The Bad Photographer

"The Bad Photographer" is a song written and performed by British pop group Saint Etienne, and released in April 1998 by Creation Records as the second single from the group's fourth album, Good Humor (1998). The song is produced by Swedish record producer, composer and musician Tore Johansson, and peaked at number 27 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached number 24 in Scotland and number four on the UK Indie Singles Chart. The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Björn Lindgren,[1] who had previously directed the video for "Sylvie".

"The Bad Photographer"
Single by Saint Etienne
from the album Good Humor
B-side
  • "Hit the Brakes"
  • "Swin Swan Swim"
  • "Madeleine"
Released20 April 1998
Genre
Length4:15
LabelCreation Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Tore Johansson
Saint Etienne singles chronology
"Sylvie"
(1998)		 "The Bad Photographer"
(1998)		 "Lover Plays the Bass"
(1999)
Music video
"The Bad Photographer" on YouTube

Critical reception

A reviewer from Herald Sun complimented "The Bad Photographer" as "another outstanding track. This time, acoustic guitar and inventive bass lines drive a cheery and fun tune."[2] The Mirror viewed it as "quirky".[3] Music Week highlighted it as 'Recommended', writing, "This track marks St Etienne stepping up a gear, and sounding all the better for it. The single is an intelligent mixture of well-crafted pop, boasting a hum-along chorus with a Sixties feel, occasionally remlniscent of The Chiffons' "Sweet Talkin' Guy"."[4] In his album review, the magazine's Mike Pattenden found that the song, with "Sylvie" and "Mr Donut", "all share a groove underpinned by warm, almost jazzy tones."[5]

Claudia Connell from News of the World noted, "The catchy track mixes classic pop with a sing-along chorus to produce a swinging Sixties feel and one of the most commercial numbers in the band's eight-year career."[6] Joshua Klein from Pitchfork remarked that the band is "embracing the 1960s as fervently as ever" on tracks like "The Bad Photographer".[7] Fiona Shepherd from The Scotsman said it's "about a seedy snapper."[8] A reviewer from Sunday Mirror gave it nine out of ten, adding, "I'd make this the best summer song of the year even if I wasn't madly in lust with Sarah Cracknell. It's just so humdingeringly hummable."[9] Charlie Porter from The Times constated, "Happily, "The Bad Photographer" offers intelligence and verve in throwaway pop; the simple chorus nags, the lite guitars sound cool and Ms Cracknell sounds angelic as she tells the tale of a fashion photographer with a dirty mind."[10]

Track listing
  • CD single, CD1, Europe (1998)
  1. "The Bad Photographer" – 4:15
  2. "Hit the Brakes" – 3:49
  3. "Swim Swan Swim" – 3:07
  4. "Madeleine" – 3:59
  • CD single, CD2, Europe (1998)
  1. "The Bad Photographer" (Radio Mix) – 4:02
  2. "4:35 in the Morning" (Kid Loco Mix) – 4:39
  3. "Foto Stat" (Bronx Dogs Mix) – 7:21
  4. "Uri Geller Bent My Boyfriend" (Add N To X Mix) – 6:08

Charts
Chart (1998) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) 205
Scotland (OCC)[11] 24
UK Singles (OCC) 27
UK Indie (OCC)[12] 4

References
  1. "Saint Etienne: The Bad Photographer (Music Video 1998)". IMDb. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  2. "New Releases". Herald Sun. 4 June 1998.
  3. "CD releases music; Out this week..". The Mirror. 1 May 1998.
  4. "Single reviews" (PDF). Music Week. 4 April 1998. p. 10. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  5. Pattenden, Mike (27 December 1997). "Saint Etienne". Music Week.
  6. Connell, Claudia (12 April 1998). "The Single Review; Music". News of the World.
  7. Klein, Joshua (10 November 2010). "Saint Etienne – Good Humor". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  8. Shepherd, Fiona (7 May 1998). "Sugar-free but plenty to chew on". The Scotsman.
  9. "Best singles". Sunday Mirror. 12 April 1998.
  10. Porter, Charlie (11 April 1998). "Singled out; Music". The Times.
  11. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 26 April 1998 - 02 May 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  12. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50 26 April 1998 - 02 May 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
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