Still A “Bitch”: Meredith Brooks and the Feminist Anthem of a Decade

Even though Meredith Brooks may be dabbling in a career as a children’s singer at the moment, no one can forget her empowering 1997 hit, “Bitch.” Hailing from Oregon–the feminist nexus of the U.S.–Brooks had her early beginnings playing clubs around Portland and Eugene in the late 70s and early 80s (that’s right, she’s been around that long).

Brooks abandoned Oregon for Los Angeles in 1986, and after several years spent in musical limbo (including being in a band with a former Go-Go’s member), Brooks finally scored a record deal with Capitol Records in 1995. It took two more years for the album, Blurring the Edges, to be released–but it was well worth the wait in order to be graced with the declarative majesty of “Bitch.”

Exemplifying the notion that a woman is any number of things at any given second, Brooks speaks for a gender by saying, “I’m a bitch/I’m a lover/I’m a child/I’m a mother/I’m a sinner/I’m a saint/I do not feel ashamed.” Although Blurring the Edges had a handful of other listenable songs, there was none quite so compelling as “Bitch.” It even led her to a gig opening for the Rolling Stones, though she was accosted by the Argentine audience, who demanded to see the Stones. But still, she’ll always have that as an achievement.

While Brooks may have been dealt a number of literal and metaphorical blows (including being dropped by Capitol Records), she has persisted in staying true to the mantra of her classic song by continuing to metamorphose into her varied incarnations.