Bad Boys (Alexandra Burke song)

{{listen|filename=Alexandra Burke ft. Flo Rida Bad Boys sample.ogg|title="Bad Boys"

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Burke premiered the song on 25 August 2009, on The Chris Moyles Show.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a173505/burke-single-to-premiere-tomorrow.html|title=Burke single to premiere tomorrow|first=Nick|last=Levine|date=24 August 2009| work=Digital Spy| access-date=31 May 2010}} Before its release, The Sun had leaked lyrics from the song online.{{cite web|url=http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/alexandra-burke/news/new-single-album/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822123627/http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/alexandra-burke/news/new-single-album/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 August 2011 |title=Alexandra Burke Announces New Single Details |work=AngryApe |access-date=31 May 2010 |date=24 August 2009 }} In an interview with Popjustice when asked about the song, Burke said, "I've got a passion against liars, but I do like myself a bad boy. All young girls my age go for them, we just don't like to admit it, because we always go for them".{{cite web|url=http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4124&Itemid=9|title=Alexandra Burke interview|access-date=31 May 2010|work=Popjustice}}

The song is described as having a "stomping electro-R&B tune".{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/singlesreviews/a180560/alexandra-burke-ft-flo-rida-bad-boys.html|title=Alexandra Burke ft. Flo Rida: 'Bad Boys'|date=12 October 2009|access-date=30 May 2010|first=Nick|last=Levine|work=Digital Spy|archive-date=2 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202052220/http://www.digitalspy.com/music/singlesreviews/a180560/alexandra-burke-ft-flo-rida-bad-boys.html|url-status=live}} The intro has been described as "a demented elasticated siren effect bouncing from speaker to speaker", which has been called a hybrid of Girls Aloud's "Biology", and Britney Spears' "Womanizer", but with a more "euphoric disco feel".{{cite web| url=http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3969&Itemid=206| title=So - the Alexandra Burke single | publisher=Popjustice| date=24 August 2009| access-date=17 May 2009 }} According to Popjustice, the song is lyrically about "fancying dangerous men". Flo Rida appears in the intro and during the middle eight.

The song received mostly positive reviews commending Burke's vocals and the production of the song. Matthew Chisling of Allmusic called the track "the most brilliant, perfect mainstream pop single of 2009", commending the song's synthesized beat and larger-than-life chorus, and Flo Rida's rap, stating that it made Burke "the prime UK import for the North American market".{{cite web| url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1683023|pure_url=yes}}| title=Overcome > Overview| author=Chisling, Matthew| publisher=Allmusic. Macrovision| access-date=8 November 2009 }} Popjustice called the song "brilliant" and "phenomenal", commending the song's "Womanizer"-like intro and the chorus's strong melodic topline. The review praised Burke's vocals, calling them "Whitneyish in parts" and compared them to Donna Summer. Although the review noted the song was not built for Burke's extreme vocals, it said, "that there's something quite exciting about an incredible singer being forced to follow a very strong and melodic topline instead of going all over the show." Bill Lamb of About.com also said the song was reminiscent of Donna Summer, and said, "Big international success seems a real possibility as Burke steps into the battle for R&B-pop diva crown."{{cite web|url=http://top40.about.com/b/2009/08/25/alexandra-burke-aims-for-international-success-on-bad-boys.htm|title=Alexandra Burke Aims for International Success on "Bad Boys"|date=25 August 2009|access-date=17 May 2010|work=About.com|first=Bill|last=Lamb|archive-date=29 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629195501/http://top40.about.com/b/2009/08/25/alexandra-burke-aims-for-international-success-on-bad-boys.htm|url-status=dead}} Nick Levine of Digital Spy said the song complimented Burke's "sass and all-around performance skill" rather than a ballad would, and called the song "fun", pulling off a "minor pop miracle- turning a cameo by Flo Rida into a good thing". Alexis Petrids of The Guardian noted although some may see the single as "generic", and "currently pop's factory-default setting", he ascertained the song was "a superior example of the type, furnished with an effortlessly unshakeable chorus".{{cite web| url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/oct/15/alexandra-burke-overcome-cd-review| title=Alexandra Burke: Overcome| work=The Guardian| publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited | author=Petridis, Alexis| date=15 October 2009| access-date=19 October 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091018042002/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/oct/15/alexandra-burke-overcome-cd-review| archive-date= 18 October 2009 | url-status= live}} Although Harry Guerin of RTÉ noted the production and formula of the music was a flaw of the album, he noted that that technique worked in "Bad Boys".{{cite web| url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/1019/burkea.html| title=Alexandra Burke - Overcome| publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann| author=Guerin, Harry| access-date=19 October 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091021040302/http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/1019/burkea.html| archive-date= 21 October 2009 | url-status= live}} Simon Price of The Independent was more critical of the song, calling it a "pale imitation" of Britney Spears' "Womanizer".{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-alexandra-burke-overcome-sycosony-1805040.html| title=Album: Alexandra Burke, Overcome (Syco/Sony)| work=The Independent| author=Price, Simon| date=18 October 2009| access-date=19 October 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091020185759/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-alexandra-burke-overcome-sycosony-1805040.html| archive-date= 20 October 2009 | url-status= live}}

