Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)

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"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"
File:Cher Bang Bang cover 7 inch.png
Single by Cher
from the album The Sonny Side of Chér
B-side
ReleasedFebruary 25, 1966
Recorded1966
GenreFolk rock
Length2:44
LabelImperial
Songwriter(s)Sonny Bono
Producer(s)Sonny Bono
Cher singles chronology
"Where Do You Go"
(1965) 		"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"
(1966) 		"Alfie"
(1966)
Audio
Cher – "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" on YouTube

"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" is the second single by American singer-actress Cher from her second album, The Sonny Side of Chér. Written by her then-husband Sonny Bono and released in 1966, the song reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a single week (behind "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" by The Righteous Brothers), eventually becoming one of Cher's biggest-selling singles of the 1960s.[1][2]

History

The single proved successful, charting high in several countries worldwide. It became Cher's first million-selling single and her first top 3 hit in the UK (and her last until "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" reached No. 1 in 1991). Critic Tim Sendra, in his album review of The Sonny Side of Cher, gave the song a mixed review: "The only track that has any real zest is the Bono-written novelty 'Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)', the kind of dramatic song Cher could knock out in her sleep but also a song with no real heart."[3] On the other hand, the reviewer for Cashbox said the song was "inventive", and predicted it would become a "blockbuster" hit. The reviewer praised its "plaintive, blues-soaked" style, as well as the "interesting Gypsy-ish backing".[4]

In 1987, Cher recorded a rock version of the song for her 1987 Platinum-certified comeback album Cher. Produced by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child, the song featured backing vocals by Jon Bon Jovi and Michael Bolton, among others, and was released as a promotional single in 1988. Cher performed this version on her Heart of Stone Tour and on Living Proof: The Farewell Tour, and it was played instrumentally on the Dressed to Kill Tour in 2014, Classic Cher in 2017–2020, and the Here We Go Again Tour in 2018–2020.

Track listing

  • 1966 US and European 7" single
  1. "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" – 2:40
  2. "Our Day Will Come" – 2:28
  • 1987 French 7" single
  1. "Bang-Bang" – 3:51
  2. "I Found Someone" – 3:42
  • 1993 French CD single
  1. "Bang-Bang" – 3:54
  2. "Whenever You're Near" – 4:05

Charts

Other versions

Nancy Sinatra recorded one of the best-known covers of the song, for her 1966 album How Does That Grab You? Her version features tremolo guitar, played by her arranger, Billy Strange,[29] and had a resurgence in popularity when it was used in the opening credits of the 2003 Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill Volume 1. In the sequence preceding the credits, Tarantino creates a literal, bloody interpretation of the song's chorus and the third verse, about a wedding day.[30] Her version also was the theme for BBC coverage of the 2005 Wimbledon tennis championships, and has been sampled on several hip-hop recordings, including the Audio Bullys (featuring Nancy Sinatra) top 3 UK track "Shot You Down" in 2005.[citation needed]

External audio
audio icon "Bang Bang" (Italian) by Dalida on YouTube

The song was also popular in Italy in 1966, when it was covered in Italian by Dalida. The song reached number one and stayed for two months winning her a gold record. Following her recording, which appeared on her 1967 album, Piccolo Ragazzo, several Italian singers including Mina, and the psychedelic bands Equipe 84 and I Corvi,[31] covered the track. Her version was also included as main song of 2010 drama film, Heartbeats.[citation needed]

Frank Sinatra recorded the song in April 1981 and in November it became the title track of his penultimate album, "She Shot Me Down".

