Bad Habit

Album: Holy Fire (2013)
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Songfacts®:

  • Foals vocalist Yannis Philippakis told NME: "I'm never gonna write 'Shiny Happy People.' It's about symbiotic relationships; when you see two people who are co-dependent - and whether that's also your own addictions as well."
  • During a May 2020 Twitter listening party for Holy Fire, Philippakis recalled how he started writing "Bad Habit" on acoustic guitar. The Foals frontman and his bandmates then developed and rehearsed the track in empty shower rooms backstage while on tour in South America supporting Red Hot Chili Peppers. "It sounded awesome with the natural reverb," he said.

    On one occasion, Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis came into their rehearsal space after they'd played the song, and told the band it'd be a hit.

    Philippakis added that he set out to be "super vulnerable" with the lyrics. "I wasn't in a great place, but the song came out great," he said.

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