 During the track , Rihanna 's vocal range spans one octave , from the low note of B3 to the high note of B4 . Proposing illicit acts , she uses a " sexually aggressive tone " in her vocal performance . The lyrics are about sex , sadomasochism , bondage and BDSM fetishes , including the sexual fantasies and turn @-@ ons of its protagonist . The song opens with the hook , " Na , na , na , c 'mon " . During the chorus the lyrics include , " ' Cause I may be bad , but I 'm perfectly good at it / Sex in the air , I don 't care , I love the smell of it . " In the song , Rihanna describes herself as " bad " and openly praises her own sexual prowess ; lyrics include , " Sticks and stones may break my bones / But chains and whips excite me . " Rihanna told Spin magazine that the lyrics are metaphoric . She said that she thought the song was mainly about having confidence in one 's identity , and about being impervious to rumors and criticism . According to Jake Conway of Q Magazine at Yale , the lyrics are guilty of " divesting sex of emotion " and re @-@ envisaging violence as fetish ; he went on to say that Rihanna pays homage to the sexual acts in an empowered dance and club mood . Chris Ryan described the song as being about " dirty , naughty , illicit bedroom activities " . 
