You're in a Bad Way

"You're in a Bad Way" is a song by British pop group Saint Etienne, released in February 1993 as the second single from their second album, So Tough (1993). The song is a deliberately old-fashioned throwback to 1960s pop music. In an interview with Melody Maker magazine, Bob Stanley claims that it was written in ten minutes as a simple imitation of Herman's Hermits, and was only intended to be a B-side to "Everlasting", but the record company decided that it should be a single.[2] "Everlasting" was dropped as a single and remained unreleased until it was eventually included on disc 2 on the deluxe edition of So Tough in 2009.

"You're in a Bad Way"
Single by Saint Etienne
from the album So Tough
B-side
  • "Archway People"
  • "California Snow Story"
  • "Duke Duvet"
Released1 February 1993 (1993-02-01)[1]
Length3:20
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Saint Etienne (album version)
  • Alan Tarney (single version)
Saint Etienne singles chronology
"Avenue"
(1992)		 "You're in a Bad Way"
(1993)		 "Hobart Paving"
(1993)
Music video
"You're in a Bad Way" on YouTube

The album version of the song begins with a sample from the film Billy Liar (1963):[2] "A man could lose himself in London. Lose himself. Lose himself. Lose himself in London!" The lyrics describe a man who is depressed and has ceased to care for himself - the singer tells him "jeans are old and your hair's all wrong / Don't you know that crewcuts and trainers are out again?" The singer invites him to "Just dial my number or call my name". It also makes reference to "watching Bruce on the old Generation Game", which led to the song being self-mockingly described as "the one about Bruce Forsyth" in the sleevenotes to the compilation Too Young to Die – Singles 1990–1995.

On the CD single (but not the other formats), pieces of dialogue follow each track to segue into the next. Between "You're In a Bad Way" and "Archway People", there is a sample of dialogue from the film Brighton Rock (1947) spoken by Richard Attenborough.[3] The third b-side, "Duke Duvet" is based on a drum break from "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode, and concludes with a comic monologue called "Spong-Bake" written by Christopher Morris.[4]

In 2019 the writer and theatre maker John Osborne used the song as the starting point for his theatre show You're in a Bad Way. It's a storytelling show about dementia, music and festivals.

Release

"You're in a Bad Way" was one of the group's biggest hits, reaching #12 on the UK Singles Chart.[5] In Iceland the song reached #26.[6] The single, produced by Alan Tarney, is different from the version on the UK edition of So Tough, with a "brighter" arrangement featuring chimes and an alternate vocal for the last chorus. The US and Australian editions of "So Tough" use the single version of the track.

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic named the song a "stand out" of the album.[7] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that the "sweet and perky British trio is gunning for pop radio with this sweet and perky synth number." He added that "feathery vocals and faint island percussion will make listeners want to go roller-skating, or at least bop happily along when they hear this one on the radio."[8] Linda Ryan from the Gavin Report described the song as a "Dusty Springfield-does-Motown gem".[9] A reviewer from Kingston Informer viewed it as "trite but memorable".[10] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "...I make no apologies whatsoever about saying to the world in general that it has been a long long time since a record of such genius has made the charts. Having made their name with a series of ambient, dreamy dance hits which include a cover of Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" the band get their biggest hit ever with this masterpiece of classic pop. Sounding all at once like several old tracks at once".[11]

Simon Reynolds from Melody Maker said, "I'm not crazy about this new St Etienne record. While it's not as fluffy and frothy as "Join Our Club", it's certainly no sequel to the sublime "Avenue", either."[12] Simon Williams from NME commented, "'You're in a Bad Way' is a pop purist's wet dream, all saccharine-drenched vocals, post-modern ironic topspins and sly references to The Generation Game, all less overtly dancefloor friendly than "Only Love Can Break Your Heart", but still kitsch and strange."[13] Neil Spencer from The Observer felt the trio's "fey sensibilities" work well on the track, "which sets Sarah Cracknell's dreamy voice to an innocuous backing".[14] Armond White from Rolling Stone noted its "girl-group pledge".[15] Another editor, Rob Sheffield, called it a "perfect" UK hit.[16] Mark Frith from Smash Hits named it Best New Single, giving it five out of five. He added that this is a "lively, warm, best friend of a record."[17] In his review of So Tough, another editor, Peter Stanton, stated that the singles "Avenue" and "You're in a Bad Way" "are classic pop beauties".[18]

Music video

There were made two different music videos for the song. One is a low-budget production featuring split-screen photography of the band performing in a blank space and wearing restrained 60s attire. The other is more spectacular: the band performs in a stylized, garishly-coloured version of a 1960s TV show, with scantily-clad dancers and a backdrop of retro home furnishing. This version was later published on Saint Etienne's official YouTube channel in October 2009.[19]

Track listing

All tracks written and composed by Stanley and Wiggs; except where indicated

  • 7" - Heavenly / HVN 25 and Cassette (HVN 25 CS)
  1. "You're in a Bad Way" (Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs) - 3:20
  2. "Archway People" - 3:26
  • 7" - Warner / 9-18563-7
  1. "You're in a Bad Way" (Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs) - 3:02
  2. "California Snow Story" - 4:20
  • 12" - Heavenly / HVN 25-12 and CD (HVN 25CD)
  1. "You're in a Bad Way" (Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs) - 3:20
  2. "Archway People" - 3:26
  3. "California Snow Story" - 4:20
  4. "Duke Duvet" - 3:09
  • CD - Warner / PRO-CD-5948
  1. "You're in a Bad Way" (Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs) - 3:08
  2. "You're in a Bad Way" (Alternative Mix) (Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs) - 2:43
  3. "St. Etienne Speaks..." - 9:17 ("St. Etienne Speaks... The truth and trauma in their own words behind England's dukes and duchess of pop!")

Charts
Chart (1993) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[20] 66
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 26
UK Singles (OCC) 12
UK Dance (Music Week)[21] 9

References
  1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 30 January 1993. p. 23.
  2. "You're In A Bad Way". Saint Etienne Heaven. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  3. "Archway People". Saint Etienne Heaven. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  4. "Duke Duvet". Saint Etienne Heaven. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  5. "The Official Charts Company - Saint Etienne". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
  6. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (09.04.1993-15.04.1993)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
  7. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Saint Etienne – So Tough". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  8. Flick, Larry (27 March 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 82. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  9. Ryan, Linda (5 March 1993). "Alternative: New Releases" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 49. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  10. Kingston Informer. 5 March 1993. p. 12.
  11. Masterton, James (7 February 1993). "Week Ending February 13th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  12. Reynolds, Simon (30 January 1993). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 32. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  13. Williams, Simon (23 January 1993). "Singles". NME. p. 18. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  14. Spencer, Neil (21 February 1993). "Pop Releases". The Observer.
  15. White, Armond (5 August 1993). "Saint Etienne: So Tough". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 9 May 2006. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  16. Sheffield, Rob (4 September 1998). "Saint Etienne – Good Humor". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  17. Frith, Mark (3 February 1993). "New Singles: Best New Single". Smash Hits. p. 51. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  18. Stanton, Peter (17 February 1993). "New Albums". Smash Hits. p. 52. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  19. "Saint Etienne - You're In A Bad Way (Video)". YouTube. 27 October 2009. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  20. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 27 February 1993. p. 27. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  21. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 13 February 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
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