Bang Bang (BA Robertson song)

"Bang Bang"
Single by BA Robertson
from the album Initial Success
B-side"2 (b) B side The C side"[1]
ReleasedJune 1979 (1979-06)
GenreNew wave
Length3:20
LabelAsylum Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Terry Britten
BA Robertson singles chronology
"Goosebumps"
(1979) 		"Bang Bang"
(1979) 		"Knocked It Off"
(1979)

"Bang Bang" is a song performed by BA Robertson. Co-written by Robertson with Terry Britten and produced by Britten, it was released as the second single from his third album Initial Success in 1979.[2]

Lyrically, "Bang Bang" is a humorous commentary on the pitfalls of love. It uses the examples of famous couples such as Romeo and Juliet, Samson and Delilah, Horatio Nelson and Emma, Lady Hamilton and Mark Antony and Cleopatra. There is also a reference to John Fruin, who was head of WEA Records at the time.[3] The song features the Glaswegian Robertson affecting an Estuary English accent. Many have considered this an impersonation of Ian Dury,[4] whose "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" had topped the UK Singles Chart in January 1979.[5] Robertson has also spoken of comparisons to Squeeze, whose 1979 hit single "Cool for Cats" features a lead vocal performance from cockney-accented Squeeze lyricist Chris Difford. Robertson says the vocal was in fact an impression of session bass player Herbie Flowers.[6]

"Bang Bang" was Robertson's second single with Asylum Records after the flop 'Goosebumps', and Robertson's future with the label would have been in doubt had it failed.[6]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1979–1980) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 53
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 13
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 15
Ireland (IRMA)[10] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 42
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 2
West Germany (GfK)[13] 6

Year-end charts

Chart (1980) Position
West Germany (Official German Charts)[14] 48

References

  1. ^ B.A. Robertson (1979). Bang Bang (7-inch vinyl). UK: Asylum Records.
  2. ^ "B. A. Robertson Bang Bang UK 7" vinyl single (7 inch record)". Eil.com. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  3. ^ "Industry veteran John Fruin dies". Musicweek.com. November 1, 2006.
  4. ^ Canty, Ian (13 May 2017). "B.A. Robertson – Initial Success, Bully For You, R'N'BA". Louder Than War. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick". Official Charts. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  6. ^ a b Initial Success (liner). B. A. Robertson. Cherry Red. 2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 254. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. ^ "B. A. Robertson – Bang Bang" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  9. ^ "B. A. Robertson – Bang Bang" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  10. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Bang Bang". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  11. ^ "B. A. Robertson – Bang Bang" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – B. A. Robertson – Bang Bang" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 23 February 2022.