"Bad Boys" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, replacing Chipmunk's "Oopsy Daisy", and becoming both Burke and Flo Rida's second chart-topper, selling over 187,000 copies in its first week, a total of 860,000 copies to date.{{cite web| url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE59H1MR20091018| title=Alexandra Burke beats Robbie Williams to top charts| publisher=Reuters (Thomson Reuters)|author1=Griffiths, Peter |author2=Fullerton, Elizabeth | date=18 October 2009| access-date=18 October 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091020181154/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE59H1MR20091018| archive-date= 20 October 2009 | url-status= dead}} The song also debuted on the Irish Singles Chart at number one.{{cite web|url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p/musicvideo/music/archive/index_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2009&year=2009&week=42|title=TOP 100 SINGLES, WEEK ENDING 15 October 2009|access-date=19 June 2010|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229152534/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2009&year=2009&week=42|archive-date=29 February 2012|url-status=dead}} The song fell off the top spot in the second week, ceding the throne to Cheryl Cole's "Fight for This Love".{{cite web|url=http://www.mns.co.uk/01218886.html |title=Cheryl Cole Tops Charts with Fight For This Love |work=Moo News |access-date=19 June 2010 |first=Claire |last=Rogers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308065104/http://www.mns.co.uk/01218886.html |archive-date=8 March 2012 }} It was certified platinum in the United Kingdom, and spent 25 consecutive weeks in the top seventy-five on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx |title=Certified Awards Search |work=British Phonographic Industry |access-date=31 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115055129/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |archive-date=15 January 2013 }} The song also charted within the top ten of Sweden, the Netherlands, Hungary, Norway, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Belgium (Wallonia).{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/960b1/Alexandra-Burke-feat.-Flo-Rida-Bad-Boys|title=Alexandra Burke feat. Flo Rida - Bad Boys|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=31 May 2010}} It charted within the top twenty of Finland, Belgium (Flanders), and Germany, twenty-two in Austria, and thirty-nine in Denmark. While the track failed to chart in Australia on the Singles Chart, it peaked at #11 on the Physical Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_physical_singles.asp?chart=1S50 |title=Top 50 Physical Singles Chart - Australian Record Industry Association |publisher=Ariacharts.com.au |access-date=28 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723001625/http://ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_physical_singles.asp?chart=1S50 |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=dead }} In the UK, 'Bad Boys' was the 18th biggest download of all time as of 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/downloads |title=Radio 1 - The Official Chart with Reggie Yates - Top 100 Downloads of All Time |publisher=BBC |access-date=28 August 2011 |archive-date=12 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912173508/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/downloads |url-status=live }}

File:Burke In Bad Boys.png

The video was filmed from 31 August to 1 September 2009 in various locations in Los Angeles, directed by Bryan Barber.{{cite web|url=http://www.d210.tv/2009/09/02/alexandra-burke-shooting-bad-boys-music-video/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724014733/http://www.d210.tv/2009/09/02/alexandra-burke-shooting-bad-boys-music-video/|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 July 2012|title=Alexandra Burke Shooting 'Bad Boys' Music Video|access-date=30 May 2010|date=2 September 2009|work=D210}} The clip starts with Alexandra dressed in a one-piece black leather suit, as her car has broken down in a bad part of town.{{cite web|url=http://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/features/alexandra_burke/ |title=Alexandra Burke |work=Wonderland Magazine |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330201854/http://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/features/alexandra_burke/ |archive-date=30 March 2010 }} It then cuts to Flo Rida who sings the opening lines of the song. Next, Burke performs various dance moves in deserted streets while being followed by several men. The video then shows Alexandra entering a bar in a mirrored silver dress, which has been compared to Janet Jackson around the janet. era, where she is mobbed by more of these men. She then performs more dance routines, before a fight ensues between the men in the bar over Alexandra and Flo Rida performs his part in the song. During his rap, there are scenes where Alexandra backflips off a bar table, and pushes two men powerfully over a bar and through a door. The video then shows Alexandra dancing with more men in a deserted parking lot.

David Whitehouse of Wonderland Magazine declared the "Bad Boys" video as "the birth of a pop star". After commenting that America generates better, glossier pop than the British, such as the "holy trinity of 21st century pop music", Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, and Justin Timberlake, Whitehouse said that the video looked and sounded American, "dripping" with "dollar signs and expensive lenses". The review commending Burke's look in the video calling her, "the gutsier, sassier alternative to the anaemic, high school warbling of, say, Kelly Clarkson or the pre-pubescent offal piped into our children by Miley Cyrus." Whitehouse stated, "It has pomposity, big dance routines, cars built like tanks, moody street hunks (also built like tanks), stunts, jewellery and a rapper, Flo Rida, who in honesty, could have been anyone". He went on to say, "If we want to make a megastar, let the Americans do it for us. They make megastars. If Alexandra Burke is going to be the pop star we want her to be, she’s going the right way about it".

Burke performed Bad Boys on the sixth series of The X Factor{{'}}s first week results show on 11 October 2009.{{cite web|url=http://xfactor.itv.com/2009/episodes/video/item_200424.htm |title=Alexandra Burke - Bad Boys |publisher=ITV |access-date=31 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706185538/http://xfactor.itv.com/2009/episodes/video/item_200424.htm |archive-date=6 July 2011 }} Flo Rida joined Burke on stage. She then performed the on GMTV on 13 October 2009 at London's G-A-Y and at Wembley Arena on 17 October 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.singersroom.com/photo/369/Bad-Boys--Girls-At-Wembley-JLS-Alexandra-Burke|title=Bad Boys at Wembley: JLS, Alexandra|work=Singersroom|date=19 October 2009|access-date=31 May 2010}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/10/19/alexandra-burke-wears-four-outfits-in-one-night-each-sexier-than-the-last-115875-21759479/|title=Alexandra Burke wears four outfits in one night, each sexier than the last|date=19 October 2009|access-date=31 May 2010|work=Daily Mirror|publisher=Trinity Mirror|author=Wheeler, Rachael|archive-date=23 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223063736/http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/10/19/alexandra-burke-wears-four-outfits-in-one-night-each-sexier-than-the-last-115875-21759479/|url-status=live}} She also performed it on Ireland's Childline concert in Dublin.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} Burke also performed the song, as well as others from her while presenting the launch of the Viva Network in the UK and Ireland.{{cite web|url=http://uk.viva.tv/shows/alexandra-burke-viva-live|title=Alexandra Burke: Viva Live|access-date=31 May 2010|publisher=VIVA}} She returned for the finale of the sixth series of The X Factor, where she and past runner-up JLS performed a melody of the song and their hit, "Everybody in Love".{{cite web|url=http://xfactor.itv.com/2009/episodes/video/item_201039.htm|title=Alexandra & JLS: Bad Boys/Everybody In Love|publisher=ITV|access-date=31 May 2010}} Burke also performed the song at The O2 Arena in London for the Jingle Bell Ball, while also appearing on Cheryl Cole's Night In to perform the solo version.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} "Bad Boys" was also the background music in Dancing on Ice during the first week when introducing the male celebrities. In week seven of the fifth season of Dancing on Ice, actress Emily Atack danced to the song and achieved her highest score at the time in the show.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} In the UK, Burke also performed it on Ant and Dec's Push The Button on 13 March 2010, and is set to perform it on T4 on the Beach on 4 July 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.alexandraburkeofficial.com/gb/newsdiary/post/alexandra_-_ant_and_decs_push_the_button/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403060543/http://www.alexandraburkeofficial.com/gb/newsdiary/post/alexandra_-_ant_and_decs_push_the_button/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 April 2010 |title=Alexandra - Ant and Dec's Push the Button |date=15 March 2010 |access-date=25 May 2010 |publisher=Syco Music }}{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a212598/alexandra-burke-to-play-t4-on-the-beach.html|title=Alexandra Burke to play T4 On The Beach|date=5 April 2010|access-date=31 May 2010|first=Robert|last=Copsey|work=Digital Spy|archive-date=3 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603145040/http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a212598/alexandra-burke-to-play-t4-on-the-beach.html|url-status=live}} Burke also performed the song while promoting Overcome on her European Promo Tour.

