Liberian Girl

The song Liberian Girl, which closes the album Bad by Michael Jackson, has an interesting story behind its creation. Although it was released as a single in 1987, the original musical idea dates back to 1983 and was considered for another project by the Jacksons before being reworked for this album. It was released as a single in Europe, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia, achieving good commercial performance by ranking among the top 15 in several countries. A distinctive sound detail is the participation of the South African singer Letta Mbulu, who can be heard singing phrases in Swahili.

The music video for Liberian Girl, filmed over two days in April 1989 in Los Angeles, California, is a display of friendship and camaraderie. Directed by Jim Yukich, the clip brings together a large number of Jackson’s famous friends, who appear on set believing they are participating in a video shoot, only to discover he was secretly filming them all. The list of celebrities in the video is extensive and includes names such as Elizabeth Taylor, to whom the song was dedicated, Paula Abdul, Dan Aykroyd, Whoopi Goldberg, Quincy Jones, Steven Spielberg, John Travolta, and Billy Dee Williams, among many others. The song itself, with its enveloping atmosphere, has been recognized for its impact, being seen in Liberia as an empowering anthem that gave hope to the country’s women.