Released July 1, 2009 Genre Punk rock Label Astonish | Format Download Length 2:42 | |
Writer(s) Sam Watters, Louis Biancaniello, Dameon Aranda | ||
"Whyyawannabringmedown" is a song recorded by American rock band Aranda, from their debut studio album, Aranda (2008). Written by Dameon Aranda with co-writing and co-production by Sam Watters and Louis Biancaniello, the song was released as the album's second and final single through Astonish Entertainment on July 1, 2009.
Contents
Background and reception
"Whyyawannabringmedown" was written by Dameon Aranda, Sam Watters, and Louis Biancaniello, with the latter two handling the production. It was originally intended to be recorded for their pop-oriented album in 2001. But after losing their recording contract with Sony Music before the album was released, Aranda instead leaned for a rock-oriented direction for their self-titled album, Aranda, which was independently released in 2008. "Whyyawannabringmedown" was released as the album's second single after being used by the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as the official theme song for their professional wrestling pay-per-view event, The Bash in June 28, 2009. Upon its release, Axel Thunderflex of Sputnikmusic praised the song as "upbeat and catchy enough to make you want to stand up and dance."
Track listing
Kelly Clarkson version
In 2008, Watters, played tracks from the Aranda album to American recording artist Kelly Clarkson, whom he was collaborating the time. Clarkson, in turn, expressed interest to record some of them to her for her fourth studio album, All I Ever Wanted (2009). She chose to record the song along with "All I Ever Wanted", with the latter receiving a single release in 2010. Clarkson's version of "Whyyawannabringmedown" was also produced by Watters and Biancaniello, with Aranda providing background vocals. It received positive and mixed reviews, many were praising her teen style delivery but they felt that the song itself is overproduced.
LA Times editor Ann Powers wrote that "Whyyouwannabringmedown" gives Clarkson "a chance to howl the way she's wanted to since her grunge-loving teen years." Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that Clarkson: even touches on her hard rock infatuation and improves it, particularly on the bubblegum punk "Whyyawannabringmedown." PopMatters praised: "the punky “Whyyawannabringmedown” feels like one of the few songs where Clarkson is allowed to let her freak flag fly, and amidst the stop-start guitars that chug around her, Clarkson’s rock-ready wail makes her sound like a dead ringer for Tia Carrere’s character in Wayne’s World." Despite positive reviews Billboard editor Elle J Small called this song a giant mistake: "when Clarkson delves in to punk/thrash territory on Whyyawannabringmedown- purists will despair and KC fans will be perplexed." Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone praised her vocal delivery and described this song: "a kind of AM-radio punk. "I'm not your love monkey, so be takin' back all of the lies you sold," cries Clarkson over a pogo-ing beat." Slant Magazine's Jonathan Keefe wrote this song sounds like Pink reject: "Her throat-shredding punk snarl on "Whyyawannabringmedown" is a whole lot more fun than it is convincing." Claire Lobenfeld of Vibe wrote a mixed opinion: “Whyyouwannabringmedown” is the album’s most confusing cut. The song’s lyrics fit in with the rest of Clarkson’s catalogue, but between her yelps and wails and the power chord progression, it comes off like a product of Fisher Price’s My First Punk Rock Song."