Translate

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Jamaican Dancehall's "Bam Bam" (videos, information, lyrics, & comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update- Feb. 11, 2024 

This pancocojams post provides videos, lyrics, comments, and information about Jamaican Dancehall's "Bam Bam" songs.

This post also includes information about Toots & The Maytals', Sister Nancy's, Chak Demus & Pliers' versions of this song.

****
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Toots & The Maytals for composing and recording this song. Thanks to all of the other singers and musicians who are featured in this post for their musical legacy. Thanks also to all of those who are quoted this post and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.

****
LYRICS - BAM BAM (as found in Track 62 on Grand Theft Auto:San Andreas Official Sound track 1992)

(composed in 1965 by Pliers) Track 62 o

[Verse 1]

I want you to know that, I am the man who

Fight for the right, not the wrong

Seeing this and seeing that

Going here, and going there

Soon you will find out the man I'm supposed to be

 

[Chorus]

This man, don't trouble no one

But if you trouble this man it will bring a bam-bam

What a bam-bam

What a bam-bam, bam-bam

It'll bring a bam-bam

Bam-Bam, what a bam-bam

 

[Chorus]

This man, don't trouble no one

But if you trouble this man it will bring a bam-bam

What a bam-bam

What a bam-bam, bam-bam

It'll bring a bam-bam

It'll bring a bam-bam

Bam-Bam, what a bam-bam

Can't you hear that?

 

[Verse 2]

Want you to know that I am a man who

Fighting for the right, and, not the wrong

Seeing this, and, seeing that

Going here, and, going there

Soon you will find out the man I'm supposed to be

(Now, can't you hear that?)

[Verse 3]

Help this man, don't trouble no one

But if you trouble this man it will bring a bam-bam

What a bam-bam

What a bam-bam, bam-bam

It'll bring a bam-bam

Bam-Bam, what a bam-bam

It will bring a bam-bam

It will bring a bam-bam

It will bring a bam-bam

What a bam-bam, what a bam-bam

[Outro]

Can't you hear it?

-snip-
Online Source - https://genius.com/Pliers-bam-bam-lyrics

****
INFORMATION ABOUT SISTER NANCY'S RECORDING OF "BAM BAM" [first released in 1982]

Excerpt #1:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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]

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 her song, “Bam Bam”, was playing on the TV during 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]

Released 1982
Format
CD single CD maxi Vinyl 7" 45 RPM
Recorded 1982
Studio Channel One Studios
Genre Reggae, dancehall
Length 3:16
Label Techniques Records
Songwriter(s)
Winston Riley, Ophlin Russell [Sister Nancy]
Producer(s) Winston Riley"

**
Excerpt #2:
From https://genius.com/Sister-nancy-bam-bam-lyrics

Sister Nancy - Bam Bam
[Spoken Intro]

[Verse 1]
A me seh one ting Nancy cyaan understan
One ting Nancy cyaan understan
Wha' mek dem a talk 'bout me ambishan
Seh, wha' mek dem a talk 'bout me ambishan
'ca me seh some a dem a ax me whey me get it fram
'ca some a dem a ax me whey me get it fram
A true dem nuh know it's fram creation
A true dem nuh know it's-a fram creation

[Hook]
Bam bam, ey, what a bam bam
Bam bam dilla, bam bam
Bam bam dilla, bam bam
'ey what a bam bam, seh what a bam bam

[Verse 2]
Dis woman neva trouble no one
I'm a lady, I'm not a man
MC is my ambishan
I come fi nice up Jamaica

[Hook]
So bam bam, what a bam bam
Bam bam dilla, bam bam
Bam bam dilla, bam bam
'ey a me seh what a bam bam
Tell'em seh me seh what a bam bam
'ey ya, tell'em, tell'em

About Sister Nancy's "Bam Bam"
Now a classic reggae anthem, this song celebrates Sister Nancy’s success as a woman in the male-dominated dancehall scene of the 80s. Nancy was the first woman to perform at Reggae Sunsplash, a Jamaican reggae festival, and the first woman Jamaican DJ to tour internationally.

The song’s catchy hook has been sampled, remixed, covered, and interpolated in several songs after its release. This hook is in fact sampled from the 1965 song of the same title by the Maytals."

****
Excerpt #3:
From the discussion thread for https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcaPu9JPenU Bam Bam - Sister Nancy published by chinita41 on Sep 23, 2008

1. Shazzkid, 2017
"What came first, this version or the Chaka Demus and Pliers version"

**
REPLY
2. LJTV, 2017
"Toots and Maytals 1965 did this song. Afterwards, it was sampled much like James Brown Funky Drummer"

**
3. paul connelly, 2017
"they are two different songs chaka demus done a cover of toots and the maytals bam bam, this is sister nancy's own song called the same name but different song altogether."

****
INFORMATION ABOUT PLIERS' "BAM BAM RECORD" [first released in 1990?]
Excerpt #1:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pliers_(singer)
"Pliers (born Everton Bonner on 4 April 1963, Kingston, Jamaica), is a Jamaican Reggae singer best known for his collaborations with deejay Chaka Demus under the name Chaka Demus & Pliers. He is one of the Bonner brothers all of whom are reggae artists, including, Richie Spice and Spanner Banner.

Pliers started his career performing under the name 'Blues Melody', acquiring his more famous moniker due to an apparent similarity to fellow singer Pinchers.[1]

He had a number of early hits, working for producers such as Coxone Dodd and Winston Riley, but never achieved huge success as a solo artist, in contrast to the immense success of his partnership with Chaka Demus.

