Meredith Brooks: Whatever Happened To The Artist Behind Bit** (One Hit Wonder)
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- čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
- Whatever happened to Meredith Brooks, best known for the song Bit** and sometimes labeled as a one hit wonder.
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#meredithbrooks #onehitwonders
Best known for 90’s anthem ‘Bitch’, Meredith Brooks popularity came during a time in rock when female artists were all the rage - Alanis Morisette, Tracy Bonham Liz Phair, Fionna Apple to name a few and of course you had female fronted bands too like, Garbage and Hole. While Brooks frequently drew comparisons to Alanis Morisette, she claimed she wasn’t an influence on her. Her career would see her take two decades to get her big break. It was in her career she’d cross paths with a legendary punk rock producer who changed her life, her hit song got rejected by her label and she’d open for the Rolling Stones only to quit the tour after a series of disastrous show. Today let’s talk about what appended to Meredith Brooks.
Today’s topic has been requested by several people. If you guys have suggestions for topics you’d like to see us cover, hit the link in the description box below. Born in 1958 and Growing up in Corvallis (Core-vallis), Oregon, Brooks would pickup her older sisters guitar at age 11 and never let go. Her sister pushed Meredith to learn lead guitar and she did. She soon start edplaying in bands in her teen years being influenced the likes of Eric Clapton, Lindsey Buckingham and James Honeymoon Scott. She would admit in an interview with Guitar Player Magazine just how rare female guitar players were with lead guitar players being even rarer. She would tell an interviewer “in the 70’s we didn’t have MTV, we didn’t really have anything visible. Sure, we had magazines, but rarely did you see a band like the Runaways or the Go-Go’s.
I was up in the northwest, so we had Heart. You could read the song credits, but you couldn’t literally look at Nancy Wilson as a guitar player until you actually saw her. She would add to the hartford courant “There was Chrissie Hynde, but she didn’t play lead. Bonnie Raitt, but she played slide.”
It was by the mid 70’s Brooks was playing in bands along the pacific northwest. One of her first bands would be the all girl group Sapphire which hailed from Eugene Oregon. They would tour and did some recording being signed to label CMS Records and even partied with Kiss. The band soon relocated to Seattle thinking they’d find greater success, but by 1982 the band broke up, albeit amicably. It was after the breakup Brooks fronted two more Seattle bands Meredith and the Suspects and another group called Lips. She would then record some music on a European label as Meredith and the Movers before moving to Portland. It was by 1986 she headed south to LA.
Her main focus now, was to develop a solo career and it was in LA she connected with her old Sapphire bandmate Pam Johnson who let her crash on her couch. She would release her self titled debut record in 1986, but it was a commercial failure. It was following the album’s release she befriended former Go Go members Charlotte Caffey and Gia Ciambotti (Chamboati) They would form the female trio The Graces. Caffey’s link to the Go Go’s helped the group nab a major recording deal with A&M records. What’s funny is Caffey vowed never to work with another all female group following the breakup of the Go Go’s in the 80’s, but going solo didn’t feel right, so she formed the Graces after seeing Ciambotti (Chamboati) and Brooks play in other bands around LA. I want to note that the LA Times wrote an article in 1989 about the band, describing just how rare all girl groups were writing and i quote. It’s noteworthy that the Graces even have a contract, considering that record companies usually avoid signing all-women bands. The excuses haven’t changed. They range from “females can’t rock as well as men” to “female fans would rather see male groups.” It’s funny how things would change in just a few short years.
The LA Times article would go on to describe Brooks as playing most of the lead guitar parts on the album and singing some of the lead vocals as well.
They would release their sole album in 1989 and they would have a minor hit with the song ‘Lay Down Your Arms “, which would peak at number 56 on the US charts. Then the song got a subsequent boost in 1993 when former member of the Go Gos Belinda. Carlisle covered it. Despite one modestly successfully single, the album didn’t perform w
Thanks to those who requested this story. What did you guys think of this era of music? BTW I had to censor the song's name because CZcams flagged it when I put it up, hence the censoring. Apparently context doesn't matter.
Here's the videos I reference
Luscious Jackson: Whatever Happened to Them?
czcams.com/video/TBt7YIo_lOY/video.html&pp=ygUQbHVzY2lvdXMgamFja3Nvbg%3D%3D
Tracy Bonham: Whatever Happened to Her?
czcams.com/video/7sljZIYVAJE/video.html
You mean the 90's bringing back retro genres or artists trying to sound similar to Alanis?
