"Liberian Girl" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the fourth track from the Bad album. It was released as a single on July 3, 1989, serving as the ninth and final single from the album.
Background[]
“Liberian Girl” was first recorded on December 21, 1983, at Can-Am Recorders and Hayvenhurst, intended for the Victory album with The Jacksons.[1][2] However, it didn't make the final cut. It was later re-recorded on January 28, 1986, during the early Bad sessions at Hayvenhurst. It was once again later re-recorded in September at Westlake Recording Studios, with Quincy Jones as the producer.
| “ | I wrote that at my house in the game room. I guess I was playing some pinball or something, and the song just popped into my head. And I think I ran upstairs, put it on tape, and it became ‘Liberian Girl’…..I don’t think about it, it just comes. | ” |
–Jackso on how "Liberian Girl" was created[3] | ||
Music video[]
The music video, directed by Jerry Kramer and produced by Paul Flattery for Flattery Yukich Inc., was filmed over two days in April 1989, at the A&M Chaplin Stage in A&M Studios.[4] The music video features multiple celebrities, most notably: Quincy Jones, Billy Dee Williams, Olivia Newton-John, Steven Spielberg, "Weird Al" Yankovic, and more.
Audio[]
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Nakupenda pia
Nakutaka pia
Mpenzi we'
[Verse 1]
Liberian girl
You came and you changed my world
A love so brand new
Liberian girl
You came and you changed me, girl
A feeling so true
[Chorus]
Liberian girl
You know that you came and you changed my world
Just like in the movies
With two lovers in a scene
And she says, "Do you love me?"
And he says so endlessly
"I love you, Liberian girl"
[Post-Chorus]
Nakupenda pia
Nakutaka pia
Mpenzi we'
[Verse 2]
Liberian girl
More precious than any pearl
Your love's so complete
Liberian girl
You kiss me then, ooh, the world
You do this to me
[Chorus]
Liberian girl
You know that you came and you changed my world
Just like in the movies
With two lovers in a scene
And she says, "Do you love me?"
And he says so endlessly
"I love you, Liberian girl"
[Post-Chorus]
Nakupenda pia
Nakutaka pia
Mpenzi we'
[Chorus]
Liberian girl
You know that you came and you changed my world
I wait for the day
When you have to say, "I do"
And I'll smile and say it, too
And forever will be true
[Outro]
I love you, Liberian girl
All the time
I love you, Liberian girl
All the time
I love you, Liberian girl
All the time
I love you, Liberian girl
All the time
I love you
I love you, baby
I want you
I love you, baby
Ooh
I love you, baby
I want it, baby
Ooh
Gallery[]
![Vinyl back cover[5]](/wiki/File:Liberiangirlbackvinyl.jpg "Liberiangirlbackvinyl.jpg (67 KB)")
![Vinyl[5]](/wiki/File:Liberiangirlvinyl.jpg "Liberiangirlvinyl.jpg (87 KB)")
Trivia[]
- "Liberian Girl" received a positive reception in Liberia, with women from the country viewing the song as empowering. Liberian woman Margaret Carson said in an interview with The Washington Times "When that music came out … the Liberian girls were so astonished to hear a great musician like Michael Jackson thinking about a little country in Africa. It gave us hope, especially when things went bad … . It made us to feel that we are still part of the world."[6]
- Some state that "Pyramid Girl" is an early title for "Liberian Girl", but this was confirmed to be false through an X post by Bill Bottrell.[7]
References[]
- ↑ @BillBottrell - X, January 17, 2025
- ↑ MAGIC Michael Jackson | The Unauthorized 1983 Interview
- ↑ Michael Jackson Official Website: Michael Jackson - Liberian Girl
- ↑ Michael Jackson: All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Michael Jackson - Liberian Girl - Discogs
- ↑ 5 Times Michael Jackson Was Inspired by Africa
- ↑ @BillBottrell - X, Jan 18, 2025