Good Girls Go Bad
| "Good Girls Go Bad" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Good Girls Go Bad" is a song recorded by American pop punk band Cobra Starship which features guest vocals from Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester. It is the first single released from their upcoming third studio album titled Hot Mess. The song was released digitally through iTunes on May 11, 2009.[1][2] On May 8, 2009, "Good Girls Go Bad" made its radio debut on KIIS-FM with Ryan Seacrest's show.[3] The song was produced by American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi and Kevin Rudolf.[4] The song has started getting heavy airplay in Canada, debuting at 21 on Canada's radio airplay chart "Canadian Hit 30" on the issue date of July 25th, 2009.
Production
The band was first offered to work with Kara DioGuardi in 2009, just as DioGuardi was becoming an American Idol judge.[5] Vocalist Gabe Saporta explained,
We got offered to work with Kara right as she was becoming an American Idol judge. We didn't know who she was. She didn't know who we were. We got hooked up with her. I'm like, 'Who is this person?' She's like, 'Who's this annoying band?' But we got in the room, and it was like magic, and we wrote the song in 15 minutes. It's, like, the best song on our album.[5]
Fifteen minutes after the creation of the hook for the song, the entire track was done.[6] On April 27, 2009, it was announced Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester would be featured.[7] Lead singer Gabe Saporta had wanted Meester to be featured in the song because "it's already kind of her character in Gossip Girl, like the perfect girl with the bad streak."[6] Once Meester heard "Good Girls Go Bad", she took an immediate liking to it. "I thought, 'I need to get on that!' It totally is my sound too. Really fun to dance to it. Very edgy and cool".[6] Cobra Starship has said that the track is "the best on [their] album".[6]
Critical reception
Billboard reviewer, Micheal Menachem made comment on the song:
"Good Girls Go Bad has the magic to launch the members of Cobra Starship into superstardom. The New York dance-punk band powers the single from its third album, "Hot Mess"—stylish enough for a stroll along the boardwalk and rowdy enough for the club. The guy anthem is sweetened with "Gossip Girl" star Leighton Meester's first musical effort, adding some sass to match Gabe Saporta's energetic vocals. The contagious hook and chorus have a lively group component where the co-eds battle in a call-and-response sing-off. With a similar appeal to No Doubt's "Hey Baby"—minus the reggae but with an accelerated jolt of electro—Cobra Starship has arrived."[4]
The song has also been praised by The Washington Examiner reviewer, Liza Woods. Woods stated the the song is "in the running for catchy song of the summer". She continued to describe it as "pure unadulterated fun. It just makes you want to dance with its flirty lyrics and electronic and dance meets pop sound." Woods also likened it's potential pop impact with that of other hit-singles "naturally this seems destined to be a club favorite much like Lady Gaga's "Poker Face". This is one tune that shouldn't be overlooked and may be an underground favorite right now but give a bit of time and this single seems destined to be in heavy rotation everywhere"[8] The newspaper named it "Sexy Song of the Day" on 30 June 2009.[9]
Music video
A music video for the song was shot on May 3, 2009 in New York City[6] and premiered on Monday, June 29, 2009. Leighton shot the clip while she was in town for the 2009 Costume Institute Gala. The concept of the video is that Meester runs an underground speakeasy, complete with shelves of booze, gambling tables and a dance floor. The band is in charge of the above-ground deli that acts as a front operation to hide the debauchery within. To gain access to the illegal club, patrons must order the correct sandwich and proceed down a staircase. Meester and Victoria Asher, the band's keytarist, exchange several texts messages while in the club concerning a package hidden in the DJ's booth. Meester retrieves the package and shortly after, the club is raided by police. At the end of the video, it is revealed that Asher and Meester were undercover agents involved in a sting operation.[6]