External audio
audio icon "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" (live from Jazz at Lincoln Center) by Lady Gaga on YouTube

Lady Gaga performed "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" in July 2014 at Jazz at Lincoln Center, for the TV special Cheek to Cheek Live!.[32] The recording of the performance became available as a bonus track on the iTunes/Apple Music version of her first collaborative jazz album with Tony Bennett, Cheek to Cheek.[33] Gaga's rendition of "Bang Bang" debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Jazz Digital Songs Chart[34] and was well-received by critics.[35][36][37][38] The singer would later include the song in her tours and residency shows.[39][40][41]

Caroline Polachek recorded a cover of "Bang Bang" for the soundtrack of the 2022 film Minions: The Rise of Gru. Her cover can be noted for its more funky, upbeat elements, and a contemporary and less-serious feel. It stands alongside other modern covers of older tracks on the movie's soundtrack.[42] A Chinese version, which was used for the movie's opening, was covered by G.E.M.

The Cambodian artist, Pen Ran sampled the music in her controversial song Sneha [1]

References

  1. ^ "Cher – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  2. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 – Week of April 23, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  3. ^ Sendra, Tim. "The Sonny Side of Cher". AllMusic. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  4. ^ "Record Reviews", Cashbox, March 5, 1966, p. 16.
  5. ^ David Kent Australian Chart Book 1940-1969
  6. ^ "Cher – Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  7. ^ "Cher – Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  8. ^ "Cher – Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5727." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  10. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Cher". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 46. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Cher – Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 1, 2019. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Cher"
  12. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  13. ^ "Italy's Best Sellers" (PDF). Cash Box. November 12, 1966. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  14. ^ "Cash Box" (PDF). Americanradohistory.com. 1966-08-27. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  15. ^ "Cher – Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  16. ^ Scapolo, Dean (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966–2006. Wellington: Dean Scapolo and Maurienne House. p. 13. ISBN 978-1877443-00-8.
  17. ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  18. ^ "Norway's top 20 Best Sellers". Arbeiderbladet. May 21, 1966. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  19. ^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  20. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Songs (A-B)". www.rock.co.za.
  21. ^ "Cher: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  22. ^ "Cher Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  23. ^ "australian-charts.com - Forum - Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". australian-charts.com.
  24. ^ German Singles Chart (1966). "German Singles Chart; End of year charts". Archived from the original on 18 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  25. ^ "Japan 1966 Year in Review" (PDF). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  26. ^ "UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 1966 - Year End". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  27. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1966". Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  28. ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1966". Archived from the original on October 4, 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
  29. ^ "Guitarist Billy Strange Talks About Nancy Sinatra's 'Bang Bang'". Lost & Sound. June 6, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  30. ^ "Bang Bang: Pop! Goes the Murder Ballad". Murder Ballad Monday. Sing Out!. March 2, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  31. ^ "I Corvi - Bang bang (1966)". YouTube. Retrieved January 4, 2012.[dead YouTube link]
  32. ^ Strecker, Erin (September 30, 2014). "Lady Gaga Shows Off Pipes in 'Bang Bang' Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  33. ^ "Cheek to Cheek by Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 23 September 2014. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  34. ^ "Chart History – Lady Gaga". Billboard. Billboard. October 23, 2021. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  35. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (June 9, 2015). "Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga review – cheeky fun from jazz royalty and pop's Mother Monster". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  36. ^ Wood, Mikael (January 21, 2019). "Review: In Las Vegas, Lady Gaga solves the problem of 'A Star Is Born'". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  37. ^ S. He, Richard (August 30, 2020). "Every Lady Gaga Song, Ranked". Vulture.com. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  38. ^ Duren, Rand (October 22, 2014). "5 reasons why you shouldn't miss Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga's PBS special". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  39. ^ Barr, Gordon (February 5, 2017). "Review: Lady Gaga at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle". Evening Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  40. ^ Farber, Jim (June 19, 2015). "Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett check to cheek and in sync at Radio City Music Hall". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  41. ^ Mazur, Kevin (October 20, 2021). "Glitz, glamour and Gaga: 'Jazz & Piano' provides quintessential Vegas show experience". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  42. ^ "Caroline Polachek Covers Nancy Sinatra's "Bang Bang" For 'Minions: The Rise of Gru' -". mxdwn Music. 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2022-07-11.

External links

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