Search - Prodigy :: Smack My Bitch Up

Don't Believe the Hype

Luis Hernandez | New York, New York, USA | 12/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the best bands to be signed on Madonna's Maverick label, Prodigy produced a smash hit song and plenty of controversy when "Smack My Bitch Up" was released in the United States in 1997. The song which was used in a major scene in the film "Charlie's Angels" incorporates eletronica, rock, and Middle Eastern music in providing the listener with a throbbing, enjoyable tune. This maxi-single contains several versions of the song, however I am still a big fan of the original album version. The other remixes are okay.However, with the political correctiveness that runs the world today, many feminists and anti-domestic violence advocates caused a stir in the media saying that this song was sexist and degrading. With media news hounds interviewing such people and groups as Denise Brown (sister of murder victim Nicole Brown Simpson) and N.O.W., many rush to criticize Prodigy when in fact the title totally means something else in British slang (a similar case was when the film "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" was released in the USA; the term "shag" doesn't mean anything offensive in the USA, however the film was retitled for release in the United Kingdom, because the term "shag" is used as an expletive in that country's lingo). Overall, "Smack My Bitch Up" was one of 1997's best songs. Madonna is one smart business woman if she is able to sign this great band on her label before anyone else could. What a great band and song!"

Don't misunderstand

Ivy League Student | USA | 11/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The song "Smack My Bitch Up" is often misunderstood. Case in point, NOW claiming that it promoted violence against women. Rather, the song is about the drug heroin. "Smack" is slang for heroin; "my bitch" refers to the vein/artery in the arm used to inject the drug. The controversial video for the song explicitly shows someone shooting up heroin, then going club-hopping, to a strip-club, throwing up, and basically having a drugged-up night. This explains the mood of the song. So don't worry that the song promotes misogynistic attitudes; rather, it's a very thinly veiled "When I got high..." story, as evidenced by the video."

Review of it

Ivy League Student | USA | 11/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The excellent rave/techno song "Smack My Bitch Up" is often misunderstood. Case in point: N.O.W. claiming that it promoted violence against women. Rather, the song is about the drug heroin. "Smack" is slang for heroin; "my bitch" refers to the vein/artery in the arm used to inject the drug. The controversial video for the song explicitly shows someone shooting up heroin, then going club-hopping, to a strip-club, throwing up, and basically having a drugged-up night. This explains the mood of the song. So don't worry that the song promotes misogynistic attitudes; rather, it's a very thinly veiled "When I got high..." story, as evidenced by the video."