Born Grace Martine Tandon -- "daya" is the Hindi word for "grace" in a nod to her Indian grandfather -- and raised in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mount Lebanon, she began taking piano lessons at the age of three, and moved on to voice lessons at the age of ten. Songwriting came later, and in 2014 she signed with the Z-Entertainment label based on her demos. A year later, her single "Hide Away" took off thanks to early online support, becoming a hit across the globe and receiving multi-platinum certification. In 2015, Daya issued her debut self-titled EP on Artbeatz. Both "Hide Away" and the follow-up, double-platinum single "Sit Still, Look Pretty" rose to the Top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100, with a number 14 debut on the Heatseekers chart. She later contributed vocals to the Chainsmokers' enduring 2016 smash "Don't Let Me Down" (which went on to win the Grammy for Best Dance Recording). Daya's debut, Sit Still, Look Pretty, was released later that year. The album peaked in the Top 40 in the U.S. and Canada, and was eventually certified gold in the U.S. and silver in the U.K.
In 2017, she appeared on the Gryffin and Illenium track "Feel Good," later releasing her own singles "Safe" and "New," the latter of which became a modest hit in the U.S. and Australia. This marked the start of a multi-year period of standalone single, collaboration, and EP releases. Of the dozen or so fresh tracks that she would release at the turn of the decade, 2019's electronic-dance bop "Insomnia," "Wanted" with NOTD, and "Keeping It in the Dark" from the 13 Reasons Why soundtrack made dents on international charts and streaming services. In 2021, she issued her second EP, The Difference, which included the electro-pop banger "First Time" and the Charlie Puth-assisted hit "Bad Girl." Also that year, she delivered the non-album single, "What If I Told You," and "Evil" from the Blade Runner: Black Lotus anime soundtrack. Another single, the sultry and dance-oriented "Love You When You're Gone," arrived in June 2022 as the first track off her third EP, In Between Dreams. In 2023, Daya revealed that she had become a fully independent artist, gaining control over her sound and image. That year, she began a steady rollout of singles, dropping one every few weeks, starting with June's trip-hop-leaning "Juliene." ~ Neil Z. Yeung
Bad Girl
Daya Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feeling so high going down together, down
Free shots at the bar from the guy in leather
Cheers to the night that we won't remember now
Nothing you could do or say is right
I already know just what I like (bad, bad, bad, bad)
Need a bad girl
Need a bad girl
'Cause the bad boys just don't cut it
We got
What they want, want
What they want, want
They can look but they just can't touch it
Bad girl
Need a bad girl
Need a bad girl
'Cause the bad boys just don't cut it
We're always up to no good
Doing what they wish they could
I said
Do it like this all around the clock
Got boys lining up all around the block, uh huh
Lighting up flares in the parking lot
If we're gonna live, give it all we got, uh huh, uh
Nothing you could do or say is right
I already know just what I like
What I like, oh (bad, bad, bad, bad)
Bad girl
Need a bad girl
Need a bad girl
'Cause the bad boys just don't cut it
We got
What they want, want
What they want, want
They can look but they just can't touch it
Bad girl
Need a bad girl
Need a bad girl
'Cause the bad boys just don't cut it
We're always up to no good
Doing what they wish they could
I said
Bad girl
Need a bad girl
Need a bad girl
'Cause the bad boys just don't cut it
We got
What they want, want
What they want, want
They can look but they just can't touch it
Bad girl
Need a bad girl
Need a bad girl
'Cause the bad boys just don't cut it
We're always up to no good
Doing what they wish they could
I said
Nothing you could do or say is right
I already know just what I like
Bad girl
Need a bad girl
Need a bad girl
'Cause the bad boys just don't cut it
We got
What they want, want
What they want, want
They can look but they just can't touch it
Bad girl
Need a bad girl
Need a bad girl
'Cause the bad boys just don't cut it
We're always up to no good
Doing what they wish they could
I said
Bad girl
Need a bad girl
Need a bad girl
'Cause the bad boys just don't cut it
We got
What they want, want
What they want, want
They can look but they just can't touch it
Bad girl
Need a bad girl
Need a bad girl
'Cause the bad boys just don't cut it
We're always up to no good
Doing what they wish they could
I said
In Daya's song "Bad Girl," the singer describes a night out with her girlfriends where they are looking for trouble and excitement. They are drinking free shots at a bar and enjoying the attention of men who are drawn to their wild and rebellious energy. The lyrics suggest that the singer is sexually empowered and uninterested in settling for "bad boys" who don't measure up to her standards. She craves a partner who is just as daring and adventurous as she is.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the phrase "bad girl," which is both a self-descriptor and a proclamation of her desire for a similar partner. The repetition of this phrase highlights the theme of rebellion and nonconformity that pervades the song. The lyrics suggest that the singer and her friends are enjoying the freedom and excitement that comes with being young and independent, and they are unapologetic about their desire to live life on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Lyin' in the dark and we ride forever
We are having a thrilling experience with someone in darkness and we want it to last forever.
Feeling so high going down together, down
We are experiencing an intense rush and excitement as we indulge in this act.
Free shots at the bar from the guy in leather
We are getting free drinks from a man in leather clothing at the bar.
Cheers to the night that we won't remember now
We are toasting to the night that we know will be a blur in our memory.
Nothing you could do or say is right
There is nothing anyone can say or do to change our minds about what we want and enjoy.
I already know just what I like (bad, bad, bad, bad)
We are confident in our preferences for bad behavior and are owning it with repetition.
Bad girl
Need a bad girl
Need a bad girl
'Cause the bad boys just don't cut it
We desire a bad girl because we have realized that bad boys are not fulfilling our needs or desires.
We got
What they want, want
What they want, want
They can look but they just can't touch it
We possess something that others desire, but they cannot have access to it.
We're always up to no good
Doing what they wish they could
We are always engaging in bad behavior that others secretly desire to do, but do not have the courage to act on.
Do it like this all around the clock
We are engaging in this activity repeatedly and constantly, without taking a break.
Got boys lining up all around the block, uh huh
We are so desirable that boys are lining up to indulge in this activity with us.
Lighting up flares in the parking lot
We are creating a spectacle outside in the parking lot through our behavior.
If we're gonna live, give it all we got, uh huh, uh
We are living to the fullest and giving 100% effort in this bad behavior.
What I like, oh (bad, bad, bad, bad)
We are repeating and emphasizing our preferences for bad behavior.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andrew Goldstein, Charlie Puth, Grace Tandon, Jacob Hindlin, Madison Love, Michael Pollack
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nosy LoL
this version is so much better than the original one, I like it a lot
branlycoy30
absolutely, Cloud 9 from Fred Flake is great as well.
RANDOM VIDEOS BY MARK
This is absolute fire and you are truly an Astonishingly talented artist with a stunningly gorgeous voice!!!!!!
Daya
♥️thank you means so much
JVKE
she is fireeeee, so dope to collab with!
Alejandro Ramirez
@JVKE yo your the best most talented artist I've seen so is daya but I'm trying to get into music production and I can really use your help and I really young 13 your probly not gonna see it but if you do measge me back Thank you
Liam
Same here , you are so talented and you deserve more Support and love 💯🎵❤️💜
Ava’s AG Dolls!! !
This song is SOO GOOD!! 🤩 I’m such a big fan and i’ve loved your music for so long!!❤️🎉💫
Bhoomika
You're gonna win a Grammy someday. You'll see! ❤️
Lo.
She won one with The Chainsmokers for Don't Let Me Down