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From the Vault...
05/12/2013
#1359 |
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info
Michael Jackson
"Bad"
© Epic Records
Year of Release: 1987
Rating:
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track listing
Bad
The Way You Make
Me Feel
Speed Demon
Liberian Girl
Just Good Friends
Another Part Of Me
Man In The Mirror
I Just Can't Stop
Loving You
Dirty Diana
Smooth Criminal
Leave Me Alone
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Michael Jackson
"Bad"
Michael Jackson's Thriller would become his most influential and most popular album of his career. It was released in 1982, and it would be
five years later for the followup -- Bad. In looking at his prolific career, as a performer, MJ was outstanding, fantastic, all positive.
However, his personal life and untimely death in 2009 would be the negatives in how he would be remembered, Child neglect, pedophile, all that was
denied by Jackson, so whether or not this was actually true (which 99% believe it was), we will always remember Michael Jackon in a positive light,
based on his musical career, with his brothers The Jackson 5, and his solo career.
That being said, I myself, was never a really, really huge fan of Michael Jackson, although I did enjoy his hitmaking songs with his brothers, and
his early solo career. I agree, Thriller was his best album, Bad is an almost (but not too far) being a runner-up. Of the ten original
tracks contained on Bad, a total of five reached the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart: "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," "Bad,"
"The Way You Make Me Feel," "Man In The Mirror," "Dirty Diana." Two other songs I do remember getting alot of airplay: "Smooth Criminal"
and "Another Part Of Me." Was it the "too much airplay" on some songs, or "songs that I really didn't care much for" I can say on some of the
popular hits. "The Way You Make Me Feel" is definitely a hit monster, and a song I can never be tired of. The same goes for the title track,
and I just chuckle thinking that Weird Al Yankovic did a parody of it "Fat" and had one of his album covers paroding Bad -- Even Worse,
released a year later after MJ's Bad (1988). However, songs such as "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," and "Man In The Mirror" just
really didn't my hopes up; they were probably just too mushy-type songs, although MJ's voice does shine, most preferably on "Mirror." (Sieda Garrett
was the guest duet on "Loving You.") "Dirty Diana" is another song I didn't really care for, "Smooth Criminal" gets a little annoying.
Now for the remaining tracks... "Speed Demon" is just "ok" -- it's an upbeat pop song, as in "The Way You Make Me Feel," yet "Feel"
definitely is the better of the two. "Liberian Girl" is a hopeful tune, it's very soulful. Both "Just Good Friends" and "Another Part
Of Me" are both very good tracks, upbeat pop. The last song is a bonus track, "Leave Me Alone," another upbeat pop number, and like "The Way
You Make Me Feel," easily beating "Speed Demon."
Bad is a good album, not better than Thriller, no doubt. The hitmaking songs are classics, some better than others, yet the
upbeat #1 hits are the standouts: "Bad" and "The Way You Make Me Feel." They're all good songs, and they all blend well for the album.
Three more studio albums would surface after Bad, and mostly compliations and greatest hits packages. MJ was planning a big comeback, and it
probably would have been another groundbreaking event, despite his personal life's issues. Yet, on June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson was found unresponsive
in his rented mansion in Los Angeles. The cause of death was a result of drugs intoxication, which were prescribed by his doctor, Conrad Murray. Like
Elvis Presley, his doctor, George "Nick" Nichopoulos, had prescribed medications for Presley, which would be another leading factor in Presley's untimely
death. Conrad Murray would eventually be brought to trial for Jackson's death. Presley's doctor was also brought to trial, but was acquitted. Murray's
trial ended with a conviction of involuntary manslaughter, and serving a two-year sentence in prison.
We can only imagine what could of happened in the next stage of Michael Jackson's career with his 2009 comeback, had he lived. The same goes for
Presley, had he tried and shape up his life, and to get away from Colonel Parker. Parker put a huge hold on Presley's career, and limited him for what
he wanted to do. (Elvis was originally the lead male actor, hand-picked by Barbara Streisand for the movie A Star Is Born; Col. Parker nixed
Streisand's suggestion.) Jackson's personal life had affected him as well, with the child abuse allegations (not one, but two that we knew of), and his
drug abuse. Aside from personal issues, we will always admire Michael Jackson as a music performer. He has left behind a legacy of great entertainment,
and great music.
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