"Just Good Friends" is a song produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the fifth track from the Bad album. The track features Stevie Wonder, although uncredited. It is the only track on the album to haven't become a single.
Background[]
"Just Good Friends" was written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, and was produced with Quincy Jones. Jones came up with the idea of "Just Good Friends" as a combination of "The Girl Is Mine" and "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)". It was recorded in 1987 at Studio D of Westlake.[1]
Audio[]
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-nah!
Hoo-hoo! Dancin', hee!
Doggone lover!
C'mon, boy
[Verse 1]
I watched you on the floor
Cheek to cheek
She's getting to you
You didn't see her eyes on me, no
She looked right through you
(Before you make) Before you make
(A big mistake) Remember
That looks can fool you, babe (Hee!)
There's something I would sure appreciate
(If you can keep a secret)
[Refrain]
Baby loves me, but she never shows she cares
(No, you won't see her kiss and hug me)
Baby loves me, no, she acts like I'm not there
(That doesn't mean she doesn't love me–ooh)
[Chorus]
If they ask her
Tell 'em that we're just good friends
Dah! Chika-chika-chika-ah!
Just good friends
Ah! Chika-chika-ah! Ooo
(Doot-do-do-doo, hee! Aaow!)
Just good friends
[Verse 2]
You better take advice
Never trust first impressions
I tried to hide this affair
From their suspicions
So even if she's asking you to stay
You better know where you stand
[Refrain]
Baby loves me, but she never shows she cares
(No, you won't see her kiss and hug me)
But my baby loves me, but she acts like I'm not there
(That doesn't mean she doesn't love me–ooh)
[Chorus]
Now, if they ask you
Just tell 'em that we're just good friends
Yes, just good friends
(Just good friends)
Root-do-do-do
(Doot-do-do-do)
(Just good friends)
[Bridge]
Listen up, hee!
We've got a problem here
I can see the signs
I guess the lady is still making up her mind
Say: "We're just good friends" (Ohhh!)
[Refrain]
Baby loves me, though she never shows she cares
No, you won't see her kiss and hug me (Just good friends)
My baby loves me, though she acts like I'm not there
You doggone lover, hee!
Aaow!
Don't you wanna know?
[Outro]
Baby loves me, but she never shows she cares (Hee! Hee!)
She doesn't kiss and hug me (Just good friends)
My baby loves me, she loves me, she loves me
Hee! Hee! Hee! Hoo! Hoo!
My baby loves me, baby
My baby's gon' stay there
My baby loves me
Baby loves me, baby loves me, ooh-ooh-ooh!
My baby loves me, she loves me, she loves me
She loves me, Hee! Hoo! Hoo-hoo!
You might gon' try to get her, I'm not gonna give up like that
Na-na-na-na-na, ohhh yeah! (Just good friends)
Baby love me, don't she? Oh! (Oh!)
Don't even try it! (Hee-Hee)
Trivia[]
- In the same year, Wonder released another collaboration with Jackson, called "Get It", on his album Characters.
- It is one of the five songs on Bad that had to be sped up due to due to the limitations on a 12" LP record. Other songs were "Bad", "Speed Demon", "The Way You Make Me Feel", and "Smooth Criminal".
- "Just Good Friends" was criticized by Jones, saying, “I made a mistake on the duet with him and Stevie. That didn’t work.”[2]
- The Bad 25 documentary featured recording sessions of the track.[3]