Somethin' Bad

For other topics, see Something Bad.
"Somethin' Bad"
Single by Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood
from the album Platinum
ReleasedMay 19, 2014
GenreCountry rock
Length2:49
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Miranda Lambert singles chronology
"Automatic"
(2014) 		"Somethin' Bad"
(2014) 		"Little Red Wagon"
(2015)
Carrie Underwood singles chronology
"See You Again"
(2013) 		"Somethin' Bad"
(2014) 		"Something in the Water"
(2014)
Music videos
"Somethin' Bad" on YouTube

"Somethin' Bad" is a song recorded as a duet by American country music artists Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood. The song was written by Chris DeStefano, Brett James and Priscilla Renea. It was released as the second single from Lambert's fifth studio album Platinum in advance of the album's release two weeks later. The song premiered at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards on May 18, 2014, and was released for sale the next day.

"Somethin' Bad" peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs, becoming Underwood's thirteenth number one on the chart and Lambert's fifth. The song is the first number one by teamed-up solo women in more than two decades on this chart.

On December 5, 2014, the collaboration received a Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

Background

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The song was written by Chris DeStefano and Brett James along with Priscilla Renea while they were at a writing retreat in France for ASCAP.[1] The song was originally intended to be a male/female duet, but was later tweaked so that it could be performed by two females.[2]

According to Lambert, when she heard "Somethin’ Bad", "the song just popped," and it "really struck a chord."[3] Lambert said she had wanted to do a duet with Carrie Underwood, and that "It's been too long since two girls in our genre have come together like that, especially on a song that's kind of in your face."[4] She sent Underwood an email to request a collaboration, which was accepted as they had wanted to sing together for some time.[2] Lyrically, the song is about the two women bar-hopping in New Orleans, Louisiana. It has been described as being inspired by Thelma & Louise,[5] and as a female equivalent of bro-country.[6] It is composed in the key of E minor with an approximate tempo of 88 beats per minute.[7]

The song made its debut on the 2014 Billboard Music Awards on May 18, 2014 with a performance by Lambert and Underwood.[8] They performed the song again at the CMT Music Awards on June 4, 2014.[9]

Critical reception

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The song received generally favorable response from the critics. Matt Bjorke of Roughstock thought the song playful, fun, and "sure to be a fast-selling hit."[10] Jason Scott of AXS called it "a fun, beat-driven summer anthem" and rated it four stars out of five.[11] Taste of Country said that the song's "ready-for-anything lyrics and the way that Lambert and Underwood belt them out with such power, make ‘Somethin’ Bad’ a catchy girl-power anthem."[12]

Commercial performance

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"Somethin' Bad" debuted at No. 39 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart following its release for sales on May 19, 2014 (chart dated June 7, 2014).[13] The song debuted at No. 48 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart for the same week, before it was officially released to radio on June 16, 2014.[14] The song also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Digital Songs chart, with 107,000 downloads sold in its first week.[13] "Somethin' Bad" peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs in its sixth week, becoming Underwood's 13th number one on the chart and Lambert's fifth. The same week, the song jumped to No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Lambert's highest peaking song to date on that chart. It is the first No. 1 by teamed-up solo women in more than two decades on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.[15] As of April 2015, the song has sold 1,080,000 copies in the United States.[16]

In Canada, the song debuted at No. 33 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart following its first week of release.[17]

Music video

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The music video was directed by Trey Fanjoy and released on June 25, 2014. It features Lambert as Belle Boyd and Underwood as Priscilla Parker, a pair of jewel thieves. The video is presented as a trailer for a film where the pair play poker, ride Indian motorcycles and engage in a jewel heist in which they flee in a luxury Bell Helicopter.[18][19]

Miranda purchased the two Indian Motorcycles keeping one for herself, while giving the other to Carrie as a "thank you" for doing the song with her. Carrie tweeted a pic of her on the bike. The bikes and the helicopter were part of a product placement arrangement organized by CMS Nashville.

As of November 2019, the music video has accumulated over 109 million views on Vevo and was nominated for a 2014 CMA for "Video of the Year."

