"Bad Idea Right?" (stylized in
all lowercase
Letter case is the distinction between the letters that are in larger uppercase or capitals (more formally ''majuscule'') and smaller lowercase (more formally ''minuscule'') in the written representation of certain languages. The writing systems ...
) is a song by the American singer-songwriter
Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Isabel Rodrigo (born February 20, 2003) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She began her career as a child, appearing in commercials and the direct-to-video film '' An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success'' (2015). She rose ...
from her second studio album, ''
Guts
The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The tract is the largest of the body's systems, after the cardiovascular system. ...
'' (2023). Rodrigo co-wrote it with its producer,
Dan Nigro
Daniel Leonard Nigro ( ) is an American record producer and songwriter. He was previously the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band As Tall as Lions. Nigro has produced, written, and co-written songs for Sky Ferreira, Joe Jonas, K ...
.
Geffen Records
Geffen Records (formerly The David Geffen Company from 1980 to 1992 and Geffen Records Inc. from 1993 to 2004) is an American record label, founded in late 1980 by David Geffen. Originally a music subsidiary of the company known as Geffen Pi ...
released it as the album's second single on August 11, 2023. A
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
,
pop rock
Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre and form of rock music characterized by a strong commercial appeal, with more emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than standard rock musi ...
,
power pop
Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a subgenre of rock music and form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, ...
,
jangle rock,
grunge
Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is an alternative rock Music genre, genre and subculture that emerged during the in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington, particularly in Seattle and Music of Olympia, Washington, O ...
,
new wave,
indie pop
Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with a DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and s ...
,
synth-pop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a music genre that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s b ...
, and
pop-punk
Pop-punk (also punk-pop, alternatively spelled without the hyphen) is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop music, pop. It is defined by its fast-paced, energetic tempos, and emphasis on classic pop s ...
song influenced by several other genres, "Bad Idea Right?" features Rodrigo contemplating whether or not it is a good idea to rekindle with her ex-boyfriend and weighing its pros and cons.
"Bad Idea Right?" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised Rodrigo's performance and found its lyrics funny, describing it as a departure from ''Guts''s lead single "
Vampire
A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved ones and c ...
" (2023). "Bad Idea Right?" was included on several year-end lists of the best songs of 2023. In the United States, the song peaked at number seven on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100. It reached the top 10 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom and received
platinum certifications in Australia, Brazil, and Canada.
Petra Collins
Petra Collins (born December 21, 1992) is a Canadian artist, director of photography, fashion model and actress who rose to prominence in the early 2010s. Her photography is characterized by a feminine, dreamlike feel, informed in part by a fe ...
directed the music video for "Bad Idea Right?", which depicts Rodrigo crowd-surfing in a house party and riding a pickup truck and bus to go to her ex-boyfriend's house. It features guest appearances by
Madison Hu
Madison Hu (born June 2, 2002) is an American actress. She is known for playing the role of Frankie Wong on the Disney Channel series ''Bizaardvark'', and for her previous recurring role as Marci on another Disney Channel series, ''Best Friends ...
,
Iris Apatow
Iris Apatow (; born October 12, 2002) is an American actress. She portrayed Arya Hopkins in the Netflix series ''Love'' and Krystal Kris in the 2022 Netflix film '' The Bubble''.
She is the younger daughter of filmmaker Judd Apatow and actress ...
, and
Tate McRae
Tate Rosner McRae (born July 1, 2003) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and dancer. She first gained prominence as the first Canadian finalist on the American reality television series ''So You Think You Can Dance (American TV series), So You Th ...
and references several television shows and films. Rodrigo sang the song on
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and Contemporary hit radio, current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including ...
's
Live Lounge
The Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio stations BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra. It was originally hosted by Simon Mayo, and later by Jo Whiley on her weekday mid-morning, and later weekend lunchtime radio shows, then by Fearne Cott ...
and used it as the opener on her 2024–2025 concert tour, the
Guts World Tour
The Guts World Tour is the ongoing second concert tour by American singer-songwriter and actress Olivia Rodrigo in support of her second studio album, ''Guts (Olivia Rodrigo album), Guts'' (2023). It began on February 23, 2024, at the Acrisure ...
.
Courting
Courtship is the period wherein some couples get to know each other prior to a possible marriage or committed romantic, ''de facto'' relationship. Courtship traditionally may begin after a betrothal and may conclude with the celebration of marria ...
and
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne (born Kelly Brianne Clarkson, April 24, 1982), known professionally as Kelly Clarkson, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Rising to fame after winning the American Idol season 1, first season of ''Ameri ...
performed cover versions of it.
