I Wanna Be Bad

rdf:langString I Wanna Be Bad

rdf:langString I Wanna Be Bad

rdf:langString I Wanna Be Bad

rdf:langString 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".

rdf:langString Willa Ford I wanna Be Bad.jpg

rdf:langString 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.

rdf:langString Will Ford - I Wanna Be Bad.ogg

rdf:langString * Pop * dance-pop

rdf:langString * Lava * Atlantic

rdf:langString left

rdf:langString * Josh Schwartz * Brian Kierulf

rdf:langString * The Dojo * Battery

rdf:langString "I Wanna Be Bad"

rdf:langString music

rdf:langString single

rdf:langString * Willa Ford * Brian Kierulf * Josh Schwartz

rdf:langString "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.