The Bitch Is Back
"The Bitch Is Back" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Elton John | ||||
from the album Caribou | ||||
B-side | "Cold Highway" | |||
Released | 3 September 1974 (1974-09-03) | |||
Recorded | January 1974 | |||
Studio | Caribou Ranch, Nederland, Colorado | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:44 | |||
Label | MCA, DJM, Rocket/Phonogram | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Gus Dudgeon | |||
Elton John singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Official Audio | ||||
"The Bitch Is Back" on YouTube | ||||
"The Bitch Is Back" is a rock song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was the second single released from John's 1974 album Caribou, and reached number 1 in Canada (his sixth in that country),[5] number 4 in the United States and number 15 in the United Kingdom.[6]
The lyrics parody John's celebrity lifestyle. In the US, it was certified Gold on 13 September 1995 by the Recording Industry Association of America.[7]
Background
The idea to create the song was inspired not by John or Taupin directly, but rather by Taupin's wife at the time, Maxine Feibelman, who would say, "The bitch is back," when John was in a bad mood.[8] Taupin then wrote the lyrics. Later, John would comment: "It is kind of my theme song."[9] The song originally was written in A-flat major, but was later performed live a half step lower in the key of G major.
Reception
Cash Box said that "Elton and the band are in rare form here and prove that rock comes as easily as the ballads do" and that "the hooks are incredible, the vocals are intense and the playing is right there."[10] Record World called it a "rambunctious rouser" that "doesn't mince words."[11]
Controversy
Several radio stations in the United States and elsewhere refused to play the song because of the word "bitch". For example, in 1976, the program director of WPIX-FM in New York told Billboard, "We will play records that are borderline suggestive records such as 'Disco Lady' by Johnny [sic] Taylor but we will not play 'The Bitch Is Back' by Elton John. We won't play those types of records no matter how popular they get."[12] John responded to the controversy, quipping "some radio stations in America are more puritanical than others."[13]
Chart performance
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[15] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Covers
The song was twice recorded by Tina Turner, once for her Rough album in 1978, and again for the John/Taupin tribute album Two Rooms in 1991. Turner also performed the song in her live show in the late 1970s, and with John at the 1995 VH1 Fashion and Music Awards and VH1 Divas Live '99. For her rendition Turner earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Performance.[16]
Rihanna covered the song with Elton at the third annual Fashion Rocks Concert in 2006.[9]
"Feud", the sixteenth episode of Glee's fourth season, uses "The Bitch Is Back" in a mash-up with Madonna's "Dress You Up", performed by Alex Newell and Blake Jenner.
Miley Cyrus covered the song for the 2018 cover album Restoration: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
Taron Egerton covered the song for the 2019 Elton John biopic Rocketman. It was the first song featured in the film.
In Hocus Pocus 2 (2022), Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker perform the song in character as the Sanderson Sisters with the song rewritten as "The Witches Are Back".
Personnel
- Ray Cooper – tambourine[17]
- Davey Johnstone – electric guitars[17]
- Elton John – piano, vocals[17]
- Clydie King – backing vocals[17]
- Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals[17]
- Dee Murray – bass, phased Pignose bass[17]
- Nigel Olsson – drums[17]
- Lenny Pickett – tenor sax (solo)[17]
- Jessie Smith – backing vocals[17]
- Dusty Springfield – backing vocals[17][18]
- Tower of Power horn section – brass[17]
See also
References
- ^ Simpson, Dave (13 September 2018). "Elton John's 50 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Caribou – Elton John". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
'The Bitch Is Back' is one of his best hard rock cuts ...
- ^ Considine, J.D.; Coleman, Mark; Evans, Paul; McGee, David (1992). "Elton John". In DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Random House. pp. 151–153.
- ^ Kirkl, Justin (29 May 2019). "Neither 'Rocket Man' Nor 'Tiny Dancer' Is Elton John's Best Song". Esquire. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
- ^ a b "RPM Top Singles". RPM. 22 (11): 9. 2 November 1074. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- ^ a b Guinness British Hit Singles, Fifth Edition, GRRR Books Ltd. and Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1985, ISBN 0-85112-429-1, p. 115.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum – RIAA: Elton John". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ Rosenthal, Elizabeth J. (2001). His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John. New York: Billboard Books. p. 83. ISBN 0-823088-93-6.
- ^ a b "The Bitch Is Back by Elton John". SongFacts.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. 14 September 1974. p. 16. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 14 September 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ Williams, Jean (25 December 1976). "Sex-Oriented Lyrics, Titles Stir a Storm". Billboard. p. 19. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- ^ Heller, Jason (24 July 2012). "How Elton John's "The Bitch Is Back" said a lot without specifying anything". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
- ^ Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca.
