Daniel Powter released his debut album, I'm Your Betty, in 2000. The album, limited to a very small print, contains ten songs, two of which—"More Than I" and "Negative Fashion"—were featured on the television show Higher Ground. Powter has a music publishing deal with BMG Music Publishing for France.
Daniel Powter's first piano pop single, "Bad Day," debuted not in his home country of Canada, but rather in Europe in mid-2005. It was chosen by Warner Brothers as a submission for commercial production and was subsequently chosen by Coca-Cola as the theme song for an ad campaign in Europe. Additionally, "Bad Day" is currently being used extensively by American Idol in its fifth season. Powter sang the song live at the end of the penulimate show of that season. The song achieved heavy airplay in most European countries, and made it as high as number three on the overall European airplay chart. It did best in Germany, where it peaked at number one in national airplay, Ireland where it peaked at #1 on the Singles Chart, and in the UK, where it peaked at number two in the singles chart and stayed in the top 10 for 13 weeks. In the United States the song peaked at number 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 seven weeks after it was released. In Australia, it peaked at number three. The song reached top five in Canada and is now a top 10 hit at Adult Top 40 radio. It was fifth place in the British Record of the Year 2005.
On July 2, 2005, Powter performed at the Berlin installment of Live 8, a simultaneous group of concerts in nine countries intended to raise awareness of poverty in Africa and put pressure on world leaders for aid.
On April 1, 2006, he was named the best new artist at the Canadian Juno Awards.
In March 2008, a song by Japanese singer Haru featuring Powter, "Find My Way", was released. In September, Powter released his third album, Under the Radar.
Powter also performed piano on tracks for what was scheduled to be Marcy Playground frontman John Wozniak's solo album, Leaving Wonderland...in a fit of rage, but the album will now be released under the band's name. Powter will still be given credit for his contributions to the album, particularly the album's single "Good Times".
Bad Day
Daniel Powter Lyrics
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You kick up the leaves, and the magic is lost
You tell me your blue sky's faded to gray
You tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carrying on
You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee to go
You fall into pieces every time
And I don't need no carrying on
Because you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me, "Don't lie"
You work at a smile, and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down, and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day
Will you need a blue sky holiday?
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carrying on
You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me, "Don't lie"
You work at a smile, and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
(Ooh, on a holiday)
Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing, it turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well, oh, that strong
And I'm not wrong (yeah, yeah)
So where was the passion when you need it the most?
Oh, you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
'Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You see what you like
And how does it feel one more time?
You had a bad day
You had a bad day
Ah, yeah
Had a bad day
Ah, ah, baby
Had a bad day
Ah, la-la-la
Had a bad day
Ah
In Daniel Powter's song "Bad Day," the lyrics speak to a person who is experiencing a tough time. The lyrics ask questions such as, "Where is the moment we needed the most?" which alludes to a certain point in life where everything felt right. The song speaks of how this person’s blue skies have faded to gray, they’ve lost their passion, and their life has gone astray. In the chorus, the singer acknowledges that they’ve had a bad day, and the person responds by taking it out on others. They fake a smile with a coffee to go, and they’re standing in line just to hit a new low. The lyrics in this section get more particular about the struggles they’re enduring. They’ve fallen apart and have had to work to create a fake smile. But in response, the singer still doesn't need them to keep putting on a façade.
The lyrics look at the person's current circumstances and ask whether they’ll need a break in the future, "will you need a blue sky holiday?" The lyrics also expose how society ridicules their struggles, "The point is they laugh at what you say." "Bad Day" speaks to anyone who has had a tough time and understands that sometimes the system goes on the blink, and the whole thing can turn out wrong. But, the lyrics encourage those struggling to remain strong, “And I'm not wrong (yeah, yeah)". They are validated in their bad day, but the lyrics encourage them to push through and hopefully continue to believe that things can get better, as they consider how it would feel to turn their day around.
Line by Line Meaning
Where is the moment we needed the most?
You're feeling lost and searching for a moment of significance.
You kick up the leaves, and the magic is lost
The beauty and magic of life has disappeared, leaving you empty and unfulfilled.
You tell me your blue sky's faded to gray
Your optimism and hope disappear, leaving only dullness and despair.
You tell me your passion's gone away
Your enthusiasm and fire for life have disappeared, leaving you feeling empty and uninspired.
And I don't need no carrying on
I don't need any more negativity or emotional burden.
You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're doing everything you can, but nothing seems to work, only making things worse.
You're faking a smile with the coffee to go
You're pretending to be happy and satisfied, but in reality you're struggling to keep going.
You tell me your life's been way off line
Your life has been derailed, events didn't play out as expected or planned.
You fall into pieces every time
You feel like you're falling apart and are unable to cope with the challenges life throws at you.
Because you had a bad day
Everything went wrong and didn't play out as expected.
You're taking one down
You're feeling a sense of defeat or loss.
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You're trying to lift your spirits and turn your situation around by expressing your sadness through music.
You say you don't know
You're feeling uncertain and lost, not knowing where to go next.
You tell me, "Don't lie"
You're insisting that others be honest with you, even if the truth hurts.
You work at a smile, and you go for a ride
You're trying to put on a happy face and distract yourself by keeping busy with activities.
The camera don't lie
You can't hide the truth from yourself, no matter how hard you try. The camera is a metaphor for reality.
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You're resigned to the fact that sometimes things go wrong and are ready to move forward.
Will you need a blue sky holiday?
Do you need a break from the challenges in your life to rejuvenate yourself and gain perspective?
The point is they laugh at what you say
People don't take you seriously or understand the gravity of your situation.
Sometimes the system goes on the blink
Sometimes things just don't work out, even if you've done everything right.
And the whole thing, it turns out wrong
Everything seems to be going wrong all at once.
You might not make it back and you know
You're aware that there's a chance that you may not recover from this tough situation.
That you could be well, oh, that strong
You have the strength and ability to overcome your challenges and come out stronger on the other side.
And I'm not wrong (yeah, yeah)
I know that you're struggling and I empathize with you.
So where was the passion when you need it the most?
Why does it seem that your passion and enthusiasm only disappear during the darkest times of your life, when you need them the most?
You see what you like
You only focus on the negative aspects of your life, preventing you from seeing the good.
And how does it feel one more time?
Have you had enough of the challenges and negativity in your life or are you willing to keep going?
Ah, yeah
An expression of agreement and empathy with the struggles being described.
Had a bad day
Expressing the fact that things didn't go well and the pain and disappointment associated with that.
Ah, ah, baby
An expression of empathy and support for the listener.
Ah, la-la-la
A nonsensical expression of emotional release and catharsis.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Daniel Powter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind