Bad

This article is about the song. You may have been looking for the album.

"Bad"Single by Michael Jackson
General information
Released	September 7, 1987 (single) September 17, 2012 (AFROJACK remix)
Recorded	August 4th, 1986-June 26th, 1987
Studio	Westlake Studios
Genre	Pop/Funk
Length	4:07
Album	Bad
Label	Epic Records
Writer(s)	Michael Jackson
Producer(s)	Quincy Jones
Singles chronology
Previous	"I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
Next	"The Way You Make Me Feel"
Track list
Next	"The Way You Make Me Feel"
Music video
Full video
Shortened version

"Bad" is a song written by Michael Jackson released as the first track from his 1987 album of the same name. It was released as a single on September 7, 1987, serving as the second single from the album. It's largely considered to be one of Jackson's best songs.

Background

"Bad" was produced by Quincy Jones and recorded between August 4, 1986-June 26, 1987. It went under different working titles, including: "P" (incorrectly assumed as "Pee") and "Who's Bad". During the production, Prince was invited to sing alongside Jackson on "Bad" as a duet, however, he declined, due to him not wanting to sing the first line.

“	The first line of that song is 'your butt is mine.' Now I'm saying, 'Who's gonna sing that to whom? Cuz you sure ain't singing it to me, and I sure ain't singing it to you.' So right there, we got a problem.	”
–Prince for Chris Rock, 1997

“	"Bad" is a song about the street. It's about this kid from a bad neighborhood who gets to go away to a private school. He comes back to the old neighborhood when he's on a break from school and the kids from the neighborhood start giving him trouble. He sings, "I'm bad, you're bad, who's bad, who's the best?" He's saying when you're strong and good, then you're bad.	”
–Michael Jackson on the track's meaning, Moonwalk: A Memoir (1988)

Short film

Clocking in at 18 minutes, the "Bad" video is the second longest of any of Michael's short films (behind Michael Jackson's Ghosts). Two versions were released, the full short film and a 4 minute edit. He stated in an interview that the video was influenced by a real-life story he'd read about in a magazine.

“	This kid went to school upstate [...] He would leave his old friends behind and when he came back on spring break, or whatever - thanksgiving break - his friends became so jealous of him that they killed him. In the film I don't die of course - but it's a true story that was taken from Time [Magazine] or Newsweek magazine.	”
–Jackson on the inspiration behind the short film

Live performances

Michael Jackson would perform "Bad" throughout the entirety of the Bad World Tour between 1987 and 1989. The song also made an appearance on the setlist for the Dangerous World Tour, however it was present only during the 1992 leg and Michael never performed it again afterwards.

AFROJACK Remix

On September 17, 2012, a remix of "Bad" done by AFROJACK was released as a single to promote the release of Bad 25. The remix featured Pitbull and has been largely criticized by Jackson's fans who posted lots of hateful comments and even started harassing Afrojack online over the remix. On the album, a 7 minute club mix was also featured.

Lyrics

• Bad
• AFROJACK Remix
• Unused lyrics

[Verse 1]
Your butt is mine, gon' tell you right, ah
Just show your face in broad daylight, ah
I'm tellin' you on who I feel, ah
Gonna hurt your mind, don't shoot to kill
Shamone, ah, shamone
Lay it on me, ah, alright
Ah, I'm givin' you on count to three, ah
Just show your stuff or let it be, ah
I'm tellin' you, just watch your mouth, ah
I know your game, what you're about

[Pre-Chorus]
Well, they say the sky's the limit
And to me, that's really true, ah
But my friend, you have seen nothin'
Just wait 'til I get through

[Chorus]
Because I'm bad, I'm bad, shamone (Bad, bad, really, really bad)
You know I'm bad, I'm bad (Bad, bad)
You know it (Really, really bad)
You know I'm bad, I'm bad, shamone (Bad, bad)
You know (Really, really bad)
And the whole world has to answer right now
Just to tell you once again
Who's bad?

[Verse 2]
The word is out, you're doin' it wrong, ah
Gon' lock you up before too long, ah
Your lyin' eyes gon' tell you right, ah
So listen up, don't make a fight, ah
Your talk is cheap, you're not a man, ah
You're throwin' stones to hide your hands

[Pre-Chorus]
Well, they say the sky's the limit
And to me, that's really true, ah
But my friend, you have seen nothin'
Just wait 'til I get through

[Chorus]
Because I'm bad, I'm bad, shamone (Bad, bad, really, really bad)
You know I'm bad, I'm bad (Bad, bad)
You know it (Really, really bad)
You know I'm bad, I'm bad, you know it (Bad, bad)
You know (Really, really bad)
And the whole world has to answer right now
Just to tell you once again
Who's bad?

