Bag Lady Explained

Bag Lady
Cover:Bag Lady.png
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Erykah Badu
Album:Mama's Gun
B-Side:On & On
Recorded:1998
Genre:Neo soul
Label:Motown
Prev Title:Southern Gul
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:Didn't Cha Know?
Next Year:2000

"Bag Lady" is a song recorded by American singer Erykah Badu for her second studio album Mama's Gun (2000). Written by Badu and Isaac Hayes, the song is about a woman who is trying to begin a new relationship but has too much emotional baggage and can't get close to anyone.[1] The song's message is to "pack light" and have hope for the future. It was released as the lead single from Mama's Gun on August 8, 2000, by Motown Records.[2]

A commercial success, "Bag Lady" peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Badu's first top-ten hit on the chart, and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for six weeks.[3] Critically acclaimed, it earned Badu two nominations at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards (2001), for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song.[4]

Commercial performance

In the United States, "Bag Lady" debuted at number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the issue dated August 19, 2000.[5] After weeks of ascending and descending within the chart, it reached its peak at number six on October 7, 2000, thus becoming Badu's first top-ten hit on the chart.[6] It spent a total of 20 weeks on the chart and finished at number 69 on the year-end Billboard Hot 100 for 2000. It also became Badu's second Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one hit, spending six consecutive weeks atop the chart and 33 weeks on the chart in total. Internationally, it charted only in the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 93 on the Dutch Single Top 100.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Bag Lady" was directed by Badu and designed by visual artist and designer Ron Norsworthy. It uses the Cheeba Sac remix of the song, which samples Dr. Dre's "Xxplosive" from his album 2001 (1999), which was based on the song "Bumpy's Lament" from the soundtrack for the film Shaft (1971).[7] In a segment during the video, Erykah and her "bag ladies" - including singers Yahzarah and N'dambi, as well as Badu's mother and sister - dance to an excerpt of Johnny Hammond's "Gambler's Life" (1974). The video was shot on Mini DV digital videoβ€”an unusual choice for a mainstream music video production - which gave it an appearance similar to a home movie.

Track listings and formats

US 12-inch vinyl[8]

  1. "Bag Lady" (Cheeba Sac version)  - 5:09
  2. "Bag Lady" (Cheeba Sac radio edit)  - 4:04
  3. "Bag Lady" (radio edit)  - 4:06
  4. "Bag Lady" (Cheeba Sac instrumental)  - 4:57
  5. "Bag Lady" (instrumental)  - 5:50
  6. "Bag Lady" (a cappella)  - 5:40

US cassette and CD single[9]

  1. "Bag Lady" (Cheeba Sac version)  - 5:09
  2. "Bag Lady" (album version)  - 5:50

European maxi CD single[10]

  1. "Bag Lady" (Cheeba Sac radio edit)  - 4:04
  2. "Bag Lady" (radio edit)  - 4:06
  3. "Bag Lady" (Cheeba Sac instrumental)  - 4:57
  4. "On & On" (live)  - 5:25

Japanese maxi CD single

  1. "Bag Lady" (Cheeba Sac radio edit)  - 4:04
  2. "Bag Lady" (radio edit)  - 4:06
  3. "Bag Lady" (instrumental)  - 5:50

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2000)Position
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 69
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] 12
Chart (2001)Position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[14] 143
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] 77

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesAugust 8, 2000Motown
August 15, 200012-inch vinyl
JapanSeptember 6, 2000Maxi CDUniversal Music Japan
United StatesSeptember 12, 2000Motown
FranceSeptember 25, 2000Maxi CDBarclay

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Copel. Shelby. 2020-05-08. These Are Some of Erykah Badu's All-Time Best Songs. 2020-06-17. Oprah Magazine. en-US.
  2. Web site: Erykah Badu continues on her funky way. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200617115747/https://edition.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/04/eryaka.badu/ . June 17, 2020 . CNN.
  3. Erykah Badu. 2020-06-17. Billboard.
  4. Web site: 2001-01-03. 43rd Annual Grammy Nomination List. 2020-06-17. Variety. en.
  5. Billboard Hot 100. Billboard. August 19, 2000. October 28, 2022.
  6. Billboard Hot 100. Billboard. October 7, 2000. October 28, 2022.
  7. Web site: Bumpy's Lament by Soul Mann & the Brothers on WhoSampled. 2020-06-17. WhoSampled. en.
  8. Badu, Erykah. Erykah Badu. 2000. Bag Lady. 12-inch single. Motown Records. 012158274-1.
  9. Badu, Erykah. Erykah Badu. 2000. Bag Lady. CD single. Motown Records. 012 158 326-2.
  10. Badu, Erykah. Erykah Badu. 2000. Bag Lady. CD single. Universal Music Group. 158 274-2.
  11. Erykah Badu Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs). Billboard. February 21, 2023.
  12. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 2000. Billboardtop100of.com. May 20, 2021.
  13. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2000. Billboard. May 20, 2021.
  14. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20020726120310/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2001_singles2.html. July 26, 2002. Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001. Jam!. March 28, 2022.
  15. 2001 The Year in Music. Billboard. 113. 52. YE-44. December 29, 2001. May 20, 2021.