Bitch (Meredith Brooks song)

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox song "Bitch", also known as "Bitch (Nothing in Between)",<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> is a song by American singer-songwriter Meredith Brooks and co-written with Shelly Peiken. It was released in March 1997 by Capitol Records as the lead single from Brooks' second album, Blurring the Edges (1997). The song was produced by punk notable Geza X.

In the United States, the song steadily rose on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually peaking at number two for four weeks. The song also peaked at number two in Australia and Canada and reached number six in the United Kingdom. In Australasia, at the APRA Music Awards of 1998, it won the award for Most Performed Foreign Work.<ref name="APRAWin1998">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song ranked at number 79 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s", and was nominated for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and Best Rock Song at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.

Writing and inspiration

"Bitch" was written by Brooks and Shelly Peiken. The song originated from feelings of frustration that Peiken felt in regards to her stalling music career.<ref name="story"/> These feelings of frustration inspired the song's opening lyrics—"I hate the world today"—which resulted in Peiken conceptualizing a song titled "Bitch".<ref name="songwriter">Template:Cite news</ref> Peiken reached out to Brooks to collaborate on the song, commenting: "[Brooks] had a lot of spunk, and I knew she could relate to this idea."<ref name="story"/> Brooks claimed that she was additionally inspired to write the song after reading the writings of psychiatrist Carl Jung.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The song was written in a single day in a spare bedroom of Peiken's home in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles.<ref name="songwriter"/> In an interview with Billboard, Brooks described the song as being about self-acceptance, referring to the word "bitch" as a term of endearment.<ref name="billboard">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Brooks intended to reclaim the word, removing the pejorative connotations surrounding it.<ref name="billboard"/> She further explained the meaning of the song:

I'm not "an angry young girl"—or whatever the phrase of the moment is—but I'm human. It's not to excuse ranting and raving, but I don't think there's anything wrong with having "a mood". I don't think we all need to keep the mask on all the time.<ref name="billboard"/>

Capitol Records was initially hesitant to release "Bitch" as the lead single from Blurring the Edges (1997) due to the song's explicit lyrical content.<ref name="story"/> The label's vice president of artists and repertoire, Perry Watts-Russell, and producer Geza X both expressed their concerns about the song's lyrics potentially having a negative impact on its commercial performance.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Peiken explained that the record label considered censoring the song, although she and Brooks convinced the label to release the song to airplay with the lyrics intact.<ref name="story"/> Following the release and subsequent success of the song, Brooks commented that she believed "Bitch" achieved its intended purpose of being a "celebration of Everywoman's multiple psyches."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Composition

According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing, the song is written in the key of A major and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 92 beats per minute.<ref name="sheet">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Brooks' vocal range spans two octaves, from E₃ to CTemplate:Sharp₅.<ref name="sheet"/>

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic cited "Bitch" as an "Alanis clone", critiquing the "semi-profane lyrics to the caterwauling chorus".<ref name="allmusic">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Other music critics similarly compared the song to that of singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, with Billboard,<ref>Jagged Little Pill Anniversary Review</ref> Entertainment Weekly,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and the Los Angeles Times<ref>"Isn't It Ironic?"</ref> all making note of the musical similarities between Morissette's work at the time in comparison with "Bitch". Record producer Geza X deliberately sought a hit single that sounded like Morissette's songs, yet he was fired soon afterward even when "Bitch" achieved major success, due to conflicts with Brooks' record label.<ref name="Million">Template:Cite book</ref> David Fricke from Rolling Stone remarked its "the notice-me snap".<ref>Fricke, David (December 25, 1997-January 8, 1998). "The year in recordings". Rolling Stone. Issue 776/777.</ref>

Chart performance

In the United States, "Bitch" debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the issue dated April 26, 1997.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The song spent a total of 35 weeks on the chart, peaking at number two for the issue dated July 12, 1997.<ref name="Hot100"/>

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Bitch" was directed by Paul Andressen in Los Angeles, California.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The video features 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.

Live performances

The song was performed as part of Brooks' opening set on the Rolling Stones' Bridges to Babylon Tour.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Brooks left the stage early after the audience began booing and throwing bottles, batteries, and coins at her.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In response, Brooks cited the crowd's behavior as misogynistic and illustrative of the dangers of mob mentality.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Legacy

In 2017, Billboard ranked "Bitch" number 50 in their list of "The 100 Greatest Pop Songs of 1997", writing, "You undoubtedly remember the thing for its cathartic chorus, in which Meredith Brooks declares herself to be the spectrum of all things feminine and human — though only one of them was memorable to enough to risk getting censored on top 40 radio. Still, when you listen next, pay attention to the underrated verses; Brooks grinning and teasing her way through a relationship that attempts in vain to pigeonhole her personality (Yesterday I cried/ You must've been relieved to see the softer side)."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2022, Avril Lavigne cited "Bitch" as the one song she wishes she could have written; she further expressed interest in covering the song.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Track listings and formats

• US CD single and cassette<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

1. "Bitch"  – 4:13
2. "Down by the River"  – 4:15

• US maxi-CD single<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

1. "Bitch" (album version) – 4:13
2. "Bitch" (untied version) – 3:56
3. "Bitch" (Transistor mix) – 4:07
4. "Bitch" (Tee's In-House mix) – 6:13
5. "Down by the River"  – 4:15

• UK CD and Australian maxi-CD single<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

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

• UK 7-inch vinyl<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

1. "Bitch" (edit) – 3:58
2. "Bitch" (Madgroove mix) – 3:45

• European and French CD single<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

1. "Bitch" (edit) – 4:12
2. "Bitch" (Transistor mix) – 4:07

• European maxi-CD single<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

1. "Bitch" (edit) – 3:58
2. "Bitch" (untied version) – 3:56
3. "Bitch" (Todd Terry's Inhouse mix) – 6:13
4. "Down by the River"  – 4:15

• Japanese CD single<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

1. "Bitch"  – 4:13
2. "Down by the River"  – 4:14
3. "Bitch" (Transistor mix) – 4:07

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from Blurring the Edges album booklet.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

Studios

• Recorded at City Lab Sound Design (Hollywood, California)
• Mixed at Sunset Sound Factory (Hollywood, California)
• Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US)

Personnel Template:Div col

• Meredith Brooks – writing, vocals, background vocals, guitars
• Shelly Peiken – writing
• Paul Bushnell – bass
• David Ricketts – keyboards
• Josh Freese – drums
• Geza X – drum loop programming, production, engineering
• Jim Ebert – mixing, engineering
• Bob Ludwig – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Bitch"

Chart (1997–1998)	Peak position
Denmark (IFPI)<ref>Danish Singles Chart August 22, 1997</ref>	16
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	9
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	3
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
US Billboard Hot 100<ref name="Hot100">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	2
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	14
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	34
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	4
US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Bitch"

Chart (1997)	Position
Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	16
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	26
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	28
Canada Top Singles (RPM)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	34
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	45
Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	74
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	63
Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	52
Romania (Romanian Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	41
Sweden (Topplistan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	45
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	26
UK Singles (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	52
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	15
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	29
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	31
US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	12

Chart (1998)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	87

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Bitch"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Template:Abbr
United States	March 25, 1997	Modern rock radio	Capitol	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
	April 29, 1997	Contemporary hit radio		<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
	May 20, 1997	CD		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Japan	June 27, 1997			citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
United Kingdom	July 21, 1997	Template:Hlist		<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Covers and parodies

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} 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. The song peaked at number one on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

American comedy music group Raymond and Scum parodied the song as "Blair Witch", a parody about the film The Blair Witch Project (1999).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2016, Britney Spears gave a spoken word performance of the song during her Britney: Piece of Me concert residency.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• List of Billboard Mainstream Top 40 number-one songs of the 1990s