Meredith Brooks' "Bitch" Trivia Quiz

Answer:

"Bitch", sometimes labelled as "Bitch (Nothing in Between)", is a hit song by American singer-songwriter Meredith Brooks that she co-wrote with Shelly Peiken, released in 1997 as the lead single from her album "Blurring the Edges". The song became Brooks' breakthrough hit and is often considered her signature song.

The song's lyrics explore the multifaceted nature of women, challenging stereotypes and embracing the complexity of female identity. Brooks portrays herself as various contradictory personas throughout the song, including "a mother", "a lover", "a child", "a saint", and "a sinner". The central message is about accepting and celebrating all aspects of oneself, even those that might be considered negative or contradictory.

The title itself, "Bitch", is used provocatively to reclaim a word often used negatively against women, especially by men. Brooks turns it into a statement of empowerment, suggesting that being complex and sometimes difficult is a strength rather than a weakness. The song advocates for self-acceptance and resists the pressure to conform to simple, one-dimensional expectations of womanhood. She also empowers women to embrace the more abrasive side of their personalities and to allow themselves to express the way they are feeling without having to face judgement. Upon its release, "Bitch" received significant attention, both positive and negative. Many praised its empowering message and catchy melody, while others were shocked by the explicit and controversial use of the word "bitch" in its chorus. Despite (or perhaps partly because of) the controversy, the song became a major hit.

The song was a commercial success, reaching number two on the "US Billboard Hot 100" chart in July 1997, and staying there for four weeks. It also charted well internationally, reaching the top ten in several countries including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The single was certified Platinum in the US and Australia.

While the song may come off as aggressive and provocative, listeners are challenged to look at stereotypes in a different light and to try to look beyond them, whether about gender, race, religion, sexuality, or any other type that may exist. Listeners are also challenged to accept themselves for who they are, and to accept others as well, despite, and maybe because of the different faces that they put on at different times. This song remains a well-known song and the one most associated with Meredith Brooks, and one of the defining singles to come out of the 90s.