Michael Jackson Official Site

“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.