Liberian Girl

Michael Jackson wrote "Liberian Girl" in 1983, originally envisioning it for the group project Victory before settling on his sixth solo album Bad. The track sits as the ninth song on that record, released in August 1987 under Epic Records. Unlike the high-energy dance numbers surrounding it, this ballad relies on a soft pop and R&B foundation built around an acoustic guitar intro and lush orchestral arrangements.

South African vocalist Letta Mbulu joins Jackson on the recording, singing the Swahili phrase "Nakupenda" and other lines during the bridge. Her contribution adds a distinct African texture to the production, which was handled by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson. Critics often describe the song as one of Jackson's most beautiful works because of its simplicity and emotional depth compared to the rest of the Bad collection.

Although the song did not receive a commercial single release in the United States, it found success internationally. It reached number 12 in Australia, number 13 in New Zealand, and number 16 in the United Kingdom. A music video featuring Jackson walking through a garden further cemented its status as a fan favorite, even without a major US promotional campaign. [edit]