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
Recorded 1996–1997
Genre
Length
  • 4:12 (album version)
  • 3:58 (radio edit)
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Geza X[1]
Meredith Brooks singles chronology
"Bitch"
(1997)		 "I Need"
(1997)

"Bitch", also known by its censored title, "Nothing In Between", is a 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.

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. The song reached number two in Canada as well, kept at that position for two weeks behind "MMMBop" by Hanson. It debuted and peaked on number six 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 Australasia, where it reached number two in Australia and number four in New Zealand. At the APRA Music Awards of 1998 it won Most Performed Foreign Work.[2] It also charted strongly on Europe; in Iceland, the song reached number three. It ranked at No. 79 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s", and was nominated for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.

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. "Bitch" was the theme song for the reality television series Chasing Farrah starring Farrah Fawcett.

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."

Parodies

American comedy music group Raymond and Scum parodied the song as "Blair Witch", a parody about the film The Blair Witch Project (1999).[3]

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[4] 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."[5]

"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,[6] Billboard,[7] Entertainment Weekly,[8] and the Los Angeles Times,[1] with music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine saying that Brooks sounded like a "clone".[6] 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.[9]

Track listings

CD single[10]

  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[11]

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

CD maxi[12]

  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[13]

  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

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[46] Platinum 70,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[47] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] Gold 400,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[49] Gold 1,100,000[50]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales+streaming figures based on certification alone

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Isn't It Ironic?", Jerry Crowe, Los Angeles Times, June 11, 1997.
  2. ↑ "1998 Winners - APRA Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Archived from the original on 18 September 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "Blair Witch". thefump.com. 2008-05-06. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  4. ↑ ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2000 Archived July 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ "Bitch". Songmeanings.net.
  6. 1 2 "AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  7. ↑ Jagged Little Pill Anniversary Review
  8. ↑ Interview with Meredith Brooks
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ Meredith Brooks - Bitch (CD) at Discogs
  11. ↑ Meredith Brooks - Bitch (CD) at Discogs
  12. ↑ Meredith Brooks - Bitch (CD) at Discogs
  13. ↑ Meredith Brooks - Bitch (Vinyl) at Discogs
  14. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  15. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Meredith Brooks – Bitch" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  16. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Meredith Brooks – Bitch" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  17. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Meredith Brooks – Bitch" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  18. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3274." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  19. ↑ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 8286." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  20. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Meredith Brooks – Bitch" (in French). Les classement single.
  21. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  22. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn NR. 227 Vikuna 26.6. '97 - 2.7. '97" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir. 1997-06-27. p. 16. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  23. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Bitch". Irish Singles Chart.
  24. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Meredith Brooks" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  25. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Meredith Brooks – Bitch" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  26. ↑ "Charts.nz – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". Top 40 Singles.
  27. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". VG-lista.
  28. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  29. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". Singles Top 100.
  30. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". Swiss Singles Chart.
  31. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  32. ↑ "Meredith Brooks Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  33. ↑ "Meredith Brooks Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  34. ↑ "Meredith Brooks Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  35. ↑ "Meredith Brooks Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  36. ↑ "Meredith Brooks Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  37. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1997". ARIA. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  38. ↑ "JAHRESHITPARADE 1997" (in German). Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  39. ↑ "jaaroverzichten 1997" (in German). Ultratop. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  40. ↑ "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  41. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts 1997". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  42. ↑ "JAAROVERZICHTEN - Single 1997" (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  43. ↑ "Årslista Singlar – År 1997" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  44. ↑ "SWISS YEAR-END CHARTS 1997". Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  45. ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1997". Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  46. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  47. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". Recorded Music NZ.
  48. ↑ "British single certifications – Meredith Brooks – Bitch". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Enter Bitch in the search field and then press Enter.
  49. ↑ "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. 
  50. ↑ "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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