Dirty Diana

"Dirty Diana"
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Bad
B-side"Bad" (extended dance mix)
ReleasedApril 18, 1988 (1988-04-18)
Recorded1986–1987[1]
StudioWestlake (studio D), Los Angeles
Genre
Length
  • 4:52 (album version)
  • 4:40 (single edit)
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Michael Jackson
Producer(s)
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Man in the Mirror"
(1988)
"Dirty Diana"
(1988)
"Get It"
(1988)
Music video
"Dirty Diana" on YouTube
Audio sample
"Dirty Diana"

"Dirty Diana" is a song by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. It is the ninth track on Jackson's seventh studio album, Bad (1987). The song was released by Epic Records on April 18, 1988, as the fifth single from the album. It presents a harder rock sound similar to "Beat It" from Thriller (1982) and a guitar solo played by Steve Stevens. "Dirty Diana" was written and co-produced by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones. The song's lyrics pertain to groupies. "Dirty Diana" has a moderate tempo and is played in the key of G minor.

"Dirty Diana" received mixed reviews from contemporary music critics, but was a commercial success worldwide in 1988, charting at No. 1 on the United States Billboard Hot 100. The song also charted within the top ten in multiple countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and New Zealand. In 2009, after Jackson's death in June, the song re-entered charts, mainly due to digital download sales. A music video for "Dirty Diana" was filmed in front of a live audience and released in 1988.

  1. ^ Lecocq, Richard; Allard, François (2018). "Bad". Michael Jackson All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. London, England: Cassell. ISBN 9781788400572.