The Bitch Is Back

Last updated

"The Bitch Is Back"
Elton John - TBIB.jpg
Single by Elton John
from the album Caribou
B-side "Cold Highway"
Released3 September 1974 (1974-09-03)
RecordedJanuary 1974
Studio Caribou Ranch, Nederland, Colorado
Genre
Length3:44
Label MCA, DJM, Rocket/Phonogram
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
(1974)
"The Bitch Is Back"
(1974)
"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"
(1974)
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]

Contents

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

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [15] Gold500,000^

^ 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

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Tumbleweed Connection</i> 1970 studio album by Elton John

Tumbleweed Connection is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Elton John. It was recorded at Trident Studios, London, in March 1970, and released in October 1970 in the UK and January 1971 in the US. It is a concept album based on country and western and Americana themes. All songs are written by John and Bernie Taupin, with the exception of "Love Song" by Lesley Duncan.

<i>Madman Across the Water</i> 1971 album by Elton John

Madman Across the Water is the fourth studio album by English musician Elton John, released in 1971 through DJM and Uni Records. The album was his third album to be released in 1971, at which point John had been rising to prominence as a popular music artist. John's first progressive rock album, Madman Across the Water contains nine tracks, each composed and performed by John and with lyrics written by songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman plays Hammond organ on two songs.

<i>Honky Château</i> 1972 studio album by Elton John

Honky Château is the fifth studio album by English musician Elton John. It was released on 19 May 1972, and was titled after the 18th century French chateau where it was recorded, Château d'Hérouville. The album reached number one in the US Billboard 200, the first of John's seven consecutive US number one albums.

<i>Goodbye Yellow Brick Road</i> 1973 album by Elton John

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the seventh studio album by English singer, pianist, and composer Elton John, first released on 5 October 1973 as a double album by DJM Records. The album has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide and is widely regarded as John's magnum opus. Among the 17 tracks, the album contains the hits "Candle in the Wind," US number-one single "Bennie and the Jets," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", along with the live favourite "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding."

<i>Caribou</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Elton John

Caribou is the eighth studio album by English musician Elton John, released on 24 June 1974 by MCA Records in the US and on 28 June by DJM Records in the UK. It was his fourth chart-topping album in the United States and his third in the United Kingdom. The album contains the singles "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", which reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart and number two in the US, and "The Bitch Is Back", which reached number 15 in the UK and number four in the US. Both singles reached number one in Canada on the RPM 100 national Top Singles Chart, as did the album itself.

<i>Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy</i> 1975 studio album by Elton John

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth studio album by English musician Elton John. The album is an autobiographical account of the early musical careers of Elton John and his long-term lyricist Bernie Taupin. It was released in May 1975 by MCA Records in America and DJM in the UK and was an instant commercial success. The album was certified gold before its release, and reached No. 1 in its first week of release on the US Billboard 200, the first album to achieve both honours. It sold 1.4 million copies within four days of release, and stayed in the top position in the chart for seven weeks.

Tiny Dancer 1972 single by Elton John

"Tiny Dancer" is a song written by English musician and composer Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was originally released on John's 1971 album Madman Across the Water, and was later produced and released as a single in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel (Elton John song)</span> 1973 single by Elton John

"Daniel" is a song written by English musician Elton John and his long-time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was first released on John's 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candle in the Wind</span> 1974 single by Elton John

"Candle in the Wind" is a threnody written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was originally written in 1973, in honour of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier.

<i>Elton Johns Greatest Hits Volume II</i> 1977 greatest hits album by Elton John

Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume II is the sixteenth official album release for English musician Elton John, and the second compilation. The original 1977 US version features one song from 1971 and two songs from 1974 that were not on the first greatest hits album. It also features several hit songs from 1975 and two hit singles from Elton's last year of performing in 1976. The cover photograph was taken by Gered Mankowitz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Song</span> 1970 single by Elton John

"Your Song" is a song written by British musician Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was John's first international Top 10 chart single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crocodile Rock</span> 1972 single by Elton John

