I Did Something Bad
"I Did Something Bad" | |
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Song by Taylor Swift | |
from the album Reputation | |
Released | November 10, 2017 |
Genre | Electropop |
Length | 3:58 |
Label | Big Machine |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Producer(s) |
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"I Did Something Bad" is a song by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, who co-wrote the song with its producers Max Martin and Shellback. It is the third track on Swift's sixth studio album Reputation (2017). Swift performed the track at the 2018 American Music Awards.
Writing and composition
"I Did Something Bad" was written by Swift, Max Martin and Shellback, and was produced by the latter two. "I Did Something Bad" runs for a duration of three minutes and fifty-eight seconds;[1][2] and it has a tempo of 86 beats per minute. Swift performs it in the key of G minor in a vocal range span from G3 to D5. Musically, the track contains heavy electronic production, while it was initially written on the piano. Swift has also explained to iHeartRadio that the idea for part of the production of the song came to her in a dream. Swift described the concept to producer Max Martin, who used Swift's voice and pitched it down to create the effect that takes place after the chorus, because he was unable to use an appropriate instrument to make that sound.[3]
Lyrically, it talks about her being satisfied with herself and her actions, no matter what the world and the media thinks of her.[4] The song has been rumored to be aimed at her ex-boyfriend Calvin Harris[5][6] or Kanye West.
Critical reception
Upon release, "I Did Something Bad" received critical praise. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone ranked "I Did Something Bad" as Swift's thirty-third best song.[7] The performance at the 2018 American Music Awards was named by Billboard as the second-best of the night.[8]
Chart performance
The song debuted at number 5 on New Zealand Heatseeker Singles,[9] and number 14 on Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100.
Live performances
The song had its debut performance at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on May 8, 2018, as part of the regular setlist for Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour. On October 9, 2018, Swift performed the song at the 2018 American Music Awards, opening the show.[10] The performance was ranked by a Billboard article as the second-best of the night.[11] Billboard hailed it as appropriately massive, with brilliantly deliberate pacing.[12]
Personnel
Credits and personnel adapted from the liner notes of Reputation.[13]
- Taylor Swift – songwriting, vocals
- Max Martin – songwriting, production
- Shellback – songwriting, production
- Michael Ilbert – engineering
- Sam Holland – engineering
- Cory Bice – engineering
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- John Hanes – mix engineering
- Randy Merrill – mastering
Charts
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
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New Zealand Heatseeker Singles (Recorded Music NZ)[14] | 5 |
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[15] | 14 |
References
- ^ "reputation by Taylor Swift on TIDAL". TIDAL. November 10, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Kornhaber, Spencer (November 10, 2017). "The Old Taylor Swift Is Hiding Within Reputation". The Atlantic. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- ^ "Taylor Swift's iHeartRadio reputation Release Party: Everything We Learned". 96.1 KISS. November 10, 2017. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
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suggested) (help) - ^ "What does "I Did Something Bad" by Taylor Swift mean?". Pop Songs Professor. November 10, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- ^ "Who Is "I Did Something Bad" About? Taylor Swift's 'Reputation' Track Seems To Be About A Certain Ex". Bustle. October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- ^ "All of Taylor Swift's Calvin Harris References in Her "I Did Something Bad" Lyrics". Elle. November 10, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- ^ "Taylor Swift's Songs: All Ranked by Rob Sheffield". Rolling Stone. November 10, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
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: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|website=
(help) - ^ https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/amas/8479146/amas-performances-ranked-2018
- ^ "Heatseeker Singles". Official New Zealand Music Chart.
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: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|website=
(help) - ^ "'I Did Something Bad': Swift to open 2018 American Music Awards". KEPRTV. October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- ^ "2018 American Music Awards Performances Ranked". Billboard. October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/amas/8479146/amas-performances-ranked-2018
- ^ Reputation (CD). Taylor Swift. Big Machine Records. 2017. p. 8. B0028815-02.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Heatseeker Singles". Official New Zealand Music Chart.
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: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|website=
(help) - ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2017.