They are best known for their singles "Girl All The Bad Guys Want" in 2002 on Drunk Enough to Dance which was nominated for a 2003 Grammy Award for "Best Pop Performance by a Group or Duo" and "1985" (originally written by Mitch Allan of SR-71) in 2004 on A Hangover You Don't Deserve. Speaking with Songfacts about "Girl All The Bad Girls Want" in a 2010 interview, Reddick said: "'Girl All The Bad Guys Want' was my very first co-write ever, and me and Butch Walker sat in a room and literally wrote that song in 30 minutes. I mean, it was done."
The band's name is derived from comedian Steve Martin's "Bowling for Sh*t" routine from his 1978 comedy album, Wild and Crazy Guy, itself a reference to Bowling for Dollars. Jaret Reddick has also stated that at the end of his last performance with his old band one of the members came on stage and proclaimed "Come back next week when we play with our new band... BOWLING FOR SOUP!". This was supposed be to be joke name, but since they couldn't think of anything better the name stuck. Their single '1985' can be found on the UK and the Norwegian editions of Singstar Rocks for the PS2.
They have also became hits on Radio Disney with edits of "1985", "Punk Rock 101", "High School Never Ends", and the inclusion of their version of "I Melt With You" in the Disney movie "Sky High". They have also written and recorded "Today is Gonna Be a Great Day" as the theme song for Disney's "Phineas and Ferb"
Band Lineup:
Jaret Reddick - Lead Vocals/guitar
Chris Burney - Guitar/vocals
Erik Chandler - Bass/vocals
Gary Wiseman - Drums
Bipolar
Bowling for Soup Lyrics
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Here we go again
You were so afraid
You let me back in
Back in thru a door
You had long forgot
It's resistance is shot,
Mine was not
My complicated, overrated girl
You know that I hated, we suffocated
And overstated everything
Why can't you be bi-sexual instead of bi-polar?
Oh look there she goes
There she goes again
She keeps on checkin out
Checkin out her friends
I swear you'll never know
Know what's on her mind
Wish she'd given in
At least one time, Cuz
I waited..
My complicated, overrated girl
You know that I hated, we suffocated
And Overstated everything
Why can't you be bi-sexual instead of bi-polar?
Get up get up, whatcha doing in bed
I think it's all in your head
Get up get up, no don't sleep sunday morning
And there's a whole world around you gotta let in
Especially the girls, we all like the girls
I waited..
My complicated, overrated girl
You know that I hated, we suffocated
And Overstated everything
Why can't you be bi-sexual?
Why can't you be bi-sexual?
Why can't you be bi-sexual?
Instead of bi-polar
The lyrics of Bowling for Soup's song "Bipolar" revolve around a tumultuous relationship with a person who struggles with bipolar disorder. The singer sings about the ups and downs of the relationship- breaking up and getting back together, being suffocated and overstating everything. There's a sense of frustration and confusion as he asks why can't the person be bisexual instead of bipolar, possibly in the hope that it would eventually lead to a stable relationship.
The lyrics portray the challenges faced by individuals dealing with bipolar disorder, and their loved ones who are often left feeling helpless and trying to make sense of the situation. The lines "Oh no, here we go again/You were so afraid, you let me back in" suggest that the person with bipolar disorder might have pushed the singer away because of their fear of intimacy or the pain caused by their disorder. However, they eventually let them back in, leading to the singer's frustration with the oscillating emotions of the relationship.
Overall, the song sheds light on the importance of mental health and the impact that mental illness can have on relationships. The lyrics serve as a reminder to be patient, empathetic, and understanding towards those struggling with bipolar disorder and other mental conditions.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh no here we go,
Here we go again
The singer knows that his relationship with his partner is not stable and that they are in for another round of ups and downs.
You were so afraid
You let me back in
The partner was hesitant to let the singer back into their life, but they relented and allowed the singer back in.
Back in thru a door
You had long forgot
It's resistance is shot,
Mine was not
But I waited..
The partner had forgotten about a door that led to the singer and let them back into their life easily, while the singer's resistance was still present but he still waited anyway.
My complicated, overrated girl
You know that I hated, we suffocated
And overstated everything
Why can't you be bi-sexual instead of bi-polar?
The artist expresses his frustration with the relationship and suggests that it would be easier if the partner was bisexual instead of having bipolar disorder.
Oh look there she goes
There she goes again
She keeps on checkin out
Checkin out her friends
The partner is distracted and disinterested in the artist, often checking out their friends instead.
I swear you'll never know
Know what's on her mind
Wish she'd given in
At least one time, Cuz
The singer is puzzled by the partner's actions and wishes that she had given in at least once to reveal her true intentions and what's on her mind.
Get up get up, whatcha doing in bed
I think it's all in your head
Get up get up, no don't sleep sunday morning
And there's a whole world around you gotta let in
Especially the girls, we all like the girls
The singer tries to motivate the partner to get out of bed and engage with the world around her, including other girls.
Why can't you be bi-sexual?
Why can't you be bi-sexual?
Why can't you be bi-sexual?
Instead of bi-polar
The artist reiterates his desire for the partner to be bisexual instead of bipolar, suggesting that it would be easier for their relationship.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JARET RAY REDDICK, JEFFREY W. COPLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind