Bad Liar

"Bad Liar" delves into the intoxicating and often overwhelming experience of developing a new crush. The song's central theme revolves around the inability to hide these burgeoning romantic feelings, no matter how hard one tries to play it cool or remain aloof. Co-writer Justin Tranter confirmed that the lyrics articulate the struggle of trying to conceal "magic feelings for someone new, but not being able to." Selena Gomez herself described the song as capturing the "honeymoon stage" of a new obsession, where the person consumes your thoughts and you find yourself wanting to change for them. It's about that intense infatuation where you can't get the person out of your head. The lyrics poetically express this through metaphors and vivid imagery, like seeing the person's face everywhere and the feeling that they take up a "fraction of my mind." The song is not about a breakup, a common misinterpretation upon its initial release, but rather the exhilarating and vulnerable phase of a new attraction.

The song narrates the internal struggle of a person trying to conceal a burgeoning crush. The protagonist is going about their day, attempting to distract themselves, but thoughts of this new person are inescapable. They see their love interest's face in strangers and feel their presence in the empty spaces of their life, like a now-vacant spot in a king-sized bed. The attempt to act cool and unaffected is a losing battle. The feelings are described as being as obvious and impossible to hide as the historic Battle of Troy. The mind is consumed, with every thought circling back to this individual. The way the person moves is captivating, described as serpentine, and it becomes a desperate effort not to think about them or give in to the overwhelming emotions. The core of the song is this internal conflict, the fight between the desire to maintain composure and the fiery intensity of new feelings. The narrator admits to being a "bad liar" because their emotions are too strong to hide. The second verse shifts to the dynamic between the two individuals. There's a mutual recognition of growing attention, a reflection of feelings in each other's eyes. The touch of this person is intoxicating, like a "happy pill," yet there's an underlying fear of what might happen next. The narrator yearns to move past this fear and focus on the potential for love, suggesting a desire for their connection to become a tangible reality. The imagery of painting a kiss on their chest, with one being the art and the other the brush, illustrates a desire for a creative and intimate union. The repeated chorus emphasizes the futile attempt to suppress these thoughts and feelings, a constant internal battle that is ultimately lost to the intensity of the crush. The song concludes with the raw admission that with "feelings on fire," pretending is no longer an option.

"Bad Liar" was written by Selena Gomez, Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter, and Ian Kirkpatrick, who also produced the track. The song's creation was sparked by the shared admiration Gomez and Michaels have for the band Talking Heads. During a writing session, Julia Michaels suggested they write a song over the iconic bassline of the Talking Heads' 1977 hit "Psycho Killer." This distinctive bassline, originally performed by Tina Weymouth, became the foundational element of "Bad Liar." The writers built the melody and the rest of the song from that starting point. Before its release, Gomez's label, Interscope Records, sought and received approval from Talking Heads' frontman David Byrne, who reportedly loved the track. The song was recorded at Interscope Studios in Santa Monica, California. Gomez revealed in an interview that she had the song for about a year before its release on May 18, 2017. The official lyrics premiered on the website Genius a day before the song's official release.

The rhythmic structure of "Bad Liar" is one of its most defining characteristics. The song is built around the steady, hypnotic bassline sampled from "Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads, which creates a persistent, mid-tempo groove. This is complemented by a sparse percussive arrangement of handclaps and snaps, focusing heavily on rhythm rather than complex melodic layers. The song maintains a consistent cadence throughout, with Gomez's speak-singing vocal delivery closely following the rhythm of the music. This creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy. While the song doesn't follow a strict, traditional rhyme scheme, it employs subtle rhyming and near rhymes within its verses to maintain lyrical flow. The chorus is a simple, repetitive hook that emphasizes the rhythmic and catchy nature of the track over intricate lyrical rhyming. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is seamless, contributing to the song's infectious and understated quality.

"Bad Liar" is distinguished by its minimalist and unconventional production, setting it apart from mainstream pop of its time. Musically, its most prominent feature is the interpolation of the bassline from Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer," which provides a continuous, rhythmic foundation. The arrangement is sparse, featuring percussive elements like snaps and handclaps, rather than heavy instrumentation. Gomez's vocal delivery is a key stylistic choice; she employs a breathy, speak-singing cadence that creates an intimate, almost conspiratorial tone. Her vocals are often multi-tracked, which adds a sense of urgency and inner turmoil. Lyrically, the song utilizes a verse-chorus structure but also includes a pre-chorus and post-chorus. The lyrics themselves are narrative and descriptive, using vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the song's story. The overall effect is a track that feels both understated and cleverly constructed, pushing Gomez into a more indie and alternative pop territory.

"Bad Liar" was met with widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with many critics considering it one of Selena Gomez's best and most artistically mature songs to date. Billboard named it the best song of 2017, and it was praised for its unique, minimalist sound that departed from mainstream pop trends. Despite the critical love, its commercial performance was more modest compared to some of Gomez's other hits, not reaching the top of the charts in most major markets, though it did place in the top 20 in the US, Australia, and Canada. The song is significant in Gomez's discography as it marked a bold artistic step, pushing her into indie pop and new wave territory. The music video, directed by Jesse Peretz, also garnered attention for its 1970s aesthetic and for Gomez playing four different characters, including a queer-coded storyline. The song's use of a Talking Heads sample was also a notable point of discussion, earning praise from David Byrne himself. Over time, "Bad Liar" has been seen as a pivotal moment in Gomez's career, showcasing her growth as an artist.

The lyrics of "Bad Liar" are rich with symbolism and metaphorical language that enhance its theme of concealed infatuation.

• The Battle of Troy: The line, "But just like the battle of Troy / There's nothing subtle here," uses a simile to compare the protagonist's feelings to the epic, large-scale Trojan War. This implies that her emotions are immense, dramatic, and impossible to hide, no matter how she tries to be subtle.
• Renting Space: The offer, "In my room there's a king size space / Bigger than it used to be / If you want you can rent that place / Call me an amenity," is a metaphor for the emotional and physical void left by a previous relationship or loneliness, which she is now offering to her new love interest. The word "amenity" suggests she is making herself available and desirable.
• Art and Brush: The lyric, "Paint my kiss across your chest / If you're the art, I'll be the brush," is a beautiful metaphor for a romantic and creative union. It suggests a desire to leave a lasting, intimate mark on the other person, creating a masterpiece of their love.
• Feelings on Fire: The phrase "With my feelings on fire" is a potent symbol of intense passion and desire. Fire represents an uncontrollable, consuming emotion that can no longer be suppressed.

The most significant recurring element in "Bad Liar" is the chorus, where Selena Gomez repeatedly sings, "Oh, I'm tryin', I'm tryin', I'm tryin' ... Not to think about you... Not to give in to you." This repetition drills home the central conflict of the song: the internal battle against burgeoning feelings. The post-chorus, "With my feelings on fire / Guess I'm a bad liar," serves as a recurring conclusion to this struggle, an admission of defeat against her own emotions. The title phrase, "bad liar," becomes a motif in itself, encapsulating the entire theme of the song. Musically, the most prominent recurring motif is the sampled bassline from Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer," which acts as the song's backbone and is present almost throughout the entire track, giving it its signature sound.