[Verse 3]
We can change the world tomorrow
This could be a better place, ah
If you don't like what I'm sayin'
Then won't you slap my face?

[Chorus]
Because I'm bad, I'm bad, shamone (Bad, bad, really, really bad)
You know I'm bad, I'm bad (Bad, bad)
You know it (Really, really bad)
You know I'm bad, I'm bad (Bad, bad)
You know it, you know (Really, really bad)
And the whole world has to answer right now (Hoo, hoo)
Just to tell you once again (Hoo)
You know I'm bad, I'm bad, shamone (Bad, bad, really, really bad)
You know I'm bad, I'm bad (Bad, bad)
You know it, you know it (Really, really bad)
You know, you know (Bad, bad)
You know, shamone (Really, really bad)
And the whole world has to answer right now
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 (Bad, bad, really, really bad)
Come on (Really, really bad)
And the whole world has to answer right now (Hoo)
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, woo (Bad, bad, really, really bad)
You know I'm bad, I'm bad (Bad, bad)
You know it, you know (Really, really bad)
And the whole world has to answer right now
Just to tell you once again
Who's bad?

[Intro]
Lo-Lo-Lo-Love it or hate it, it's Mr. Worldwide
With the world greatest
You gonna play this
Well, like a woman that's pregnant for ten months
Be the latest
Don't delay this
I'm on that, roll it
Making a toast to the king, MJ for life
I mess with good women
But you know that they bad, let's ride

[Verse 1]
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
Shameone
Shameone
Lay it on me
All right

[Refrain]
(Making a toast to the king
We're bad for life)

[Bridge]
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

[Pre-Chorus]
Well they say the sky's the limit
And to me that's really true
But my friend you have seen nowhin'
Just wait 'til I get through

[Chorus]
Because I'm bad, I'm bad - shameone
(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 - shameone, 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

[Refrain]
(Making a toast to the king
We're bad for life)

[Verse 2]
(Shamone
Shamone, lay on me)
The world 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 now a man
You're throwin' stones
To hide your hands

[Pre-Chorus]
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

[Chorus]
Because I'm bad, I'm bad - shameone
(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 - shameone, 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...)
Who's bad
Who's bad

[Refrain]
(Making a toast to the king
We're bad for life)

[Verse 3]
(Shamone
Shamone
Lay it on me)
P-I-T is B-A-D
Michael Jackson, R.I.P
Catch a chica with a P-Y-T
All off in Paris, Ooh, oui, oui
I've been around the world getting off the chain
And ain't nothing changed, Luchando
Except not a sun and a moon know me by my first name, Armando
De santo no tengo nada
Y de diablo lo tengo todo, ay de todo
Mamita, te tengo la came
Hazme el favor y prestame el mojo
I'm so out of this planet
I speak a third language
Called that moon talk
In four years catch me with a billon (Hee-Hee)
Doing that moonwalk (Woo)

[Chorus]
You know I'm bad, I'm bad - shamone
You know I'm bad, I'm bad - you know it
You know I'm bad, I'm bad - you know it
You know it - you know it - you know
You know - you know - shamone
And the whole world has to answer right now
Just to tell you
You know I'm smooth - I'm bad - you know it
You know I'm bad - I'm bad baby
You know, you know, you know it - shamone
And the whole world has to answer right now
Woo!
Who's bad
Who's bad
You know I'm bad, I'm bad - you know it
You know I'm bad - you know
Woo!
You know I'm bad - you know it
You know
And the whole world has to answer right now
Just to tell you once again
Who's bad

During the Brad Sundberg laptop theft on January 27, 2023, a sheet with unused lyrics to an extended third verse leaked online.

Gallery

Vinyl back cover

Vinyl

AFROJACK Remix CD

"Look deep within yourself, and you'll find something amazing." To view the Bad (song) gallery, click here.

Trivia

Michael Jackson - Pepsi Commercial Bad Era (FULL version!) HQ

"Bad" Pepsi commercial

• "Bad" was remixed for a Pepsi commercial in late 1980's.
  • The footage that was used for the commercial originates from the unreleased "Price of Fame" commercial, which was originally gonna be the Pepsi commercial.
• In the early pressings of the Bad album, the song had a different mix and included a trumpet track, which was removed from later versions.
• The initial working title for "Bad" was called "P," referring to the planned-but-unrecorded collaboration with Prince. For the longest time, fans assumed the working title was "Pee" due to how similar the two words sounded.
• It's one of the five songs on Bad that had to be sped up due to the limitations on a 12" LP record, the other being "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Speed Demon", "Just Good Friends", and "Smooth Criminal".
• A extended dance mix of "Bad" was later released as a B-side to the "Dirty Diana" single.