Willa Ford, “I Wanna Be Bad”

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2000s, dance pop, debut, I Wanna Be Bad, Jason Flom, One Hit Wonder, rebellion, Royce da 5'9", top twenty five hit, Willa Ford, Willa Was Here

I Wanna Be Bad is a song by American singer Willa Ford from her first studio album, Willa Was Here (2001). The song features a guest appearance from rapper Royce da 5’9″. Ford wrote it alongside Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz, who both handled the production, when her record label, MCA Records, told her to tone down her music. Ford refused, deciding to create a track with a rebellious message. After Jason Flom of Lava Records heard the song, he signed Ford to the label and included it on Willa Was Here. Lava and Atlantic Records released the song as Ford’s debut single on April 24, 2001. A dance pop track, it has Ford explaining that she wants to be a “bad girl” because her partner makes bad behavior look so good. The lyrics contain messages of rebellion and being oneself against the influences of other people. 

Several critics compared “I Wanna Be Bad” to songs by fellow American singer Britney Spears, whom Ford was trying not to imitate with her music. Immediately picked up by American radio stations, it reached #22 on the Hot 100. The song also charted in Australia, where it peaked at #52.