“Leave Me Alone,” available exclusively as a bonus track on the CD edition of Bad, was released as an international single in February 1989, the eighth single from the album. The song reached the Top 10 in multiple countries, peaking at #1 in Ireland and #2 in the United Kingdom. Written and composed by Michael, “Leave Me Alone” expresses Michael’s frustration with his mistreatment by the media, a message that was further amplified by the song’s award-winning short film.
The short film shows Michael singing from the covers of tabloid newspapers displaying fabricated headlines, and Michael flying in a rocket through an amusement park, zooming past various tall tales about himself. The short film later reveals that the amusement park is built around Michael himself, who is tied down like the title character from Gulliver’s Travels by dogs representing the press. Michael frees himself from the amusement park prison, which collapses as he stands in the light. “Leave Me Alone” won a GRAMMY Award for Best Music Video, Short Form, and both the Cannes Gold Lion and MTV Music Video Award for Best Special Effects. Watch the short film:
