“Bad Romance” is all about loving someone so fiercely and deeply that you accept the toxicity that comes from such an unhealthy devotion.
The lyrics for the song describe the singer’s feelings for her love interest. Her love for this person is so overwhelming and all-encompassing that she, as the lyrics state, wants the “ugly,” the “psycho,” and the rest of the disgusting parts of a dysfunctional relationship. Gaga herself says that the song is about being in love with your best friend and loving those parts of the person that most folks wouldn’t even accept, let alone love.
The Music Video
The video for “Bad Romance” is striking. As of July 9, 2023, the video has 1.7 billion views on YouTube. That’s billion with a “B.” In the video, Gaga and others are sold into sex slavery, with grim-looking men bidding for the right to take them to bed. Gaga is unbelievably sexy in the video, flaunting her nearly naked body and dancing in a sexually empowered manner. This powerful imagery seems to represent the volatile passion that she feels for the person she describes loving in the lyrics. The video culminates with Gaga strolling up to the bed where the victorious bidder awaits while wearing foot-high shoes. In a cutaway shot, she’s seen crying, possibly indicating the acknowledgement of her acceptance of the ugly and/or dysfunctional parts of her relationship. In the video, the sex between Gaga and the unnamed bidder is represented by a raging inferno on the bed, which is a hammer stroke of genius. The final shot shows that a charred skeleton is all that’s left of the guy who went to bed with Gaga, indicating the danger inherent in stoking the flames of her sexual furnace.
Chart Performance
Surprisingly, for all of its power and critical acclaim, the song only reached No. 2 in the United Stats on the Billboard Hot 100. It outperformed that year’s No. 1, “Tik Tok,” in every measurable metric. Still, around the world in no fewer than 20 countries, the song was No. 1. The countries were as far-flung as New Zealand and Iceland.
Other Media
Contestants on nearly every singing competition reality program have sung the song. Contestants on dancing reality programs have chosen it for a variety of dance routines as well. Programs that feature strong female leads also feature the song prominently, and these include “Gossip Girl,” “Mrs. Fletcher,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Lyrics
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Caught in a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Caught in a bad romance
Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh-la-la
Want your bad romance
Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh-la-la
Want your bad romance
I want your ugly, I want your disease
I want your everything as long as it’s free
I want your love
Love, love, love, I want your love (hey)
I want your drama, the touch of your hand (hey)
I want your leather-studded kiss in the sand
I want your love
Love, love, love, I want your love (love, love, love)
(I want your love)
You know that I want you
And you know that I need you
I want it bad, your bad romance
I want your love, and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
I want your love and all your lover’s revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Caught in a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Caught in a bad romance
Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh-la-la
Want your bad romance
I want your horror, I want your design
‘Cause you’re a criminal as long as you’re mine
I want your love
Love, love, love, I want your love
I want your psycho, your vertigo shtick (hey)
Want you in my rear window, baby, you’re sick
I want your love
Love, love, love, I want your love (love, love, love)
(I want your love)
You know that I want you
And you know that I need you (’cause I’m a free bitch, baby)
I want it bad, your bad romance
I want your love, and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
I want your love and all your lover’s revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Caught in a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Caught in a bad romance
Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh-la-la
Want your bad romance
Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh-la-la
Want your bad romance
Walk, walk, fashion baby
Work it, move that bitch crazy
Walk, walk, fashion baby
Work it, move that bitch crazy
Walk, walk, fashion baby
Work it, move that bitch crazy
Walk, walk, passion baby
Work it, I’m a free bitch, baby
I want your love, and I want your revenge
I want your love, I don’t wanna be friends
J’veux ton amour, et je veux ta revanche
J’veux ton amour, I don’t wanna be friends (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)
No, I don’t wanna be friends (oh-oh-oh, caught in a bad romance)
I don’t wanna be friends (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)
Want your bad romance (oh-oh-oh)
Caught in a bad romance
Want your bad romance
I want your love, and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
I want your love and all your lover’s revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
(Want your bad romance)
Caught in a bad romance
(Want your bad romance)
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
(Want your bad romance)
Caught in a bad romance
Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh-la-la
Want your bad romance
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Lady Gaga / Redone
Bad Romance lyrics © Sony/atv Songs Llc, Songs Of Redone, House Of Gaga Publishing Inc
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