Sister Nancy’s ‘Bam Bam’ Certified Gold In The UK

Dancehall legend Sister Nancy’s timeless song Bam Bam is now certified gold in the United Kingdom (UK).  According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), the song was issued a BRIT Certified Gold award today (May 8), after it moved over 400,000 copies in the UK, as measured by The Official Charts Company.

The song had been certified Silver in 2022, marking 200,000 units. “What can I say…  Bam Bam keeps climbing… because they can’t resist it,” the singer previously told DancehallMag.

Bam Bam 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 has made recent pop culture appearances in the James Bond film No Time To Die and in episodes of two Netflix series, Maid and Ozark.

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 159 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.