"Crocodile Rock" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and recorded in summer 1972 at the Château d'Hérouville studio in France, where John and his team had previously recorded the Honky Château album. It was released on 27 October 1972 in the UK and 20 November 1972 in the U.S., as a pre-release single from his forthcoming 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, and became his first U.S. number-one single, reaching the top spot on 3 February 1973, and staying there for three consecutive weeks. In the U.S., it was certified Gold on 5 February 1973 and Platinum on 13 September 1995 by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Levon (song)</span> 1971 single by Elton John

"Levon" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was recorded on 27 February 1971, and was released on John's 1971 album, Madman Across the Water. Backing vocals are provided by Tony Burrows. Paul Buckmaster wrote the orchestral arrangements and directed the orchestra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Someone Saved My Life Tonight</span> 1975 single by Elton John

"Someone Saved My Life Tonight" is a song, with music by English musician Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin, from John's 1975 album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. It was released as a single on 23 June 1975, the only single released from the album. Like the rest of the album, the song is autobiographical, and addresses an attempted suicide by John.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (song)</span> 1973 single by Elton John

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is a ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It is the title track on John's album of the same name. The titular road is a reference to L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz film and book series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting</span> 1973 single by Elton John

"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (sometimes written "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)") is a song originally recorded by English musician Elton John. John composed it with his long-time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. It was released on John's best-selling album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) and as the first single. It has been covered by many artists and featured on motion picture, video game, and television soundtracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me</span> 1974 single by Elton John

"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was originally recorded by John for his eighth studio album, Caribou (1974), and was released as a single that peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bennie and the Jets</span> 1974 single by Elton John

"Bennie and the Jets" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. The song first appeared on the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album in 1973. "Bennie and the Jets" has been one of John's most popular songs and was performed during his appearance at Live Aid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues</span> 1983 song by Elton John

"I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" is a song by English musician Elton John, with music by John and Davey Johnstone and lyrics by Bernie Taupin, released as the first single from John's 17th studio album Too Low for Zero. It was the first single since 1975's "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" to feature the classic lineup of the Elton John Band.

<i>Revamp & Restoration</i> 2018 dual tribute album to Elton John and Bernie Taupin

Revamp: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin and Restoration: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin are two tribute albums to English musician Elton John and his frequent songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, both released on 6 April 2018. Revamp was described as John's project and features covers of the duo's back catalogue by pop, rock and R&B artists, whereas Restoration was seen as Taupin's project and features covers by country music artists. Revamp was released via Island Records and Restoration by Universal Music Group Nashville. The release of the albums coincided with John's 2018–2023 Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.

References

  1. Simpson, Dave (13 September 2018). "Elton John's 50 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Caribou – Elton John". AllMusic . Retrieved 10 August 2019. 'The Bitch Is Back' is one of his best hard rock cuts ...
  3. 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.
  4. Kirkl, Justin (29 May 2019). "Neither 'Rocket Man' Nor 'Tiny Dancer' Is Elton John's Best Song". Esquire . Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  5. 1 2 "RPM Top Singles". RPM . 22 (11): 9. 2 November 1074. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  6. 1 2 Guinness British Hit Singles, Fifth Edition, GRRR Books Ltd. and Guinness Superlatives Ltd., 1985, ISBN   0-85112-429-1, p. 115.
  7. "Gold & Platinum – RIAA: Elton John". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  8. Rosenthal, Elizabeth J. (2001). His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John. New York: Billboard Books. p.  83. ISBN   0-823088-93-6.
  9. 1 2 "The Bitch Is Back by Elton John". SongFacts .
  10. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. 14 September 1974. p. 16. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  11. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 14 September 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  12. Williams, Jean (25 December 1976). "Sex-Oriented Lyrics, Titles Stir a Storm". Billboard . p. 19. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  13. 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.
  14. Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca.
  15. "American single certifications – Elton John – The Bitch Is Back". Recording Industry Association of America.
  16. "Tina Turner's GRAMMY Awards history". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. 23 November 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 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.
  18. Icons of R & B and Soul: An Encyclopedia of the Artists who Revolutionized Rhythm. ABC-CLIO. 2008. ISBN   9780313340444.