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"You're in a Bad Way" is a song by British pop group Saint Etienne. It was released as the second single from their second album, So Tough (1993). The song is a deliberately old-fashioned throwback to 1960s pop music. In an interview with Melody Maker magazine, Bob Stanley claims that it was written in ten minutes as a simple imitation of Herman's Hermits, and was only intended to be a B-side to "Everlasting", but the record company decided that it should be a single.[2] "Everlasting" was dropped as a single and remained unreleased until it was eventually included on disc 2 on the deluxe edition of So Tough in 2009.

"You're in a Bad Way"
Single by Saint Etienne
from the album So Tough
B-side	"Archway People" "California Snow Story" "Duke Duvet"
Released	1 February 1993 (1993-02-01)[1]
Length	3:20
Label	Heavenly Warner
Songwriter(s)	Bob Stanley Pete Wiggs Sarah Cracknell
Producer(s)	Saint Etienne (album version) Alan Tarney (single version)
Saint Etienne singles chronology
"Avenue" (1992) "You're in a Bad Way" (1993) "Hobart Paving" (1993)
Music video
"You're in a Bad Way" on YouTube

The album version of the song begins with a sample from the film Billy Liar (1963):[2] "A man could lose himself in London. Lose himself. Lose himself. Lose himself in London!" The lyrics describe a man who is depressed and has ceased to care for himself - the singer tells him "jeans are old and your hair's all wrong / Don't you know that crewcuts and trainers are out again?" The singer invites him to "Just dial my number or call my name". It also makes reference to "watching Bruce on the old Generation Game", which led to the song being self-mockingly described as "the one about Bruce Forsyth" in the sleevenotes to the compilation Too Young to Die – Singles 1990–1995.

On the CD single (but not the other formats), pieces of dialogue follow each track to segue into the next. Between "You're In a Bad Way" and "Archway People", there is a sample of dialogue from the film Brighton Rock (1947) spoken by Richard Attenborough.[3] The third b-side, "Duke Duvet" is based on a drum break from "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode, and concludes with a comic monologue called "Spong-Bake" written by Christopher Morris.[4]

In 2019 the writer and theatre maker John Osborne used the song as the starting point for his theatre show You're in a Bad Way. It's a storytelling show about dementia, music and festivals.

Release

"You're in a Bad Way" was one of the group's biggest hits, reaching #12 on the UK Singles Chart.[5] In Iceland the song reached #26.[6] The single, produced by Alan Tarney, is different from the version on the UK edition of So Tough, with a "brighter" arrangement featuring chimes and an alternate vocal for the last chorus. The US and Australian editions of "So Tough" use the single version of the track.

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic picked the song as one of the stand outs from the album.[7] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "sweet and perky British trio is gunning for pop radio with this sweet and perky synth number." He added that "feathery vocals and faint island percussion will make listeners want to go roller-skating, or at least bop happily along when they hear this one on the radio."[8] Linda Ryan from the Gavin Report described the song as a "Dusty Springfield-does-Motown gem".[9] A reviewer from Kingston Informer viewed it as "trite but memorable".[10] Music writer James Masterton wrote in his weekly UK chart commentary, "...I make no apologies whatsoever about saying to the world in general that it has been a long long time since a record of such genius has made the charts. Having made their name with a series of ambient, dreamy dance hits which include a cover of Neil Young's Only Love Can Break Your Heart the band get their biggest hit ever with this masterpiece of classic pop. Sounding all at once like several old tracks at once".[11] Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone called it a "perfect" U.K. hit.[12] Mark Frith from Smash Hits gave it five out of five, commenting that it is "lively, warm, best friend of a record."[13] In his review of the So Tough album, another editor, Peter Stanton stated that the singles "Avenue" and "You're in a Bad Way" "are classic pop beauties".[14]

Music video

There were made two different music videos for the song. One is a low-budget production featuring split-screen photography of the band performing in a blank space and wearing restrained 60s attire. The other is more spectacular: the band performs in a stylized, garishly-coloured version of a 1960s TV show, with scantily-clad dancers and a backdrop of retro home furnishing. This version was later published on Saint Etienne's official YouTube channel in October 2009.[15]

Track listing

All tracks written and composed by Stanley and Wiggs; except where indicated

• 7" - Heavenly / HVN 25 and Cassette (HVN 25 CS)

1. "You're in a Bad Way" (Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs) - 3:20
2. "Archway People" - 3:26

• 7" - Warner / 9-18563-7

1. "You're in a Bad Way" (Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs) - 3:02
2. "California Snow Story" - 4:20

• 12" - Heavenly / HVN 25-12 and CD (HVN 25CD)

1. "You're in a Bad Way" (Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs) - 3:20
2. "Archway People" - 3:26
3. "California Snow Story" - 4:20
4. "Duke Duvet" - 3:09

• CD - Warner / PRO-CD-5948

1. "You're in a Bad Way" (Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs) - 3:08
2. "You're in a Bad Way" (Alternative Mix) (Cracknell, Stanley, Wiggs) - 2:43
3. "St. Etienne Speaks..." - 9:17 ("St. Etienne Speaks... The truth and trauma in their own words behind England's dukes and duchess of pop!")

Charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16]	66
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)	26
UK Singles (OCC)	12
UK Dance (Music Week)[17]	9

References

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