Bawitdaba

"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.

"Bawitdaba"
Single by Kid Rock
from the album Devil Without a Cause
B-side	"My Oedipus Complex" "Prodigal Son" "Paid"
Released	February 15, 1999 (1999-02-15)
Studio	White Room, Temple of the Dog (Detroit, Michigan)
Genre	Nu metal[1][2] rap metal[3]
Length	4:26 (album version) 3:32 (radio edit)
Label	Atlantic Lava Top Dog
Songwriter(s)	R. J. Ritchie Matthew Shafer Jason Krause
Producer(s)	Kid Rock John Travis (add.)
Kid Rock singles chronology
"I Am the Bullgod" (1998) "Bawitdaba" (1999) "Cowboy" (1999)
Audio sample
file help
Music video
"Bawitdaba" on YouTube

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

Critics and fans consider "Bawitdaba" 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]

The song was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Awards in the Best New Artist and Best Hard Rock Performance categories.^[10]

Music video

The song's accompanying video gained regular rotation on MTV as it grew in popularity.^[11] 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

UK CD1[12] "Bawitdaba" (radio edit) – 3:32 "My Oedipus Complex" (Father edit) – 3:51 "My Oedipus Complex" (Son edit) – 4:28 "Bawitdaba" (enhanced video) UK CD2[13] "Bawitdaba" (radio edit) – 3:32 "Cowboy" (album version) – 4:16 "Prodigal Son" (album version) – 5:41 "Cowboy" (video)

UK CD3[14] "Bawitdaba" (radio edit) – 3:32 "I Am the Bullgod" (album version) – 4:50 "Paid" (album version) – 4:45 "I Am the Bullgod" (video) European and Australian CD single[15][16] "Bawitdaba" (edit) – 3:32 "Bawitdaba" (album version) – 4:25 "I Am the Bullgod" (live, electro-acoustic version) – 5:28

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the UK CD1 and Devil Without a Cause liner notes.^[12][17]

Studios

• Recorded at White Room Studios and Temple of the Dog (Detroit, Michigan)
• Mixed at Abbey Road Studios (London, England)
• Mastered at Masterdisk (New York City)

Musicians Kid Rock – writing (as R. J. Ritchie), vocals, production, mixing, engineering Twisted Brown Trucker – additional engineering Uncle Kracker – writing (as Matthew Shafer), turntables Jason Krause – writing, metal guitar Kenny Olson – lead guitar Jimmie Bones – keyboards Stefanie Eulinberg – drums

Other personnel John Travis – additional production, engineering David Bottrill – mixing Al Sutton – engineering Derek Matuja – additional engineering Tony Dawsey – mastering Andy VanDette – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Bawitdaba" Chart (1999–2001) Peak position Germany (GfK)[18] 84 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19] 7 Scotland (OCC)[20] 32 UK Singles (OCC)[21] 41 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[22] 4 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[23] 10 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[24] 11

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Bawitdaba" Chart (1999) Position US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[25] 26 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[25] 27

Release history

Release history and formats for "Bawitdaba"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	February 15, 1999	Modern rock radio	Atlantic Lava Top Dog	[26]
	June 1, 1999	Contemporary hit radio		[27]
United Kingdom	April 30, 2001	CD		[28]

References

1. "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. 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. "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. "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. Greenfield, Robert (2012). The Last Sultan: The Life and Times of Ahmet Ertegun. Simon & Schuster. p. 329. ISBN 9781416558408.
11. "Kid Rock's 'Bawitdaba' Sidekick Joe C. Long On Appeal". MTV.com. April 15, 1999. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023.
12. 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)
13. 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)
14. 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)
15. 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)
16. 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)
17. 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)
18. "Kid Rock – Bawitdaba" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
19. "Kid Rock – Bawitdaba". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
21. "Kid Rock: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
22. "Kid Rock Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
23. "Kid Rock Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
24. "Kid Rock Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
25. "1999 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-90.
26. "Upcoming New Releases". Hits. Vol. 13, no. 630. February 12, 1999. p. 60.
27. "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1301. May 28, 1999. p. 85.
28. "New Releases – For Week Starting April 30, 2001: Singles". Music Week. April 28, 2001. p. 23.