“Dirty Diana” is the fourth of five consecutive number-one Billboard singles released from the 1987 ‘Bad’ album. “Dirty Diana” was written and composed by Michael Jackson and co-produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson: “I wrote a song called ‘Dirty Diana’. It was not about Lady Diana. It was about certain kinds of girls that hang around concerts or clubs, you know, they call them groupies. I’ve lived with that all my life. These girls…they do everything with the band, everything you could imagine. So I wrote a song called ‘Dirty Diana’. But I took it out of the [Wembley] show in honor of her royal highness. She took me away and she said, ‘Are you going to do Dirty Diana?‘ So, I said, ‘No, I took it out of the show because of you.‘ She said, ‘No! I want you to do it…do it…do the song.”
Michael Jackson: “I love ‘Dirty Diana’. That’s one of my favorites, because it’s a life story of a groupie – I hate to say the word ‘groupie’, but that’s what it is. And it’s something that I’ve experienced and a lot of people who grow up on the road – like me. I don’t remember not performing.”
Engineer Matt Forger: “Michael said, ‘We’re going to start some new songs.’ I never knew when we were going to do a song what the song was for, but the first song I started on with Michael was ‘Dirty Diana’”.
BONUS: The song features a cameo appearance by Steve Stevens, (best known as lead guitarist for Billy Idol), in the solo section.
“Dirty Diana”, the fifth of five consecutive number-one Billboard singles released from the 1987 ‘Bad’ album, was released as a 7” promo single on April 18th, 1988. The ‘B’ side is also “Dirty Diana” (4:42).
“Dirty Diana” was released as 7” and 12″ singles on April 18th, 1988. Both ‘B’ sides are “Dirty Diana – Instrumental” (4:42).
“Dirty Diana”was released as a CD promo single on April 18th, 1988. The CD promo single includes the songs “Dirty Diana” (4:42) and “Dirty Diana – Instrumental” (4:42).
“Dirty Diana” was released as a 3” mini-CD single on April 18th, 1988. The 3″ CD mini-single includes “Dirty Diana” (4:42), and “Dirty Diana – Instrumental” (4:42).
Written and Composed by Michael Jackson
Oh no…
Oh no…
Oh no…
You’ll never make me stay
So take your weight off of me
I know your every move
So won’t you just let me be
I’ve been here times before
But I was too blind to see
That you seduce every man
This time you won’t seduce me
She’s saying that’s ok
Hey baby do what you please
I have the stuff that you want
I am the thing that you need
She looked me deep in the eyes
She’s touchin’ me so to start
She says there’s no turnin’ back
She trapped me in her heart
Dirty Diana, nah
Dirty Diana, nah
Dirty Diana, no
Dirty Diana
Let me be!
Oh no…
Oh no…
Oh no…
She likes the boys in the band
She knows when they come to town
Every musician’s fan after the curtain comes down
She waits at backstage doors
For those who have prestige
Who promise
Fortune and fame, a life that’s so carefree
She’s saying that’s ok
Hey baby do what you want
I’ll be your night lovin’ thing
I’ll be the freak you can taunt
And I don’t care what you say
I want to go too far
I’ll be your everything
If you make me a star
Dirty Diana, nah
Dirty Diana, nah
Dirty Diana, no
Dirty Diana…
Dirty Diana, nah
Dirty Diana, nah
Dirty Diana, no
Dirty Diana…
Diana!
Diana!
Dirty Diana!
It’s Dia..aa…aa…ana!
She said I have to go home
’Cause I’m real tired you see
But I hate sleepin’ alone
Why don’t you come with me
I said my baby’s at home
She’s probably worried tonight
I didn’t call on the phone to
Say that I’m alright
Diana walked up to me,
She said I’m all yours tonight
At that I ran to the phone
Sayin’ baby I’m alright
I said but unlock the door,
Because I forgot the key,
She said he’s not coming back
Because he’s sleeping with me
Dirty Diana, nah
Dirty Diana, nah
Dirty Diana, nah
Dirty Diana, no
Dirty Diana, nah
Dirty Diana, nah
Dirty Diana, nah
Dirty Diana…
Come on!
Come on!
Come on!
Come on!
©1987 Mijac Music. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
CREDITS:
“Dirty Diana” - written and composed by Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson: Solo and background vocals, Clavé slapstick.
Steve Stevens: Guitar solo.
John Robinson: Drums.
Douglas Getschal: Drum programming.
Paul Jackson, Jr., David Williams: Guitars.
Christopher Currell: Synclavier.
Denny Jaeger: Synclavier Synthesis.
John Barnes, Michael Boddicker, Randy Waldman: Synthesizers.
Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson, John Barnes and Jerry Hey.
Synthesizer arrangement by Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones and John Barnes.
String arrangement by John Barnes.
Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson.
©1987 Mijac Music