Bitch (Meredith Brooks song)

"Bitch"

Standard cover art for most editions, like the U.S. edition (pictured)
Single by Meredith Brooks
from the album Blurring the Edges
Released May 20, 1997
Format 7" vinyl, CD single
Recorded 1996–1997
Genre Alternative rock, pop rock
Length 4:12 (Album version)
3:58 (Radio edit)
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s) Meredith Brooks
Shelly Peiken
Roy Charles Hammond (uncredited)
Producer(s) Geza X[1]
Meredith Brooks singles chronology
"Bitch"
(1997)		 "I Need"
(1997)

"Bitch"
(1997)		 "I Need"
(1997)

"Bitch" (also known by its censored title, "Nothing In Between") is a Grammy-nominated song co-written with Shelly Peiken and recorded by American artist Meredith Brooks. It was released in May 1997, as the lead single from her debut album Blurring the Edges.

Success

The song steadily rose on the Billboard charts, eventually peaking at number two for four weeks, only behind "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112. It debuted and peaked on #6 on the UK Singles Chart on 27 July 1997, and stayed in the top ten for four weeks. The song was also a big hit in Oceania, where it reached number two in Australia and four in New Zealand. It ranked at #79 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s.

"Bitch" was also used in the Nancy Meyers film What Women Want (2000), starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. The scene is arguably the most memorable part of the film, as Gibson is seen dressing in women's tights, wearing makeup, and singing to the chorus of the song. From this point in the film the character is able to "hear" what women want.

Music video

The video accompanying the song shows Meredith Brooks on guitar while performing the song on a shimmering floral background. Throughout the course of the song several objects typically associated with women are shown floating around the singer.

Media

The song appears in the film What Women Want, in the scene where Nick sings and begins to try different feminine products for the company he works for. It was also briefly sung by Alison Hendrix, one of the clones played by Tatiana Maslany, in the 8th episode of the first season of Orphan Black. It is sung by the character Brooke Soso, in the twelfth episode of the second season of Orange Is the New Black.

Jane Lynch covered the song as character Sue Sylvester on Glee's final season episode, "The Hurt Locker, Part One". Liz Lemon of 30 Rock listens to the song while running, in the episode "Cleveland." "Bitch" was the theme song for Chasing Farrah starring Farrah Fawcett.

Parodies

American comedy music group Raymond and Scum parodied the song as "Blair Witch", a parody about the film The Blair Witch Project (1999).[2]

In 2000, Australian comedian Chris Franklin released a parody of the song titled "Bloke" with the lyrics changed to reflect the stereotypical Australian male lifestyle. It debuted at number 15 on the ARIA Charts before eventually reaching the number one spot and staying there for two weeks, becoming the twelfth highest selling single of the year[3] and receiving double platinum certification (140,000+ copies shipped). The song was later nominated for two ARIA Awards for 'Best Comedy Release' and 'Highest Selling Single', failing to win either.

Kim Gordon of the band Sonic Youth has stated that their song "Female Mechanic Now on Duty" was inspired by "Bitch". "It's worth mentioning," says Kim, "that the song, 'Female Mechanic on Duty' was inspired by 'Bitch' by that famous Lilith-type female singer, Meredith Brooks. It's an answer song."[4]

"Bitch" has frequently been misattributed to fellow singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, a misconception that has existed since the song's release. The close musical similarities between Morissette's work at the time in comparison with "Bitch" has been commented upon by publications such as Allmusic,[5] Billboard,[6] Entertainment Weekly,[7] and the Los Angeles Times,[1] with music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine said that Brooks sounded like a "clone".[5] Record producer Geza X deliberately sought a hit single that sounded like Morissette's songs, yet he was fired soon afterward even when "Bitch" picked up major success, due to conflicts with Brooks' record label.[8]

Morissette had no involvement in the recording of "Bitch". Another possible source of confusion comes from the existence of Morissette's 2008 track "It's a Bitch (To Grow Up)", which is unrelated to Brooks's song but has a similar title and some similar lyrical themes. Brooks has stated that the popular misconception used to bother her but seems to have become just humorous.

