Bad Girlfriend
{{About|the Theory of a Deadman song|the Anne-Marie song|Speak Your Mind}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Bad Girlfriend
| cover = theory_of_a_deadman_bad_girlfriend.png
| alt = A blonde woman is seen with her hand in a "Come here" motion. The phrases "Theory of a Deadman" and "Bad Girlfriend" are printed at the bottom.
| type = single
| artist = Theory of a Deadman
| album = Scars & Souvenirs
| released = {{start date|2008|05|14}}
| recorded = September 2007–January 2008
| studio =
| genre = Hard rock{{cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2011/05/05/Canadian-rockers-Theory-of-a-Deadman-take-cues-from-Seattle-grunge-era/stories/201105050451|title=Canadian Rockers Theory of a Deadman Take Cues from Seattle Grunge Era|last=Mervis|first=Scott|date=May 5, 2011|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|accessdate=April 26, 2019}}
| length = {{Duration|03:25}}
| label = *Roadrunner
| writer = *Tyler Connolly
- Dave Brenner
- Dean Back
- Christine Danielle Connolly
| producer = Howard Benson
| prev_title = So Happy
| prev_year = 2008
| next_title = All or Nothing
| next_year = 2008
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|9YrWsmlJSiw|"Bad Girlfriend"}}}}
}}
"Bad Girlfriend" is a song by Canadian rock band Theory of a Deadman and is the second single from their third studio album Scars & Souvenirs (2008). The track's lyrics describe the circumstances of when lead singer and guitarist Tyler Connolly met his now ex-wife in a bar in Vancouver. The band collectively composed the song which was produced by Howard Benson. It peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart and number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was their first single to reach number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, making it the band's most successful release in the United States at the time.
Background and development
"Bad Girlfriend" has been defined as a "tongue in cheek", "party-rocking tune",{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/theory-of-a-deadman-tyler-connolly-interview-the-truth-is/|title=Frontman Tyler Connolly Spills the 'Truth' on Theory of a Deadman's New Album|last=Ouellette|first=Mary|date=October 27, 2011|website=Loudwire|accessdate=April 1, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gibson.com/news-lifestyle/features/en-us/theory-of-a-deadman-tyler-connolly-interview.aspx|title=Theory of a Deadman's Tyler Connolly on 'Angel', Modern Rock and Go-to Gibsons|last=Erickson|first=Anne|date=October 20, 2015|publisher=Gibson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113063021/https://www.gibson.com/news-lifestyle/features/en-us/theory-of-a-deadman-tyler-connolly-interview.aspx|archive-date=January 13, 2019|url-status=dead|accessdate=January 12, 2019}} with lead singer and guitarist Tyler Connolly labeling it a "stripper song".{{cite web|url=http://www.vindy.com/news/2015/oct/22/deadman-has-a-theory-about-writing-hit-s/?print|title=Deadman Has a Theory About Writing Hit Songs|last=Benson|first=John|date=October 22, 2015|website=The Vindicator|accessdate=January 12, 2019|archive-date=July 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727000801/https://www.vindy.com/news/2015/oct/22/deadman-has-a-theory-about-writing-hit-s/?print|url-status=dead}} The lyrics describe the events of when Connolly met his now ex-wife, Canadian actress Christine Danielle, at a bar called The Roxy in Vancouver. Howard Benson produced the track and Danielle assisted in the composition of the lyrics, including the explicit opening line, "My girlfriend's a dick magnet".{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/meet-howard-benson-producer-making-bands-hit-machines/|title=Meet Howard Benson, the Producer Making Your Favorite Bands Hit Machines|last=Divita|first=Joe|date=December 19, 2018|website=Loudwire|accessdate=April 1, 2019}}{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fooloNJvSwY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/fooloNJvSwY |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Theory of a Deadman – Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?|date=September 3, 2014|website=Loudwire|time=10:27|accessdate=December 29, 2018}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=https://www.1057thepoint.com/music-news/theory-of-a-deadman-frontman-says-marrying-bad-girlfriend-is-good-idea/|title=Theory of a Deadman Frontman Says Marrying 'Bad Girlfriend' Is Good Idea|date=November 24, 2008|publisher=105.7 The Point|accessdate=December 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923054037/https://www.1057thepoint.com/music-news/theory-of-a-deadman-frontman-says-marrying-bad-girlfriend-is-good-idea/|archive-date=September 23, 2018|url-status=dead}}
Guitarist Dave Brenner acknowledged that the "raunchy, funny" tone of the single did not reflect the usual fashion of previous tracks, saying, "It shows a different side of Theory of a Deadman. The past albums have been pretty heavy content-wise and this one shows more of a sense of humor to Theory of a Deadman."{{cite web|url=https://www.1057thepoint.com/music-news/theory-of-a-deadman-sings-praises-of-bad-girlfriend/|title=Theory of a Deadman Sing Praises of 'Bad Girlfriend'|date=July 10, 2008|publisher=105.7 The Point|accessdate=January 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113063035/https://www.1057thepoint.com/music-news/theory-of-a-deadman-sings-praises-of-bad-girlfriend/|archive-date=January 13, 2019|url-status=dead}} Connolly has also addressed that the record label despised the song and didn't want it on the album.{{cite web|url=http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/theory+deadman+takes+life+route+truth/5084967/story.html|title=Theory of a Deadman Takes a Low-life Route to Truth|last=Marchand|first=Francois|date=July 11, 2011|website=Calgary Herald|accessdate=April 1, 2019}}
Release and commercial performance
The song was released on May 14, 2008, as the second single off the band's third studio album, Scars & Souvenirs (2008). It peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/theory-of-a-deadman/chart-history/can/|title=Theory of a Deadman – Chart History: Billboard Canadian Hot 100 – Bad Girlfriend|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=October 14, 2019}} In the United States, it reached number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the first of the band's songs to appear on this particular chart and their most successful single at the time.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/theory-of-a-deadman/chart-history/hsi/|title=Theory of a Deadman – Chart History: Hot 100 – Bad Girlfriend|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=October 14, 2019}} It peaked at number eight on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart and spent two weeks at number one on the Mainstream Rock chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/theory-of-a-deadman/chart-history/mrt/|title=Theory of a Deadman – Chart History: Alternative Songs – Bad Girlfriend|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=October 14, 2019}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/theory-of-a-deadman/chart-history/rtt/|title=Theory of a Deadman – Chart History: Mainstream Rock Songs – Bad Girlfriend|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=October 14, 2019}}
Music video
The music video for "Bad Girlfriend" was directed by Colin Minihan and depicts the band performing as a woman leaves for work at a strip club unbeknownst to her significant other, who attends the club with friends and is surprised to see his girlfriend dancing on stage.{{cite web|title=Bad Girlfriend - Theory of a Deadman|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/theory-of-a-deadman/275726/bad-girlfriend.jhtml|date=October 13, 2008|publisher=MTV Networks|accessdate=January 12, 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317055728/http://www.mtv.com/videos/theory-of-a-deadman/275726/bad-girlfriend.jhtml|archivedate=March 17, 2009|url-status=dead}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (2008) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)
| 42 |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100 (Billboard)
| 75 |
| scope="row"|US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)
| 8 |
| scope="row"|US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)
| 1 |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Bad Girlfriend|artist=Theory|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2008|relmonth=07|relday=27|certyear=2021|certmonth=01|certday=13|refname=MusicCanadaRx|date=January 13, 2021|accessdate=January 13, 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Bad Girlfriend|artist=Theory of a Deadman|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2008|relmonth=07|relday=27|certyear=2023|certmonth=2|certday=16|digital=true|refname=RIAARx|date=February 16, 2023|accessdate=February 17, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|9YrWsmlJSiw|Theory of a Deadman - Bad Girlfriend {{!(}}OFFICIAL VIDEO{{)!}}}}
{{Theory of a Deadman}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Song recordings produced by Howard Benson