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| "Liberian Girl" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byMichael Jackson | ||||
| from the albumBad | ||||
| B-side | "Girlfriend" (album version)[1] | |||
| Released | July 3, 1989 (1989-07-03)[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1986–1987[1] | |||
| Studio | Westlake (studio D), Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Length |
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| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Michael Jackson | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Liberian Girl" onYouTube | ||||
"Liberian Girl" is the ninth and finalsingle released from American singerMichael Jackson's 1987 albumBad. The song was written as early as 1983 and was among those considered forthe Jacksons'Victory album. It was reworked and rewritten forBad. The song was released as a single in Europe, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. Although a commercial success (ranking the top 15 in several countries), the song was never performed live by Jackson during hisBad world tour or later concerts.
The New York Times editorJon Pareles wrote that a melody line from "Billie Jean" reappears in this song.[2]Rolling Stone's Davitt Sigerson praised the song: "'Liberian Girl' – is Michael's filler, which makes it richer, sexier, better thanThriller's forgettables" and he also described that it "glistens with gratitude for the existence of a loved one."[3] In 2003,Q magazine ranked the song at number 1,001 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".[4]
The song received a positive reception inLiberia,[5] with women from the country viewing the song as empowering.[5] Liberian woman Margaret Carson said in an interview withThe Washington Times "when that music came out ... the Liberian girls were so astonished to hear a great musician like Michael Jackson thinking about a little country in Africa. It gave us hope, especially when things went bad ... . It made us to feel that we are still part of the world."[5]
Directed by Jim Yukich and produced by Paul Flattery for FYI (Flattery Yukich Inc.), themusic video for the song was filmed in two days in April 1989 at A&M Chaplin Stage atA&M Studios inLos Angeles,California.[1] The music video featured many of Jackson's celebrity friends who gather on a soundstage to film the music video for "Liberian Girl", only to discover that Jackson was filming them all along. The following people are listed in order of appearance (ordered by columns):[6]
There was also someone dressed as a mummy in the video. In the ending credits the mummy was credited with a question mark.
The music video of the song was included on the video albums:HIStory on Film, Volume II,Vision and the Target version DVD ofBad 25.
7-inch
12-inch
CD single
CD 3-inch
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[7] | 50 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] | 12 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] | 24 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen singlelista)[10] | 9 |
| France (SNEP)[11] | 15 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[12] | 1 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] | 15 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] | 14 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] | 31 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] | 12 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[17] | 13 |
| West Germany (GfK)[18] | 23 |
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French Digital Singles Chart (SNEP)[19] | 34 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] | 36 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[21] | 86 |
