(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)
Neil Sedaka - "Bad Blood"
Hit Number 1: October 11, 1975
Stay at Number 1: 3 Weeks
If you were a Neil Sedaka fan in 1975, you might've had mixed feelings about "Bad Blood." Sedaka was an easy-listening artist, known for feel good music that you could kick back and relax with. Out of nowhere, the bitter "Bad Blood" shows up, which shows us that maybe Sedaka was tired of his easy-listening stuff and wanted to get a bit more "mean." 1975 was somewhat of a renaissance for Sedaka, who saw his career take a downward spiral after the Beatles arrived in the mid-'60s, and suddenly no one cared for his music anymore. He was in a very dark place before Elton John helped revive his career in the mid-'70s, and he was even able to get to #1 earlier this year with "Laughter in the Rain." But he wasn't done yet, of course. "Bad Blood," which is a pretty raunchy song for '70s standards, hit #1 in the fall of '75, and today, it might be considered Sedaka's biggest hit.
It was pretty much the same team that put together "Laughter in the Rain" that helped put together "Bad Blood." Sedaka and his songwriting partner, Phil Cody, wrote both songs, with Cody having a very weird inspiration to write "Bad Blood." He said that he went to go visit family, and his grandmother kept talking about some woman up the street who used to be a witch. She kept saying that people were either good or they were evil because of their own family blood, and that somehow gave the idea to Cody that love made people stupid. This chain of events makes zero sense to me, but Cody to this day says that "Bad Blood" is his least favorite song he's ever written. He said that he didn't get a chance to re-write the song because Sedaka and Elton John were already in the studio recording the song. Cody didn't know just how big the song would be though, so part of him has to at least be happy with what he came up with.
Elton John was the main reason why Sedaka was even able to achieve the comeback he did, so John asked Sedaka about singing backup on a song on Sedaka's new upcoming album, The Hungry Years. Sedaka was never going to decline that, and he let John pick the song he wanted to sing backup on. John picked "Bad Blood," which actually makes me wonder if people were so crazy for this song because they recognized John's voice. Especially since I have to think that Sedaka's fan base probably didn't know what to think of a song like "Bad Blood." Like I said, in the '70s a song like "Bad Blood" was very raunchy. It's a song about a guy who calls his buddy out for "biting off more than he could chew," and getting with a girl that he sees as a "bitch." (I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure "Bad Blood" is the first #1 hit to have a non-radio friendly word in it) Anyway, this narrator just lays into this guy and this girl, and has a "better you than me" mentality. He acts like he knew the whole time this relationship wasn't going to work, and he gives his buddy the old "I told you so" treatment.
I'm more partial to "Laughter in the Rain," but I kind of like the vibe of "Bad Blood." It's not this innocent, gloopy song about feeling good, it's a lot more mean than that. But the main thing about "Bad Blood" is that it's a fun song. I like John's echoes to Sedaka in the chorus, and the two are able to give out some great harmonies to each other. Sedaka even gives a nod back to his pre-Beatles era, with some "doo doo rons" with John towards the end of the song. (Cody said that this was not planned, and that Sedaka and John totally improvised that part) It only helps make the song more fun. "Bad Blood" didn't age very well though, and Sedaka would say that no one ever requested it at his live shows. Realistically, the song is pretty limp compared to other Sedaka songs, but I'm still surprised by that. Sure, "Bad Blood" might not be the most outstanding song ever, but it's still three minutes of fun.
Sedaka won't appear in this blog again, but the guy is still active and doing live shows at 83 years old. I have to applaud him for accomplishing a hell of a comeback, and making it to #1 twice over 10 years since his initial popularity. It's crazy how much music has changed since then. (We've come a long way since "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do") Even though a lot of Sedaka fans might not like "Bad Blood" that much, I still hope it gets some live performances from Sedaka every now and then. But ask the average Sedaka fan, and they might tell you the only good thing about "Bad Blood" is letting it slide.
GRADE: 6/10
10 ALERT!!!:
Sweet's madhouse glam rock slice of heaven "Ballroom Blitz" peaked at #5 behind "Bad Blood." It's, it's a ballroom blitz! It's a 10.
IN POP CULTURE:
There aren't many good instances of "Bad Blood" being used in pop culture. But I dove deep into the depths of YouTube and found an old video of Sedaka performing the song with Andy Gibb. The quality isn't the greatest, but it still makes for a cool video/performance. Here's that video:
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