I Wanna Be Bad
{{Short description|2001 single by Willa Ford}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I Wanna Be Bad
| cover = Willa Ford I wanna Be Bad.jpg
| alt = A woman with wavy, blond hair and a low-cut black top faces toward the camera, leaning slight to the left and look up-right. The background consists of a yellow, blue, and white floral pattern. At the top of the image in red text is "WILLA FORD". Below, in black typeface, reads "I Wanna Be Bad".
| type = single
| artist = Willa Ford featuring Royce da 5'9"
| album = Willa Was Here
| released = {{start date|2001|04|24}}
| recorded =
| studio =
- The Dojo (Jackson, New Jersey)
- Battery (New York City)
| genre =
| length = 3:04
| label =
| writer =
- Willa Ford
- Brian Kierulf
- Josh Schwartz
| producer =
- Josh Schwartz
- Brian Kierulf
| chronology = Willa Ford
| next_title = Did Ya' Understand That
| next_year = 2001
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Royce da 5'9"
| type = singles
| prev_title = You Can't Touch Me
| prev_year = 2000
| title = I Wanna Be Bad
| year = 2001
| next_title = Rock City
| next_year = 2002
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|S5tKILoxrQ4|"I Wanna Be Bad"}}}}
}}
"I Wanna Be Bad" is a song by American singer Willa Ford from her first studio album, Willa Was Here (2001). The song features a guest appearance from rapper Royce da 5'9". Ford wrote it alongside Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz, who both handled the production, when her record label, MCA Records, told her to tone down her music. Ford refused, deciding to create a track with a rebellious message. After Jason Flom of Lava Records heard the song, he signed Ford to the label and included it on Willa Was Here. Lava and Atlantic Records released the song as Ford's debut single and the lead one from the album on April 24, 2001. A pop and dance-pop track, it has Ford explaining that she wants to be a "bad girl" because her partner makes bad behavior look so good. The lyrics contain messages of rebellion and being oneself against the influences of other people.
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
{{Listen|pos=left|filename=Will Ford - I Wanna Be Bad.ogg|type=music|title="I Wanna Be Bad"|description=An 18-second sample of "I Wanna Be Bad". In this segment, Ford states that she wants to be bad because her partner acts badly as well.|format=ogg}}
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.{{cite magazine|title=CHR Sees Great Things for Willa Ford's 'Bad'|last=Wonsiewicz|first=Steve|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1402|page=31|date=May 18, 2001}} 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.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/willa-ford-i-wanna-be-bad-interview-7880907/|title=Willa Ford Explains Why She Left Music — And Teases a Possible Comeback|last=Kaplan|first=Ilana|magazine=Billboard|date=July 25, 2017|access-date=January 15, 2022|archive-date=January 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115161007/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/willa-ford-i-wanna-be-bad-interview-7880907/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.glamour.com/story/willa-ford-from-i-wanna-be-bad-to-interior-designer|title=Willa Ford: From 'I Wanna Be Bad' to Scott Disick's Interior Designer|last=Rosa|first=Christopher|website=Glamour|date=August 2, 2019|access-date=August 5, 2021|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026223145/https://www.glamour.com/story/willa-ford-from-i-wanna-be-bad-to-interior-designer|url-status=live}} 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. 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.{{cite AV media notes|title=Willa Was Here|others=Willa Ford|year=2001|type=US CD album booklet|publisher=Atlantic Records, Lava Records|id=83437-2}}
Musically, "I Wanna Be Bad" is a pop and dance-pop song.{{cite web|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/43571-willa-fords-i-wanna-be-bad-music-video-raises-these-21-questions-video|title=This Music Video Has Donuts, Dancing, & Debauchery|last=Rohwedder|first=Kristie|website=Bustle|date=October 9, 2014|access-date=August 11, 2021|archive-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812030217/https://www.bustle.com/articles/43571-willa-fords-i-wanna-be-bad-music-video-raises-these-21-questions-video|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|title=Reviews & Previews: Singles|last=Taylor|first=Chuck|author-link=Chuck Taylor (music journalist)|editor-last=Taylor|editor-first=Chuck|magazine=Billboard|volume=113|issue=18|page=21|date=May 5, 2001}} The track's lyrics are, according to Ford, "about a girl coming into her own and becoming a woman", and she considers it her song of freedom.{{cite web|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IBX/is_1_8/ai_78052876|title=Spotlight on Willa Ford – up and coming singer – Brief Article|last=Clott|first=Alicia|work=Girls' Life|via=findarticles.com|date=August 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070130201744/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IBX/is_1_8/ai_78052876|archive-date=January 30, 2007|access-date=August 5, 2021}} 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 him since he does it well. The single version of the song features Royce da 5'9", while the album version has Ford singing alone, with the rap replaced by more vocoder lines; both versions of the track are three minutes and four seconds long.{{cite AV media notes|title=I Wanna Be Bad|others=Willa Ford|year=2001|type=US CD single liner notes|publisher=Atlantic Records, Lava Records|id=85103-2}} In a 2017 interview with Billboard, Ford stated that although she did not dislike popstars such as Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson, she was not this type of person and wanted to let people know this fact with "I Wanna Be Bad".
Release and promotion
File:I Wanna Be Bad video screenshot.png. In this scene, Ford (center right) flirts with police officers while eating a doughnut. She eventually puts the officers in the backseat and commandeers their cruiser.|alt=At night, a police car with active red, white, and blue lights sits on the left. Next to the driver's side door is Willa Ford holding a doughnut and talking with a black police officer holding a pink pastry box.]]
On April 24, 2001, Atlantic and Lava Records serviced "I Wanna Be Bad" to American contemporary hit radio (CHR) and rhythmic contemporary radio stations, as Ford wanted her debut single to "push the envelope".{{cite magazine|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1398|pages=50, 58|date=April 20, 2001}}{{cite magazine|title=Willa: Built Ford Tough|last=Carter|first=Kevin|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=2335|page=53|date=February 16, 2001}} Radio stations enthusiastically picked up the song, appreciating the divergence from the generic mainstream pop music sound of the time, and it was the third-most-added track at CHR radio for the week of April 27.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/style/willa-ford-interview-singer-talks-flip-it-like-disick-interior-design-career-1229250/|title=Willa Ford Talks Surviving 2000s Teen Pop Craze, Emerging as Top Interior Designer|last=Real|first=Evan|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 5, 2019|access-date=August 22, 2021|archive-date=August 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822153707/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/style/willa-ford-interview-singer-talks-flip-it-like-disick-interior-design-career-1229250/|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005JH43|title=I Wanna Be Bad|publisher=Amazon|access-date=August 6, 2021|archive-date=January 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115161003/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005JH43|url-status=live}}{{cite AV media notes|title=I Wanna Be Bad|others=Willa Ford|year=2001|type=US maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Atlantic Records, Lava Records|id=85146-2}} In Australia, the track was distributed as a CD single on August 20, 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue599.PDF|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 20th August 2001|publisher=ARIA|page=24|date=August 20, 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue599.PDF|archive-date=February 20, 2002|access-date=April 25, 2021}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The song was later included as the opening track on Ford's debut studio album, Willa Was Here, which was issued in the US on July 17, 2001.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/willa-was-here-mw0000589992|title=Willa Ford: Willa Was Here|last=Thomas Erlewine|first=Stephen|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=August 22, 2021|archive-date=May 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511222022/https://www.allmusic.com/album/willa-was-here-mw0000589992|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|title=Hot 100 Spotlight|last=Pietroluongo|first=Silvio|magazine=Billboard|volume=113|issue=23|page=89|date=June 9, 2001|quote=...and Ford's Willa Was Here are set for a July 17 release.}} 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 her and the breakup. 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.
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.{{cite AV media|people=Applebaum, Chris (director)|title=I Wanna Be Bad|type=Music video|time=2:42|year=2001|publisher=Lava Records, Atlantic Records}} 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.{{cite AV media|people=Applebaum, Chris (director)|title=I Wanna Be Bad|type=Music video|time=0:41, 1:58, 2:19|year=2001|publisher=Lava Records, Atlantic Records}} The video received significant airplay on American television program Total Request Live (TRL).{{cite web|url=https://toofab.com/2017/07/27/i-wanna-be-bad-singer-willa-ford-blames-9-11-for-ending-her-music-career/|title='I Wanna Be Bad' Singer Willa Ford Blames 9/11 for Ending Her Music Career|publisher=TooFab|date=July 27, 2017|access-date=January 15, 2022|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127113641/https://toofab.com/2017/07/27/i-wanna-be-bad-singer-willa-ford-blames-9-11-for-ending-her-music-career/|url-status=live}} In the booklet for Willa Was Here, there is a hyperlink that leads to the video. In February 2001, Ford called the video "off the hook", 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. 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.{{cite web|url=http://pro-voice.com/judge_willa_ford.html|title=Pantene Pro-Voice 2001 Spokesgirl|website=pro-voice.com|date=2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011205095431/http://pro-voice.com/judge_willa_ford.html|archive-date=December 5, 2001|access-date=August 29, 2021}}
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. 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. 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". 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.earbuddy.net/74085/willa-ford-willa-was-here.html/columns|title=Own It or Disown It: #331: Willa Ford, Willa Was Here|author=JEDowney|newspaper=Earbuddy|date=January 18, 2019|access-date=August 22, 2021|archive-date=August 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822153709/https://www.earbuddy.net/74085/willa-ford-willa-was-here.html/columns|url-status=live}} 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. 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.