@@Thomasmemoryscentral yup
@@rnrtruestories I was 2 years old when it came out in 1998
Gee, you can't say bitch in your description and there's worse shit other channels show!
It was fine for over-the-air radio 25 years ago, but isn't fine for CZcams in 2023? I call b.s. on CZcams!!
Besides, I've heard FAR worse than "bitch" on CZcams, and it wasn't censored.
Are they singling you out, or something??
I find the fact that the title of the song "needs" to be censored completely ridiculous.
You might offend someone. LMAO
yeah fuck that shit, its fucking pathetic. BITCH is one great song though!
yeah, but you can put other stupid things in a title...
Good old google
A word that was blasted across nearly every radio station 30 times daily in the late 90s, is far too much for people to handle today. Yes, this is what they call "progress"
I haven't heard this song in probably a decade. And yet still, when I am least suspecting it, it still gets stuck in my head, randomly and mercilessly.
I play it in a 90’s cover band. So I’m usually performing it in front of people twice a month. I never get sick of it
Prince was booed off stage opening for the rolling stones, bottles hurled at him. He stated that day he vowed never to be an opening act ever again and was not.
The Stones always bring out the worst in people at their concerts.
@@CKS64 I don't know if I'd blame The Stones. I'm sure they weren't looking to attract an audience full of Hell's Angels and whatnot. For one thing, Mick Jagger himself indulged in more than a little bit of androgyny, plus, his band was named after a Muddy Waters song, thus I'm sure Mick found it quite ironic that The Stones appealed to a bunch of racist homophobes.
@@jovanreid6782 they had the hells angels do security at the Alamont concert. there is a documentary on it, they also wrote a song called brown sugar which is a good song but also is borderline suspect if you are overly sensitive...they also stole guitar licks and music from poor black southern which everybody know that to be true. I doubt Mick found it quite odd but your guess is as good as mine.
Well, tbh, the "stones" were pretty much washed up 40 or 50 years ago, so....
I love this guy's speaking voice. Very calm and relaxing.
In 1985 I was driving limo in Portland. We did a lot of work for a guy named Jay Isaacs. He was a local promoter and scheduled limos for bands he thought were worth it. One night I had a gal and her band as clients. Meredith Brooks and The Angels of Mercy.
She put on a good show and I took them to their favorite drinking trough afterwards. Then home. She was very cordial and friendly up front. I took her for a ride to get away from the commotion at her request. She released the car after she was back home. But she invited me to the upcoming Yes concert on backstage passes. I went of course but she was somehow a different person and I made a short night of it. Odd that the video only barely mentions Portland. But then maybe it's not that significant of a time to make mention of it. I'll never forget the occasion as it was a positive part of my life. Thanks for jarring a memory loose!
Briefly, you mentioned Lilith Fair. It would be interesting to tackle a video about that.
Yup! On my list
@@rnrtruestorieson that note, I’d also love to see a video covering that era of the 90s that was full of “themed” music festivals. Their rise & fall, so to speak.
No it wouldnt.
He's since done a video on it, if you haven't seen it yet.
There you go. Exactly. There were a raft of acoustic folk/punk guitar women also... thus time removes context as this young man narrator was not there. So he must rely on the record - not reliable in the music biz.
It’s been more than 25 years and I still cannot fathom how anyone can listen to her and think it’s Alanis Morissette. Their voices don’t even sound alike.
The production maybe
Like how every reggae song ever was listed as Bob Marley on Kazaa?
The image as the angry young woman. I always sort of found it comical that Alanis was seen in that way, as "You Oughta' Know" was really the only angry track on that entire album. "Right Through You" had angry lyrics, but not an angry feel. Plenty of relationship songs, but only the one angry track.
For the casual listener I can see people thinking it was Alanis.
She got compared to Alanis mostly for the profanity in the song. Alanis had the pop alternative sound and wasn't afraid to use dirty language in much of her music, one reason we all love her lets be honest. Meredith put out the hit during Alanis Morrisette's successful era and was also a dark haired attractive woman with guitar music. Unfortunately getting compared was inevitable but i can respect that she did her own thing as she said. I miss that era.
Agree!
