Bad Things (with Camila Cabello)

"Bad Things" delves into the complexities of a passionate, yet destructive, relationship. The core theme revolves around the intoxicating allure of a 'bad' romance, where the lines between pleasure and pain are blurred. The song is a duet that presents two sides of this dynamic: the 'good girl' (Camila Cabello) who is irresistibly drawn to a 'bad boy' (Machine Gun Kelly) and the 'bad boy' himself, who revels in their wild connection. Cabello's chorus, which interpolates Fastball's 1998 hit "Out Of My Head," expresses a feeling of losing her mind over this love, confessing that she is attracted to the "bad things" he represents. MGK's verses, on the other hand, embrace the hedonistic and reckless nature of their bond, with lines like "Nothing's that bad if it feels good" and comparing their love to an addictive drug. The song explores the idea of a pain-is-pleasure type of love, romanticizing a volatile and all-consuming connection that is both thrilling and dangerous. It suggests a deep, almost codependent bond, where the two individuals find a unique understanding and acceptance in their shared recklessness, away from the judgment of the outside world.

The song narrates a turbulent and impassioned love affair from two contrasting perspectives. The female voice, represented by Camila Cabello, opens with a sense of confusion and enthrallment. She questions her own sanity, captivated by a desire for things she knows are forbidden. Her hook, an interpolation of Fastball's "Out of My Head," is repurposed to express an undeniable attraction to a dangerous kind of love. She admits that she only wants to do "bad things" to her partner, highlighting a departure from a presumed innocent nature. This isn't a simple crush; it's a complicated, all-consuming obsession that defies easy explanation. Her verses convey a sense of secrecy and intimacy, suggesting that their connection is a world of its own, hidden from outside judgment, existing powerfully "between the sheets."

The male perspective, delivered by Machine Gun Kelly, embraces the wild and reckless nature of their relationship. He immediately dismisses the concept of "bad" if the experience feels good, setting a hedonistic tone. He portrays their connection as a potent drug, an intoxicating force that numbs and electrifies him. His lyrics are more explicit, painting a picture of a physically charged and rebellious romance. He describes their love as a modern, almost brutal form of affection, referencing "scars on my body" as permanent reminders of their bond, allowing him to feel connected to her even when they are apart. This idea was inspired by a real-life experience where a partner showed him bruises that reminded her of him. He sees himself as the darker influence, the voice inside her head encouraging her to indulge in her wilder side. The narrative he builds is one of a 'Bonnie and Clyde' dynamic, where they are partners in crime, finding solace and excitement in their shared transgressions, from petty theft to intense emotional and physical encounters.

Together, their voices create a story of a codependent and volatile relationship. The recurring phrase, "I want you forever, even when we're not together," underscores the depth and permanence of their bond, suggesting it transcends physical presence and conventional standards. The song's narrative doesn't seek to resolve the inherent toxicity; instead, it revels in it. It explores the idea that for some, love isn't about peace and stability but about the thrill of the forbidden, the intensity of passion, and the magnetic pull of a shared darkness. The contrast between her melodic, almost questioning tone and his assertive, raw rap delivery perfectly encapsulates the central theme: the collision of innocence and corruption, and the beautiful, dangerous world they create together.

"Bad Things" was released on October 14, 2016. The song was written by a team including Machine Gun Kelly (Colson Baker), Camila Cabello, Madison Love, Tony Scalzo of Fastball (due to the interpolation of "Out of My Head"), and the producers, The Futuristics (Joe Khajadourian and Alex Schwartz), along with Steve Basil. The idea for the song was initiated by songwriter Madison Love while she was a student at New York University. The production duo The Futuristics then developed the track, incorporating the sample from Fastball's song. MGK was drawn to the track and contributed to its development, adding guitars and strings to give it a more "authentic feel." The collaboration with Camila Cabello, who was then a member of Fifth Harmony, happened after MGK was impressed by a YouTube video of her singing with a guitar. The collaboration was largely done long-distance, with the two artists communicating via FaceTime to discuss the song's direction. Cabello reportedly recorded nearly 100 takes to perfect her vocals for the track. The song was recorded at Interscope Recording Studios in Santa Monica, California. It served as the lead single from MGK's third studio album, "Bloom" (2017).

The rhyme and rhythm in "Bad Things" are crafted to support its dual-perspective narrative and pop-rap structure.

Rhyme Scheme: MGK's verses utilize a relatively straightforward but effective rhyme scheme, often employing couplets (AABB) and simple end rhymes to maintain a strong, forward-moving flow. For example, "And we're both wild/And the night's young/And you're my drug/Breath you in 'til my face numb" shows an AABC rhyme pattern, but the rhythmic delivery makes it feel cohesive. He uses rhymes to punch key lines and emphasize the hedonistic themes of his verses.