=Commercial performance=
"I Wanna Be Bad" debuted at number 92 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on June 9, 2001.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2001-06-04?rank=92|title=The Hot 100: Week of June 9, 2001|magazine=Billboard|date=June 9, 2001|access-date=August 11, 2021|archive-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812023916/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2001-06-04?rank=92|url-status=live}} It entered the top 40 of the chart on July 7, 2001, and rose to a peak of number 22 four weeks later, on August 4.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2001-07-07?rank=36|title=The Hot 100: Week of July 7, 2001|magazine=Billboard|date=July 7, 2001|access-date=August 11, 2021|archive-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812023913/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2001-07-07?rank=36|url-status=live}} The song spent a total of 20 weeks on the Hot 100 and ranked in at number 84 on the chart's year-end edition. It was a top-five hit on the Billboard Maxi-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. As of 2007, the song has sold 250,000 copies in the US.{{cite web|url=http://www.willa-ford.org/discography.htm|title=Willa Ford's Discography|website=willa-ford.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226035101/http://www.willa-ford.org/discography.htm|archive-date=December 26, 2008|access-date=August 23, 2021}} Elsewhere, "I Wanna Be Bad charted on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart, reaching number 52 on the week of September 17, 2001. 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/869640/i-wanna-be-bad-singer-willa-ford-blames-failed-career-on-9-11|title='I Wanna Be Bad' Singer Willa Ford Clears the Air: I Don't Blame My Fizzled Music Career on 9/11|last=Johnson|first=Zach|website=E! Online|date=July 27, 2017|access-date=August 11, 2021|archive-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812023925/https://www.eonline.com/news/869640/i-wanna-be-bad-singer-willa-ford-blames-failed-career-on-9-11|url-status=live}}
Track listings
US and UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=I Wanna Be Bad|others=Willa Ford|year=2001|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Atlantic Records, Lava Records|id=85103-2}}
- "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)
- "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{{cite AV media notes|title=I Wanna Be Bad|others=Willa Ford|year=2001|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Atlantic Records, Lava Records|id=7567-85136-2}}
- "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.
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{{spaced ndash}}writing, all vocals and vocal arrangements
- Brian Kierulf{{spaced ndash}}writing, instruments, programming, production, recording (Dojo)
- Josh Schwartz{{spaced ndash}}writing, additional guitar, production, recording (Dojo)
- Royce da 5'9"{{spaced ndash}}featured vocals
- Stephen George{{spaced ndash}}recording (Battery)
- Rob Chiarelli{{spaced ndash}}mixing
- Tom Coyne{{spaced ndash}}mastering
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for "I Wanna Be Bad" !scope="col"|Chart (2001) !scope="col"|Peak |
| {{single chart|Australiapandora|52|url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue603.pdf|urltitle=Issue 603|rowheader=true|access-date=April 25, 2021|refname="aus"}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} |
| scope="row"|Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS){{cite web|url=http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/2001.pdf|title=Canadian Top 20 in 2001|website=Cross Canada Countdown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407223203/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/2001.pdf|archive-date=April 7, 2005|access-date=April 11, 2024}}
|19 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|22|artist=Willa Ford|rowheader=true|access-date=July 13, 2015|refname="hot100"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddancesales|4|artist=Willa Ford|rowheader=true|access-date=August 5, 2021|refname="usdss"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|11|artist=Willa Ford|rowheader=true|access-date=July 13, 2015|refname="usps"}} |
| scope="row"|US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Top 40 Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=113|issue=35|page=73|date=September 1, 2001}}
|19 |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Year-end chart performance for "I Wanna Be Bad" !scope="col"|Chart (2001) !scope="col"|Position |
| scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://billboardtop100of.com/2001-2/|title=Billboard Top 100 – 2001|website=Billboardtop100of.com|access-date=December 17, 2023}}
|84 |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2001|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=9|issue=51|page=60|date=December 21, 2001}}
|52 |
{{col-end}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Release dates and formats for "I Wanna Be Bad" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|ID !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="3"|United States
|April 24, 2001 |{{hlist|Rhythmic contemporary|contemporary hit radio}} |rowspan="4"|{{hlist|Lava|Atlantic}} |{{n/a}} |
|---|
| May 22, 2001
|CD |85103-2 |
| 2001
|Maxi-CD |85146-2 |
| scope="row"|Australia
|August 20, 2001 |CD |7567-85136-2 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Willa Ford}}
{{Royce da 5'9"}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:American dance-pop songs
Category:Atlantic Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Chris Applebaum
Category:Song recordings produced by Brian Kierulf
Category:Song recordings produced by Josh Schwartz
Category:Songs written by Brian Kierulf
Category:Songs written by Josh Schwartz