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Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
| cover = Cher Bang Bang cover 7 inch.png
| alt =
| border = no
| type = single
| artist = Cher
| album = The Sonny Side of Chr
| B-side =
| released = February 25, 1966
| recorded = 1966
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Folk rock
| length = 2:44
| label = Imperial
| writer = Sonny Bono
| producer = Sonny Bono
| prev_title = Where Do You Go
| prev_year = 1965
| next_title = Alfie
| next_year = 1966
| misc =
}}
"'Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)'" is the second single by American singer-actress Cher from her second album, 'The Sonny Side of Chr'. 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.
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." 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"."Record Reviews", 'Cashbox', March 5, 1966, p. 16.
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 20172020, and the Here We Go Again Tour in 20182020.
Track listing
*'1966 US and European 7" single'
#"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" 2:40
#"Our Day Will Come" 2:28
*'1987 French 7" single'
#"Bang-Bang" 3:51
#"I Found Someone" 3:42
*'1993 French CD single'
#"Bang-Bang" 3:54
#"Whenever You're Near" 4:05
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end 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, 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.
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.
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, covered the track. Her version was also included as main song of 2010 drama film, 'Heartbeats'.
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!'. 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'. Gaga's rendition of "Bang Bang" debuted at No. 1 on 'Billboard's' Jazz Digital Songs Chart and was well-received by critics. The singer would later include the song in her tours and residency shows.
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.
References
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