Rhythm and Meter: The song's rhythm is built on a mid-tempo pop and hip-hop foundation. Cabello's chorus has a more fluid, legato rhythm that floats over the beat, emphasizing the dreamy, almost disoriented state of her character. Her delivery oscillates between breathy and full tones, adding to the emotional texture. In contrast, MGK's verses have a more staccato, percussive rhythm. His rap flow is direct and intense, aligning with the assertive and rebellious persona he projects. This rhythmic contrast between the sung chorus and the rapped verses is a key element of the song's structure and appeal, creating a dynamic push-and-pull that mirrors the turbulent relationship described in the lyrics.

"Bad Things" employs a blend of musical and literary techniques to create its distinctive sound and emotional impact.

• Musical Juxtaposition: The song's primary stylistic feature is the juxtaposition of Camila Cabello's delicate, melodic pop vocals with Machine Gun Kelly's raw, punchy rap delivery. This contrast mirrors the lyrical theme of a 'good girl' and a 'bad boy.'
• Interpolation: The chorus prominently interpolates the melody and a variation of the lyrics from Fastball's 1999 hit "Out of My Head." This technique grounds the song in a familiar hook while re-contextualizing its meaning to fit the new, darker narrative of obsessive love.
• Narrative Voice: The song uses a dual-narrative structure, presenting two distinct first-person perspectives. This allows the listener to see the relationship from both the entranced and the instigating side, adding depth to the story.
• Rhythmic Contrast: The track shifts between the smooth, flowing rhythm of Cabello's sung parts and the more syncopated, aggressive cadence of MGK's rap verses. This rhythmic variation enhances the song's dynamic energy and reflects the volatile nature of the relationship being described.
• Production Style: Produced by The Futuristics, the song features a mid-tempo, piano-led melody combined with a stereotypical trap beat, including looping hi-hats. This fusion of pop ballad elements with hip-hop production creates a crossover appeal.

"Bad Things" was a significant commercial success and marked a pivotal moment for both artists. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first top-ten single for both Machine Gun Kelly and Camila Cabello as a solo artist. The song was certified 5x Platinum in the United States by the RIAA. Its success demonstrated Cabello's viability as a solo star outside of Fifth Harmony, which she departed shortly after the song's peak popularity. For MGK, it was his highest-charting single and broadened his audience significantly, blending his rap background with mainstream pop. The song won Best Collaboration at the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards and was nominated for Top Rap Collaboration at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards. The music video, directed by Hannah Lux Davis, garnered significant attention for its cinematic, 'Bonnie and Clyde' inspired narrative and has accumulated over 515 million views on YouTube as of May 2025. The duo performed the song on major television shows like *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon* and *The Ellen DeGeneres Show*, further boosting its profile. The track remains one of the most recognizable songs for both artists and a staple of 2016 pop-rap collaborations.

The lyrics of "Bad Things" are rich with symbolism and metaphors that illustrate the nature of the central relationship.

• Drugs and Addiction: MGK repeatedly uses drug metaphors to describe his connection with his lover. He raps, "And you're my drug/Breathe you in 'til my face numb," and later, "I love the pain/And I love the way your breath/Numbs me like Novocaine." This imagery suggests a powerful, addictive, and perhaps self-destructive dependency on the other person and the intense feelings they evoke.
• Physical Scars as Memories: A key metaphor is presented in the line, "scars on my body so I can take you wherever." MGK explained that this was inspired by a real experience where a girl showed him bruises that reminded her of him. The scars are not just physical marks but symbols of their intense, physical connection and serve as permanent reminders of their bond, transcending distance.
• Bonnie and Clyde Trope: The music video explicitly casts the duo in a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde narrative. They are depicted as rebellious lovers on the run, stealing, fighting, and ultimately facing peril together. This symbolizes a partnership against the world, where their love and loyalty to each other are defined by their shared transgressions and isolation from societal norms.
• Vixen/Predator Imagery: MGK refers to his partner as his "pretty little vixen," a term that suggests a creature that is both alluring and cunningly wild, playing into the 'good girl gone bad' theme. He, in turn, is the "voice inside your head/That keeps telling you to listen to all the bad things I say," positioning himself as the tempting, corrupting influence.

"Bad Things" features several recurring phrases and motifs that reinforce its central themes of obsessive and dangerous love.

• "Am I out of my head? Am I out of my mind?": This line, interpolated from Fastball's "Out of My Head," is the song's central hook, sung by Camila Cabello. Its repetition emphasizes her character's internal conflict and loss of control in the face of an overwhelming attraction. It establishes the song's core emotional state of being consumed by a love that defies logic.
• "I only wanna do bad things to you": This recurring confession is the thematic core of the song. It signifies the conscious choice to embrace the darker, more destructive side of their passion. It's a mutual understanding that their connection is built on a shared desire for the forbidden.
• "I want you forever, even when we're not together": This phrase, sung by MGK in the pre-chorus, acts as a powerful motif of enduring, almost haunting, love. It suggests a bond that transcends physical presence and the conventional boundaries of a relationship, hinting at a deep, almost spiritual connection forged through their intense experiences.
• "It's complicated": Repeated in both the chorus and bridge, this simple phrase serves as a catch-all explanation for their unconventional relationship. It acknowledges the difficulty of articulating their bond to outsiders and reinforces the idea that their connection is a private world with its own rules.