- ^ "American single certifications – Elton John – The Bitch Is Back". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "Tina Turner's GRAMMY Awards history". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. 23 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ollivier, Romuald; Roubin, Olivier (4 April 2023). Elton John All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. Running Press. ISBN 978-0-7624-7949-8 – via Google Books.
- ^ Icons of R & B and Soul: An Encyclopedia of the Artists who Revolutionized Rhythm. ABC-CLIO. 2008. ISBN 9780313340444.
External links
- Elton John – The Bitch Is Back (Live-HQ) on YouTube - from 2000, live in Madison Square Garden
- v
- t
- e
- "I've Been Loving You" (1968)
- "Skyline Pigeon" (1968)
- "Lady Samantha" (1969)
- "It's Me That You Need" (1969)
- "Border Song" (1970)
- "Rock and Roll Madonna" (1970)
- "From Denver to L.A." (1970)
- "Take Me to the Pilot" (1970)
- "Your Song" (1970)
- "Come Down in Time" (1970)
- "Friends" (1971)
- "Levon" (1971)
- "Indian Sunset" (1971)
- "Tiny Dancer" (1972)
- "Rocket Man" (1972)
- "Honky Cat" (1972)
- "I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself" (1972)
- "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" (1972)
- "Crocodile Rock" (1972)
- "Elderberry Wine" (1972)
- "Daniel" (1972)
- "Have Mercy on the Criminal" (1972)
- "Teacher I Need You" (1973)
- "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" (1973)
- "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (1973)
- "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973)
- "Step into Christmas" (1973)
- "Candle in the Wind" (1974)
- "Bennie and the Jets" (1974)
- "Harmony" (1974)
- "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1974)
- "The Bitch Is Back" (1974)
- "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1974)
- "Philadelphia Freedom" (1975)
- "I Saw Her Standing There" (1975)
- "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (1975)
- "We All Fall in Love Sometimes" (1975)
- "Island Girl" (1975)
- "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" (1976)
- "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" (1976)
- "Pinball Wizard" (1976)
- "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (1976)
- "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (1976)
- "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" (1977)
- "Crazy Water" (1977)
- "The Goaldiggers Song" (1977)
- "Ego" (1978)
- "Part-Time Love" (1978)
- "Song for Guy" (1978)
- "Are You Ready for Love" (1979)
- "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (1979)
- "Johnny B. Goode" (1979)
- "Little Jeannie" (1980)
- "Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?)" (1980)
- "Dear God" (1980)
- "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" (1981)
- "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (1981)
- "Blue Eyes" (1982)
- "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" (1982)
- "Ball and Chain" (1982)
- "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1982)
- "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" (1983)
- "I'm Still Standing" (1983)
- "Kiss the Bride" (1983)
- "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (1984)
- "Passengers" (1984)
- "Nikita" (1985)
- "That's What Friends Are For" (1985)
- "Wrap Her Up" (1985)
- "Heartache All Over the World" (1986)
- "Slow Rivers" (1986)
- "Take Me to the Pilot" (1988)
- "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" (1988)
- "Town of Plenty" (1988)
- "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)" (1988)
- "Through the Storm" (1989)
- "Healing Hands" (1989)
- "Sacrifice" (1989)
- "Club at the End of the Street" (1990)
- "You Gotta Love Someone" (1990)
- "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1991)
- "The One" (1992)
- "Runaway Train" (1992)
- "The Last Song" (1992)
- "Simple Life" (1993)
- "True Love" (1993)
- "Shakey Ground" (1994)
- "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1994)
- "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (1994)
- "Circle of Life" (1994)
- "Believe" (1995)
- "Made in England" (1995)
- "When the Money's Gone" (1995)
- "You Can Make History (Young Again)" (1996)
- "Live Like Horses" (1996)
- "The Madness of King Scar" (1997)
- "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997)
- "Candle in the Wind 1997" (1997)
- "Written in the Stars" (1999)
- "Someday Out of the Blue" (2000)
- "I Want Love" (2001)
- "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" (2002)
- "Original Sin" (2002)
- "Are You Ready for Love" (2003)
- "Ghetto Gospel" (2005)
- "Electricity" (2005)
- "The Bridge" (2006)
- "Joseph, Better You than Me" (2008)
- "Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)" (2009)
- "All of the Lights" (2010)
- "Good Morning to the Night" (2012)
- "Sad" (2012)
- "Looking Up" (2015)
- "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" (2019)
- "Ordinary Man" (2020)
- "Sine from Above" (2020)
- "The Pink Phantom" (2020)
- "It's a Sin" (2021)
- "Cold Heart (Pnau remix)" (2021)
- "Merry Christmas" (2021)
- "Sausage Rolls for Everyone" (2021)
- "Hold Me Closer" (2022)
- Category:Elton John