"Now I'm That Bitch" is a song by Barbadian British singer-songwriter Livvi Franc, featuring guest vocals from rapper Pitbull. The song was written and produced by Salaam Gibbs, while additional writing was done by Olivia Waithe and Armando Pérez. It was released as Franc's debut single on June 13, 2009 by Jive Records. "Now I'm That Bitch" received mixed reviews from contemporary critics, who considered it as an empowering anthem, despite criticizing its composition.
"Now I'm That Bitch" achieve moderate success, reaching number twenty-four in New Zealand and forty in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the song failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number forteen on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles; however, it reached number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs. An accompanying music video was directed by Sarah Chatfield, and portrays Franc singing and dancing to the song along with female and male dancers. The music video was compared to the one of Rachel Stevens' "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" (2003).
[edit] Background
"Now I'm That Bitch" was written and produced by Salaam Gibbs, while additional writing was done by Olivia Waithe and Armando Pérez.[3] Franc considered the song "very personal for me - because it really represents who I am." She also commented that "everyone has different meanings for the word 'bitch'. And for me I really wanted to reclaim it and make it something empowering - as in 'Babe In Total Control of Herself'! You know, it's all about being in control and knowing what you want. And the story behind the song relates to when I was younger, and I was a lot quieter and less confident."[4] The song was released as Franc's debut single on June 19, 2009.[5] A digital EP titled Now I'm That...Remixes was released on June 23, 2009,[6] while a physical edition featuring different remixes was also released.[7] Following its release as a single, "Now I'm That Bitch" was featured on the fifth season of MTV's The Hills, during a scene where Kristin Cavallari tells Jayde off and leaves the restaurant[8] and the tenth episode of the CW's Melrose Place, when Amanda Woodward (Heather Locklear) first enters WPK.[9]
[edit] Reception
[edit] Critical response
"Now I'm That Bitch" received mixed reviews from contemporary critics. A Billboard review considered the song as "an empowering anthem in which the singer claims 'bitch' to be an acronym for 'being in total control of herself'", while commenting Franc sings the lines "You were too fly then, so fly away now" with "an agressive, feisty vocal".[1] Pitbull's verses were also praised, being considered as "forceful and energetic rhymes".[1] Nick Levine of Digital Spy gave the song a mixed review, commenting that "calling your debut single 'Now I'm That Bitch' is a crass but effective way for a pop starlet to grab our attention - even if she proceeds to cushion the blow by claiming it's an acronym for 'Being In Total Control Of Herself', and even if 'Bitch' has to become 'Chick for the purposes of daytime radio."[2] However, Levine noted "the track itself doesn't quite live up to its risqué title", describing its lyrics as "sassy enough" and its composition as "a fairly standard slab of electro-R&B complete with box-ticking cameo from Pitbull. Aside from the cuss word, the only intrigue comes from trying to work out whether Franc actually sings 'I'm not a bender' on the second verse."[2] Pip Ellwood of Entertainment Focus said "Now I’m That Bitch" "isn’t a good single. Livvi Franc is not the next big thing", while describing the song basically as a "modern R&B/pop by numbers. Take Rihanna’s vocal (with a less able singer), steal Rachel Stevens' 'Sweet Dreams My LA Ex' video and put in some awful lyrics and apparently you have a pop smash."[10]
[edit] Chart performance
On the dated week of September 14, 2009, "Now I'm That Bitch" debuted at number thirty on the New Zealand Singles Chart. After six weeks, the song reached number twenty-four, its highest peak on the chart.[11] In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number forty, and stayed on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks.[12] In the United States, "Now I'm That Bitch" reached number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs on the dated week of July 11, 2009;[13] it failed, however, to enter the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number fourteen on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.[14]
[edit] Music video
The music video for "Now I'm That Bitch" was directed by Sarah Chatfield in Miami, Florida, on the week of July 16, 2009.[15] It starts with Pitbull rapping the song's intro, followed by Franc being joined by two girls dancing. As the chorus starts, she is seen dancing in a revealing black catsuit reeling in two men with a red silk rope like scarf. The following scenes includes Franc lying on top of men placed together as a chair, singing in a metallic silver and black mini dress with sunglasses; dancing while reeling in and pushing their men away; with two long yellow cloths covering her nude body and is also seen moving around on red silk.
The music video was released on August 10, 2009 on MTV,[16] and has been compared to the one of Rachel Stevens' "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" (2003).[10] A second version titled "Now I'm That Chick Part II" features a censored version of the song, replacing the word "bitch" with "chick", and also removing Pitbull's verses and scenes. This version was released on Franc's VEVO on March 22, 2011.[17]
[edit] Track listings
- "Now I'm That Bitch" – 3:44
- "Now I'm That Bitch Part II" [Jason Nevins Club] – 6:35
- "Now I'm That Chick Part II" [Kaskade Radio] – 3:34
- "Now I'm That Bitch Part II" [DiscoTech Remix] – 4:17
- "Now I'm That Chick Part II" [Sam Sparro Remix] – 4:25
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- "Now I'm That Bitch" [Kaskade Mix Extended] – 6:06
- "Now I'm That Bitch" [Jason Nevins Club] – 6:35
- "Now I'm That Bitch" [Sam Sparro Remix] – 4:24
- "Now I'm That Bitch" [DiscoTech Remix] – 4:17
- "Now I'm That Bitch" [Mike Rizzo Funk Generation Club Mix] – 7:30
- "Now I'm That Bitch" [Serafin Remix] – 3:30
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[edit] Credits and personnel
Credits for "Now I'm That Bitch" are adapted from the single's liner notes.[3]
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- Tom Coyne – audio mastering
- Serban Ghenea – audio mixing
- Franklin "Emmanuel" Socorro – vocal recording
- Gleyder "Gee" Disla – vocal recording
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[edit] Charts
[edit] Weekly charts
[edit] Chart proccession and succession
[edit] References
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| Studio albums |
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| Remix albums |
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| Singles |
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| Featured singles |
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| Promotional singles |
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| Related articles |
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