Now I'm That Bitch

"Now I'm That Bitch" is the debut single by Barbadian British singer-songwriter Livvi Franc, released on 13 June 2009 by Jive Records. It features guest vocals from rapper Pitbull. The artists co-wrote the song with its producer Salaam Remi. "Now I'm That Bitch" received mixed reviews from contemporary critics, who considered it as an empowering anthem, despite criticizing its composition.

"Now I'm That Bitch"
Single by Livvi Franc featuring Pitbull
Released19 June 2009
Recorded2008
Genre
Length3:45
LabelRCA/Jive Label Group
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Salaam Remi
Livvi Franc singles chronology
"Now I'm That Bitch"
(2009)		 "Automatik"
(2010)
Pitbull singles chronology
"Hotel Room Service"
(2009)		 "Now I'm That Bitch"
(2009)		 "Outta Control"
(2009)

"Now I'm That Bitch" achieved moderate success, reaching number 24 in New Zealand and 40 in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the song failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles; however, it reached number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs. An accompanying music video was directed by Sarah Chatfield, and portrays Franc singing and dancing to the song along with female and male dancers. The music video was compared to the one of Rachel Stevens' "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" (2003).

Background

"Now I'm That Bitch" was written and produced by Salaam Gibbs, with additional writing from Olivia Waithe and Armando Pérez.[3] Franc considered the song "very personal for me - because it really represents who I am." She also commented that "everyone has different meanings for the word 'bitch'. And for me I really wanted to reclaim it and make it something empowering - as in 'Babe In Total Control of Herself'! You know, it's all about being in control and knowing what you want. And the story behind the song relates to when I was younger, and I was a lot quieter and less confident."[4] The song was released as Franc's debut single on 19 June 2009.[5] A digital EP titled Now I'm That... Remixes was released on 23 June 2009,[6] while a physical edition featuring different remixes was also released.[7]

Reception

Critical response

"Now I'm That Bitch" received mixed reviews from contemporary critics. A Billboard review considered the song as "an empowering anthem in which the singer claims 'bitch' to be an acronym for 'being in total control of herself'", while commenting Franc sings the lines "You were too fly then, so fly away now" with "an aggressive, feisty vocal".[1] Pitbull's verses were also praised, being considered as "forceful and energetic rhymes".[1] Nick Levine of Digital Spy gave the song a mixed review, commenting that "calling your debut single 'Now I'm That Bitch' is a crass but effective way for a pop starlet to grab our attention - even if she proceeds to cushion the blow by claiming it's an acronym for 'Being In Total Control Of Herself', and even if 'Bitch' has to become 'Chick for the purposes of daytime radio."[2] However, Levine noted "the track itself doesn't quite live up to its risqué title", describing its lyrics as "sassy enough" and its composition as "a fairly standard slab of electro-R&B complete with box-ticking cameo from Pitbull. Aside from the cuss word, the only intrigue comes from trying to work out whether Franc actually sings 'I'm not a bender' on the second verse."[2] Pip Ellwood of Entertainment Focus said "Now I’m That Bitch" "isn’t a good single. Livvi Franc is not the next big thing", while describing the song basically as a "modern R&B/pop by numbers. Take Rihanna’s vocal (with a less able singer), steal Rachel Stevens' 'Sweet Dreams My LA Ex' video and put in some awful lyrics and apparently you have a pop smash."[8]

Chart performance

On the week of 14 September 2009, "Now I'm That Bitch" debuted at number 30 on the New Zealand Singles Chart. After six weeks, the song reached number 24, its highest peak on the chart.[9] In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 40, and stayed on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks.[10] In the United States, "Now I'm That Bitch" reached number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs on the week of 11 July 2009;[11] it failed, however, to enter the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.[12]

Music video and usage in media

The music video for "Now I'm That Bitch" was directed by Sarah Chatfield, in Miami, Florida, during the week of 16 July 2009.[13] The video begins with Pitbull's rap the song's intro, followed by Franc being joined by two girls dancing. As the chorus starts, she is seen dancing in a revealing black catsuit reeling in two men with a red silk rope like scarf. The following scenes includes Franc lying on top of men placed together as a chair, singing in a metallic silver and black mini dress with sunglasses; dancing while reeling in and pushing their men away; with two long yellow cloths covering her nude body and is also seen moving around on red silk. The music video was released on 10 August 2009 on MTV,[14] and has been compared to the one of Rachel Stevens' "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" (2003).[8] A second version titled "Now I'm That Chick Part II" features a censored version of the song, replacing the word "bitch" with "chick", and also removing Pitbull's verses and scenes. This version was released on Franc's VEVO on 22 March 2011.[15] Following its release as a single, "Now I'm That Bitch" was featured in episode 10 of The CW's Melrose Place,[16] as well as on the fifth season of MTV's The Hills, during a scene where Kristin Cavallari tells Jayde off and leaves the restaurant.[17]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits for "Now I'm That Bitch" are adapted from the single's liner notes.[3]

See also

Charts

References
  1. "The Billboard Reviews Singles". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 25. Nielsen Business Media. 2009. p. 76. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  2. Levine, Nick (2009-09-14). "Livvi Franc ft. Pitbull: 'Now I'm That Bitch'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  3. Now I'm That Bitch liner notes. Jive Records (2009)
  4. Lewis, Pete. "Livvi Franc: Franc exchange". Blues and Soul Magazine. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  5. "Amazon.com: Now I'm That Bitch Part II: Livvi Franc Featuring Pitbull: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  6. "Amazon.com: Now I'm That...Remixes: Livvi Franc Featuring Pitbull: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. 2009-06-23. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  7. Now I'm That Bitch (CD single). Livvi Franc. Jive Records. 2009. 88697-53181-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Ellwood, Pip (2009-09-23). "Livvi Franc feat Pitbull – Now I'm That Bitch". Entertainment Focus. Archived from the original on 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  9. "Livvi Franc feat. Pitbull – Now I'm That Bitch". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  11. "Livvi Franc Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  12. "Livvi Franc Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  13. Leeuwis, Jermy (2009-07-09). "Livvi Franc to release debut". Music Remedy. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  14. ""Now I'm That Bitch" - Music Video by Livvi Franc". MTV. MTV Networks. 2009-08-10. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  15. "Livvi Franc - Now I'm That Chick Part II". VEVO. YouTube. 2011-03-22. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  16. "Melrose Place (2009) Soundtrack - Season 1E10 · Cahuenga". TuneFind.com. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  17. "The Hills " Season 5 " Ep. 518". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  18. "Now I'm That Bitch (feat. Pitbull) - Single by Livvi Franc". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  19. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  20. "Chart History - Livvi Franc on Heatseekers Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  21. "Livvi Franc Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  22. "Artist Search for "livvi franc"". AllMusic.
  23. "Livvi Franc Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  24. "Livvi Franc Chart History: Year-End Dance Club Songs". Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
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