I Wanna Be Bad
"I Wanna Be Bad" | ||||
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Royce da 5'9" | ||||
from the album Willa Was Here | ||||
Released | April 24, 2001 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 3:04 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Willa Ford singles chronology | ||||
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Royce da 5'9" singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"I Wanna Be Bad" on YouTube |
"I Wanna Be Bad" is a song by American singer
Several music critics compared "I Wanna Be Bad" to songs by fellow American singer Britney Spears, whom Ford was trying not to imitate with her music. Immediately picked up by American radio stations, it reached number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and entered the top 20 on three other Billboard rankings. The song also charted in Australia, where it peaked at number 52. Ford has not had another hit single, making her a one-hit wonder. Ford promoted the song in several ways, including making a music video directed by Chris Applebaum, where she causes havoc at a club and on the streets. Because of the song's themes of nonconformity and comfort with oneself, the LGBTQ+ community has embraced it and turned Ford into an icon.
Background and composition
Before recording "I Wanna Be Bad", Willa Ford, who was signed to MCA Records at the time, had already recorded nearly a full album's worth of songs.[2] At that point, MCA Records requested her to make more "wholesome" compositions. Ford, 21 years old at the time, did not appreciate being told what to do with her music, so she decided to write a song depicting herself as a bad person, going against the label's wishes.[3][4] Her associates, Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz, assisted with the songwriting. When Ford presented the new track to her label, the staff liked what she had done, but they wanted a less explicit pre-chorus. However, when Lava Records president Jason Flom and Atlantic Records director Andy Shane heard the song, they decided to sign Ford to the labels and release the song, appreciating that she wrote her own material.[2][4] Ford recorded the track at The Dojo in Jackson, New Jersey, and Battery Studios in New York City, and she arranged all the vocals. Kierulf plays all the instruments while Schwartz provides additional guitar, and both men produced the track.[5]
Musically, "I Wanna Be Bad" is a
Release and promotion
On April 24, 2001, Atlantic and Lava Records serviced "I Wanna Be Bad" to American
A music video directed by Chris Applebaum was made to promote the song. In the video, Ford portrays an ill-mannered woman who flirts with a DJ at a club, seduces police officers while eating doughnuts, and steals their cruiser while they sit in the backseat.[1][17] Interspersed throughout the video are clips of Ford performing with her backup dancers and Royce da 5'9"; near the end of the video, she performs alongside two pole dancers as bubbles float around her.[18] The video received significant airplay on American television program Total Request Live (TRL).[1][19] In the booklet for Willa Was Here, there is a hyperlink that leads to the video.[5] In February 2001, Ford called the video "off the hook",[10] but retrospectively, she said that the video was one of her reasons for distancing herself from interviews, explaining that people misinterpreted the theme and believed she was "'the hot chick,' 'the badass' or 'the bitch'" rather than a rebellious woman.[3] Ford also promoted the song by performing it live at the Pantene Pro-Voice 2001 concert, and it was used in an advertising campaign for Six Flags amusement park.[1][20]
Reception and legacy
Chuck Taylor of Billboard compared "I Wanna Be Bad" to works by fellow pop singer Britney Spears, citing the "cutesy sing-along chorus" and the ribald lyrical content.[6] Christopher Rosa, writing for Glamour, called the song a "stomping pop anthem" that made other suggestive songs such as Spears' "I'm a Slave 4 U" and Christina Aguilera's "Dirrty" seem modest.[4] AllMusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the song "catchy" with "post-Britney, Max Martin flair" and noted how it is the only track on the album that is not "startlingly crass".[15] JEDowney from Earbuddy wrote that the song was one of the three better tracks from the album and compared it to a disappointing Spears song.[21] Due to the song's message of rebellion, "I Wanna Be Bad" has resounded with some of the LGBTQ+ community and turned Ford into an icon.[3][11] Ford said that she believed the community responded because her song is honest in its "I'm trying to figure out who I am" message, giving people the confidence to go out at night and be themselves without acknowledging other people's judgements.[3]
Commercial performance
"I Wanna Be Bad" debuted at number 92 on the US
Track listings
- "I Wanna Be Bad" – 3:04
- "I Wanna Be Bad" (with rap and vocoder featuring Royce da 5'9") – 3:04
- "I Wanna Be Bad" (video)
US maxi-CD single[13]
- "I Wanna Be Bad" (Mike Rizzo club mix) – 6:39
- "I Wanna Be Bad" (Sal "Parm" slub mix) – 9:14
- "I Wanna Be Bad" (Mike Rizzo Hyper vocal mix) – 6:09
- "I Wanna Be Bad" (Sal "Parm" dub) – 7:14
- "I Wanna Be Bad" (Sal "Parm" radio edit) – 3:59
Australian CD single[33]
- "I Wanna Be Bad" (no rap version) – 3:04
- "I Wanna Be Bad" (album version with rap and vocoder) – 3:04
- "I Wanna Be Bad" (Plasmic Honey edit) – 3:59
