Piek
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On the website Stereogum, Tom Breihan has a column called The Number Ones. He is reviewing every single #1 in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. It's actually a fun column to check frequently. He is now in 1988... so he has some more writing to do. One of his last posts is about Michaels fifth #1 from the album Bad: Dirty Diana. It's a very thorough analysis, and a nice read. With some fun facts I didn't know (Quincy Jones to Steve Stevens: "Could you put a little more custard in your cone, man?"). You can read it here:
https://www.stereogum.com/2147147/the-number-ones-michael-jacksons-dirty-diana/columns/the-number-ones/
Tom is very positive about the song, but then I read the comments, and two questions popped up. I am curious what you think.
The first question has to do with this: I was 13 when Bad was released. I wasn't a big fan of the song. I skipped it most of the time. Actually, I skipped most of the album, because I wanted to play Smooth Criminal the whole day. I loved that song. (And still do.) When I grew older, I noticed other students and people I saw on the dance floor, reacted very positive to Dirty Diana. Like that was a really OK song, even for non-fans. That has always been my impression of the song: that it was a popular track, positively reviewed. It also grew on me, I started to admire Michaels incredible vocal performance. However, reading the comments at Sterogum, and also reading some other reviews from that time, many people don't like the song at all. What is you impression – how did people around you respond to Dirty Diana?
Secondly, quit some people refer to it as a misogynistic song. I don't agree with that at all; the song isn't labeling all women. It's describing certain behaviour in some people – not saying every woman is behaving like this. Yet some people already take offense in the title of the song. What do you think?
https://www.stereogum.com/2147147/the-number-ones-michael-jacksons-dirty-diana/columns/the-number-ones/
Tom is very positive about the song, but then I read the comments, and two questions popped up. I am curious what you think.
The first question has to do with this: I was 13 when Bad was released. I wasn't a big fan of the song. I skipped it most of the time. Actually, I skipped most of the album, because I wanted to play Smooth Criminal the whole day. I loved that song. (And still do.) When I grew older, I noticed other students and people I saw on the dance floor, reacted very positive to Dirty Diana. Like that was a really OK song, even for non-fans. That has always been my impression of the song: that it was a popular track, positively reviewed. It also grew on me, I started to admire Michaels incredible vocal performance. However, reading the comments at Sterogum, and also reading some other reviews from that time, many people don't like the song at all. What is you impression – how did people around you respond to Dirty Diana?
Secondly, quit some people refer to it as a misogynistic song. I don't agree with that at all; the song isn't labeling all women. It's describing certain behaviour in some people – not saying every woman is behaving like this. Yet some people already take offense in the title of the song. What do you think?