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.
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.
"[9] Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine stated that Clarkson "touches on her hard rock infatuation and improves it, particularly on the bubblegum punk "Whyyawannabringmedown.
"[11] In a more negative review, Billboard editor Elle J Small called the song "a giant mistake", saying that "when Clarkson delves in to punk/thrash territory on Whyyawannabringmedown- purists will despair and KC fans will be perplexed.
[13] Slant Magazine's Jonathan Keefe wrote that "her throat-shredding punk snarl on "Whyyawannabringmedown" is a whole lot more fun than it is convincing" and described the song as a "P!nk reject".