This tune was pretty big in the 90s, specially the summer it came out. What i find it a regression is that in 2023 saying the word bitch gets you flagged or something on youtube, wtf. Since when has it become a "bad" word. Smh
Since kids use CZcams
I would love to see you do a deep dive on Stevie Ray Vaughan!
❤️🔥
I used to think that this song was called "Bench", as in, people sitting on and using Meredith. Shame that she never got more recognition as an artist.
Lol.
Scuze me while I kiss this guy
HA! 😄
13:20 lol at blaming numetal on your album bombing and 'girl rock' going away.
Some of the biggest artists were female in the late 90s. Don't go blaming the 'macho rock'. Last I checked half the population is female and are buying albums. Sorry the women at the time wanted to buy a Korn and Brittany Spears album over yours.
That girls a BEAST When it comes to doing things her way, even when ppl neglect her talent. She always stays put in her awesome ways. And it's paid for itself! Bravo! 👏
Over here in Australia, we had a hit with a parody of the song (I don’t remember the artist) called “I’m A Bloke”!
“I’m a bloke, I’m a yobbo and my best mates name is Robbo”.
@@gagacrazy10 yep! Looking back, that version’s extremely chauvinistic nowadays.
My parody of it was;
I'm a prick, then I'm cool
I'm a genius, I'm a fool
I'm a sinner and a saint
You all can kiss my taint
@@justken1900 lol 😂😂😂😂😂
Chris Franklin.
I remember that issue of Guitar Player with Meredith on the cover! I never owned it, as at the time I was a broke kid and liked to try to memorize the tabs as best as I could without paying for the magazine.
It’s crazy now with CZcams how you can literally look up any song to get tabs for
Right? Songsterr is awesome!
🙄💭
Saying she was bored bc she didn't like the grunge scene, is a copout. The 90s wasn't just grunge.. Boy bands, rap, new country, solo women such as Cheryl Crow and Toni Braxton...all were booming back then. Meaning.. She could've made whatever music she wanted. B*itch was a great song, but apparently it was a one hit wonder for a reason. She just sounds bitter that her talent didn't shine as bright as others. That's just what I'm guessing based on this information💙🎶
💙🎶🎧🎶🎸🎶
She clowned herself many times, so I don’t feel sorry for her
@@imalwaysright
I really don't 😆
@@imalwaysrighthow did she do that?
Elton John was singing about himself in The B*tch is Back. At the time it was a bit of a controversy until he clarified the song wasn’t about a woman.
Meredith Brooks is the American version of Alanis Morissette (Alanis is Canadian).
Unlike "You Oughta Know" letting you know that Alanis' ex is a mess (Uncle Joey from Full House), Meredith's only hit-song is to let you know that she's a mess (but also she's a dream).
Alanis had good marketing. She went from 80s pop to grunged out. It worked.
She also was a guitar player in the graces band with the go gos member Charlotte caffey , check her out in lay down your arms . Perfect view graces album
One hit wonder with a boring back story. However, I'm thrilled you took the time to make this video; for I always enjoy your work!
1997 was a vibe
When I first heard her hit song I thought it was Alanis Morissette.
Im just finding out now that it wasnt alanis lol
first time i heard it i was in my car for a second i thought about driving head on into a brick wall but then i remembered that i could just change the station lol
@@ghostrunnerco6791That was a close one huh? Same thing almost happened to me except I was on a high-rise. Almost jumped.
Me too. I thought the same
Same here 🤣
It is beyond insane that you censor the word “bitch”. It throws the whole video off and made me stop midway through.
As much as I love her song "Bitch", but there's always a soft spot in my heart for her song, "What Would Happen ".
That is such a good song
So much of my favourite music has been written and recorded by female artists. I really don't think enough of them get the credit that their work merits, at least not the indie/alt artists anyway.
These performers had a hell of lot of media in their time. Sorry, but that's true.
Omg….that’s what the narrator looks like?…. Finally ! all good!
Nine times out of ten, if a scene is set in 1997, expect "Bitch" to be used as an establishment! Also, in the late 90's, so many artists were trying to be the next Alanis Morissette.
Agreed
@@rnrtruestoriesI always think of Sunny Come Home, Barbie Girl and Mmmbop for 1997 one hit wonders
disagree. Many just lumped all the female artist at the time into "Morissette wannabe's". But they never did that to grunge . Like I dont think there was a lot of "Oh they just want to be the next SoundGarden or (insert boy grunge band here". With the exception of Nirvana. I mean folks said the same thing about PJ Harvey yet she had started putting albums out a head of all the Alan's hype, so it's just being lazy to compare something that's not there and they do it to females a hell of a lot more than males.
