Bad

THE STORY BEHIND ' Bad '

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This is the title track that redefined Michael’s image. The story below details the legendary rivalry with Prince, the tragic real-life inspiration behind the video, and the subway shoot that introduced the world to Wesley Snipes.

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The song "Bad" was originally conceived as a historic event: a duet between the two biggest pop stars on the planet, Michael Jackson and Prince.

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Quincy Jones wanted the song to be a "battle royale," with the two icons trading verses and aggressive vocals. A meeting was arranged at Michael's home in Encino to seal the deal. Michael played the demo for Prince, who sat quietly listening. However, when the song reached the opening lyric, "Your butt is mine...", Prince’s demeanor changed.

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Prince reportedly turned to Michael and said, "Who is singing that to whom? Because you sure aren't singing it to me, and I sure aren't singing it to you." Prince felt the lyric was too submissive for his image. He declined the duet, telling Quincy Jones on his way out, "This song will be a hit without me." He was right, but the failed collaboration sparked a competitive rivalry that would fuel both artists for the rest of the 80s.

 

While the song is an anthem of bravado, the 18-minute short film was inspired by a heartbreaking true story. Michael read a news article about Edmund Perry, a 17-year-old honor student from Harlem.

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Perry was a brilliant young man who had earned a scholarship to Phillips Exeter Academy, a prestigious private boarding school. However, when he returned home to Harlem for the summer, he was shot to death by a plainclothes police officer who claimed Perry tried to mug him.

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Michael connected deeply with the story of a young black man trying to exist in two worlds: the elite, white world of prep school and the dangerous streets of his home. He adapted this tragedy into the character of "Darryl" for the video, a boy who tries to do good but is pulled back in by his old neighborhood. Unlike the real-life tragedy, Michael’s version ends with dance, not death, but the underlying tension remains.

 

Michael didn't want a music video; he wanted a movie. He hired legendary director Martin Scorsese (famous for Taxi Driver and Raging Bull) to direct the 18-minute film.

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Filming took place over six weeks in New York City, primarily at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn subway station in Brooklyn. The shoot was intense and gritty, far removed from the soundstages of Hollywood.

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To play the villain "Mini Max," the casting directors chose a then-unknown actor named Wesley Snipes. Snipes was so convincing in his audition that Michael reportedly thought he was a real gang member. During the shoot, Michael was actually intimidated by Snipes. To break the ice, Snipes joked with him, and they eventually bonded, with Snipes acting as Michael’s unofficial bodyguard on the set.

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The dance sequence in "Bad" is one of the most famous in history. Michael wanted to pay homage to the musical West Side Story. The choreography, created by Jeffrey Daniel and Gregg Burge, blends jazz hands, ballet, and aggressive street posturing.

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The move where Michael grabs his crotch was controversial at the time, but Michael insisted it wasn't sexual, it was an athletic adjustment that dancers made instinctively. It became his signature move for the rest of his career.

 

Musically, "Bad" sounds nothing like Thriller. Thriller was warm and analog; "Bad" is cold, sharp, and digital.

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• The Bassline: The famous bassline is not a bass guitar. It is a synthesized bass patch programmed on the Synclavier. It was designed to sound mechanical and relentless, driving the song forward like a machine.

• The Organ Solo: The soulful organ solo in the middle of the song was played by jazz legend Jimmy Smith. He played a Hammond B3 organ, adding a touch of gritty, gospel authenticity to the electronic track.

• The Drums: The drums are incredibly punchy and loud. Quincy Jones mixed them to hit you in the chest. If you listen closely, you can hear Michael stomping on the floor of the vocal booth during the recording; they kept these stomps in the mix to add percussion.

 

"Bad" wasn't just a song; it was a rebrand. For the single cover and video, Michael ditched the sequined jackets and loafers. He emerged wearing black leather, heavy buckles, zippers, and combat boots.

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This look was designed to be "street smart." Michael wanted to shed the innocent image of the Jackson 5 era. He wanted to look tough. While the public debated whether Michael Jackson could ever truly be "bad" in the literal sense, the image change worked. It became the defining fashion of the late 80s.

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Released on September 7, 1987, "Bad" hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for two weeks. It is considered one of the greatest dance tracks ever made.

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The phrase "I'm bad" entered the global lexicon, changing the meaning of the word "bad" from "terrible" to "cool" for an entire generation. The song proved that Michael could survive without Prince and that he could reinvent himself for a harder, faster decade.