I Wanna Be Bad

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"I Wanna Be Bad"
Willa Ford I wanna Be Bad.jpg
Single by Willa Ford featuring Royce da 5'9"
from the album Willa Was Here
ReleasedApril 24, 2001 (2001-04-24)
Studio
  • The Dojo (Jackson, New Jersey, US)
  • Battery (New York City)
Genre
Length3:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Josh Schwartz
  • Brian Kierulf
Willa Ford singles chronology
"I Wanna Be Bad"
(2001) 		"Did Ya' Understand That"
(2001)
Royce da 5'9" singles chronology
"You Can't Touch Me"
(2000) 		"I Wanna Be Bad"
(2001) 		"Rock City"
(2002)

"I Wanna Be Bad" is a song by American singer Willa Ford. She wrote the song alongside Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz, who also produced the track, when her record label, MCA Records, told her to tone down her music. After Jason Flom of Lava Records heard the song, he signed Ford to the label and included it on Ford's first album, Willa Was Here (2001). The single version of the track features rapper Royce da 5'9". A pop and dance-pop track, "I Wanna Be Bad" was released as Ford's debut single on April 24, 2001, by Lava and Atlantic Records. The song reached number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also charted in Australia, where it peaked at number 52. Ford has not had another hit single, making her a one-hit wonder. Two versions of the song's music video were released.

Background and content[]

Before recording "I Wanna Be Bad", Willa Ford, who had been signed to MCA Records at the time, had already recorded nearly a full album's worth of songs.[1] At that point, MCA Records requested her to make more "wholesome" compositions. Ford did not appreciate being told what to do with her music, so she decided to write a song depicting herself as a bad person, against the label's wishes. 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 songs.[1][2]

Musically, "I Wanna Be Bad" is a pop and dance-pop song.[2][3][4] Ford stated that, lyrically, the song is "about a girl coming into her own and becoming a woman," and considers it her song of freedom.[5] The opening lyrics are autotuned, with Ford saying that she wants to be bad. Her love interest prefers to behave badly, so she decides to act rebellious along with her partner since he does it well.[3]

Release and promotion[]

On April 24, 2001, Atlantic and Lava Records serviced "I Wanna Be Bad" to American contemporary hit radio and rhythmic contemporary radio.[6] Radio stations enthusiastically picked up the song, appreciating its divergence from the generic mainstream pop music sound of the time.[7] The song was then released as a CD single in the United States on May 22, 2001, and a maxi-CD was released the same year.[8][9] In Australia, where the was distributed only as a CD single, it was issued on August 20, 2001.[10] Most attention to the song came from backlash after Ford ended her relationship with Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter, resulting in the creation of many websites criticizing Ford and her split from Carter. Although Ford has said that these websites initially upset her, she used the situation to her advantage to help draw attention to the song and her career.[1][5]

A music video directed by Chris Applebaum[citation needed] 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, and steals their cruiser while they sit in the backseat.[3] On the album Willa Was Here, there is a hyperlink that leads to the video.[11]

Critical reception and legacy[]

Chuck Taylor of Billboard magazine compared "I Wanna Be Bad" to works of fellow pop singer Britney Spears, citing the "cutesy sing-along chorus" and the ribald lyrical content.[4] 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 by comparison.[2] AllMusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the song "catchy" with "post-Britney, Max Martin flair" and noted that it was the only track on the album that was not "startlingly crass".[12] 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.[13] Due to the song's message of rebellion, "I Wanna Be Bad" has resounded with the LGBTQ+ community.[7]

Chart performance[]

"I Wanna Be Bad" debuted at number 92 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on June 9, 2001.[14] It entered the top 40 of the chart on July 7, 2001, and rose to its peak of number 22 four weeks later, on August 4.[15][16] The song spent a total of 20 weeks on the Hot 100.[16] The song was a top-five hit on the Billboard Dance Singles Sales chart, peaking at number four in September 2001, and entered the top 20 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 and Top 40 Tracks rankings, reaching numbers 11 and 19, respectively.[17][18][19] The song has sold 250,000 copies in the US.[20] Worldwide, "I Wanna Be Bad" charted in Australia, reaching number 52 on the week of September 17, 2001.[21] Ford's following hit, "Did Ya' Understand That", did not experience success due to being released on September 11, 2001, and she has since become a one-hit wonder.[22]

Track listings[]

Credits and personnel[]

Credits are lifted from the US CD singles liner notes and the Willa Was Here booklet.[9][11][23]

Studios

  • Recorded at the Dojo (Jackson, New Jersey, US) and Battery Studios (New York City)
  • Mixed at the Mix Room (Burbank, California, US)
  • 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[]

Chart (2001) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[21] 52
US Billboard Hot 100[16] 22
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[17] 4
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[18] 11
US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)[19] 19

Release history[]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) ID Ref(s).
United States April 24, 2001 (2001-04-24)
N/A [6]
May 22, 2001 (2001-05-22) CD 85103-2 [8][23]
2001 (2001) Maxi-CD 85146-2 [9]
Australia August 20, 2001 (2001-08-20) CD 7567-85136-2 [10][25]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Wonsiewicz, Steve (May 18, 2001). "CHR Sees Great Things for Will Ford's 'Bad'" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1402. p. 31. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Rosa, Christopher (August 2, 2019). "Willa Ford: From 'I Wanna Be Bad' to Scott Disick's Interior Designer". Glamour. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Rohwedder, Kristie (October 9, 2014). "This Music Video Has Donuts, Dancing, & Debauchery". Bustle. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Taylor, Chuck (May 5, 2001). Taylor, Chuck (ed.). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 113 no. 18. p. 21. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Clott, Alicia (August 2001). "Spotlight on Willa Ford – up and coming singer – Brief Article". findarticles.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2007. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1398. April 20, 2001. pp. 50, 58. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Real, Evan (August 5, 2019). "Willa Ford Talks Surviving 2000s Teen Pop Craze, Emerging as Top Interior Designer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "I Wanna Be Bad". Amazon. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d I Wanna Be Bad (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 85146-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 20th August 2001" (PDF). ARIA. August 20, 2001. p. 24. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Willa Was Here (US CD album booklet). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 83437-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "Willa Ford: Willa Was Here". AllMusic. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  13. ^ JEDowney (January 18, 2019). "Own It or Disown It: #331: Willa Ford, Willa Was Here". Earbuddy. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  14. ^ "The Hot 100: Week of June 9, 2001". Billboard. June 9, 2001. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  15. ^ "The Hot 100: Week of July 7, 2001". Billboard. July 7, 2001. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Willa Ford Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b "Willa Ford Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b "Willa Ford Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b "Willa Ford Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  20. ^ "Willa Ford's Discography". willa-ford.org. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b "Issue 603" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  22. ^ 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. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b c I Wanna Be Bad (US enhanced CD single liner notes). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 85103-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ I Wanna Be Bad (UK CD single liner notes). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 85103-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b I Wanna Be Bad (Australian CD single liner notes). Willa Ford. Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 7567-85136-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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