"Half of the 14 new songs on 'Dangerous' were co-written and/or produced with Riley. Jackson produced the rest with engineer Bruce Swedien or with another co-writer, Bill Bottrell, and the results spread over a double album or single CD. The guests used on the tracks- rapper Heavy D, metal guitarist Slash from Guns N'Roses- gave a fair warning to expect a greater exaggeration of the split between hard-edged, modern, synthesised dance sounds and "rock" songs on the one hand and softer, more traditional ballads on the other.
A word about the album sleeve. After three portraits culminating in the buckled-up and zippered-down punk/biker look of 'Bad', 'Dangerous' has a more obtuse cover. Jackson's masked eyes peer through an ornate Mark Ryden illustration, populated by elephants, a crowned dog and bird, each in regal finery (sceptre and orb included), other birds (a peacock included of course), animals and insects, young children, cherabims and seraphims, Greek statuary, a fairground ride which disappears into a post-Metropolis industrial maze and produces healthy children but skeletal animals. The detail which is easier to see on the vinyl rather than CD or cassette sleeve, signifies the subject matter of the tracks."---Geoff Brown, "The Complete Guide To The Music Of Michael Jackson And The Jackson Family"

The "Bad" album was one of the few successful follow up albums in music history. In this album, Jackson tried to show that the mega album "Thriller" was not out of luck, but by hard work and talent. Though he must have known that it wasn't gonna outsell "Thriller", he nevertheless put in all he's got.

Bad

The "Bad" song was one of the few songs in which Jackson brags about himself. The songs start off with a rhythmic tune whcih makes it very hard to ignore. Who knows what compelled him to make such a song. Probably he was glowing too much with the success of "Thriller" that he couldn't keep it all in.

The Way You Make Me Feel

This is no doubt the most overrated Jackson song. It is not whack but somehow it got more attention than it should have. This was partly due to the music video for the song which depicts MJ sort of like chasing after this woman who is playing hard to get. This boosted Jacson's image as a normal heterosexual man, thereby putting aside all rumors of his sexual orinetation. The main problem with the song is that it starts off very well but begins to bore at the end. It is the kind of song you listen to in the morning and don'w anna here it again til the next day. (Danielle's note...LOL...speak for yourself Joe).

Speed Demon

In this song, Michael again shows his capability of getting the message across in style. This is probably one of the most typical Jackson songs. It's got all the elements of a Jackson song, the change in voice now and then, the use of somehow rare instrumentals.

Liberian Girl

This has been one of the MJ songs which has stood the test of time. A song which makes even non-MJ fans sing along. A song which after all these years has not lost its touch. The song starts off with a woman speaking some foreign language, (Danielle's note: it's Swahili that she is speaking), followed by the unique instrumental, which was recently sampled by MC Lyte. Every tune or chorus seemed to fit together like it has been mathematically calculated.

Just Good Friends

This is one of the few Jackson duests (if not the only one) which failed to make it's mark. The lyrics were basically similar to "The Girl Is Mine" from his "Thriller" album. The song goes on and on with the chorus coming in unexpectedly. It is one of the very, very few Jackson songs which you wouldn't wanna sing along with the lyrics. Stevie Wonder, likewise, seemed to be all over the place, as if the songs had no lyrics and everyone was singing what they wanted.

Another Part Of Me

Here is another song which even non-MJ fans used to sing to. I heard about this song from a non-MJ fan before I heard it for the first time. Don't know why MJ would sing about something like..."You're just another part of me...", but it's a good song, again with a chorus you can sing to.

Man In The Mirror

This is definately another one of MJ's classics. This is one of the songs which not only get the message across but does it in style. MITM is like the "Heal The World" of "Bad". Up until the "Bad" time, MJ's was still trying to make a name for himself as a humanitarian. The "Thriller" album did not have any such songs about children, poverties, and other related subjects. Songs like "Can You Feel It" by The Jacksons did not quite give him that image he wanted because the beat was far too distracting for anyone to pay attention to thy lyrics. I am sure from this album on, Jackson realised that if you wanna make people to pay attention to what you wanna say, you don't need to use any special tune which will be distracting.

I Just Can't Stop Loving You

This is one of Jackson's songs which you really can't say it's good or bad. It's the type of song which you would wanna listen to only on some days. It is a good song, nonetheless. A good duet. The only problem is even though it is a duet, you barely hear the woman's voice. It is a good song though. The kind of song you might wanna listen to when you are with your loved one.

Dirty Diana

This is the "Billie Jean" of the "Bad" album. In this song, Jackson returns to the basics. Unlike most of his other songs, he uses very simply lyrics and gets straight to the point. "Dirty Diana" is the kind of song which will make you wanna go and find the lyrics. This is undoubtedly another MJ rock classic. The song begins with a good instrumental introduction. In this song MJ proved that he can make a song about anything he puts his mind to. The music video itself also helped to promote the song. The music video for "Dirty Diana" is probably the most lowest cost vide he ever made in his whole career. However it made it's mark as another great MJ music video with every move he makes almost complimenting the song.

Smooth Criminal

This is, or was, one of the songs which created MJ as a unique artist. It is the kind of song, which even if it was sung by another artist, you could have still guessed that it was written by MJ. This is one of the songs which also proved that MJ can make a song about anything he wants to. The song is accompanied by what most call one of the best music videos ever to be made by MJ. In this video he danced like has never done before in any video. "Smooth Criminal" is a song which is loved by almost every MJ fand and it's not difficult to know why. It's the kind of song which will definately make you wanna go and find the lyrics oto it, mainly because it is hard to make out what he is saying. This song is not only a unique song but a unique MJ song. This is one of the best MJ songs on average.

Leave Me Alone

Most people will say, "Well, it was a bonus", and that is probably true. This song had all the qualities of the Jackson song. The unique dance beat, chorus...but somehow it failed to make it's mark. Like "TWYMMF", the song runs on and on, to the point that it becomes boring.

On the average, the "Bad" album was a great follow-up to "Thriller". Not only did it maintain his image as the artist everyone was talking about, but also help to give him a new identity as an unpredictable and exciting artist. After the "Bad" album, most people were really convinced that Jackson was the artist of the decade.----Joe, Assistant Wemaster