Why You Treat Me So Bad (Shaggy song) explained

Why You Treat Me So Bad
Cover:Shaggy_featuring_Grand_Puba-Why_You_Treat_Me_So_Bad.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Shaggy featuring Grand Puba
Album:Boombastic
B-Side:
  • "Demand the Ride"
  • "The Train Is Coming"
  • "Big Up"
Genre:
Length:3:55
Label:Virgin
Producer:
  • Robert Livingston
  • Shaun Pizzonia
Chronology:Shaggy
Prev Title:Boombastic
Prev Year:1995
Next Title:Piece of My Heart
Next Year:1997

"Why You Treat Me So Bad" is a song by Jamaican-American reggae musician Shaggy featuring American rapper and emcee Grand Puba. It was released in 1995 as the second single from his third studio album, Boombastic (1995), and contains elements from "Mr. Brown" by Bob Marley. It was a notable hit in several countries, including Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the UK, where it peaked at number 11.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard commented in his review of the single, "As astute programmers have known for some time, there is way more to Shaggy than his top 10 hit "Boombastic". Fun and fresh changes in tempo and the distinctive vocal styles of Shaggy and Grand Puba complement one another. Get up and play it."[1] Another editor, Paul Verna, remarked that the song benefits from Puba's "off-kilter musings, buzzes madly and bounces like aural Jello".[2] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel viewed it as "nasty fun for those who can get past the misogyny."[3] In his weekly UK chart commentary in Dotmusic, James Masterton said, "It will probably struggle to become as big a hit as his past few efforts, featuring less of the humour that made "Boombastic" such a commercial hit."[4]

Heidi Siegmund Cuda from Los Angeles Times felt that Shaggy "rounds out" his reggae repertoire with "such likable dance-hall treats", as the "lovelorn" "Why You Treat Me So Bad?".[5] A reviewer from Music Week wrote, "Mr Boombastic returns with a mid-tempo hip hop swayer with a jazzy swingtime flavour and a cameo from New York rapper Grand Puba. It's more laid back than his last release and should give Shaggy another hit."[6] James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update declared it as a "'Why must you treat me so bad?' girls pushed terrific funky ragga rap jolter".[7] Al Weisel of Rolling Stone found that the "funky grind" of the song "demonstrate an equal fluency in contemporary mainland rhythm."[8]

Track listings

  1. "Why You Treat Me So Bad" (radio mix)
  2. "Why You Treat Me So Bad" (club mix)
  3. "The Train Is Coming" (film version featuring Ken Boothe)
  4. "Demand the Ride"
  1. "Why You Treat Me So Bad" (Salaam clean radio remix) — 4:19
  2. "Why You Treat Me So Bad" (Sting radio remix) — 4:04
  3. "Demand the Ride" — 4:00
  4. "Big Up" (featuring Rayvon) — 3:36
  1. "Why You Treat Me So Bad" (radio mix) — 3:51
  2. "Why You Treat Me So Bad" (club mix) — 3:53
  1. "Why You Treat Me So Bad" (radio mix)
  2. "Why You Treat Me So Bad" (Soul Inside mix)
  3. "Why You Treat Me So Bad" (club mix)
  4. "Why You Treat Me So Bad" (LP version)
  1. "Why You Treat Me So Bad" (radio mix)
  2. "Why You Treat Me So Bad" (Soul Inside mix)

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Why You Treat Me So Bad"!Chart (1996)!Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 93
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] 41
Italy (Musica e dischi)[17] 21
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[18] 8

Release history

Region!scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label(s)
United States1995Virgin
United Kingdom1 January 1996[19]
United States12 March 1996Rhythmic contemporary radio[20]

Notes and References

  1. [Larry Flick|Flick, Larry]
  2. Verna, Paul (2 September 1995). "Album Reviews: Reggae". Billboard. Volume 107. Issue 35.
  3. Campbell, Chuck (28 July 1995). "Morissette's 'Pill' Is Easy To Swallow". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  4. Web site: James. Masterton. Week Ending January 13th 1996. Dotmusic. 7 January 1996. 26 September 2022.
  5. News: Heidi. Siegmund Cuda. In Brief. Los Angeles Times. 20 August 1995. 31 January 2023.
  6. Reviews: Singles . . 23 December 1995 . 29 . 10 July 2021 .
  7. James . Hamilton . Dj directory . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) . 23 December 1995 . 15 . 10 July 2021 . James Hamilton (DJ and journalist).
  8. Weisel, Al (7 September 1995). "Recordings". Rolling Stone.
  9. Why You Treat Me So Bad. Shaggy. 1995. US CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. V25F-38529.
  10. Why You Treat Me So Bad. Shaggy. 1995. US CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. V25F-38548.
  11. Why You Treat Me So Bad. Shaggy. 1995. US cassette single sleeve. Virgin Records. 4KM-38529.
  12. Why You Treat Me So Bad. Shaggy. 1996. UK & Australasian CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. VSCDT 1566, 7243 8 93331 21.
  13. Why You Treat Me So Bad. Shaggy. 1996. UK cassette single sleeve. Virgin Records. VSC1566.
  14. Why You Treat Me So Bad. Shaggy. 1996. European CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. VSCDE1566.
  15. 249.
  16. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 13. 3. 13. 20 January 1996. 8 August 2021.
  17. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e Dischi. it. 29 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Shaggy".
  18. Web site: Shaggy featuring Grand Puba – Why You Treat Me So Bad. Dutch Top 40. nl. 10 July 2021.
  19. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 32. 23 December 1995. 8 August 2021.
  20. Selected New Releases. Radio & Records. 1136. 31. 8 March 1996. 12 August 2021.