| "Bad Girlfriend" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byTheory of a Deadman | ||||
| from the albumScars & Souvenirs | ||||
| Released | May 14, 2008 (2008-05-14) | |||
| Recorded | September 2007–January 2008 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock[1] | |||
| Length | 3:25 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | Howard Benson | |||
| Theory of a Deadman singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Bad Girlfriend" onYouTube | ||||
"Bad Girlfriend" is a song by Canadian rock bandTheory of a Deadman and is the second single from their third studio albumScars & Souvenirs (2008). The track's lyrics describe the circumstances of when lead singer and guitarist Tyler Connolly met his now ex-wife in a bar in Vancouver. The band collectively composed the song which was produced byHoward Benson. It peaked at number 42 on theBillboardCanadian Hot 100 chart and number 75 on theBillboard Hot 100, and was their first single to reach number one on theBillboardMainstream Rock chart, making it the band's most successful release in the United States at the time.
"Bad Girlfriend" has been defined as a "tongue in cheek", "party-rocking tune",[2][3] with lead singer and guitarist Tyler Connolly labeling it a "stripper song".[4] The lyrics describe the events of when Connolly met his now ex-wife, Canadian actress Christine Danielle, at a bar called The Roxy in Vancouver.Howard Benson produced the track and Danielle assisted in the composition of the lyrics, including the explicit opening line, "My girlfriend's a dick magnet".[5][6][7]
Guitarist Dave Brenner acknowledged that the "raunchy, funny" tone of the single did not reflect the usual fashion of previous tracks, saying, "It shows a different side of Theory of a Deadman. The past albums have been pretty heavy content-wise and this one shows more of a sense of humor to Theory of a Deadman."[8] Connolly has also addressed that the record label despised the song and didn't want it on the album.[9]
The song was released on May 14, 2008, as the second single off the band's third studio album,Scars & Souvenirs (2008). It peaked at number 42 on theBillboardCanadian Hot 100 chart.[10] In the United States, it reached number 75 on theBillboard Hot 100, making it the first of the band's songs to appear on this particular chart and their most successful single at the time.[11] It peaked at number eight onBillboard'sAlternative Songs chart and spent two weeks at number one on theMainstream Rock chart.[12][13]
The music video for "Bad Girlfriend" was directed byColin Minihan and depicts the band performing as a woman leaves for work at a strip club unbeknownst to her significant other, who attends the club with friends and is surprised to see his girlfriend dancing on stage.[14]
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] | 42 |
| USBillboard Hot 100 (Billboard)[11] | 75 |
| USAlternative Airplay (Billboard)[12] | 8 |
| USMainstream Rock (Billboard)[13] | 1 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[15] | 2× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[16] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||