Bad Company (song)
"Bad Company" is a song by the hard rock band Bad Company that was released on their debut album Bad Company in 1974. Co-written by the group's lead singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke, the song's meaning comes from a book on Victorian morals.[1] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Matt Wardlaw described the song as having a "western vibe" and Rodgers has said that it has "an almost biblical, promise-land kind of lawless feel to it."[2]
| "Bad Company" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Bad Company | |
| from the album Bad Company | |
| Released | 1974 |
| Recorded | November 1973 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 4:50 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | Bad Company |
Reception edit
Ultimate Classic Rock critic Matt Wardlaw rated it as Bad Company's all-time best song, particularly praising the "legendary piano opening."[2] Classic Rock critic Malcolm Dome also rated it as Bad Company's best song, praising the "dusty atmosphere [as well as] Rodgers’ almost enigmatic vocals and [Mick] Ralphs’ haunting guitar chime."[3] Classic Rock History critic Janey Roberts rated it as Bad Company's 4th best song, praising the "haunting piano riff that oozed around Paul Rodgers silk vocal line" at the start of the song as well as the "powerhouse chorus."[4]
Covers edit
Five Finger Death Punch released a cover of the song as a single in 2009.
Tori Amos performed the song at a number of concerts in 1994 and 1996.[5]
Bill Champlin did a cover of the song that was featured in season two, episode nine of The Young Riders (1990). The title of the episode is "Bad Company".
In the beginning of The Dark Tower, Stephen King quotes the lines "I was born 6-gun in my hand, Behind a gun I'll make my final stand".
Garth Brooks covers the song on his box set Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences.
The South African trio of Mark Haze, Dozi and Ghapi (from Idols South Africa VII) recorded a cover version on their album Rocking Buddies in 2013.[6]
In popular culture edit
In the fourth part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga, Keicho Nijimura's stand, Bad Company is named after the band.
Rickie Lee Jones covered the song on her 2019 Kicks album.
The song was featured in Billions, Season 5 - Episode 1, as Axe and Waggs ride motorcycles away from their spiritual retreat. Later repeated as Axe walked in to the photoshoot.
AWA tag team of Badd Company Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond used the song as their ring entrance music.
The song is also featured in season 8 of the FX sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Personnel edit
Five Finger Death Punch cover edit
| "Bad Company" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Five Finger Death Punch | ||||
| from the album War Is the Answer | ||||
| Released | 17 May 2010 | |||
| Recorded | 2009 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:22 | |||
| Label | Prospect Park | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Kevin Churko | |||
| Five Finger Death Punch singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Five Finger Death Punch frequently performs a cover of this song live, and recorded the song for their second album War Is the Answer.[7][8] The song has a significantly heavier tone to it, along with several lyrical edits ("I was born a shotgun in my hands", "the death punch sound is our claim to fame"). The song has been used as entrance music by pitchers Drew Storen, Jake Arrieta and Madison Bumgarner.[9][10][11]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bad Company" | 4:22 |
| 2. | "The Devil's Own" (live) | 4:54 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bad Company (radio edit)" | 3:57 |
| 2. | "Bad Company (album version)" | 4:23 |
Charts edit
Weekly charts edit
| Chart (2010–2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Rock (Billboard)[12] | 17 |
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[13] | 6 |
| US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[14] | 26 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[15] | 2 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[16] | 7 |
Year-end charts edit
| Chart (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[17] | 29 |
Certifications edit
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[18] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[19] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
| ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Band members edit
- Zoltan Bathory – guitars
- Jason Hook – guitars
- Ivan Moody – vocals
- Matt Snell – bass
- Jeremy Spencer – drums
References edit
- ^ "Bad Company by Bad Company Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
- ^ a b Wardlaw, Matt (December 17, 2011). "Top 10 Bad Company Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
- ^ Dome, Malcolm (July 13, 2016). "The Top 10 Best Bad Company Songs". Classic Rock. Louder Sound. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
- ^ Roberts, Janey (October 19, 2022). "Top 10 Bad Company songs". Classic Rock History.
- ^ "Tori Amos Song Summary". Toriset.org. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ "FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Scores With 'Bad Company'". Blabbermouth.net. 28 June 2010.
- ^ HARSHCORE, ROD (19 January 2011). . yellmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ Tinsman, Brian. "Drew Storen Discusses Politics of Pitcher Entrance Songs in Baseball". CBS.
- ^ "Pitcher Jake Arrieta". The Baltimore Sun. 3 July 2023.
- ^ "In a season of some necessary transition, Bumgarner, Posey and the Giants' new puzzle pieces are beginning to come together". Times-Standard. 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Five Finger Death Punch Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ "Five Finger Death Punch Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ "Five Finger Death Punch Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ "Five Finger Death Punch Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ "Five Finger Death Punch Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ "British single certifications – Five Finger Death Punch – Bad Company". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
- ^ "American single certifications – Five Finger Death Punch – Bad Company". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
External links edit
- Lyrics of live cover by Queen + Paul Rodgers from Live in Ukraine, from Queen official website