The shocking story of Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam” song
This post was originally published as the 40th issue of the “Midweek Crisis”, my music newsletter, to which you can subscribe for free here:
https://midweekcrisis.substack.com/welcome ✌️
Hi there,
Today, I have something special for you. It’s a bit longer form than usual and focuses on only one song and artist, but I think it’s worth your time.
So without further ado, grab a cup of your favorite beverage, and get some Jamaican vibe with me ☕️🇯🇲🎶
I will risk a statement that most of us here may recognize the song below ↓↓↓
This banger turns 40 this year! 🎉 Also today’s Midweek Crisis issue happens to be the 40th… Fun coincidence, right?
When I found out what the author of this epic tune — Ophlin Russell a.k.a Sister Nancy — had to come through to be recognized as song creator, I instantly knew it was an issue-worth material.
Some Internet “oracles”, “experts”, and other kinds of “the wisest people out there” assume that Ophlin made this iconic track back in 1982 by mixing together a few different things taken from these huge hits:
- “Bam Bam” by Toots & The Maytals — the true reggae pioneers, that introduced the popular “bam bam” phrase into the music world
- “Stalag Riddim” by Winston Riley — a 70’s famous reggae riddim originated from Ansell Collins’ “Stalag 17”, used in popular King Tubby’s version
But the author herself tells a different story. In the interview for VIBE Sister Nancy says that back then she just wanted to finish her “One, Two” album — she had it almost done, and was missing one last track.
She worked with Yellowman at that time, who’s one of the most popular Jamaican reggae/dancehall artists and has done his version of “Bam Bam”… so Ophlin came up with the idea to make hers:
“Well, I call Mr. Riley (…) I’m gonna do a Bam Bam like Yellowman did”
— Source: VIBE
Using no pen, and no paper, she just let things go with the flow and made the most recognizable version of “Bam Bam” that was ever created 🔥 She was in such a deep, creative zone that she didn’t even remember what words she exactly used. Days after recording the song she had to listen to it, again and again, to write it down and make an accurate transcription.
This post was originally published as the 40th issue of the “Midweek Crisis”, my music newsletter, to which you can subscribe for free here:
https://midweekcrisis.substack.com/welcome ✌️
While her dancehall reggae version of “Bam Bam” was conquering the rest of the world her home country Jamaica didn’t play it at all. Sister Nancy hasn’t heard her own masterpiece there ever. When Ophlin migrated to the U.S. in 1996, the surprising truth has revealed to her. Imagine the shock she must have felt…
Everyone knew her song, but Sister Nancy hasn’t been recognized by anybody, at all. It changed after her “Bam Bam” was used in the soundtrack for the “Belly” movie from 1998. It was a crime drama film packed with the most-known rappers of that time, like Nas, DMX, and Method Man. Watch a clip of this movie below:
Fun fact: no one called her about that. She hasn’t been consulted about using the song, that she made over a decade ago. Ophlin came across her own song when watching “Belly” on HBO… The movie producers contacted only Winston Riley, the author of the original “Stalag Riddim”, and legendary Jamaican music producer. Capture this: when she called Riley, she found out he’s the owner of the copyrights to her own “Bam Bam”… The hit she created was legally his, and her name wasn’t there at all — the DJ to this track was someone else, called Nancy White. A person who doesn’t exist, a name made up by Ophlin Russel, that she used only on stage. That’s when Sister Nancy got angry…
According to what she says to VIBE, after her conversation with Winston Riley he agreed to meet her to discuss the issue. But he has never shown himself at their meeting. Ophlin waited for him for 12 hours. When she found out how many times people made money using her track, she got furious.
What tipped the scale was her daughter showing her Reebok commercial using her version of “Bam Bam”. That was enough. She decided to go to get some professional legal help and fight for what was hers.
The case was quite obvious. So obvious that it didn’t even end up in court. The parties agreed to settle. I still find it shocking that hundreds of international artists sampled Sister Nancy’s vocals, and she hadn’t received the royalties she deserved for it 🤯
»At the end of the settlement she was unable to receive compensation for all 32 years of unpaid royalties, however, she did receive compensation for the last 10 years and then obtained 50% of the rights to her song “Bam Bam”«
— Source: Wikipedia
The settlement changed everything for Ophlin. When she came to the US in 1996 she kind of slowed down her music career. She still played from time to time but her main focus was her accounting position in a bank. After the settlement, she quit her job and so her second music youth began. She quit her day job and is now focusing on making music again and giving shows.
It took Sister Nancy a huge amount of time to receive some royalties and recognition for doing the most recognizable ever version of the “Bam Bam” song.
Many people still don’t know her by name, but they surely know her song, which she made in her twenties. It earned the title of “classic”, and spread through the generations, making people all around the world happy.
The Midweek Crisis #40 playlist is short, but gold 👑
Listen on Spotify | Listen on YouTube
Wishing you all an awesome day! ✨
Yours,
Stygi
