"Bad Reputation" is a
rock song co-written and recorded by
Joan Jett from her
debut album of the same name. It remains one of her signature songs.
Accolades
In 2009, it was named the 29th best hard rock song of all time by
VH1
VH1 (originally an initialism for Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network that launched on January 1, 1985, and is currently owned by the MTV Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global's networks division based in New Y ...
. It is the highest-ranked song by a woman on the list. In 2021, it was listed at No. 249 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
Video
A music video was made in 1982 after the huge success of "
I Love Rock 'n' Roll
"I Love Rock 'n' Roll" is a rock song written by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker (musician), Jake Hooker and first recorded by the Arrows (British band), Arrows, a British rock band, in 1975. A 1981 cover version by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, ...
". The video, directed by
David Mallet, is a re-enactment of 23 record labels rejecting Jett's first solo album and her subsequent rise to the top of the charts with "I Love Rock 'n' Roll".
Kenny Laguna
Kenneth Benjamin Laguna is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician, best known for his work with Joan Jett.
Biography
Laguna was born in Greenwich Village, New York City, United States, and started playing piano at high school da ...
, cofounder of
Blackheart Records, appears in a cameo as the
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...
executive.
At the start of the "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" music video, Bad Reputation is loudly playing in the jukebox.
Certifications
In popular culture
The song has been used as
Ronda Rousey's entrance music in her
UFC and
WWE careers. Jett performed the song live at
WrestleMania 35, as Rousey entered the ring to defend her
WWE Raw Women's Championship in the first ever women's Main Event at WrestleMania.
The song has been used for ads promoting
Folgers,
Jack Daniel's, and
Nike.
The song is featured in the opening scene of 1999 teen romantic comedy film ''
10 Things I Hate About You''.
The song is the theme for the TV show ''
Freaks and Geeks
''Freaks and Geeks'' is an American teen comedy-drama television series created by Paul Feig and executive-produced by Judd Apatow that aired on NBC during the 1999–2000 television season. The show is set in a suburban high school near ...
''. It was also featured in the 2001 animated film ''
Shrek
''Shrek'' is a 2001 American animated fantasy comedy film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, and written by Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, and Roger S. H. Schulman, loosely based on the 1990 children's picture boo ...
'', and a cover of the song by
Halfcocked is featured on the soundtrack.
The song was used as an entrance song for
Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Known for her autobiographical songwriting, artistic versatility, and Cultural impact of Taylor Swift, cultural impact, Swift is one of the Best selling artists, w ...
’s 2018
Reputation Stadium Tour.
The song was used as the opening theme for the 2023 movie ''
Red, White & Royal Blue''.
A version of the song, performed by
Kylie Cantrall, was recorded for
the soundtrack of the 2024 film ''
Descendants: The Rise of Red''. It was featured in one of the teasers for the film.
Avril Lavigne version
Background, release and composition
"Bad Reputation" is a promotional single from Canadian singer
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 ...
from the ''
One Piece Film: Z'' soundtrack, released on 11 December 2012. The song was originally featured in a video montage interval during Lavigne's ''
The Best Damn Tour'' in 2008, before appearing as bonus tracks on her fourth and fifth studio albums, ''
Goodbye Lullaby'' (2011) and ''
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 ...
'' (2013). On 17 October 2012, it was announced that Lavigne would be contributing two songs to the ''One Piece Film: Z'' soundtrack, being "Bad Reputation" and a cover of the 2001
Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian Rock music, rock band formed in 1995 in Hanna, Alberta, Hanna, Alberta. Throughout its history, it has consisted of lead guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, rhythm guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist Ryan ...
song "
How You Remind Me
"How You Remind Me" is a song by Canadian rock band Nickelback. With lyrics written by lead singer Chad Kroeger and music composed by the band, the power ballad was released on July 17, 2001, as the lead single from their third studio album, ' ...
". An exclusive promotional CD single was released in Japan on 12 December 2012.
Commercial reception
"Bad Reputation" charted moderately upon release, ultimately peaking at number eight on the
''Billboard'' Japan Hot 100.
Track listings
*Japan 2 tracks CD single
# "Bad Reputation" — 2:42
Charts
Certifications
Release history
References
{{authority control
1980 songs
1981 debut singles
Joan Jett songs
Songs written by Joan Jett
Comedy television theme songs
Television drama theme songs
Avril Lavigne songs
Songs written by Ritchie Cordell
Music videos directed by David Mallet (director)
Sony Music Entertainment Japan singles