CHER - BANG BANG (MY BABY SHOT ME DOWN)

Released: February 25, 1966

Charted:  UK: #3    US: #2 

"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" is a ballad by Cher, written by her husband Sonny Bono and released in 1966 as the second single from her album "The Sonny Side of Cher." The song achieved significant chart success, reaching No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It remained a standout hit of Cher's career during the 1960s. 

In "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)," Cher narrates a story where she reminisces about childhood games with a boy who would pretend to shoot her with his toy gun. As they grow older, they enter into a romantic relationship and eventually get married. The relationship turns sour as he leaves her, leaving Cher heartbroken and devastated. The song explores themes of love, loss, and the emotional impact of betrayal.

In 1987, Cher recorded a rock version for her self-titled comeback album, which was certified Platinum. Produced by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child, this rendition featured backing vocals by Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Bolton, and others. Although it was released as a promotional single in 1988, it became a prominent part of Cher's live performances on various tours, including the Heart of Stone Tour, Living Proof: The Farewell Tour, and instrumentally on subsequent tours like the Dressed to Kill Tour (2014), Classic Cher (2017-2020), and the Here We Go Again Tour (2018-2020).

Nancy Sinatra's cover gained significant attention when it was used in the opening scenes of Quentin Tarantino's 2003 film "Kill Bill Volume 1." Tarantino had long admired the song and felt it perfectly suited the film's atmosphere. Sinatra's rendition, with its haunting guitar by Billy Strange, resonated with audiences and sparked a renewed interest in her music career. Many viewers were surprised to discover Sinatra's involvement in the song's original recording when they saw her name in the film credits. In 2005, the UK production duo Audio Bullys sampled Nancy Sinatra's version for a dance track, which became a hit reaching number 9 on the UK charts. 

David Guetta released a version of "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" in 2014 titled "Shot Me Down". Featuring Skylar Grey on vocals, the song alternates between Nancy Sinatra's original musical arrangement in the verses and energetic EDM instrumental breaks. In 2017, Dua Lipa covered the song. Additionally, Lady Gaga performed a live cover as a bonus track on her jazz album with Tony Bennett, “Cheek to Cheek”. Gaga personalized the lyrics during a Reddit AMA, changing them to reflect her own experiences, specifically referencing an ex-lover who married someone else, with no wedding bells ringing for her.