# Bad Idea Right?

"Bad Idea Right?" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by the American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo from her second studio album, Guts (2023). Rodrigo co-wrote it with its producer, Dan Nigro. Geffen Records released it as the album's second single on August 11, 2023. A rock, pop rock, power pop, jangle rock, grunge, new wave, indie pop, synth-pop, and pop-punk 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" (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 and Brazil.
Petra Collins 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, Iris Apatow, and Tate McRae and references several television shows and films. Rodrigo sang the song on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge and used it as the opener on her 2024 concert tour, the Guts World Tour. Courting and Kelly Clarkson performed cover versions of it.

## Background and release

Olivia Rodrigo's debut studio album, Sour (2021), was released in May 2021, following which she decided to take a break from songwriting for six months. She conceived the follow-up album, Guts (2023), at the age of 19, while experiencing "lots of confusion, mistakes, awkwardness & good old fashioned teen angst". Dan Nigro returned to produce every single track on it. They wrote over 100 songs, of which Rodrigo included the more rock-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".
Rodrigo announced the album title on June 26, 2023, and "Vampire" was released as the lead single four days later. The following month, Vogue's Jia Tolentino 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, Charli XCX, 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 promoted the song to contemporary hit radio stations in the United States four days later, and it was also released as a 7-inch vinyl single in some countries with the demo as its B-side.

## 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, bass, and drum programming; Stewart plays electric guitar; and Laws plays drums. Spike Stent mixed it with assistance from Matt Wolach. Recording took place in Amusement Studios in Los Angeles.
"Bad Idea Right?" is a rock, pop rock, power pop, jangle rock, grunge, new wave, indie pop, and synth-pop, and pop-punk song with influences of pop and alternative rock. Multiple critics identified it as reminiscent of 1990s music. Lindsay Zoladz of The New York Times believed the song employed call and response hooks reminiscent of 1960s girl groups alongside an early 2000s elastic pop-punk bassline. Along with bass and drums, "Bad Idea Right?" heavily features guitars in its instrumentation, influenced by riot grrrl. 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. Music critics compared "Bad Idea Right?" to the works of Avril Lavigne, Wet Leg, Soccer Mommy, the Waitresses, Toni Basil, Hole, Wolf Alice, Pixies, Pavement, Metallica, Weezer, the Cars, and Lindsay Lohan'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 (2009–2015) and the film Freaky Friday (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, 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'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'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'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 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, 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'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's Mikael Wood. The Line of Best Fit'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 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".

### Accolades

Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone 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's Tom Breihan and Time, number seven by The Guardian, number 10 by Zoladz, number 11 by The Fader, number 12 by NME, number 83 by Treble, and unranked by GQ, NPR, and The Skinny.

## Commercial performance

"Bad Idea Right?" debuted at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rodrigo's sixth top 10 single and Guts's second consecutive one 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 on the chart issued for the same date and was certified gold by Music Canada. "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, and the Official Charts Company 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 (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, who had directed the music videos for "Good 4 U" (2021), "Brutal" (2021), and "Vampire", also directed the 1990s B movie horror-comedy-influenced one for "Bad Idea Right?". While teasing its release date in a TikTok video, Rodrigo revealed that it will feature appearances by her Bizaardvark co-star Madison Hu, the actress Iris Apatow, and the singer-songwriter Tate McRae, 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 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 eggs 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 and Glee. The A.V. Club's Emma Keates likened the party scene to the 1995 film Clueless and the final scene with the burning bed to the 2018 film Hereditary and the television series The Boys. Keates and Variety's Thania Garcia and Ellise Shafer believed the video recalled the 1990s, and Elle's Alyssa Bailey described it as "an especially fun time" that suited the song. It was nominated for Best Art Direction at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.

## Live performances and other usage

Rodrigo's performance of "Bad Idea Right?" at BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge was uploaded on December 25, 2023. She opens her 2024 concert tour, the Guts World Tour, 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 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, it constituted a "one-two-three punch". Writing for USA Today, Melissa Ruggieri noted that the building shook from the fans' jumping during the song's performance.
On January 23, 2024, Courting released an indie 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's 2018 single "It's Not Living (If It's Not with You)" but it was still "true to the original". Kelly Clarkson performed a pop punk cover of the song on The Kelly Clarkson Show 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 opined that she "totally nailed" it.

## Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from Qobuz.
* Dan Nigro – producer, songwriter, engineering, guitar, percussion, vocal production, bass, drum programming, background vocals
* Olivia Rodrigo – vocals, songwriter
* Sam Stewart – engineering, electric guitar
* Dan Viafore – engineering
* Sterling Laws – engineering, drums
* Spike Stent – mixing
* Matt Wolach – mixing assistance

## Certifications

Certifications for "Bad Idea Right?" :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 2× Platinum | 140,000$^‡$ |
| Belgium (BEA) | Gold | 20,000$^‡$ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | 2× Platinum | 80,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 40,000$^‡$ |
| Mexico (AMPROFON) | Gold | 70,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Platinum | 30,000$^‡$ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | Gold | 25,000$^‡$ |
| Portugal (AFP) | Gold | 5,000$^‡$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Gold | 30,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 600,000$^‡$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

Release dates and formats for "Bad Idea Right?" :
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label |
| Various | August 11, 2023 | Digital downloadstreaming | Geffen |
| United States | August 15, 2023 | Contemporary hit radio | Geffen |
| United States | December 18, 2023 | 7-inch | Geffen |
| Japan | December 22, 2023 | 7-inch | InterscopeUniversal Japan |
| Germany | December 22, 2023 | 7-inch | Universal Germany |
| United Kingdom | December 22, 2023 | 7-inch | Polydor |