Bam Bam (song)

"Bam Bam" is a song by Jamaican dancehall recording artist Sister Nancy. The song's chorus was inspired by the 1966 song of the same name, by The Maytals and Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.[1][2] The song's instrumental samples the 1974 song "Stalag 17", by Ansell Collins, a well known riddim, alternatively known as a backing track used repeatedly.[3][4] The song has been labeled as a "well-known reggae anthem" by BBC and a "classic" by The Observer.[5][6]

For other uses, see Bam Bam.
"Bam Bam"
Single by Sister Nancy
from the album One, Two
Released1982
Recorded1982
StudioChannel One Studios
GenreReggae, dancehall
Length3:17
LabelTechniques Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Winston Riley
Sister Nancy singles chronology
"One Two"
(1982)		 "Bam Bam"
(1982)		 "Transport Connection"
(1982)

In 2016, Billboard called the song "a strong contender for the title of most sampled reggae song of all time."[2] When asked her opinion of the many songs that have used her voice over the years, she responded: "I don’t know if I hear all of them. They sample it so much times but none of them is my favorite. The reason why I say that is they know how to contact me. They know I live in the U.S. and nobody try to contact me to do it in person. They always sample the tune. If they had contacted me and I would do it for them live then I would have a favorite."[2]

In 2014, Sister Nancy's daughter pointed out that the song was playing on the TV in a Reebok commercial and thus she finally decided seek legal advice and guidance on properly obtaining rights to her own music. For 32 years, Sister Nancy did not receive any royalties for her song. At the end of the settlement she was unable to receive compensation for all 32 years of unpaid royalties, however, she did receive compensation for the last 10 years and then obtained 50% of the rights to her song “Bam Bam”.[7]

In 2015, the song topped the iTunes Reggae Chart.[8]

Early influences

The Jamaican sampling culture has provided an inclusive space in which artists are able to repurpose one sound over and over again to share a cultural identity and indulge in a sort of “Call and Response” practice rooted in African oral traditions. These artists are called by one song or its artist to respond with their own versions and all are consequently brought together in an antiphonetic musical dialogue. Sister Nancy's Bam Bam is no exception to this musical dialogue.

The popular phrase “bam bam” was introduced into the music scene first in 1966 by a reggae band called Toots and the Maytals. The catchy hypnotic phrase, bam bam, led to its longevity that surpassed the popularity of roots reggae and was incorporated into the resurging dancehall genre, where many dancehall vocalists (or deejays) would use the lyrics and/or the popular phrase.

Mike Steyels states that Sister Nancy's immediate inspiration to sing the popular phrase was “hearing Yellowman and Fathead record their own version of ‘Bam Bam’ over the ‘Taxi Riddim’ in another studio just weeks before her own recording”.[9] Sister Nancy, however, sampled the Toots and the Maytals's Bam Bam over the Stalag riddim instead, a popular reggae riddim which came to prominence in the 1970s. The Stalag riddim was first introduced in a reggae song called “Stalag 17,” written and performed by Ansell Collins and released by Winston Riley's Techniques record label in 1973.

International success

Sister Nancy was unaware of "Bam Bam"'s success outside of Jamaica until she moved to the United States in 1996.

After Sister Nancy released her One, Two album, she recalls never hearing "'Bam Bam' play one time in Jamaica".[10] However, her producer traveled all over the world during the recording of her album and after it was released. He knew how popular "Bam Bam" had gotten, yet he "never wanted [Sister Nancy] to know".[10] Once Sister Nancy heard her song in Belly (film), she realized the impact and popularity of her song. It also dawned on her that she has not been credited or given royalties for the past 16 years since the song had been released. Sister Nancy tried to contact and set up a meeting with her producer, but he never showed or tried to meet with her. She believed he avoided her all this time and kept her in the dark because he knew she would ask him for money.[10] This was not uncommon at this time as many producer and recording companies kept fees and royalties away from black artists if their song was sampled or used by other artists or media.[11]

Samples and interpolations

"Bam Bam" has been sampled nearly one hundred times, in different media alike, making it, arguably, one of the most sampled reggae songs ever.[12][2]

One of the most famous electronic songs that sampled "Bam Bam," and is sometimes referred to as a remix of Sister Nancy's song, is "Waterman" by Olav Basoski featuring Michie One, released in 2005. In the song, there is frequent use of the "Bam Bam" riddim in addition to use of Sister Nancy's own vocals.

Artists who have sampled or interpolated "Bam Bam" include:

  • Beyoncé used a sample of "Bam Bam" interpolated with her live performance of "Hold Up" from her 2016 album Lemonade.[17]
  • Jay-Z, in the song "Bam" from the 2017 album 4:44.[18] Jay-Z actually traveled to Jamaica to record the music video for his song, "Bam." While on his visit, Jay-Z stopped by and met Sister Nancy, who is featured in the video. He spent three days with her.
  • Lizzo, on her 2017 song "Truth Hurts".[19]
  • Logic featuring My Dad, in the song "BOBBY" from the 2019 album Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.[20]

In other media

In 1998, "Bam Bam" was featured in the Hype Williams film Belly. In 2014, "Bam Bam" was featured in the Seth Rogen/Evan Goldberg film The Interview.[21] The song was also featured in the EA's skateboarding video game Skate.

References
  1. "Sister Nancy's 'Bam Bam' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  2. Sister Nancy & Producer Winston Riley's Son Talk 'Bam Bam' Sample on Kanye West's 'The Life of Pablo', Billboard, 2016-02-16
  3. "The 30-Year Journey of Sister Nancy, Jamaica's First Female Dancehall Star". Genius. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  4. "Sister Nancy's 'Bam Bam' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  5. Warren, Emma (2007-08-12). "Bobby Kray, Tales From a Skinny White Boy". The Observer. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  6. Small, Elle J (2007-08-31). "Bobby Kray - Tales From A Skinny White Boy". BBC. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  7. HOT 97 (17 May 2017). "Sister Nancy Speaks On Her Beginnings & Opens Up On Reggae/Dancehall Today". Retrieved 15 July 2017 – via YouTube.
  8. "Bam Bam tops iTunes charts", Jamaica Observer, 17 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015
  9. Steyels, Mike. “The History of Sister Nancy’s Bam Bam Goes Way Before Jay-Z’s Album.” June 30, 2017
  10. Kochhar, Nazuk. "Ain't No Stopping Sister Nancy Now". The Fader. The Fader, Inc. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  11. Schlueter, Roger. "White singers paid the fees, but black singers didn't get the money". Belleville News - Democrat. Belleville News - Democrat. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  12. "Bam Bam by Sister Nancy on WhoSampled". WhoSampled. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  13. Lauryn Hill – Lost Ones, retrieved 2018-12-13
  14. "Kat Deluna - Bum Bum Feat. Trey Songz". Hot New Hip Hop. March 30, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  15. "Kanye West feat. Rihanna and Swizz Beatz's 'Famous' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  16. Moore, Sam (2018-03-13). "Sister Nancy says it's a "blessing" to have been sampled by both Kanye West and Jay-Z". NME. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  17. "10 Things You Might Have Missed From Beyoncé's Show-Stopping Coachella Set". HuffPost UK. 2018-04-16. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  18. "Jay-Z feat. Damian Marley's 'Bam' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  19. https://www.bustle.com/p/these-5-lizzo-songs-will-make-your-2019-with-their-badass-body-positive-lyrics-powerful-beats-15795267
  20. "Samples of Bam Bam by Sister Nancy on WhoSampled". WhoSampled. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  21. Campbell, Howard (2014) "Nancy's Interview Pays Off", Jamaica Observer, 31 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015
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