Tuesday, March 3, 2020

“Bad Decisions” by The Strokes - A Song Feature


     Billy Idol is listed as a co-writer of “Bad Decisions” by The Strokes. So is Tony James, who wrote “Dancing with Myself” with Idol forty years ago. The two are credited because The Strokes’ single includes elements of the Billy Idol single. Nicely done guys!

     “Bad Decisions” is the second release from the album “The New Abnormal,” which is scheduled to drop on April 10. The Strokes hinted at getting back into the studio as far back as 2016, but didn’t make a formal announcement until a Bernie Sanders’ rally in February 2020.

     The Strokes are still based in New York City and still comprise Julian Casablancas (vocals), Nick Valensi (guitar), Albert Hammond Jr. (guitar), Nikolai Fraiture (bass), and Fabrizio Moretti (drums). “Bad Decisions” is a guitar-driven, percussion-heavy single. The lyrics (included below) have a darkness that is camouflaged by the upbeat melody. It is not an ideal relationship – “When I look around, don't wanna see you / I don't take advice from fools / Never listening to you.”

      The video for “Bad Decisions” is interesting. It begins in the home of an elderly lady. The song references 1972, which is appropriate for the décor. She is the first to push the red button that generates customizable clones of members of The Strokes. The lighthearted early portion shows a girl playing house with the members, even painting fingernails. The infomercial lets us know that we can order our cloning device by calling 555-056-1693. Unfortunately, the technology of 1972 is not up to the task, as the clones malfunction. Yes, bad decisions were made.

     “Bad Decisions” by The Strokes




Lyrics of “Bad Decisions” by The Strokes
Dropped down the lights, I'm sitting with you
Moscow, 1972
Always singing in my sleep
I will leave it in my dreams

Oh, making bad decisions
Oh, making bad decisions
Making bad decisions for you
Oh, making bad decisions
Uh, making bad decisions
Uh-oh, making bad decisions for you

Pick up your gun
Put up your gloves
Save us from harm
Safe or alone

Oh baby, I hang on everything you say
I wanna write down every word
But do me a favor when you come close
When I look around, don't wanna see you
I don't take advice from fools
Never listening to you

Oh, making bad decisions
Oh, making bad decisions
Oh, making bad decisions with you
Oh, making bad decisions
Ah ah ah, making bad decisions
Uh, making bad decisions with you

Pick up your gun
Put up those gloves
Save us from harm
Safe or alone

You, you didn't listen to me
But I, I didn't listen to you

I waited so long listening for
Something to work

I'm making bad decisions
Really, really bad decisions
I'm making bad decisions
On you, on
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah

I'm not gonna give a lot of credit
I don't how to use how
'Cause I can't, I can't
I can't, can't make anymore

THE STROKES LIVE
February 14—Berlin, DE—Columbiahalle
February 18—Paris, FR—Olympia
February 19—London, UK—The Roundhouse
February 24—Belfast, UK—Waterfront Hall
March 5—Vancouver, BC—Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena*
March 9—Seattle, WA—WaMu Theater*
March 14—Los Angeles, CA—The Forum*†
*with Alvvays
† King Princess

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