Dirty Diana

When you dive into the recording of Dirty Diana, you encounter a raw energy that strays from the more polished pop. The song, released in 1988 as the fifth single from Bad, showcases a rockier sound, with a clear hard rock influence, something that had already been explored in Beat It. What stands out here is the guitar solo, performed by Steve Stevens, known for his work with Billy Idol. The composition, which was recorded between 1986 and 1987 at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles, was written by Michael Jackson himself, who also co-produced the track alongside Quincy Jones. The lyrics, as Jackson himself confessed, are about groupies, debunking initial speculations that linked it to Diana Ross. The final mix was handled by Bruce Swedien.

The album Bad, which includes Dirty Diana, was an ambitious project that Jackson and Quincy Jones conceived between 1985 and 1987. They aimed for a bolder sound, incorporating synthesizer technology and elements of funk and hard rock, which is clearly reflected in this song. Dirty Diana became a commercial success, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and ranking among the top ten in several countries. After Michael Jackson's passing in June 2009, the song experienced a resurgence on the charts, driven by digital downloads. The music video, filmed in front of a live audience, was also released in 1988, further boosting the song's popularity.