His solo song "Bam Bam" was featured on the fictional radio station K-Jah West in the soundtrack to the game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."

**
Excerpt #2:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaka_Demus_%26_Pliers
Chaka Demus & Pliers are a Jamaican reggae duo made up of deejay Chaka Demus (born John Taylor) and singer Pliers (born Everton Bonner), known for their hits "Tease Me" and "Murder She Wrote". As a duo, they enjoyed more commercial success with mainstream pop fans after their collaboration began in the early 1990s than either had in their previous solo career.[1]

[...]

Origin Kingston, Jamaica
Genres Reggae, dancehall
Years active 1991–present

**
Excerpt #3:
Selected comments from the discussion thread for https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz-G25XMXr4 Chaka Demus & Pliers - Bam Bam, published by Luis Frade, Feb 28, 2008 [Note that the song "Bam Bam" was recorded by Pliers alone and not by Chaka Demus & Pliers. However, that duo recorded "Murder She Wrote" which has the same riddim. [These comments are numbered for referencing purposes only and listed in chronological order, with the oldest comment given first, except for replies/]

1. Troy Sealy, 2009
"Its the "What A Bam Bam Riddim". More than one artist sings on the same riddim, or an artist sing more than one song on the same riddim."

**
2. SaMga92, 2013
"The original song is "bam bam" by the legendary "Toots and the Maytals"!"

**
REPLY
3. CALICOTV301, 2014
"Why does this have the same beat as Murder She Wrote?"

**
REPLY
4. DeeEmStyles, 2014
"Because dancehall reggae songs are made under various beats called "riddims". Many artists do songs under a riddim."

**
REPLY
5. Jada Prendergast, 2014
"because in jamaica, you have 'riddims' which are beats dancehall artists use, its only recently that artists start to make their own riddims, there is less music on the same riddims now
back in the day this would be a popular riddim, and the people know what song is going to play even though they are on the same riddim"

**
6. Jack-O P, 2015
"1990: "Bam Bam" is the B-side of the "Murder She Wrote" vinyl-single. "Murder She Wrote" features both Chaka Demus & Pliers. But "Bam Bam" has only one singer: Pliers. The instrumental "Riddim" in this song is arranged by Sly & Robbie. The original song "Bam Bam" by Toots & The Maytals is released in 1966."

**
REPLY
7. spoose1, 2015
"what about sistah nancy?"

**
REPLY
8. Jack-O P
"She made a dancehall version (I think in 1982) with different lyrics."
-snip-
Here's a comment from that discussion thread that differentiates "dancehall" from "reggae":
MS CURVY SILHOUETTE, 2009
"its not reggae ,its dancehall.....reggae is bob marley dennis brown etc.. but dancehall is beenie man elephant man vybz kartel bounty killa etc...but ragga , reggaeton, reggae, dancehall soca...we love dem all, because its the west indies, THE MUSIC OF GREAT PEOPLE...YEAHHH.... NUFF LOVE..."

****
SHOWCASE YOUTUBE EXAMPLES
Reminder: This is not a full listing of all the records with this Bam Bam Riddim.

These examples are not given in chronological order based on the release date of these records.

Example #1: Toots & The Maytals - Bam Bam - 1965



Sounds Good, Published on Nov 3, 2017

Toots and the Maytals, originally called The Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group and one of the best known ska and rocksteady vocal groups. Enter in the channel and discover more music

****
Example #2: Chaka Demus & Pliers - Murder She Wrote



culturaroots, Published on Nov 2, 2007

****
Example #3: Sister Nancy - BAM BAM



johnreign, Uploaded on Dec 7, 2007

I heard this song while playing skate and decided to upload

****
Example #4: Chaka Demus & Pliers - Bam Bam



lmfrade, Uploaded on Feb 28, 2008

**
Example #5: Bam Bam Mix (Chaka Demus/Pliers etc..)



BootCampWuTang, Uploaded on May 28, 2008

Bam Bam Mix (Chaka Demus/Pliers etc..)
-snip-
UPDATE March 10, 2018: I deleted a comment that is no longer showing on this discussion thread and added these comments which attempt to identify some of the songs on this mix: [Additions and corrections are welcome]
1. zob658, 2008
"whats the one at 4 minutes"

**
REPLY
2. siiimond, 2008
"BUju banton them a bleach"

**
3. ELODIE .CANONNE, 2008
"Does someone know what's the mix at 4th minute? thank you"

**
REPLY
4. bramptonman, 2008
"I think it's (Bam Bam- Pliers)"

**
5. ajy2k8, 2008
"i like it after 2:37 murder she wrote"

**
6. BlazinMami4upapi, 2009
"the song starting at 4:30 is called shelly anne by red rat."

**
REPLY
7. Richard Rey, 2009
"actually its called oh noo by Red Rat"

**
8. slabbabwoy, 2009
"wha dis first tune?"

**
REPLY
Simone, 2009
"love like this before - faith evans :)"

**
Example #6: bum bum ( bam bam ) riddim mix - vp records 1992 digi dancehall( delroy wilson, ricihie steps,)



Kingstoned - soundzzM Published on Apr 17, 2009

****
Example #7: Example #7: Bam Bam - Shaggy & Toots



geejamrecordings, Uploaded on Dec 1, 2010

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.

No comments:

Post a Comment