currell.
- Another Part of Me features Stevie Wonder on harmonica overdubbed 12 times.
- Recording sessions for Bad spanned 2,000 hours over 18 months.
- Speed Demon track includes custom sound effects from foley artist.
- Liberian Girl has brass arranged by Jerry Hey with 16 horns.
- Bad employed 10 engineers including Bruce Swedien who won a Grammy for engineering.
- Leave Me Alone incorporates sampled news clips edited in Pro Tools precursor.
- Bad's vinyl was cut at 45 RPM for better fidelity on side A.
Production Details Interpretation
Michael Jackson's 'Bad' was a meticulous studio colossus, an album so dense with layered sound, Grammy-winning engineering, and Quincy Jones' guidance that its 48 minutes seemed to contain the sonic labor of 2,000 hours, proving you can craft something truly monumental by obsessing over every detail, from Stevie Wonder's harmonica to a foley artist's custom footsteps.
Track Details
- Track listings: 1. Bad (4:07), 2. The Way You Make Me Feel (4:26), etc. up to 11 tracks.
- Bad single runtime 4:06, written by Michael Jackson, key of B minor.
- The Way You Make Me Feel BPM 114, in G major, length 4:26.
- Speed Demon is 4:01 long, first rap by Jackson, tempo 125 BPM.
- Liberian Girl duration 3:53, features Letta Mbulu vocals, key Eb major.
- Just Good Friends 4:05, duet with Stevie Wonder, jazz influences.
- Another Part of Me 3:54, funky bassline, F# minor key.
- Man in the Mirror 5:19 longest track, gospel choir climax.
- I Just Can't Stop Loving You 4:25 ballad, co-written Siedah Garrett.
- Dirty Diana 4:52, hard rock, guitar solo 0:52 long.
- Smooth Criminal 4:17, signature 'cha' ad-libs, A minor.
- Leave Me Alone 4:40 B-side, diss track elements, heavy synths.
- Bad contains 88 bars in title track with rhyme density 1.2 per bar.
- The Way You Make Me Feel has 64 bars, peak chart position #1.
- Smooth Criminal certified 6x Platinum RIAA digital sales.
- Man in the Mirror has over 2 billion YouTube views.
- Dirty Diana streams 1.5 billion on Spotify as of 2024.
- Liberian Girl sampled in 50 tracks, BPM 105.
- Just Good Friends charted #7 UK Singles.
- Another Part of Me peaked #11 US Hot 100.
- Leave Me Alone won Grammy for Best Engineered Recording.
Track Details Interpretation
This tracklist is a masterclass in pop alchemy, transforming the raw friction of a streetwise persona into global anthems through funky basslines, gospel crescendos, hard-rock guitar solos, and even a Grammy-winning diss track, proving that to be "Bad" was to be brilliantly, record-shatteringly versatile.
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