@lauraanne5175 Actually aside from the Lilith Fair artists, boys get lumped together under genre frequently - boy bands (this includes all the K-pop kids), next gen grunge, every variation of rock, folk hipsters, etc. Not saying it doesn't happen to women & it's not fair, nor is it accurate most of the time, but since most music is produced by men... well that's how it goes.
I remember growing up this album "Blurring the edges" was one of two albums in my moms car that were on rotation. I know Meredith is a one hit wonder, but I grew up on this album and love almost every song. It's probably the number one album not on vinyl I'm wanting to add to my collection lol
The Sharon Osborne version: "I'm a b!tch, I'm a b!tch, I'm a b!tch, and that's pretty much f**k!ng it........."
It's horrible what happened to her in Argentina. Surprising, too. Artists are always saying how great the Argentinean crowds are.
What happened to her?
Myself, siblings and cousins covered this song in our makeshift basement band as kids haha.
Perhaps I'm wrong, but I'm envisioning some kids picking a song so they can say bad words in front of the adults...
@@Typical.Anomaly Haha..no you’re right 😆
Wow, never heard The Graces, pretty cool!
My friend in high schools mother was a voice teacher and Meredith stole one of her songs and her entire fashion sense and haircut. Hilarious.
Said every woman
Excellent video! Thank you for sharing it with us!
you're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.
Seeing Pat Smear with the Germs @4:53 makes me think you should do a video about him. Maybe something like "Nirvanas forgotten 2nd guitar player"
do this story next ...kidnapping ???...Reason... Duffy..... Left the Spotlight!
the muting of the word "bitch" caused me to stop watching this video. they played that song on the radio. in the 90s
She was great playing live on Daryl's House (from Hall n Oates fame). Also, the Ugly Betty song Suddenly I See.
Imagine getting paid for deep cuts. Wow
The song always reminded me of Teenage Wasteland.
I remember when this song came out. Half the girls I knew said that the song was about them.
My guy. When you drop a video, you REALLY drop a video. I haven't commented in a couple of weeks,... But thanks for the AWESOME content.
😂 I honestly needed that.
Her mother is really nice. I planted flowers for her while working with a landscaping company in Corvallis.
Thanks for an accurate story :)
Ima sinner, Ima saint . I never feel ashamed . Ima child , Ima mother . Ima your hell , I’m your dream .
I’m nothing in between……
Please look upon the lyrics LOL. You're close...but do you really think she is singing "bell" to go as the antithesis to dream? and you have a few more minor mistakes.
@@lauraanne5175didn’t proof read I no
@@nancysantamarialatica1141 🙃
Mom Rock!
dang, how many artist one hit wonders like Meredith Brooks would quit opening for the Rolling Stones, the girl believes in herself good for her
Just read an article yesterday that Prince walked off stage in 1981 for same reason while opening for TRS. Apparently tossing food is a thing their fans do.
@@lauraanne5175yup. Even when GN’R played Argentina they threw rocks on stage and the band nearly walked off stage
I dunno.. imposters?
Sid,
Here's suggestions about controversial songs.
Puck the Folice from N.W.A. or Chop Thriller from Body Count
😉
I loved her and thought she sounded awesome and damn was she beautiful!
Get out more; it will do wonders to elevate your standards.
this brings me back to middle school lol
I love that song.
You Should Cover Babes In Toyland
Years ago I knew a person in Ypsilanti Michigan that claimed to have written the song "Bitch" and it was not Shelly Peiken. I had a sense that this individual was truthful in alleging authorship but who's to say for sure. Unfortunately in the greater Detroit area of that day, there were a few songs that were written by an unknown "ghost writer" and the songs were backed by individuals in high-level organized crime. Believe half of what you hear!?!
I hate musical censorship if i want to hear a song i want to hear the full song the way it was meant to be played
I hate censorship, but theres a few words that aren’t cool anymore. Mostly racial slurs, bitch is mild compared to the n word
@@Ottophil yea i hate racism in general or any word that’s considered hateful
How can anyone say women can't rock after seeing the RUNAWAYS! And a lot more! Come on!
