I Still Can’t Believe Michael Jackson’s Second Best-Selling Album Was Completely Snubbed By The Grammys

Michael Jackson’s 1987 album Bad stands as a monumental achievement in pop music history. As his follow-up to the record-breaking Thriller, Bad showcased Jackson’s evolution as an artist, yielding five consecutive No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100—a feat unprecedented at the time. Despite its commercial success and cultural impact, Bad received a surprisingly lukewarm reception at the 1988 Grammy Awards, securing only one win for Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical, an award that honored the album’s engineers rather than Jackson himself. 

The 30th Annual Grammy Awards saw Jackson nominated in four categories: Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male, Best R&B Vocal Performance – Male, and Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical. While Bad was a commercial juggernaut, it lost Album of the Year to U2’s The Joshua Tree. Critics at the time argued that Bad, despite its polished production, lacked the emotional depth found in other nominees. The Los Angeles Times noted that Jackson’s performance at the ceremony revealed a vulnerability that contrasted with the album’s perceived lack of intimacy. 

Adding to the controversy was the delayed recognition of “Leave Me Alone,” a track from Bad that wasn’t initially released in the United States. The song eventually won the Grammy for Best Music Video – Short Form in 1990, two years after the album’s release. This belated acknowledgment did little to quell the disappointment felt by fans and industry observers who believed Bad deserved more immediate accolades. 

The Grammy snub of Bad is often cited as part of a broader pattern of underrecognition of Black artists by major award institutions. Despite Jackson’s groundbreaking contributions to music and his role in shaping pop culture, the limited Grammy recognition for Bad underscores ongoing conversations about diversity and representation within the music industry. 

In retrospect, Bad has been re-evaluated by critics and fans alike, with many considering it a pivotal work that solidified Jackson’s status as the “King of Pop.” Its innovative blend of pop, rock, and R&B, coupled with Jackson’s dynamic performances, have ensured its lasting legacy. While the Grammys may have overlooked Bad at the time, the album’s enduring influence speaks volumes about its significance in music history.

Keywords: Michael Jackson, Bad album, Grammy Awards, music industry, album of the year, Leave Me Alone, U2 Joshua Tree, Grammy snubs, pop music history, Black artists recognition