She performed "Bad Boys" live on the 20th Concert in Poland, on Queensday in the Netherlands at the Radio 538 Museumplein, and on the Dutch The X Factor.{{cite web|url=http://www.rtl.nl/shows/xfactor3/liveshows/components/exclusive/articles/vanavond_movienight.xml|title=VANAVOND MOVIE NIGHT|access-date=31 May 2010|work=RTL| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100511175039/http://www.rtl.nl/shows/xfactor3/liveshows/components/exclusive/articles/vanavond_movienight.xml| archive-date= 11 May 2010 | url-status= live}}

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;UK & Australian Maxi CD{{cite web| url=http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=486184| title=Alexandra Burke Bad Boys UK 5" CD Single| publisher=Eil.com| access-date=3 October 2009| archive-date=6 June 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606233833/http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=486184| url-status=live}}

1. "Bad Boys" (Melvin K Watson Jr, Larry Summerville Jr, Busbee, Lauren Evans, Alex James)
2. "Dangerous" (Hitesh Ceon, Kim Ofstad, Andrea Martin)
3. "Bad Boys" (Moto Blanco Radio Mix)

; UK iTunes digital download{{cite web| url=https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPreorder?i=331771111&id=331771106&s=143444| title=Bad Boys (feat. Flo Rida)| publisher=iTunes. Apple Inc.| access-date=1 October 2009| archive-date=29 January 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129014138/https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPreorder?i=331771111&id=331771106&s=143444| url-status=live}}

1. "Bad Boys"
2. "Bad Boys" (Moto Blanco Extended Vocal Mix)

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;German 2-Track CD{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.de/dp/B002YH6FOC|title=Alexandra Burke - Bad Boys|access-date=31 May 2010|publisher=amazon.de|archive-date=3 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203051933/https://www.amazon.de/dp/B002YH6FOC|url-status=live}}

1. "Bad Boys"
2. "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen)

;German & Austrian iTunes EP{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/de/album/bad-boys-ep-feat-flo-rida/345658572|title=Bad Boys - EP von Alexandra Burke|access-date=31 May 2010|work=German iTunes|date=12 October 2009|archive-date=13 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313211558/http://itunes.apple.com/de/album/bad-boys-ep/id345658572|url-status=live}}

1. "Bad Boys"
2. "Bad Boys" (Solo Version)
3. "Hallelujah"
4. "Bad Boys" (Moto Blanco Extended Vocal Mix)
5. "Bad Boys" (Video)

;Digital EP

1. "Bad Boys" (feat. Flo Rida) - 3:27
2. "Dangerous" - 3:10
3. "Bad Boys" (Solo Version) - 3:14
4. "Bad Boys" (Moto Blanco Radio Mix) - 3:23
5. "Bad Boys" (Moto Blanco Extended Vocal Mix) - 7"11
6. "Bad Boys" (Moto Blanco Dub) - 8:10

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|artist=Alexandra Burke|title=Bad Boys|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2009|certyear=2012|certref={{cite web|title=Alexandra Burke Feat. Flo Rida - Bad Boys |url=http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/artdata?dfom=20091009&sart=341515 |publisher=Sverigetopplistan |access-date=31 October 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202848/http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/artdata?dfom=20091009&sart=341515 |archive-date=3 March 2016 }}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Alexandra Burke|title=Bad Boys|award=Platinum|relyear=2009|certyear=2010|id=684-2308-1|salesamount=814,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/alexandra-burkes-official-top-10-biggest-hits-revealed__22315/|title=Alexandra Burke's Official Top 10 biggest hits revealed|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=15 March 2018|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=15 March 2018|archive-date=16 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316023942/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/alexandra-burkes-official-top-10-biggest-hits-revealed__22315/|url-status=live}}|access-date=31 October 2020}}

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{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.alexandraburkeofficial.com/ Official website]
• {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1660923|label="Bad Boys"}}

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{{Alexandra Burke}}

{{Flo Rida singles}}

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Category:2009 singles

Category:2009 songs

Category:Alexandra Burke songs

Category:Flo Rida songs

Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:Number-one singles in Scotland

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles

Category:Songs written by Lauren Evans

Category:Songs written by Alex James (songwriter)

Category:Songs written by busbee

Category:Songs written by Flo Rida

Category:Syco Music singles