girl in red has been cited as a queer icon by PAPER Magazine and a "phenomenon" who is "one of the most astute and exciting singer-songwriters working in the world of guitar music" by The New York Times. She was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2020 Norwegian Grammy Awards. In January 2021, her singles "I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend" and "We Fell in Love in October" were certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
girl in red's second studio album, I'M DOING IT AGAIN BABY! was released on April 12, 2024, via Columbia Records.
The subject matters of Ulven's music range from romance and heartbreak to mental illness and the experience of being queer. She named Taylor Swift as one of her biggest musical influences.
Bad Idea
Girl In Red Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was such a bad idea 'cause now I'm even more lost
It was a bad idea to think you were the one
Was such a bad idea 'cause now everything's wrong
You put your hands under my shirt
Undid my bra and said these words
"Darling, you're so pretty, it hurts"
Threw my clothes down on the floor
"Darling, are you ready for more?"
It was a bad idea calling you up
Was such a bad idea, I'm totally fucked
It was a bad idea to think I could stop
Was such a bad idea, I can't get enough
It was a bad idea meeting you so late
Was such a bad idea 'cause I can't think straight
It was a bad idea to bring you back home
Was such a bad idea, I need to be alone
You put your hands under my shirt
Undid my bra and said these words
"Darling, you're so pretty, it hurts"
You pushed me up against my wall
Threw my clothes down on the floor
"Darling, are you ready for more?"
It was a bad idea calling you up
Was such a bad idea, I'm totally fucked
It was a bad idea to think I could stop
Was such a bad idea, I can't get enough
Bad idea, bad idea
Bad idea, bad idea
You put your hands under my shirt
Undid my bra and said these words
"Darling, you're so pretty, it hurts"
You pushed me up against my wall
Threw my clothes down on the floor
You said "Darling, are you ready for more?"
It was a bad idea calling you up
Was such a bad idea, I'm totally fucked
It was a bad idea calling you up
Was such a bad idea, I'm totally fucked
It was a bad idea to think I could stop
Was such a bad idea, I can't get enough
The Girl In Red's song "Bad Idea" is an example of someone being swept away by a moment of passion that they know is likely to end in heartbreak. The song is about the singer calling up an ex-lover, knowing full well that this is a "bad idea." Calling this person only causes more confusion and chaos, and the singer can feel themselves becoming more lost and disconnected from reality as a result. They had thought that this person might have been "the one," but they were wrong, and now everything in their life feels like it’s off balance. But despite all of this, the singer has a powerful attraction to this person, which they cannot resist.
In the second half of the song, the singer describes a sexual encounter with this person. They are using words like "pushed" and "threw" to describe what happens, suggesting that they are being swept along by forces beyond their control. The presence of the line "darling, are you ready for more?" implies that this person is at least somewhat considerate of the singer's feelings, but the overall impression is still one of being used or taken advantage of. The whole experience just confirms what the singer already knows: that calling this person up was a very bad idea.
Overall, "Bad Idea" is a song about the dangers of following your heart at the expense of your own wellbeing. The singer goes through with her "bad idea" despite knowing that it's a mistake, and pays the price for it. This song is a warning to anyone who has been tempted to contact an ex who they know is bad for them, that it’s not worth it.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a bad idea calling you up
Regretting the decision to call the person in question
Was such a bad idea 'cause now I'm even more lost
Realizing that reaching out has only added to the confusion and uncertainty
It was a bad idea to think you were the one
Admitting the error in judgement about the person being the perfect match
Was such a bad idea 'cause now everything's wrong
Feeling like everything in life is going in the opposite direction because of this encounter
You put your hands under my shirt
The physical interaction that started as an intimate gesture
Undid my bra and said these words
Taking the physical intimacy to another level with words of flattery
"Darling, you're so pretty, it hurts"
Complimenting her appearance with an exaggeration to give the impression that it is a hyperbole
You pushed me up against my wall
Taking things to a passionate and intense level by exerting dominance
Threw my clothes down on the floor
Engages in hurried and passionate lovemaking that leads to unraveled clothing
"Darling, are you ready for more?"
Asking for consent and also implying that there is more pleasure to come
It was a bad idea meeting you so late
Regretting the decision to meet the person late in time
Was such a bad idea 'cause I can't think straight
Feeling like the decision made her to lose her sense of reason
It was a bad idea to bring you back home
Acknowledging that bringing the person home was not a wise choice
Was such a bad idea, I need to be alone
Realizing that she needs space after the encounter
Bad idea, bad idea
Repeating this was a bad idea to emphasize how badly the decision turned out
You put your hands under my shirt
Repeating the line in a cyclical structure to drive home the point of initial intimacy
Undid my bra and said these words
Continuing the cycle of the intense physical actions of undressing her and flattering her with words of compliments.
It was a bad idea calling you up
The realization that she has trapped herself in an endless cycle of regret
Was such a bad idea, I'm totally fucked
Accepting the harsh reality of being stuck in a situation that she might not know how to get out of
It was a bad idea to think I could stop
Recognizing that the person will always have a pull on her
Was such a bad idea, I can't get enough
Admitting that despite the initial misgivings, she is now unable to resist the temptation and wanting more of the same experience
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Marie Ulven Ringheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@girlinred
thank u my dudes :´)
@user-he1us3ku1u
❤❤❤❤❤
@dimitravasileiadou9771
No, thank YOU!
@siskaschorn3755
Thank YOU, my dude :)
@busesart
This literally is the best u've ever done
@sararanchella4256
THANK YOUUUU
You're so talented
@oceane444
“darling, you’re so pretty it hurts” bad idea! - girl in red
“they’re so pretty it hurts” girls - girl in red
@spinkboing
additionally, they are literally girls in red
@HerzoginLina
uh omg, you're right!
@TheRedTigon
I’m the 2000th like