Bitch (Meredith Brooks song)

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 at 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 in Oceania, where it reached number two in Australia and four in New Zealand. It ranked at number 79 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s.

"Bitch" was also used in the 2000 Nancy Meyers film What Women Want, 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 12th 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 1999 film The Blair Witch Project.

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 and receiving double platinum certification (140,000+ copies shipped). The song was later nominated for 2 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."

Popular misconception

"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, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, and the Los Angeles Times, with music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine said that Brooks sounded like a "clone". 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.

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.

CD-single

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

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

CD-maxi

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

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