The Bitch Is Back
Encyclopedia
"The Bitch Is Back" is a rock song by Elton John
, written with Bernie Taupin
. It was the second single released from his 1974 album Caribou
, and reached number 1 in Canada (his sixth in that country), number 4 in the United States and number 15 in the United Kingdom. The song has been identified as is one of Elton John's best hard rock cuts. In the U.S. it was certified Gold on 9/13/1995 by the R.I.A.A.
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 Elton John
at the VH1 Fashion and Music Awards 1995 and VH1 Divas Live '99
.
The idea to create the song was inspired not by John or Taupin directly, but rather by Bernie Taupin's wife of the time. When discussing the Caribou album, Elton John threw one of his legendary tantrum
s. This led to Taupin's wife to claim "the bitch is back". Taupin then wrote the lyric. Musically, the song originally was written in A flat major, but is today performed live a half step lower in the key of G major. The saxophone solo in the middle is nowadays usually performed by synthesizers, while a guitar solo occasionally substitutes, as can be seen in the concert videos One Night Only and Live in Australia, respectively.
This song was banned on several radio stations, in the United States and elsewhere, due to the use 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."
Producer Gus Dudgeon added a live version of it, recorded on Thanksgiving night 1974 at Madison Square Garden, at the close of the There disc on the reissued two-CD version of Here and There. It is a concert staple for John, who loves to play the song live to this day. A mixed media presentation of it, with a video cameo from Pamela Anderson
, was created for part of John's very successful Red Piano show in Las Vegas.
Dusty Springfield
is one of the backing vocalists on the studio version of the song.
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, written with Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
. It was the second single released from his 1974 album Caribou
Caribou (album)
Caribou is the 8th studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1974 . It was John's 4th chart-topping album in the U.S. and his 3rd in the U.K. The album contains the singles, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", which reached # 16 in the UK Singles Chart and # 2 in the U.S.,...
, and reached number 1 in Canada (his sixth in that country), number 4 in the United States and number 15 in the United Kingdom. The song has been identified as is one of Elton John's best hard rock cuts. In the U.S. it was certified Gold on 9/13/1995 by the R.I.A.A.
The song was twice recorded by Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
: 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 Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
at the VH1 Fashion and Music Awards 1995 and VH1 Divas Live '99
VH1 Divas
In 1998, VH1 debuted the first annual VH1 Divas concert. VH1 Divas Live was created to support the channel's Save The Music Foundation and subsequent concerts in the series have also benefited that foundation. The VH1 Divas concerts aired annually from 1998 to 2004. After a five year hiatus, the...
.
The idea to create the song was inspired not by John or Taupin directly, but rather by Bernie Taupin's wife of the time. When discussing the Caribou album, Elton John threw one of his legendary tantrum
Tantrum
A tantrum is an emotional outburst, usually associated with children or those in emotional distress, that is typically characterized by stubbornness, crying, screaming, yelling, shrieking, defiance, angry ranting, a resistance to attempts at pacification and, in some cases, violence...
s. This led to Taupin's wife to claim "the bitch is back". Taupin then wrote the lyric. Musically, the song originally was written in A flat major, but is today performed live a half step lower in the key of G major. The saxophone solo in the middle is nowadays usually performed by synthesizers, while a guitar solo occasionally substitutes, as can be seen in the concert videos One Night Only and Live in Australia, respectively.
This song was banned on several radio stations, in the United States and elsewhere, due to the use of the word "bitch". For example, in 1976, the program director of WPIX-FM in New York told Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, "We will play records that are borderline suggestive records such as 'Disco Lady
Disco Lady
"Disco Lady" is a 1976 single for Johnnie Taylor that went on to become his biggest hit. It spent four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and six weeks on the Billboard R&B chart in the U.S. It was also the first single to be certified platinum by the RIAA...
' by Johnny [sic] Taylor
Johnnie Taylor
Johnnie Harrison Taylor was an American vocalist in a wide variety of genres, from rhythm and blues, soul, blues and gospel to pop, doo-wop and disco.-Early years:...
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."
Producer Gus Dudgeon added a live version of it, recorded on Thanksgiving night 1974 at Madison Square Garden, at the close of the There disc on the reissued two-CD version of Here and There. It is a concert staple for John, who loves to play the song live to this day. A mixed media presentation of it, with a video cameo from Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson
Pamela Denise Anderson is a Canadian-American actress, model, producer, author, activist, and former showgirl, known for her roles on the television series Home Improvement, Baywatch, and V.I.P. She was chosen as a Playmate of the Month for Playboy magazine in February 1990...
, was created for part of John's very successful Red Piano show in Las Vegas.
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
is one of the backing vocalists on the studio version of the song.