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Normally I would save this. But I just had my mind motoring.

'Bitch' - Meredith Brooks

Could this song be the least likely hit of the entire 90's? There was a lot of crazy music coming out in the early 90's as the transition from poppy synth new wave and hair metal and...wait, yeah that's bullshit. I do think the story is becoming lazier as time goes on. It simply goes that the excess of the 80's and extravagance of it all in the realm of say hair metal became too much and was in a single moment RIPPED APART WITH A SIMPLE RIFF THAT USHERED IN AN ERA OF FLANNEL AND SELF INTROSPECTION. SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT TORE DOWN THE WALLS OF INCONSEQUENTIAL FUN LIKE 'CHERRY PIE.' Except it didn't really.

I digress. 'Bitch' hit number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40. Was number 2 on the Hot 100. It was shockingly successful. I think this song came out at exactly the right time. It's funny to think but if you look at what pop culture (musicians, network tv, entertainment in general) is allowed to get away with its pretty shocking. Even compared to 10 or 12 years ago. And while there are going to be plenty of people who suggest this ever loosening belt of morals is bad news, I will politely disagree. Anyhow, the year is 1997. I do feel that bitch being uttered in a song was still kind of controversial. It's a bad word! You can't say that. The fact that it managed to acquire major mainstream success is quite interesting. Even though the word bitch is only used 4 times in the whole song.

The late 90's was a confusing place. On the mainstream top 40 list 'Bitch' was preceded by MMMbop and Succeeded by another one hit wonder with a really fucked up song. That song was 'How Bizarre' by OMC. There is no doubt in my mind if 'Bitch' were to have come out in the early 90's it probably gets cut from her album as the label was considering. It also doesn't get mainstream airplay. It's almost hilarious to think that in the early 90's my mom was worried about me watching Beavis and Butthead and people thought The Simpsons was destroying and decaying family morals. If they could have seen South Park or basically anything on the internet they would have died of shock.

One thing about 'Bitch' that might also get overlooked is that the video is really fucking weird. No doubt the song is catchy. Nice guitar strong guitar riff kicks the song off and announces that this lady has attitude. Though as the lyrics note she is an angel underneath and has a softer side....or maybe a little bit of everything all rolled in to one. Yeah. Lots of floral patterns in this video. Shockingly a look in to the future as ladies really enjoy the flowery sun dresses...or at least they did six months ago (i think).

I guess I was wrong. This is not the least likely hit of the 90's. It's catchy. It's got an edge. And people like swearing. She did go to Lilith Fair though. I'm sure there was a portion of that audience who liked the song and then used it almost as an empowerment song. YEAH WE'RE BITCHES, DEAL! Which is fine. I was wrong. This song isn't that crazy....now OMC - HOW BIZARRE....