National Album Day: Bad by Michael Jackson

by | Oct 13, 2018

Bad was the very first album that I have a conscious memory of wanting to absorb in its entirety in the way that seems trivial these days; pouring over the fold out album booklet from my father’s cassette tape and consuming the videos on television over and over again.  Most people only seem to remember Bad as though it deserves only to be in the shadow of its unparalleled elder brother – which is still globally the biggest selling album of all time, of course.

I feel somewhat privileged as a 90’s baby, in that I was almost entirely unaware of the Thriller phenomenon and the long inevitable shadow it cast at this young age, because I was able to digest and love this record purely on its own merit. It made me want answers to questions that I couldn’t even know yet.

Yes, it may be yet another victim of the late 80s obsession with handclaps and no, it will not break records quite like Thriller, but it has a deep-rooted aesthetic and sound that feels, at least to me, much more deep-rooted in the story and identity of the man who made it. He was no longer covered in glitter and singing about phantom loves and heartbreaks they were never really his.

Bad is angry, demanding, immersive, and arguably pop’s first full ‘stadium album’.  With every hair-racing, electrifying, and in moments, furious bar of that record, we finally see Michael Jackson for who he is, and wanted to be, (rather than who he was taught to be):  articulate, sentimental, but also defiant in the face of The Man…  And, least of all, as one of the most stylish buggers to ever wear leather on leather!

Bad by Michael Jackson, 1987. Chosen by writer India Meade.

Blondshell @ Electric Brixton (Kalpesh Patel)

Blondshell Brings Electric Brixton To Boil On First Night Of London Double-Header

Sabrina Teitelbaum — better known as Blondshell — has built her reputation on raw honesty and songs that cut deep, and...
Ash @ Scala (Kalpesh Patel)

Ash Light Up Scala & Celebrate Ad Astra With Career-Spanning Set And Graham Coxon Collaboration

There was a palpable sense of anticipation outside North London venue Scala on Wednesday night as Ash returned for the...
Callum Beattie @ Glastonbury Festival 2017 (Kalpesh Patel)

Callum Beattie Announces New Album ‘INDI’ And 2026 Tour Dates, Including Biggest Headline Show Yet at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro

Scottish singer-songwriter Callum Beattie has announced details of his third studio album INDI, set for release on...
Maya Lane @ The Grace (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Maya Lane On The Hurt And The Healing: From Vulnerability to Growth

On a rain-soaked evening in London, rising singer-songwriter Maya Lane celebrated the release of her brand-new EP The Hurt And The Healing with an intimate show at The Grace. Just weeks earlier, we had met under sunnier skies at The Long Road Festival, beers and whiskies in hand, denim and sunshine everywhere. Now, umbrellas and storm clouds in tow, it felt fitting that Lane’s new project, a record that navigates through storms towards moments of calm, should arrive on a night like this.

Robbie Cavanagh @ The Grace (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Robbie Cavanagh: Confidence, Craft, And Capturing Audiences

It was a wet evening in London when I met singer-songwriter Robbie Cavanagh at The Grace. Fresh from playing The Long Road Festival, Robbie reflected on his style, stage presence, and the evolution of his music.

Chet Faker (@CaptureCharles)

Chet Faker Returns With Heartfelt New Single ‘Inefficient Love’

Australian singer-songwriter Chet Faker is back, and he’s baring his soul. Today sees the release of his new single, Inefficient Love, following his 2025 track Far Side of the Moon. The song arrives with a beautifully intimate video that captures the emotional weight of the track.

Gaz Coombes @ BST Hyde Park 2024 (Louise Phillips)

Supergrass Share Stirring Live Cover Of Gil Scott-Heron Classic ‘Lady Day & John Coltrane’

Supergrass have released a powerful live version of Gil Scott-Heron’s Lady Day & John Coltrane, recorded during their intimate 2005 performance at London’s legendary Ronnie Scott’s. The track, available now on streaming platforms, will feature as part of the upcoming 20th anniversary reissue of the band’s fifth studio album Road To Rouen, out 3rd October.

Militarie Gun (Nolan Knight)

Militarie Gun Share New Single ‘Throw Me Away’ And Announce 2026 UK / EU Headline Tour

Los Angeles’ shape-shifting punk outfit Militarie Gun have shared their latest single Throw Me Away, a soaring anthem...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing