Bad Girls (Donna Summer song)

Last updated
"Bad Girls"
Bad Girls (France).jpg
French picture sleeve
Single by Donna Summer
from the album Bad Girls
B-side "On My Honor"
ReleasedJune 23, 1979 (1979-06-23)
Recorded1979
Studio Rusk Sound Studios (Los Angeles, California)
Genre
Length4:55
Label Casablanca
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Donna Summer singles chronology
"Hot Stuff"
(1979)
"Bad Girls"
(1979)
"Dim All the Lights"
(1979)

"Bad Girls" is a song by American singer and songwriter Donna Summer from her 1979 seventh studio album of the same name. Casablanca Records released it as the album's second single on June 23, 1979. The song was produced by Summer's regular collaborators Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, and co-written by Summer and the members of Brooklyn Dreams, Bruce Sudano, Joe "Bean" Esposito and Edward "Eddie" Hokenson.

Contents

"Bad Girls" was a massive success, peaking within the Top 10 of the charts in seven countries, including New Zealand and Spain. In the United States, it spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, from the weeks of July 14 to August 11, 1979, and sold over two million copies, simultaneously becoming, alongside "Hot Stuff", her most successful single. It helped the Bad Girls album to reach multi-platinum status in the United States.

Background and recording

The inspiration for Summer to write "Bad Girls" came after one of her assistants was offended by a police officer who thought she was a prostitute. A rough version of the song had originally been written a couple of years before its release. Casablanca Records' founder Neil Bogart, upon hearing it, wanted Summer to give it to Cher. [3] Summer refused and put it away for a couple of years.

Composition

"Toot toot, hey, beep beep", the chanted vocal hook in "Bad Girls" originates from the 1966 Latin boogaloo song "Bang Bang" by the Joe Cuba Sextet. The chant in "Bang Bang" was incorporated into "Bad Girls" after a gig Joe Cuba's sextet played for a black audience that wasn't particularly receptive to mambo or cha-cha-chá; the audience started chanting as the pianist in the group played a riff. [4]

A 12-inch version of "Bad Girls" was released as a medley with "Hot Stuff". Although "Hot Stuff" was extended for the release, "Bad Girls" remained in the original full-length album version. A demo version of "Bad Girls" was released on the deluxe edition of the Bad Girls album.

Critical reception

Billboard magazine called "Bad Girls" a "brassy disco track, which features party sounding production embellishments like hems and whistles." [5] Record World magazine said that Summer's "sultry reading is perfect for the threatening street theme." [6]

Awards and nominations

"Bad Girls" was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Single, and won for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, at the American Music Awards of 1980. Summer was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording at the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards. [7]

Charts

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [35] Platinum150,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [36] Silver250,000^
United States (RIAA) [37] Platinum2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MacArthur Park (song)</span> Popular song written by Jimmy Webb

"MacArthur Park" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb that was recorded first by Irish actor and singer Richard Harris in 1968. Harris's version peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number four on the UK Singles Chart. "MacArthur Park" was subsequently covered by numerous artists, including a 1970 Grammy-winning version by country music singer Waylon Jennings and a number one Billboard Hot 100 disco arrangement by Donna Summer in 1978. Webb won the 1969 Grammy Award for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for the Richard Harris version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby I Need Your Loving</span> 1964 single by the Four Tops

"Baby I Need Your Loving" is a 1964 hit single recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song was the group's first Motown single and their first pop Top 20 hit, making it to number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four in Canada in the fall of 1964. It was also their first million-selling hit single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)</span> 1979 single by the Jacksons

"Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" is a song recorded by the Jacksons for their 1978 album Destiny, and released as a single in early 1979. It peaked at No. 7 in the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1979.

<i>Bad Girls</i> (Donna Summer album) 1979 studio album by Donna Summer

Bad Girls is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Donna Summer. It was released on April 25, 1979, by Casablanca Records. Originally issued as a double album, Bad Girls became the best-selling and most critically acclaimed album of Summer's career. It was also her final studio album for Casablanca Records. In 2003, Universal Music re-issued Bad Girls as a digitally remastered and expanded deluxe edition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bang and Blame</span> Song by R.E.M

"Bang and Blame" is a song by American alternative rock group R.E.M. It was released as the second single from their ninth studio album, Monster (1994), on October 31, 1994 by Warner Bros. Records. The song was R.E.M.'s last to reach the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 19, and was also their last number-one single on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The single reached number one in Canada—R.E.M.'s only single to do so—and peaked inside the top 40 on the charts of Australia, Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Jackson singles discography</span>

American singer Michael Jackson released 67 singles as a lead artist, and 10 as a featured artist. One of the best-selling artists of all time, his album and single sales as of 2013 stood at 400 million. In the United States, Jackson amassed 13 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles and was the first artist to have a top-ten single in the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades. In 2012, Jackson was ranked the fifth best selling singles artist in the United Kingdom with 15.3 million singles sold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Could It Be Magic</span> 1971 single by Barry Manilow

"Could It Be Magic" is a song written by Adrienne Anderson and composed by Barry Manilow, inspired by Frédéric Chopin's Prelude in C minor, Opus 28, Number 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot Stuff (Donna Summer song)</span> 1979 song by Donna Summer

"Hot Stuff" is a song by American singer Donna Summer from her seventh studio album Bad Girls (1979), produced by English producer Pete Bellotte and Italian producer Giorgio Moroder and released as the lead single from Bad Girls in 1979 through Casablanca Records. Up to that point, Summer had mainly been associated with disco songs but this song also showed a significant rock direction, including a guitar solo by ex-Doobie Brother and Steely Dan guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. It is the second of four songs by Summer to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Time I Know It's for Real</span> 1989 single by Donna Summer

"This Time I Know It's for Real" is a song by American singer-songwriter Donna Summer, released on February 13, 1989, as the first single from her 14th studio album, Another Place and Time (1989), by Atlantic Records and Warner Bros. Records. Like the rest of the album, the song was written and produced by the British Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) team, though Summer also had a hand in writing this song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)</span> 1979 song

"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" is a 1979 song recorded by American singers Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer. It was written by Paul Jabara and Bruce Roberts, and produced by Giorgio Moroder and Gary Klein. The song was recorded for Streisand's Wet album and also as a new track for Summer's compilation double album On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II. The full-length version was found on Streisand's album, while a longer 11-minute edit (the 12" version) was featured on Summer's album. The longer 12" version features additional production by frequent collaborator Harold Faltermeyer, and incorporates a harder rock edge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">On the Radio (Donna Summer song)</span> 1979 single by Donna Summer

"On the Radio" is a song by American singer-songwriter Donna Summer, produced by Italian musician Giorgio Moroder, and released in late 1979 on the Casablanca record label. It was written for the soundtrack to the film Foxes and included on Summer's first international compilation album On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II.

<i>On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II</i> 1979 greatest hits album by Donna Summer

On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II is the first greatest hits album by American singer Donna Summer, released on October 15, 1979. It was her fourth consecutive double album, and also made her the first person ever to take three consecutive double albums to the number one spot on the U.S. album chart. This would become Summer's third multi-platinum album to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love to Love You Baby (song)</span> 1975 single by Donna Summer

"Love to Love You Baby" is a song by American singer Donna Summer from her second studio album, Love to Love You Baby (1975). Produced by Pete Bellotte, and written by Italian musician Giorgio Moroder, Summer, and Bellotte, the song was first released as a single in the Netherlands in June 1975 as "Love to Love You" and then released worldwide in November 1975 as "Love to Love You Baby". It became one of the first disco hits to be released in an extended form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven Knows (Donna Summer song)</span> 1978 single by Donna Summer featuring Brooklyn Dreams

"Heaven Knows" is a song by American singer Donna Summer, with guest vocals from Brooklyn Dreams. It is a single from Summer's Live and More album. The song became a number 4 hit for Summer in the US the week of March 17, 1979, and held there for three weeks. It features the group Brooklyn Dreams with vocals by Joe "Bean" Esposito.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dim All the Lights</span> 1979 single by Donna Summer

"Dim All the Lights" is a song by American recording artist Donna Summer released as the third single from her 1979 album Bad Girls. It debuted at number 70 on August 25, 1979, and peaked that year at number two on November 10 and November 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. Produced by her longtime collaborator Giorgio Moroder with Pete Bellotte, the track combines Summer's trademark disco beats with a more soulful pop sound. It was the third Hot 100 top-two single from the album and her sixth consecutive Hot 100 top-five single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wanderer (Donna Summer song)</span> 1980 single by Donna Summer

"The Wanderer" is a song by American singer Donna Summer, released as the lead single from her 1980 eighth album of the same name, which was the first for her new label Geffen Records after recording her previous albums with Casablanca Records. Despite the label change, Summer continued to work with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, who had produced the majority of her hits in the late 1970s. However, it marks a change in style for The Queen of Disco, incorporating new wave styled synth riffs and a shuffling beat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)</span> 1982 single by Donna Summer

"Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)" is a Grammy-nominated single from Donna Summer's self-titled 1982 studio album. The single was her 12th top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Woman in Me (Donna Summer song)</span>

"The Woman in Me" is a song by American singer Donna Summer, released as the third and final single from her eponymous tenth studio album (1982). The song reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 30 on the Black Singles chart, and number 17 on the Adult Contemporary chart in early 1983. It was written by John Bettis of Carpenters fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She Works Hard for the Money</span> 1983 single by Donna Summer

"She Works Hard for the Money" is a song by American singer Donna Summer and the title track from her eleventh studio album of the same name (1983). The song was written by Michael Omartian and Summer, and produced by the former. It was released as the lead single on May 10, 1983 from the album by Mercury Records. It became a hit for Summer, reaching number one for a three-week stay atop the Billboard R&B singles chart, number three on the Billboard Hot 100, and number three on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart. The single ended up as Billboard's 15th-best performing song of 1983. In addition, Summer earned a nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 1984 Grammy Awards, where she performed the song live as the opening for the ceremony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss You Like Crazy</span> 1989 single by Natalie Cole

"Miss You Like Crazy" is a song by American singer Natalie Cole, released as a single on March 15, 1989, from her 11th solo studio album, Good to Be Back (1989).

References

  1. Graff, Gary (January 1, 1998). "Donna Summer". In Graff, Gary; du Lac, Josh; McFarlin, Jim (eds.). MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 544. Bad Girls added rock to Summer's dance-oriented palette via the title track...
  2. Breihan, Tom (February 12, 2020). "The Number Ones: Donna Summer's "Bad Girls"". Stereogum . Retrieved July 11, 2023. ...it's a big, funky stomper with riotous horn blasts and whistle-blasts and squelchy guitars.
  3. Summer, Donna; Marc Eliot (2003). Ordinary Girl: The Journey . New York: Villard. p.  172. ISBN   1400060311.
  4. Ducks, David (16 Feb 2010). "Joe Cuba Sextet "Bang Bang"". Exclaim.
  5. "Top Single Picks". Billboard. May 26, 1979. p. 87. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  6. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. May 26, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  7. "Donna Summer". Grammy Awards . Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  8. Danyel Smith, ed. (1979). "Billboard 8 september 1979". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  9. "Donna Summer – Bad Girls" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  10. "Donna Summer – Bad Girls" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  11. Nanda Lwin (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN   1-896594-13-1.
  12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4497a." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  13. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 4488." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  14. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Donna Summer". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 250. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Bad Girls". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  16. Racca, Guido (2019). M&D Borsa Singoli 1960–2019 (in Italian). Independently Published. ISBN   9781093264906.
  17. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Donna Summer" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  18. "Donna Summer – Bad Girls" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  19. "Donna Summer – Bad Girls". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  20. "Donna Summer – Bad Girls". VG-lista. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  21. 1 2 Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  22. "Donna Summer – Bad Girls". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  23. "Donna Summer – Bad Girls". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  24. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  25. "Donna Summer Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  26. "Donna Summer Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  27. "Donna Summer Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  28. "Offiziellecharts.de – Donna Summer – Bad Girls" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  29. "Jaaroverzichten 1979". Ultratop. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  30. "1979 Top 200 Singles". RPM . Vol. 32, no. 13. Library and Archives Canada. December 22, 1979. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  31. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1979". Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  32. "1979 Talent in Action – Year End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 51. December 22, 1979. p. TIA-10.
  33. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1979". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  34. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  35. "Canadian single certifications – Donna Summer – Bad Girls". Music Canada.
  36. "British single certifications – Donna Summer – Bad Girls". British Phonographic Industry.
  37. "American single certifications – Donna Summer – Bad Girls". Recording Industry Association of America.