You should look at the Australian parody song, 'I'm a bloke" it came out shortly after this song
The absurdity of a platform that hosts literal Nazis but yet demonitizes the use of a word that has been the title of hit songs from several artists, at least two of them women.
as good as Bitch was, I personally thought What Would Happen was by far a better song
Elton John was singing about himself in “The Bitch is Back” 😊
The music podcast "One Hit Thunder" did an excellent episode about "Bitch". It's worth listening to. 👍
I always though that was Alanis Morissette singing that song. This is a new one on me. Thanks for the info.
There are so many rock bands with really interesting stories that you haven’t covered. Yet, you choose Meredith Brooks… This is not rock ‘n’ roll.
You mention "girl rock" and Lilith Fair, but not Sarah McLachlan??! C'mon man, she was at the forefront of both of those!
McLachlan
Dude its ok , its the main focus of your video just cut loose and say it "Bitch" ... see its not that hard and way less awkward
I personally thought What Would Happen? was a way better song, I mean it just sounds sexy! That hit album definitely sounds like early Sheryl Crow more than anything. Wasn't expecting the comment against Hilary 😂😂
YES! 100% correct. "Bitch" was a lame wannabe riding on the coattails of Alanis type of song. Extremely annoying. But her 2nd single was absolutely fire!
The Graces were superb
Brooks was destined to be a one hit wonder. She was old enough to be Alanis Morissette's mom and came along during a transitional time in Alternative radio.
How about a video on the Moby Grape and their evil manager, Mathrew Katz.
I really want to see a history of Steve Vai
She seems like a lovely woman.
Seriously? You're censoring the name of the song?
Whats with the censoring of the word? Its just a word 🤷♀️
Much respect to Meredith Brooks, but the tracks on her 'Blurring The Edges' album just weren't strong. "Bitch" was the only standout track. Maybe it would've been great if Geza X had produced it.
Nimble darts, her portland band with Dan Reed on guitar, was locally popular for a couple of years.
Nimble darts was Robert brown and Lori Calhoun
What ever happened to Robert ? The last time I talked to him was 1995 or 1996 ?@@christopherwilliams1220
Another inteteresting deep dive, thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
What happen to the band 3rd strike?
I vote for a vid on Regina Spektor
That's a great karaoke song.
just off the top of my head i honestly can’t come up with a song that i dislike more lol
Everything in the No Doubt catalog comes to mind. This would be ranked right after though 😂
see for me personally No Doubt is only like 4th or 5th worst of all time
I have her 1st CD & it is really ggod.
Please do a video on what happened to the all kid band “Old Skull”.
Girl Boss!
Yep, a one hit wonder.
I like her,thanks.
How do you find all this stuff out? Great work!
@@PoorBoyMinorKeyhaha no, nice try
You can tell there was a A&R guy from their label being like "Meredith we really think the vocal take needs to sound more like Alanis..." ...."I'm a betch, etc...."
I always found her very pretty. That damn song was so catchy couldn't help but sing along. How bout doing a video on Adam Ant? Don't know much about him, but DON'T DRINK DON'T SMOKE, would always get stuck in my head. I remember seeing the video on MTV and loving it.
FYI: You can say "bitch" on the CZcams.
“Her and her manager” lol
Pretty asinine when the title, written by a woman, has to be censored almost 30 years later.
I can't even believe the word BITCH gets censored in this video!! WTF? I literally hate the world today
To this day I hat Alanis’s voice. Nasally metal on chalkboard grating sounding. Meredith’s voice is much more soothing
Didn’t like “Grunge”? Lol, it was the first time in twenty years that bands actually could play great songs and were heavily armed musicians
Josh Freese on the drums
As far as censorship, in my lifetime I've heard three different radio edits of Santeria by Sublime. It's random
When are you going to do a video about Ian Thornley and Big Wreck? Love your channel but where's the Canadian content?
A great underrated band and Ian Thornley is a great guitarist too
I agree I need to do more Canadian content
Rolling Stones audiences & Simple Minds music after New Gold Dream are two things I generally avoid & wish I could’ve warned my maternal namesake
She had that other song I liked better called what would happen which was played on the episode of homicide life on the street titled baby it's you which was a crossover with law and order.
That's not a song! It's a LIST! Answers question I 4got 2 ask. Nameliy, "What r u?"