I Want Somebody (Bitch About)

Updated on Oct 26, 2023

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Format CD single Genre Country Label Sony Masterworks		Recorded 2010 Length 3:11
Released May 31, 2011 (2011-05-31)

"I Want Somebody (Bitch About)" is a song by American recording artist Kristin Chenoweth. The song was written by Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Diane Warren and produced by Bob Ezrin for Chenoweth's fourth studio album, Some Lessons Learned (2011). The song was released on May 31, 2011 by Sony Music Entertainment's record label Masterworks Broadway, as the lead single from the album.

An accompanying music video, directed by Roman White, was Chenoweth's first televised music video and was released on Country Music Television. Chenoweth performed "I Want Somebody (Bitch About)" on many TV shows as part of the promo for her album, making the world premiere of the single on CMT's Next Superstar. Other performances include shows such as Live! with Regis and Kelly and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Background

"I Want Somebody (Bitch About)" was written by Diane Warren, and produced by Bob Ezrin. The country song, speaks about "a girl... a woman, let me re-phrase that, ME, who wants to find somebody that they can bitch about and still live without," said Kristin about the song adding "I don't know a woman who can't relate to that."

Warren offered the song to Chenoweth, who commented that it's funny that she can have a song on her album called "Prayer of St. Francis" and also "Bitch About"; Chenoweth noted that, at first, she had some doubts about including the song on the album because of its title.

Critical reception

"Bitch About" received mixed reviews from music critics. A tasteofcountry.com review said that "Actress Kristin Chenoweth’s turn at country music comes with the hope that she’ll be able to carry her award-winning talents from Broadway to country radio. Sadly, the only award ‘I Want Somebody’ will earn is a rotten tomato. Chenoweth’s voice is reminiscent of a movie character, but the Chippets aren’t a group one usually hopes to emulate. Her delivery is full of energy, but she packs an album’s worth of lyrics into one three-minute pop-country song." Ben Foster from countrymusicreview.net considered the song "shrill, thin, and downright painful for the ears to hear" stating that, even though Kristin is a very talented woman, her "amazing award-winning talents (...) were taking a siesta during this recording session". On the other hand, Allmusic.com praised the track.

Music video

The music video for "I Want Somebody (Bitch About)" was directed by Roman White and was Chenoweth's first televised music video. It was released on Country Music Television premiering on June 6, 2011 on Kristin's YouTube Vevo Channel. The video for the single peaked at #19 on CMT's Top Twenty Countdown and shows Chenoweth bitching about a man to her girlfriends at a retro hair salon. In the next scene, Chenoweth is seen in a long golden dress dancing and flirting with three men while showing her female power by ditching all three of them. Later on, Kristin can be seen in a short summer golden dress performing with backup dancers.

Live performances and tour

The singer performed "I Want Somebody (Bitch About)" on many TV shows as part of the promo for her album, making the world premiere of the single on CMT's Next Superstar. Other performances include shows such as Live! with Regis and Kelly and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.