Today in HIStory

Today in HIStory: “Bad” hits #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

Released in September in 1987, Bad is a single in the album of the same name, written and recorded By Michael Jackson. “Bad” charted within the top ten, at number eight, on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 10, 1987 and stayed at number one on October 24, 1987. “Bad” stayed at the top position for two consecutive weeks.

Davitt Sigerson, writer for Rolling Stone magazine, commented on the track’s lyrical content while reviewing Bad, “When Jackson declares that ‘the whole world has to answer right now,’ he is not boasting but making a statement of fact regarding his extraordinary stardom. If anything, he is scorning the self-coronation of lesser funk royals and inviting his fickle public to spurn him if it dare.”

Jackson explained ‘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.

True, the full music video depicted the story of Daryl with Michael, Wesley Snipes included but knowing Michael Jackson’s upbringing and his beliefs, his ending words struck me the most.

We Can Change The World
Tomorrow
This Could Be A Better Place