I'm Good at Being Bad

Last updated

"I'm Good at Being Bad"
TLCigabb.jpg
Promotional single by TLC
from the album FanMail
ReleasedJanuary 23, 1999
Recorded1998
Studio Flyte Tyme, Edina, Minnesota
Genre
Length
  • 5:25 (original clean version)
  • 5:39 (original explicit version)
  • 4:39 (re-edited album version)
Label LaFace
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

"I'm Good at Being Bad" is a song recorded by American girl group TLC for their third album FanMail . It was released as a promotional single when "No Scrubs" was distributed to radio. Despite not being commercially released, the track peaked within the top 40 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song is characterized by its contrasting alternation of soft romantic melody and hard rap with explicit lyrics, as performed by Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and others of the group.

Contents

Background and composition

"I'm Good at Being Bad" is an R&B song containing a rap verse. [1] The song's original title was "Bitch Like Me" (a phrase also in the lyrics), which was described to "crank up the raunch level". The lyrics refer graphically to "Ten-inch or bigger / A lick-it-from-the-back-type nigga [ sic ]." [2]

It was recorded at Flyte Tyme Studios in Edina, Minnesota, with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in 1998. While writing the song, member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins was inspired by grunge band Nirvana's use of loud and soft dynamic shifts in their discography, which she wanted the group to incorporate. [1]

Jimmy Jam encouraged Watkins to hum the melody while playing the beat in the recording booth, which was different from her routine of listening to the beat and writing out the lyrics. Watkins admitted that the technique influenced her as a songwriter. She also attempted to convince Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes to rap the pre-chorus herself, but Lopes insisted that Watkins' thicker voice was better suited for the track. [1]

The original album version interpolates the Donna Summer song "Love to Love You Baby". Later pressings of the explicit version of album removed the interpolation, shortening the song's length by a minute, though the interpolation remained on the edited versions of the album.[ citation needed ] The song also used a sample by American funk band War's 1972 song "Slippin' Into Darkness".[ citation needed ] Lopes' rap verse was included in the uncut version of the "Unpretty" music video.[ citation needed ]

Commercial performance

The song was distributed to radio stations as a promotional single during the release of their first single "No Scrubs" on January 23, 1999.[ citation needed ] On the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart dated July 3, 1999, "I'm Good at Being Bad" peaked at number 38, where it spent 18 weeks on the chart. [3]

Track listing

Charts

Chart (1999)Peak
position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [3] 38

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TLC (group)</span> American girl group

TLC is an American girl group formed in 1990 in Atlanta. The group's best-known line-up was composed of Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. The group enjoyed success during the 1990s, with nine top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including four number-one singles: "Creep", "Waterfalls", "No Scrubs", and "Unpretty". TLC also recorded four multi-platinum albums, including CrazySexyCool (1994), which received a diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). They became the first R&B group in history to receive the million certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for FanMail (1999).

<i>CrazySexyCool</i> 1994 studio album by TLC

CrazySexyCool is the second studio album by American girl group TLC, released on November 15, 1994, by LaFace and Arista Records. Following the group's record deal, they released their debut album Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip in 1992 to positive reviews and commercial success. The group began working on a follow-up in 1993 but experienced an unproductive recording process due to personal issues, notably those of member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, who was struggling with alcoholism and her volatile relationship with football player Andre Rison. The album's recording lasted until September 1994, with Lopes' role diminished while she was in rehab.

<i>FanMail</i> 1999 studio album by TLC

FanMail is the third studio album by American girl group TLC, released on February 23, 1999, by LaFace and Arista Records. The album title is a tribute to TLC's fans who sent them fan mail during their hiatus. FanMail debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 318,000 copies in its first week of release, and spent five weeks at number one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tionne Watkins</span> American singer (born 1970)

Tionne Tenese Watkins, also known by her stage name T-Boz, is an American singer. Watkins rose to fame in the early 1990s as a member of the girl-group TLC. She has won four Grammy Awards for her work with TLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterfalls (TLC song)</span> 1995 single by TLC

"Waterfalls" is a song by American hip-hop group TLC, released by LaFace and Arista as the third single from their second album, CrazySexyCool (1994), in May 1995 in the United States, followed by a United Kingdom release on July 24, 1995.

<i>3D</i> (TLC album) 2002 studio album by TLC

3D is the fourth studio album by American girl group TLC, released on October 10, 2002, by Arista Records. Recorded from May 2001 to July 2002, much of the album was finalized after the death of member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, with her unreleased material that she had recorded for her solo albums Supernova and N.I.N.A. being reworked into new songs. Remaining group members Rozonda Thomas and Tionne Watkins enlisted Dallas Austin, Babyface, Rodney Jerkins, the Neptunes, Raphael Saadiq, Missy Elliott and Timbaland to work on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Scrubs</span> 1999 single by TLC

"No Scrubs" is a song recorded by American girl group TLC as the lead single from their third studio album, FanMail, released on February 2, 1999, by LaFace Records and Arista Records. The song was written by producer Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, former Xscape members Kandi Burruss and Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, and TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. The song lyrics describe the role of a man in a relationship. Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas sings the lead vocals for the first time on a TLC single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girl Talk (TLC song)</span> 2002 single by TLC

"Girl Talk" is a song by American group TLC. It was written by band members Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins along with Anita McLoud, Edmund "Eddie Hustle" Clement, and Kandi Burruss for the group's fourth studio album, 3D (2002). Recorded a few days before Lopes' death in April 2002, production on the song was helmed by Clement. Lyrically, "Girl Talk" has the protagonist warning men that if they lack in the bedroom, it will spread on the street amongst the women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creep (TLC song)</span> 1994 single by TLC

