"Bawitdaba"
Single by Kid Rock
from the album Devil Without a Cause
B-side
  • "My Oedipus Complex"
  • "Prodigal Son"
  • "Paid"
ReleasedFebruary 15, 1999 (1999-02-15)
StudioWhite Room, Temple of the Dog (Detroit, Michigan)
Genre
Length
  • 4:26 (album version)
  • 3:32 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Kid Rock
  • John Travis (add.)
Kid Rock singles chronology
"I Am the Bullgod"
(1998) 		"Bawitdaba"
(1999) 		"Cowboy"
(1999)
Audio sample
Music video
"Bawitdaba" on YouTube

"Bawitdaba" is a song by American singer Kid Rock from his fourth studio album, Devil Without a Cause (1998). Serviced to US rock radio in February 1999, "Bawitdaba" helped push the success of the album. It has since become one of Kid Rock's most popular songs, receiving critical praise and entering the top 10 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, as well as on the New Zealand Singles Chart.

Background

"Bawitdaba" has been described as having a nu metal sound.[1][2] Its chorus has been described as a "neo-gregorian drone"; this chorus was derived from hip hop chants, such as the refrain from the Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight".[4][5] The lyrics of the song are dedicated to "the shots of Jack", "chicks with beepers", as well as "all the crackheads, the critics, the cynics / And all my heroes in the methadone clinic."[6]

On the demo recording of the song, Kid Rock shouts, "Now get in the pit and try to kill someone!"[6] For the album version, he replaced "kill" with "love." Kid Rock told The Baltimore Sun that he was glad he had changed the lyric, explaining that mosh pits are about coexistence.[6]

Reception

"Bawitdaba" is considered to be one of Kid Rock's best songs.[4][7][8] In 2009, "Bawitdaba" was named the 47th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.[9]

Music video

The song's accompanying video gained regular rotation on MTV as it grew in popularity.[10] The video opens with numerous clips of backstage touring footage featuring members of Korn, in addition Fred Durst and Sam Rivers of Limp Bizkit.[citation needed] The video depicts Kid Rock and his band performing in a trailer park with numerous children playing football with Joe C in the background. As the video progresses, it features shots of Kid Rock driving a large Cadillac as he is accompanied by numerous women. The video then cuts to the band performing the song's breakdown in a darkened field in front of a large mosh pit.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the UK CD1 and Devil Without a Cause liner notes.[11][16]

Studios

Charts

Release history

Release history and formats for "Bawitdaba"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States February 15, 1999 Modern rock radio
[25]
June 1, 1999 Contemporary hit radio [26]
United Kingdom April 30, 2001 CD [27]

References

  1. ^ a b "They Did It All for the Nookie: Decibel Explores the Rise and Fall of Nu-Metal". Decibel. August 13, 2005. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Josh Chesler. "10 Nu-Metal Songs That Actually Don't Suck". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert (May 25, 1999). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Archived from the original on September 12, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  4. ^ a b "15 Best Kid Rock singles, from 'Bawitdaba' to 'First Kiss'". amp.azcentral.com.
  5. ^ ""Bawitdaba" by Kid Rock". Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Song of the Summer: "Bawitdaba," by Kid Rock". The New Yorker.
  7. ^ "Kid Rock's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". www.billboard.com.
  8. ^ "The 10 best Kid Rock songs".
  9. ^ "VH1 Top 100 Hard Rock Songs". spreadit.org. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  10. ^ "Kid Rock's "Bawitdaba" Sidekick Joe C. Long On Appeal".
  11. ^ a b Bawitdaba (UK CD1 liner notes). Kid Rock. Atlantic Records, Lava Records, Top Dog Records. 2001. AT0098CD1, 7567-85079-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Bawitdaba (UK CD2 liner notes). Kid Rock. Atlantic Records, Lava Records, Top Dog Records. 2001. AT0098CD2, 7567-85080-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Bawitdaba (UK CD3 liner notes). Kid Rock. Atlantic Records, Lava Records, Top Dog Records. 2001. AT0098CD3, 7567-85081-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Bawitdaba (European CD single liner notes). Kid Rock. Atlantic Records, Lava Records, Top Dog Records. 1999. 7567-84495-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Bawitdaba (Australian CD single liner notes). Kid Rock. Atlantic Records, Lava Records, Top Dog Records. 1999. 7567844952.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Devil Without a Cause (US CD album liner notes). Kid Rock. Atlantic Records, Lava Records, Top Dog Records. 1998. 7567-83119-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ "Kid Rock – Bawitdaba" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  18. ^ "Kid Rock – Bawitdaba". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  20. ^ "Kid Rock: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  21. ^ "Kid Rock Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  22. ^ "Kid Rock Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  23. ^ "Kid Rock Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  24. ^ a b "1999 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-90.
  25. ^ "Upcoming New Releases". Hits. Vol. 13, no. 630. February 12, 1999. p. 60.
  26. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1301. May 28, 1999. p. 85.
  27. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting April 30, 2001: Singles". Music Week. April 28, 2001. p. 23.
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