- "I Wanna Be Bad" (Mike Rizzo radio edit) – 3:36
- "I Wanna Be Bad" (Plasmic Honey club mix) – 9:55
- "I Wanna Be Bad" (Mike Rizzo club mix) – 6:39
Credits and personnel
Credits are lifted from the US CD singles liner notes and the Willa Was Here booklet.[5][8][13]
Recording
- Recorded at The Dojo (Jackson, New Jersey) and Battery Studios (New York City)
- Mixed at the Mix Room (Burbank, California)
- Mastered at Sterling Sound(New York City)
Personnel
- Willa Ford – writing, all vocals and vocal arrangements
- Brian Kierulf – writing, instruments, programming, production, recording (Dojo)
- Josh Schwartz – writing, additional guitar, production, recording (Dojo)
- Royce da 5'9"– featured vocals
- Stephen George – recording (Battery)
- Rob Chiarelli – mixing
- Tom Coyne – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | ID | Ref(s). |
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United States | April 24, 2001 | — | [9] | ||
May 22, 2001 | CD | 85103-2 | [8][12] | ||
2001 | Maxi-CD | 85146-2 | [13] | ||
Australia | August 20, 2001 | CD | 7567-85136-2 | [14][33] |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Rohwedder, Kristie (October 9, 2014). "This Music Video Has Donuts, Dancing, & Debauchery". Bustle. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Wonsiewicz, Steve (May 18, 2001). "CHR Sees Great Things for Willa Ford's 'Bad'". Radio & Records. No. 1402. p. 31.
- ^ a b c d e Kaplan, Ilana (July 25, 2017). "Willa Ford Explains Why She Left Music — And Teases a Possible Comeback". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Rosa, Christopher (August 2, 2019). "Willa Ford: From 'I Wanna Be Bad' to Scott Disick's Interior Designer". Glamour. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
- ^ a b c Willa Was Here (US CD album booklet). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 83437-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b Taylor, Chuck (May 5, 2001). Taylor, Chuck (ed.). "Reviews & Previews: Singles". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 18. p. 21.
- ^ Girls' Life. Archived from the originalon January 30, 2007. Retrieved August 5, 2021 – via findarticles.com.
- ^ a b c d I Wanna Be Bad (US CD single liner notes). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 85103-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1398. April 20, 2001. pp. 50, 58.
- ^ a b Carter, Kevin (February 16, 2001). "Willa: Built Ford Tough". Gavin Report. No. 2335. p. 53.
- ^ a b Real, Evan (August 5, 2019). "Willa Ford Talks Surviving 2000s Teen Pop Craze, Emerging as Top Interior Designer". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
- ^ a b "I Wanna Be Bad". Amazon. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
- ^ a b c d I Wanna Be Bad (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 85146-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 20th August 2001" (PDF). ARIA. August 20, 2001. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
- ^ a b Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "Willa Ford: Willa Was Here". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
- ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio (June 9, 2001). "Hot 100 Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 23. p. 89.
...and Ford's Willa Was Here are set for a July 17 release.
- ^ Applebaum, Chris (director) (2001). I Wanna Be Bad (Music video). Lava Records, Atlantic Records. Event occurs at 2:42.
- ^ Applebaum, Chris (director) (2001). I Wanna Be Bad (Music video). Lava Records, Atlantic Records. Event occurs at 0:41, 1:58, 2:19.
- ^ "'I Wanna Be Bad' Singer Willa Ford Blames 9/11 for Ending Her Music Career". TooFab. July 27, 2017. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^ "Pantene Pro-Voice 2001 Spokesgirl". pro-voice.com. 2001. Archived from the original on December 5, 2001. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ JEDowney (January 18, 2019). "Own It or Disown It: #331: Willa Ford, Willa Was Here". Earbuddy. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
- ^ "The Hot 100: Week of June 9, 2001". Billboard. June 9, 2001. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
- ^ "The Hot 100: Week of July 7, 2001". Billboard. July 7, 2001. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Willa Ford Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
- ^ a b "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
- ^ a b "Willa Ford Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
- ^ a b "Willa Ford Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
- ^ a b "Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 35. September 1, 2001. p. 73.
- ^ "Willa Ford's Discography". willa-ford.org. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Issue 603" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
- ^ Johnson, Zach (July 27, 2017). "'I Wanna Be Bad' Singer Willa Ford Clears the Air: I Don't Blame My Fizzled Music Career on 9/11". E! Online. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
- ^ I Wanna Be Bad (UK CD single liner notes). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 85103-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b I Wanna Be Bad (Australian CD single liner notes). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 7567-85136-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2001". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. December 21, 2001. p. 60.