"Creep" is a song recorded by American singing group TLC for their second studio album, CrazySexyCool (1994). Dallas Austin, who tried to write the track from a "female perspective", wrote and produced it. It is based on member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins's experience with infidelity. The lyrics portray the singers as women who cheat on their unfaithful lovers for "some affection". This context was controversial within the group, and strongly opposed by member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, who threatened to wear black tape over her mouth on its accompanying music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dear Lie</span> 1999 single by TLC

"Dear Lie" is a song by American group TLC. It was written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and band member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins for the trio's third studio album FanMail (1999), featuring production by Edmonds. The song was released as the album's third and final single on December 6, 1999, peaking at number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the top 40 in several other countries. "Dear Lie" is included on the group's 2009 compilation album, We Love TLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unpretty</span> 1999 single by TLC

"Unpretty" is a song by American group TLC, released on May 17, 1999, through LaFace and Arista Records as the second single from the band's third studio album, FanMail. It was written by Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and producer Dallas Austin. Watkins had written a poem to express her disgust over an episode of Ricki Lake, and Austin helped her adapt it into the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby-Baby-Baby</span> 1992 single by TLC

"Baby-Baby-Baby" is a song by American girl group TLC. It was the second single released from their debut studio album, Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip (1992), and their second consecutive top-10 hit. It was the most successful single from the album, reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, giving them their first number-one on the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FanMail Tour</span> 1999–2000 concert tour by TLC

The FanMail Tour is the debut headlining tour by American group TLC. The tour support their third studio album, FanMail. The tour visited North America with dates later planned for Japan and Europe. However, the international dates after the second North American leg were cancelled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hands Up (TLC song)</span> 2002 single by TLC

"Hands Up" a song by American girl group TLC. It was written and produced by both Babyface and Daryl Simmons for the band's fourth studio album, 3D (2002). A sensual mid-tempo song that deals with romantic betrayal, it was selected and released as the album's second single in the United States on February 3, 2003, following lead single "Girl Talk" (2002). Arista Records consulted several producers to remix the song for its single release, including Richard X, LaMarquis Jefferson, and Jermaine Dupri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All This Love (DeBarge song)</span> 1982 single by DeBarge

"All This Love" is a single by DeBarge, released on October 17, 1982. The song was released as the third and final single from their second studio album of the same title on the Gordy label. The single would help DeBarge rise to R&B stardom. A cover version of the song was recorded by Patti LaBelle on her 1994 gold album Gems. A video for her version was also filmed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Getaway</span> 2000 single by Tionne Watkins

"My Getaway" is a song by Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Brycyn "Juvie" Evans from the Rugrats in Paris Movie Soundtrack. Watkins said of her involvement, "I'm a big fan of Tommy and Chuckie and the rest of the Rugrats, and I'm honored to be on this soundtrack". The song is played in the scene where Angelica is listening to her personal stereo during the flight to Paris on the plane, and in the end credits of Rugrats in Paris: The Movie with "Who Let the Dogs Out?" and "When You Love".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Just Do It</span> 2009 single by Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes featuring Missy Elliott and TLC

"Let's Just Do It" is a posthumous single by American singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and is the lead single from her posthumous album, Eye Legacy. Originally recorded by Lopes and her TLC groupmate Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins in 1998 for the group's third studio album FanMail, the track was shelved until 2009, when it was remixed to feature new vocals from fellow member Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas and rapper Missy Elliott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come Get Some (TLC song)</span> 2003 single by TLC featuring Lil Jon and Sean Paul of YoungBloodZ

"Come Get Some" is a song by American girl group TLC. It was written by band members Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas along with Kandi Burruss, Craig Love, Sean Paul of YoungBloodZ and Lil Jon for their 2003 greatest hits album, Now & Forever: The Hits. Lil Jon produced the song and also appears with Paul as guest vocalists.

"Kick Your Game" is a song recorded by the American group TLC for their second studio album, CrazySexyCool (1994). The "funky" R&B-dance track was written by frequent group collaborator Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal and member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. On August 26, 1995 it was picked by LaFace and Arista Records for release as a promotional airplay single from the album. In the song's lyrics, TLC teaches boys who flirt in a club "the proper way to approach a lady"; Lopes' rap verses reportedly referred to then-boyfriend Andre Rison, whose house she burned down during the making of CrazySexyCool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Word to the Badd!!</span> 1991 single by Jermaine Jackson

"Word to the Badd!!" is a song by American musician Jermaine Jackson, taken from his thirteenth studio album You Said (1991). The song was written by Jackson, L.A. Reid, Babyface, Daryl Simmons and labelmates TLC's group member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. It was produced by Reid, Babyface, Simmons and Kayo. The song was released as the album's lead single on August 13, 1991, by LaFace Records and Arista Records.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gracie, Bianca (February 22, 2019). "TLC's 'FanMail' Turns 20: A Track-By-Track Retrospective With the Girl Group and Behind-the-Scenes Collaborators". Billboard . Archived from the original on February 23, 2019. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  2. ↑ DeCurtis, Anthony (May 1999). "There The Hard Way" (Google Books). Vibe . Vol. 7, no. 4. SpinMedia. p. 84. ISSN   1070-4701 . Retrieved November 28, 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. 1 2 "TLC Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.