Background and release
Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Isabel Rodrigo (born February 20, 2003) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She began her career as a child, appearing in commercials and the direct-to-video film '' An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success'' (2015). She rose ...
's debut studio album, ''
Sour
The gustatory system or sense of taste is the sensory system that is partially responsible for the perception of taste. Taste is the perception stimulated when a substance in the mouth biochemistry, reacts chemically with taste receptor cells l ...
'' (2021), was released in May 2021. Following the album's release, she took a break from songwriting for six months. Rodrigo conceived the follow-up album, ''
Guts
The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The tract is the largest of the body's systems, after the cardiovascular system. ...
'' (2023), at the age of 19, while experiencing "lots of confusion, mistakes, awkwardness & good old fashioned teen angst". ''Sour''s producer,
Dan Nigro
Daniel Leonard Nigro ( ) is an American record producer and songwriter. He was previously the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band As Tall as Lions. Nigro has produced, written, and co-written songs for Sky Ferreira, Joe Jonas, K ...
, returned to produce every track on it. They wrote over 100 songs and included the more
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
-oriented tracks on the album because they drew a bigger reaction from her audiences during live shows.
Early on in the creation process of ''Guts'' in 2022,
Rodrigo and Nigro started writing the chorus of "Bad Idea Right?" as "a joke" about her rekindling with an ex-partner.
They liked it so much that it was converted into a full song.
According to Rodrigo, they experimented with the most unconventional ideas on it, incorporating her voice gradually getting louder and louder as a section in one of the choruses, which ended up sounding like an instrument.
Nigro considered "Bad Idea Right?" his favorite song and pushed for it to be released as the lead single from the album, enthusiastic to show people the "more sarcastic side" of Rodrigo, but others involved in the decision preferred "
Vampire
A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved ones and c ...
".
Rodrigo announced the album title on June 26, 2023, and "Vampire" was released as the lead single four days later. The following month, ''
Vogue
Vogue may refer to:
Business
* ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine
** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine
** '' Vogue Adria'', a fashion magazine for former Yugoslav countries
** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine
** ' ...
''s
Jia Tolentino
Jia Angeli Carla Tolentino (born 1988) is an American writer and editor. A staff writer for ''The New Yorker,'' she previously worked as deputy editor of ''Jezebel'' and a contributing editor at '' The Hairpin''. Her writing has also appeared in ...
wrote that "Rodrigo careened toward an ill-advised and irresistible night with an ex" on one of the four ''Guts'' tracks she had heard, which recalled
Le Tigre
Le Tigre (, ; French for "The Tiger") is an American art punk and riot grrrl band formed by Kathleen Hanna (of Bikini Kill), Johanna Fateman and Sadie Benning in 1998 in New York City. Benning left in 2000 and was replaced by JD Samson. ...
,
Charli XCX
Charlotte Emma Aitchison (born 2 August 1992), known professionally as Charli XCX, is a British singer and songwriter. She began posting songs on Myspace in 2008 before entering the London rave scene. Signing a recording contract with Asylum Re ...
, and the
''Josie and the Pussycats'' soundtrack. On August 1, 2023, Rodrigo revealed the album's tracklist, which featured "Bad Idea Right?" as the second track. Six days later, she e-mailed her fans that the song sounded disparate from "Vampire" and would showcase "a little more fun & playful" side of ''Guts''.
Its artwork, a hazy image of Rodrigo posing behind a glass wall with the song title scrawled in red lipstick in front of her face, was shared the same day.
"Bad Idea Right?" was released as the second single from ''Guts'' on August 11.
Geffen Records
Geffen Records (formerly The David Geffen Company from 1980 to 1992 and Geffen Records Inc. from 1993 to 2004) is an American record label, founded in late 1980 by David Geffen. Originally a music subsidiary of the company known as Geffen Pi ...
promoted the song to
contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio (CHR, also known as contemporary hits, hit list, current hits, hit music, top 40, or pop radio) is a radio format common in many countries that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top ...
stations in the United States four days later,
and it was also released as a
7-inch
In music, a single is a type of release of a song recording of fewer tracks than an album ( LP), typically one or two tracks. A single can be released for sale to the public in a variety of physical or digital formats. Singles may be standa ...
vinyl single in some countries
with the
demo as its
B-side
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph record, vinyl records and Compact cassette, cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a Single (music), single usually ...
.
Composition
"Bad Idea Right?" is three minutes and four seconds long.
Nigro handled production and vocal production. He
engineered the song with Sam Stewart, Dan Viafore, and Sterling Laws. Nigro plays guitar,
percussion
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a percussion mallet, beater including attached or enclosed beaters or Rattle (percussion beater), rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or ...
, bass, and drum
programming
Program (American English; also Commonwealth English in terms of computer programming and related activities) or programme (Commonwealth English in all other meanings), programmer, or programming may refer to:
Business and management
* Program m ...
; Stewart plays electric guitar; and Laws plays drums.
Spike Stent
Mark "Spike" Stent (born 3 August 1965) is an English record producer and mixing engineer who has worked with many international artists including Madonna, Marshmello, U2, Beyoncé, Björk, Depeche Mode, Echo & the Bunnymen, Grimes, Ed Sheeran ...
mixed it with assistance from Matt Wolach. Recording took place in Amusement Studios in Los Angeles.
"Bad Idea Right?" is a
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
,
pop rock
Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre and form of rock music characterized by a strong commercial appeal, with more emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than standard rock musi ...
,
power pop
Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a subgenre of rock music and form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, ...
,
jangle rock,
grunge
Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is an alternative rock Music genre, genre and subculture that emerged during the in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington, particularly in Seattle and Music of Olympia, Washington, O ...
,
new wave,
indie pop
Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with a DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and s ...
,
synth-pop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a music genre that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s b ...
,
and
pop-punk
Pop-punk (also punk-pop, alternatively spelled without the hyphen) is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop music, pop. It is defined by its fast-paced, energetic tempos, and emphasis on classic pop s ...
song with influences of
pop
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Pop music, a musical genre
Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade
* Pop! (British group), a UK pop group
* Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band
Album ...
and alternative rock.
Multiple critics identified it as reminiscent of
1990s music
Popular music in the 1990s saw the continuation of teen pop and dance-pop trends which had emerged in the 1970s and 1980s. Furthermore, hip hop grew and continued to be highly successful in the decade, with the continuation of the genre's g ...
. Lindsay Zoladz of ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' believed the song employed
call and response
Call and response is a form of interaction between a speaker and an audience in which the speaker's statements ("calls") are punctuated by responses from the listeners. This form is also used in music, where it falls under the general category of ...
hook
A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved/bent back or has a deeply grooved indentation, which serves to grab, latch or in any way attach itself onto another object. The hook's d ...
s reminiscent of 1960s
girl group
A girl group is a music act featuring two or more women in music, female singers who generally vocal harmony, harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used in a narrower sense in the United States to denote the wave of American female p ...
s alongside an
early 2000s elastic pop-punk
bassline
Bassline (also known as a bass line or bass part) is the term used in many styles of music, such as blues, jazz, funk, Dub music, dub and electronic music, electronic, traditional music, traditional, and classical music, for the low-pitched P ...
.
Along with bass and drums,
"Bad Idea Right?" heavily features guitars in its instrumentation,
influenced by
riot grrrl
Riot grrrl is an underground feminist punk movement that began during the early 1990s within the United States in Olympia, Washington, and the greater Pacific Northwest, and has expanded to at least 26 other countries. A subcultural movement ...
.
Rodrigo
sing-speaks parts of the song,
with the verses and chorus almost completely spoken, but the track includes a melodic pre-chorus.
It incorporates layered chants,
"blah blah blah" harmonies,
and rises into a
crescendo
In music, the dynamics of a piece are the variation in loudness between notes or phrases. Dynamics are indicated by specific musical notation, often in some detail. However, dynamics markings require interpretation by the performer depending ...
.
Music critics compared "Bad Idea Right?" to the works of
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne ( ; ; born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She is a key musician in popularizing pop-punk music, as she paved the way for female-driven, punk-influenced pop music in the early 2000s. List of awa ...
,
Wet Leg
Wet Leg are an English indie rock band from the Isle of Wight, England, founded in 2019 by Rhian Teasdale (vocals, guitar) and Hester Chambers (guitar). The band also includes Josh Mobaraki (guitar, keyboards), Ellis Durand (bass) and Henry Ho ...
,
Soccer Mommy
Sophia Regina Allison (born May 27, 1997), better known by her stage name Soccer Mommy, is an American singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. She has four studio albums to her name; her latest album, ''Evergreen'', was released on October ...
,
the Waitresses
The Waitresses were an American new wave band from Akron, Ohio, best known for their singles " I Know What Boys Like" and " Christmas Wrapping." The band released two albums, '' Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful?'' and '' Bruiseology'', and one EP, '' ...
,
Toni Basil
Antonia Christina Basilotta (born September 22, 1943), better known by her stage name Toni Basil, is an American singer, choreographer, dancer, actress, and director. Her cover of the song " Mickey" topped the charts in the US, Canada and Austral ...
,
Hole
A hole is an opening in or through a particular medium, usually a solid Body (physics), body. Holes occur through natural and artificial processes, and may be useful for various purposes, or may represent a problem needing to be addressed in m ...
,
Wolf Alice
Wolf Alice are a Rock music, rock band from London. Formed in 2010 as an acoustic duo made up of singer Ellie Rowsell and guitarist Joff Oddie, Wolf Alice have also featured bassist Theo Ellis and drummer Joel Amey since 2012.
Wolf Alice playe ...
,
Pixies Pixies may refer to:
* Plural of Pixie
* Pixies (band)
The Pixies are an American alternative rock band from Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1986 by Black Francis (vocals, rhythm guitar, songwriter), Joey Santiago (lead guitar), Kim ...
,
Pavement,
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...
,
Weezer
Weezer is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1992. Since 2001, the band has consisted of Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Patrick Wilson (drums, backing vocals), Brian Bell (guitar, keyboards, backing ...
,
the Cars
The Cars were an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1976. Emerging from the New wave music, new wave Subculture, scene in the late 1970s, they consisted of Ric Ocasek (rhythm guitar), Benjamin Orr (bass guitar), Elliot Easton (l ...
, and
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Dee Lohan ( ; born July 2, 1986) is an American actress, singer, producer, and businesswoman. Born in New York City and raised on Long Island, Lohan was signed to Ford Models at age three. She appeared as a regular on the soap opera ' ...
's 2004 song "
Drama Queen (That Girl)".
Paolo Ragusa of ''
Consequence'' thought the song was reminiscent of pop rock music featured in the television series ''
Glee
Glee may refer to:
* Glee (music), a type of English choral music
* ''Glee'' (TV series), an American musical comedy-drama TV series, and related media created by Ryan Murphy
* ''Glee'' (Bran Van 3000 album)
* ''Glee'' (Logan Lynn album)
* Gle ...
'' (2009–2015) and the film ''
Freaky Friday
''Freaky Friday'' is a comedic children's novel written by Mary Rodgers, first published by Harper & Row in 1972. The plot is set in a day in the life of 13-year-old Annabel Andrews and her mother, who spend one Friday in each other's bodies.
...
'' (2003).
In "Bad Idea Right?", Rodrigo contemplates whether or not it is a good idea to rekindle with her ex-boyfriend and weighs its pros and cons.
Narrated as an inner
monologue
In theatre, a monologue (also known as monolog in North American English) (in , from μόνος ''mónos'', "alone, solitary" and λόγος ''lógos'', "speech") is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts ...
,
some of the song's lyrics depict her trying to convince herself not to do it while others see her justifying the encounter.
In the first verse,
Rodrigo describes being out and intoxicated while receiving a phone call from the ex in real-time, perceiving hidden meanings in what he is saying.
While she briefly feels that she should "probably not" rekindle with him, Rodrigo dismisses this thought.
Rodrigo repeatedly questions that it is "a bad idea, right?" in the pre-chorus but concludes that it is fine.
She tries to justify the decision to her friends, stating that she only considers him a friend but admitting that is "the biggest lie I ever said".
Rodrigo also tries to pretend that she is innocent and accidentally slipped and fell on the ex's bed.
She recalls telling her friends that she was sleeping in a bed but hiding who it belonged to.
Rodrigo repeats that she "can't hear my thoughts" in it; ''
Pitchfork
A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials.
The term is also applie ...
''s Cat Zhang interpreted the song as Rodrigo's thoughts while under the influence of alcohol and believed that the ex might have been less attractive than Rodrigo describes him as in the song.
Critical reception
"Bad Idea Right?" received positive reviews from music critics. ''Pitchfork'' named the song as the "Best New Track".
Zoladz described "Bad Idea Right?" as one of Rodrigo's "spunkiest, funniest and most irresistible singles yet".
''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
''s Jason Lipshutz ranked the song as the fifth-best track on ''Guts'' and believed it sounded fresher with repeated listens as he better understood the gradations of her vocal performance, and ''
Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic (abbreviated as Sputnik) is a music website that publishes music reviews and news entries. The site hosts both professional and amateur content, covering metal, punk, indie, rock, hip-hop, pop and other styles. Its reviews are us ...
''s Sowing thought it was finer in the context of ''Guts'' than upon its release as a single.
Alex Berry of ''
Clash'' enjoyed how it contrasted the ballads on ''Guts'' and believed it proved Rodrigo's versatility, establishing her distinctive style.
Critics described "Bad Idea Right?" as a departure from the serious and balladic nature of "Vampire". Punch Liwanag of the ''
Manila Bulletin
The ''Manila Bulletin'' () (also known as the ''Bulletin'' and previously known as the ''Manila Daily Bulletin'' from 1906 to September 23, 1972, and the ''Bulletin Today'' from November 22, 1972, to March 10, 1986) is the Philippines' largest ...
'' praised the energetic and up-tempo production of "Bad Idea Right?" as a welcome change from the piano-driven ballads that had famed Rodrigo.
Reviewers thought the song was youthful like her previous music but lyrically reflected college-oriented themes rather than high school.
Some believed its lyrics were funny
and successfully made the idea of Rodrigo rekindling with her ex sound appealing.
Writing for ''
Vulture
A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to Nort ...
'', Craig Jenkins thought "Bad Idea Right?" signified Rodrigo's ability to create songs deeply grounded in her personal experiences that still resonate universally.
Lines from the song were included on ''
GQ''s list of the album's standout and "gutsiest" lyrics and ''
Nylon
Nylon is a family of synthetic polymers characterised by amide linkages, typically connecting aliphatic or Polyamide#Classification, semi-aromatic groups.
Nylons are generally brownish in color and can possess a soft texture, with some varieti ...
''s list of its most impeccable lyrics.
Others praised Rodrigo's performance on "Bad Idea Right?". ''Pitchfork''s Shaad D'Souza called it one of the year's standout pop performances and Rodrigo a great performer, noting that her strong commitment to playing a character made the song succeed, a sentiment also echoed by the ''
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
''s Mikael Wood.
''
The Line of Best Fit
''The Line of Best Fit'' is an independent online magazine based in London, concentrating on new music.
It publishes independent music reviews, features, interview, and media. Founded by Richard Thane in February 2007 and currently edited by P ...
''s Matthew Kim thought her impassive delivery of the line "fuck it, it's fine" amplified and complemented the album's diverse spectrum of emotions, while Zoladz thought it was done with precise comedic timing.
Mark Richardson of ''
The Wall Street Journal
''The Wall Street Journal'' (''WSJ''), also referred to simply as the ''Journal,'' is an American newspaper based in New York City. The newspaper provides extensive coverage of news, especially business and finance. It operates on a subscriptio ...
'' and Wood believed "Bad Idea Right?" benefited from her background as an actress, with the latter stating it displayed "pitch-perfect line readings that shift between comic registers on a dime — from naturalistic to screwball, faux-earnest to
deadpan
Deadpan, dry humour, or dry-wit humour is the deliberate display of emotional neutrality or no emotion, commonly as a form of Comedy, comedic delivery to contrast with the ridiculousness or absurdity of the subject matter. The delivery is meant t ...
".
Accolades
Rob Sheffield
Robert James Sheffield (born February 2, 1966) is an American music journalist and author.
He is a long time contributing editor at ''Rolling Stone'', writing about music, TV, and pop culture. Previously, he was a contributing editor at '' Blen ...
of ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason.
The magazine was first known fo ...
'' ranked "Bad Idea Right?" as Rodrigo's seventh-best song in September 2023, describing it as "devilishly catchy" and picking his favorite lyric: "I'm sure I've seen much hotter men/But I really can't remember when."
The song was included on critical lists of the best songs of 2023 at number one by ''
Stereogum
''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine.
''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several awar ...
''s Tom Breihan and ''
Time
Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...
'',
number seven by ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'',
number 10 by Zoladz,
number 11 by ''
The Fader
''The Fader'' is a magazine established in 1999 as an outlet for Cornerstone Agency, a marketing and public relations firm established by Rob Stone and Jon Cohen. The magazine covers music, style and culture.
History and work
It is owned by T ...
'',
number 12 by ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...
'', number 83 by ''Treble'',
and unranked by ''GQ'',
''
NPR
National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...
'', and ''
The Skinny''.
Commercial performance
"Bad Idea Right?" debuted at number 10 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming Rodrigo's sixth consecutive top ten single of her career, and ''Guts''s second after the chart topper "Vampire". "Bad Idea Right?" eventually peaked at number seven on the chart issued for September 23, 2023.
In Canada, it reached number nine on the
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music industry record chart in Canada for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine. It was launched on the issue dated March 31, 2007 as the standard record chart in Canada; a new chart ...
on the chart issued for the same date and was certified platinum by
Music Canada
Music Canada is a non-profit Industry trade group, trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 in Toronto to represent the interests of companies that record, manufacture, produce, and distribute music in Canada. It also offers benefits to s ...
.
"Bad Idea Right?" charted at number three on the
UK Singles Chart and became Rodrigo's sixth top 10 single. The song received a platinum certification in the United Kingdom from the
British Phonographic Industry
BPI (British Recorded Music Industry) Limited, trading as British Phonographic Industry (BPI), is the British recorded music industry's trade association. It runs the BRIT Awards; is home to the Mercury Prize; co-owns the Official Charts C ...
, and the
Official Charts Company
The Official UK Charts Company Limited (formerly Music Industry Chart Services Limited), trading as the Official Charts Company (OCC) or the Official Charts (formerly the Chart Information Network), is a British inter-professional organisation ...
reported that it was her 11th-biggest song in the country in February 2024.
In Australia, "Bad Idea Right?" peaked at number three and became Rodrigo's sixth top 10 single.
The song was certified double platinum by the
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) is a trade association representing the Australian recording industry which was established in the 1970s by six major record companies, EMI, Festival Records (Australia), Festival, Sony Music ...
(ARIA) for selling 140,000 equivalent units.
It reached number four in New Zealand and became her eighth top 10 song.
"Bad Idea Right?" charted at number five on the
''Billboard'' Global 200.
The song also peaked within the top 30 at number 4 in Ireland,
number 11 in Singapore,
number 14 in Greece and Latvia,
number 17 in Panama,
number 19 in Portugal,
number 27 in Norway,
and number 29 in the Netherlands.
The song received a platinum certification in Brazil
and gold in Poland,
Portugal,
and Spain.
Music video
Petra Collins
Petra Collins (born December 21, 1992) is a Canadian artist, director of photography, fashion model and actress who rose to prominence in the early 2010s. Her photography is characterized by a feminine, dreamlike feel, informed in part by a fe ...
, who had directed the music videos for "
Good 4 U
"Good 4 U" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo. It was released on May 14, 2021, through Geffen and Interscope Records; it was the third single from Rodrigo's debut studio album, ''Sour'' (202 ...
" (2021), "
Brutal" (2021), and "Vampire",
also directed the 1990s
B movie
A B movie, or B film, is a type of cheap, low-budget commercial motion picture. Originally, during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood, this term specifically referred to films meant to be shown as the lesser-known second ...
horror-comedy
Comedy horror (also called horror comedy) is a literary genre, literary, television genre, television and film genre that combines elements of comedy and horror fiction. Comedy horror has been described as having three types: "black comedy, paro ...
-influenced one for "Bad Idea Right?".
While teasing its release date in a
TikTok
TikTok, known in mainland China and Hong Kong as Douyin (), is a social media and Short-form content, short-form online video platform owned by Chinese Internet company ByteDance. It hosts user-submitted videos, which may range in duration f ...
video, Rodrigo revealed that it will feature appearances by her ''
Bizaardvark
''Bizaardvark'' is an American comedy television series created by Kyle Stegina and Josh Lehrman that premiered on Disney Channel on June 24, 2016. The series ran for three seasons consisting of 63 episodes, airing its final episode on April 13, ...
'' co-star
Madison Hu
Madison Hu (born June 2, 2002) is an American actress. She is known for playing the role of Frankie Wong on the Disney Channel series ''Bizaardvark'', and for her previous recurring role as Marci on another Disney Channel series, ''Best Friends ...
, the actress
Iris Apatow
Iris Apatow (; born October 12, 2002) is an American actress. She portrayed Arya Hopkins in the Netflix series ''Love'' and Krystal Kris in the 2022 Netflix film '' The Bubble''.
She is the younger daughter of filmmaker Judd Apatow and actress ...
, and the singer-songwriter
Tate McRae
Tate Rosner McRae (born July 1, 2003) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and dancer. She first gained prominence as the first Canadian finalist on the American reality television series ''So You Think You Can Dance (American TV series), So You Th ...
, whom she described as "my favorite girlz".
She sent a flyer to her fans through her newsletter, inviting them to an event directed by Collins to be held at a fictional address.
The video was released alongside the song on August 11.
The video begins with a house party, where Rodrigo, Hu, Apatow, and McRae meet in a bathroom.
Ignoring several attendees who warn her that it is a bad idea to see her ex-boyfriend, Rodrigo crowd-surfs
and then leaves to go to his house.
She rides in the back of a pickup truck while it rains and boards a bus where someone throws a
slushy
A slushy (also spelled slushie and less commonly slushee) is a type of Drink, beverage made of Flavor (taste), flavored ice and a drink, similar to granitas but with a more liquid composition. It is also commonly called a slush, slurpee, frozen b ...
filled with plastic instead of ice at her.
Rodrigo reaches the ex's house and gets into bed with him as it catches on fire.
Some props featured in the video bear
easter egg
Easter eggs, also called Paschal eggs, are eggs that are decorated for the Christian holiday of Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. As such, Easter eggs are commonly used during the season of Eastertide (Easter season). The ...
s related to the tracklist and lyrics of ''Guts''.
Reviewers compared the video to different television shows and films. Fans and critics believed it directly referenced the teen drama shows ''
Euphoria
Euphoria ( ) is the experience (or affect) of pleasure or excitement and intense feelings of well-being and happiness. Certain natural rewards and social activities, such as aerobic exercise, laughter, listening to or making music and da ...
'' and ''Glee''.
''
The A.V. Club
''The A.V. Club'' is an online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was created in ...
''s Emma Keates likened the party scene to the 1995 film ''
Clueless
''Clueless'' is a 1995 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written and directed by Amy Heckerling. It stars Alicia Silverstone, and was produced by Scott Rudin and Robert Lawrence.
The film is a loose adaptation of Jane Austen's 1815 no ...
'' and the final scene with the burning bed to the 2018 film ''
Hereditary
Heredity, also called inheritance or biological inheritance, is the passing on of traits from parents to their offspring; either through asexual reproduction or sexual reproduction, the offspring cells or organisms acquire the genetic inform ...
'' and the television series ''
The Boys''.
Keates and ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
''s Thania Garcia and Ellise Shafer believed the video recalled the 1990s,
and ''
Elle
Elle may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* Elle (magazine), ''Elle'' (magazine), a fashion publication
** Elle Style Awards
* Elle (India), ''Elle'' (India), the Indian edition
* Elle (film), ''Elle'' (film), a 2016 French film
* ''Elle: ...
''s Alyssa Bailey described it as "an especially fun time" that suited the song.
It was nominated for
Best Art Direction
The Academy Award for Best Production Design recognizes achievement for art direction in film. The category's original name was Best Art Direction, but was changed to its current name in 2012 for the 85th Academy Awards. This change resulted fro ...
at the
2024 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards were held at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on September 11, 2024. The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place on September 10, 2024, but was rescheduled to a day later to avoid conflicts with the pr ...
.
Live performances and other usage
Rodrigo's performance of "Bad Idea Right?" at
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and Contemporary hit radio, current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including ...
's
Live Lounge
The Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio stations BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra. It was originally hosted by Simon Mayo, and later by Jo Whiley on her weekday mid-morning, and later weekend lunchtime radio shows, then by Fearne Cott ...
was uploaded on December 25, 2023. She opens her 2024–2025 concert tour, the
Guts World Tour
The Guts World Tour is the ongoing second concert tour by American singer-songwriter and actress Olivia Rodrigo in support of her second studio album, ''Guts (Olivia Rodrigo album), Guts'' (2023). It began on February 23, 2024, at the Acrisure ...
, with the song. After a black-and-white interlude of her sprinting across a hallway is played, Rodrigo performs it with an all-female five-member band and two background singers in a silver two-piece outfit. ''Billboard''s Rania Aniftos thought she carried herself with confidence and showcased standout vocals that stayed consistent throughout the show. Lynn Green of ''
The Columbus Dispatch
''The Columbus Dispatch'' is a daily newspaper based in Columbus, Ohio. Its first issue was published on July 1, 1871, and it has been the only mainstream daily newspaper in the city since ''The Columbus Citizen-Journal'' ceased publication in ...
'' noted that "Bad Idea Right?" was extremely difficult to hear as the audience shouted the song loudly, and ''Consequence''s Scoop Harrison believed that along with the two following songs on the
set list
A set list, or setlist, is typically a handwritten or printed document created as an ordered list of songs, jokes, stories and other elements an artist intends to present during a specific performance.
A setlist can be made of nearly any materi ...
, it constituted a "one-two-three punch". Writing for ''
USA Today
''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
'', Melissa Ruggieri noted that the building shook from the fans' jumping during the song's performance. Rodrigo reprised it during her
Lollapalooza Chile
Lollapalooza Chile is the Chilean edition of the popular music festival Lollapalooza (). It was the first Lollapalooza event to be held outside the United States and has taken place in Santiago, Chile since 2011.
History
The festival debuted in ...
set in March 2025.
On January 23, 2024,
Courting
Courtship is the period wherein some couples get to know each other prior to a possible marriage or committed romantic, ''de facto'' relationship. Courtship traditionally may begin after a betrothal and may conclude with the celebration of marria ...
released an
indie
Indie is a short form of "independence" or "independent"; it may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
*Independent media, media free of influence by government or corporate interests
*Indie art, fine arts made by artists independent of commer ...
cover of "Bad Idea Right?", which included a scream from the frontman Sean Murphy-O'Neill towards the end. ''Stereogum''s Danielle Chelosky and ''NME''s Hollie Geraghty believed they ramped up the energy of Rodrigo's version; the former thought the opening riff was exactly like
the 1975
The 1975 are
an English pop rock
band formed in Wilmslow, Cheshire, in 2002. The band consists of Matty Healy (lead vocals, guitar, primary songwriter), Adam Hann (lead guitar), Ross MacDonald (bass), and George Daniel (drums, primary produ ...
's 2018 single "
It's Not Living (If It's Not with You)" but it was still "true to the original".
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne (born Kelly Brianne Clarkson, April 24, 1982), known professionally as Kelly Clarkson, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Rising to fame after winning the American Idol season 1, first season of ''Ameri ...
performed a pop punk cover of the song on ''
The Kelly Clarkson Show
''The Kelly Clarkson Show'' is an American daytime television variety talk show hosted by Kelly Clarkson. It is produced and distributed by NBCUniversal Syndication Studios and features Clarkson interviewing celebrities and segments about "ev ...
'' on May 16, 2024, in a cheetah-print top. She delivered acrobatic vocal runs, joined by her band and two backup singers who added layered harmonies afront red stage lights.
Hannah Dailey of ''Billboard'' believed that Clarkson's vocal performance added "some oomph" to it, and Sammi Burke of ''
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats, or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually some variety ...
'' opined that she "totally nailed" it.
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from
Qobuz
Qobuz (, commonly mispronounced: ), often stylized as qobuz) is a French digital music store and streaming service, launched in 2007 by Alexandre Leforestier and Yves Riesel. Qobuz is now owned by Xandrie SA. In June 2023, Qobuz offers over 100 ...
.
*
Dan Nigro
Daniel Leonard Nigro ( ) is an American record producer and songwriter. He was previously the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band As Tall as Lions. Nigro has produced, written, and co-written songs for Sky Ferreira, Joe Jonas, K ...
–
producer, songwriter,
engineering
Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...
, guitar,
percussion
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a percussion mallet, beater including attached or enclosed beaters or Rattle (percussion beater), rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or ...
, vocal production, bass, drum
programming
Program (American English; also Commonwealth English in terms of computer programming and related activities) or programme (Commonwealth English in all other meanings), programmer, or programming may refer to:
Business and management
* Program m ...
, background vocals
*Olivia Rodrigo – vocals, songwriter
*Sam Stewart – engineering, electric guitar
*Dan Viafore – engineering
*Sterling Laws – engineering, drums
*
Spike Stent
Mark "Spike" Stent (born 3 August 1965) is an English record producer and mixing engineer who has worked with many international artists including Madonna, Marshmello, U2, Beyoncé, Björk, Depeche Mode, Echo & the Bunnymen, Grimes, Ed Sheeran ...
–
mixing
*Matt Wolach – mixing assistance
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
See also
*
List of ''Billboard'' Hot 100 top-ten singles in 2023
*
List of UK top-ten singles in 2023
*
List of top 10 singles for 2023 in Australia
Notes
References
{{Authority control
2023 songs
2023 singles
Olivia Rodrigo songs
Songs written by Dan Nigro
Songs written by Olivia Rodrigo
Song recordings produced by Dan Nigro
Geffen Records singles
American pop punk songs
American power pop songs
Rap rock songs
Punk rock songs
Grunge songs