Sunday Night Football 2016 theme

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In June 2016, NBC Sports announced that "Somethin' Bad" would form the basis of Underwood's new theme for NBC Sunday Night Football starting with the 2016 NFL season. Titled "Oh, Sunday Night", it replaced "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night", itself inspired by an existing song (Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself for Loving You").[20]

Awards and nominations

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Academy of Country Music Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 "Somethin' Bad" Video of the Year Nominated
Vocal Event of the Year Nominated

CMT Music Awards

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 "Somethin' Bad" Video of the Year Nominated
Collaborative Video of the Year Won

Country Music Association Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014 "Somethin' Bad" Musical Event of the Year Nominated
Music Video of the Year Nominated

Grammy Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 "Somethin' Bad" Best Country Duo/Group Performance Nominated

Teen Choice Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014 "Somethin' Bad" Choice Country Song Nominated

Charts and certifications

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References

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  1. ^ Matt Bjorke (March 25, 2014). "Story Behind The Song: Miranda Lambert & Carrie Underwood's "Something Bad"". Roughstock. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Cindy Watts. "Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood talk 'Somethin' Bad'". The Tennessean.
  3. ^ "Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood Channel Thelma & Louise In 'Somethin' Bad' Video". Radio.com. June 25, 2014. Archived from the original on July 1, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  4. ^ Christina Vinson (March 12, 2014). "Miranda Lambert: Dueting With Carrie Underwood Is 'Very, Very Intimidating'". Taste of Country.
  5. ^ "The Meaning Behind Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert's 'Thelma and Louise'-Inspired "Somethin' Bad"". American Songwriter. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  6. ^ Joseph Hudak (June 25, 2014). "Miranda Lambert Gives a Woman's Take on 'Bro Country'". RollingStone.
  7. ^ "'Somethin' Bad' sheet music". MusicNotes.com. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  8. ^ Denise Warner (May 18, 2014). "Miranda Lambert & Carrie Underwood Debut 'Somethin' Bad' at the Billboard Music Awards". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood Ace "Something Bad"". CMT. June 4, 2014. Archived from the original on June 8, 2014.
  10. ^ Matt Bjorke (May 18, 2014). "Review: Miranda Lambert & Carrie Underwood - Something Bad". Roughstock. Archived from the original on July 6, 2014.
  11. ^ Jason Scott (May 19, 2014). "Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert's 'Somethin' Bad' is something really good".
  12. ^ "Miranda Lambert (Feat. Carrie Underwood), 'Somethin' Bad' [Listen]". Taste of Country. June 17, 2014.
  13. ^ a b Gary Trust (May 29, 2014). "Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood Soar Onto Hot Country Songs In Top Five". Billboard.
  14. ^ "R&R :: Going For Adds :: Country". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  15. ^ Gary Trust (July 3, 2014). "Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood Vault To No. 1 On Hot Country Songs". Billboard.
  16. ^ Matt Bjorke (April 15, 2015). "Country Music's Top 30 Digital Singles: Week of April 15, 2015". Roughstock.
  17. ^ Fred Bronson (May 30, 2014). "'American Idol' on the Charts: 'Bad' News is Good for Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert". The Hollywood Reporter.
  18. ^ "Miranda Lambert And Carrie Underwood Get Criminal In The 'Somethin' Bad' Video", MTV, June 25, 2014, archived from the original on July 7, 2014
  19. ^ Zach Johnson (June 26, 2014). "Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood Find Trouble in "Somethin' Bad" Music Video—Watch Now!". Eonline.
  20. ^ Betts, Stephen (20 June 2016). "Carrie Underwood Records a New 'Sunday Night Football' Theme Song". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  21. ^ "Miranda Lambert Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  22. ^ "Miranda Lambert Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  23. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 292014 into search. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  24. ^ "Miranda Lambert Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  25. ^ "Miranda Lambert Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  26. ^ "Miranda Lambert Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  27. ^ "Best of 2014: Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  28. ^ "Best of 2014: Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  29. ^ "Best of 2014: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  30. ^ "American single certifications – MIRANDA LAMBERT & CARRIE UNDERWOOD – Somethin' Bad". Recording Industry Association of America.
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