Sister Nancy’s Timeless ‘Bam Bam’ Certified Silver In The UK

Dancehall legend Sister Nancy’s timeless song Bam Bam is now certified silver in the United Kingdom (UK).  According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), Bam Bam was issued a BRIT Certified Silver award yesterday (January 7), after it sold over 200,000 copies in the UK, as measured by The Official Charts Company.

Nancy, whose real name is Ophlin Russell, was very happy when informed about the certification, which comes 40 years after the song’s release.

“What can I say…  Bam Bam keeps climbing… because they can’t resist it,” she told DancehallMag.

The song was first recorded in 1982 for her One, Two album with the late producer Winston Riley.  It had taken inspiration for its chorus from the Toots And The Maytals 1966 song of the same name, while the instrumental had sampled Ansell Collins’ 1974 Stalag 17.

Bam Bam made recent pop culture appearances in the James Bond film No Time To Die and in an episode of the Netflix series Maid.

It was also featured in the controversial Sony film The Interview, the Hip Hop cult film Belly, and the EA skateboarding game Skate.

Billboard Magazine once noted that “Bam Bam is a strong contender for the title of most sampled reggae song of all time.”

According to WhoSampled, there are 128 songs that have sampled Sister Nancy’s tune, including Famous by Kanye West and Rihanna, BAM by Jay-Z and Damian Marley, Lost Ones by Lauryn Hill, Bomb by Chris Brown featuring Wiz Khalifa, and Do To Me by H.E.R.

The now 60-year-old singer, who appeared in the music video for Jay-Z’s BAM, had explained that she freestyled Bam Bam when she first recorded it.

“It must feel good to make something so timeless,” Jay-Z pointed out.

“Good music will last, it will last it won’t go nowhere, and even when I am gone where I am supposed to go my daughter is gone be here saying that’s mommy’s Bam Bam,” Nancy responded.

Nancy is also known for her songs Transport Connection, One Two and Only Woman D.J. With Degree.