Track listings

CD single[9]

  1. "Bitch" (Edit) – 3:58
  2. "Bitch" (Transistor Mix) – 4:07
  3. "Bitch" (Madgroove Mix) – 3:45
  4. "Bitch" (E-Team Funky Bitch Edit) – 3:05

CD single alt[10]

  1. "Bitch" – 4:13
  2. "Down By The River" – 4:15

CD maxi[11]

  1. "Bitch" (Album Version) – 4:13
  2. "Bitch" (Untied) – 3:56
  3. "Bitch" (Transistor Mix) – 4:07
  4. "Bitch" (Tee's In House Mix) – 6:13
  5. "Down By The River" – 4:15

12" promo[12]

  1. "Bitch" (E Team Funky Bitch Mix) – 8:18
  2. "Bitch" (E Team M2000 Crazy Bitch Mix) – 7:00
  3. "Bitch" (Madgroove Mix) – 3:45
  4. "Bitch" (Todd Terry's Inhouse Mix) – 6:12
  5. "Bitch" (Todd Terry's Inhouse Dub) – 5:36
  6. "Bitch" (E Team Funky Bitch Radio Edit) – 3:05

Chart positions

Peak positions

Chart (1997-1998) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[15] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[16] 28
Canada (RPM)[17] 2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 9
France (SNEP)[18] 42
Germany (Official German Charts)[19] 19
Ireland (IRMA) 12
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 12
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 4
Norway (VG-lista)[22] 5
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[23] 12
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 10
United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company)[25] 6
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 2
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[27] 14
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[28] 4
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[29] 34
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[30] 1

End of year charts

End of year chart (1997) Position
Germany (Official German Charts)[31] 74
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[32] 15

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[33] Platinum 70,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[34] Gold 0*
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] Silver 200,000^
United States (RIAA)[36] Gold 1,100,000[37]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Isn't It Ironic?", Jerry Crowe, Los Angeles Times, June 11, 1997.
  2. ↑ "Blair Witch". thefump.com. 2008-05-06. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  3. ↑ ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2000 Archived July 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ "Bitch". Songmeanings.net.
  5. 1 2 "AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  6. ↑ Jagged Little Pill Anniversary Review
  7. ↑ Interview with Meredith Brooks
  8. ↑ Avalon, Moses (June 2005). Million Dollar Mistakes: Steering Your Music Career Clear of Lies, Cons, Catastrophes, and Landmines. Backbeat Books. pp. 99–101. ISBN 9781617133251.
  9. ↑ Meredith Brooks - Bitch (CD) at Discogs
  10. ↑ Meredith Brooks - Bitch (CD) at Discogs
  11. ↑ Meredith Brooks - Bitch (CD) at Discogs
  12. ↑ Meredith Brooks - Bitch (Vinyl) at Discogs
  13. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  14. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Meredith Brooks – Bitch" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  15. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Meredith Brooks – Bitch" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  16. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Meredith Brooks – Bitch" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  17. ↑ Canadian peak
  18. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Meredith Brooks – Bitch" (in French). Les classement single.
  19. ↑ "Musicline.de – Meredith Brooks Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  20. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Meredith Brooks search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
  21. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". Top 40 Singles.
  22. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". VG-lista.
  23. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". Singles Top 100.
  24. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". Swiss Singles Chart.
  25. ↑ UK Singles Chart Position
  26. ↑ "Meredith Brooks – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Meredith Brooks. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  27. ↑ "Meredith Brooks – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Meredith Brooks. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  28. ↑ "Meredith Brooks – Chart history" Billboard Alternative Songs for Meredith Brooks. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  29. ↑ "Meredith Brooks – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Meredith Brooks. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  30. ↑ "Meredith Brooks – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Meredith Brooks. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  31. ↑ https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1997. Retrieved September 5, 2016. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  32. ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1997". Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  33. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  34. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". Recorded Music NZ.
  35. ↑ "British single certifications – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Bitch in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  36. ↑ "American single certifications – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 30, 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  37. ↑ "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 110 (5): 76. January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
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