Cold Hard Bitch
single
CoverJet - Cold Hard Bitch CD cover.jpg
ArtistJet
AlbumGet Born
B-side
  • "Everlovin' Man"
  • "Ain't That a Lotta Love"
  • "You Don't Look the Same" (demo)
Released9 February 2004
Studio
GenreAlternative rock[2]
Label
Writer
ProducerDave Sardy
Prev year2004
Next year2004

"Cold Hard Bitch" is a song by Australian rock band Jet, released as the fourth single (second in the United States) from their 2003 debut album, Get Born. The song was written by band members Chris Cester, Nic Cester, and Cameron Muncey.[3][4] Heavily inspired by prior heavy bands such as AC/DC, the song is one of the heaviest in the group's catalogue, being a tough hard rock tune with a simplistic chord structure.[5]

The song was released in the United States on 9 February 2004 and in Australia on 26 July 2004. In addition to peaking at number 33 in Australia, it topped the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks charts while reaching number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100. In Canada, the song reached number two on the Radio & Records Rock Top 30, while in Europe, it charted in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 34 in September 2004.

Background and single history

Band-members Chris Cester, Nic Cester, and Cameron Muncey composed the tune. An embryonic version of it appeared on Jet's 2002 release Dirty Sweet (also known as Dirty Sweet EP), a four-song work from the band's early days.[6] "Cold Hard Bitch" received a large scale release when the group's debut studio album, Get Born, came out on 14 September 2003.

The group's debut single, "Are You Gonna Be My Girl", became Jet's signature song and gained significant chart success in the US, making it their most successful hit there.[7] That song had considerable pop radio airplay and peaked No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.[7] "Cold Hard Bitch" came out several months later and peaked No. 55 on the Hot 100, yet it was more successful on rock and roll radio stations, reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks for three weeks. "Cold Hard Bitch" gave the band their only number-one Modern Rock hit in the US: their prior hit, "Are You Gonna Be My Girl", had peaked at No. 3.[8][9] The single also became their sole No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, spending eight weeks at the top, whereas their prior hit peaked at No. 7.[10][11]

Strongly influenced by past hard rock groups such as AC/DC, "Cold Hard Bitch" features a simplistic chord structure that emphasizes the guitar playing and bassline. In terms of a critical response, the song received praise from AllMusic's MacKenzie Wilson, who viewed it as having a "sultry" edge.[6] However, in his other positive review of Get Born, music critic Tim Sendra, also of AllMusic, panned "Cold Hard Bitch". He argued that it was the "only track that really falters" on the release due to it being "silly and mean-spirited", constituting "an ill-advised trip down Nazareth lane" that "leaves the listener with a foul taste in their mouth".[12]

At the APRA Music Awards of 2005, "Cold Hard Bitch" was nominated for Most Performed Australian Work Overseas but lost to "Are You Gonna Be My Girl".[13] In the following year, three Jet tracks were nominated for the same category with "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" again winning over "Cold Hard Bitch" and "Look What You've Done".[14] The music video for the single shows the band performing in a bar, playing pinball, and talking to women, generally giving off a 'guys night out' atmosphere.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2004)Peak
position
Canada (Nielsen BDS)[15]20
Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records)[16]2

Year-end charts

Chart (2004)Position
US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[17]3
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[18]7

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United States9 February 2004Mainstream rock · active rock · alternative radioElektra[19]
Australia26 July 2004CDCapitol[20]
United Kingdom6 September 20047-inch vinyl · CD · DVDElektra[21]

References

  1. ^ Get Born (Australian CD album liner notes). Capitol Records. 2003. 5942002.
  2. ^ "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". 5 July 2017.
  3. ^ AUS Charts
  4. ^ "'Cold Hard Bitch' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 13 August 2014. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Cold Hard Bitch; or at 'Performer:' Jet
  5. ^ "Guitar Lessons: Cold Hard Bitch"
  6. ^ "Dirty Sweet [EP] - Jet | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic
  7. ^ Hot100
  8. ^ USAS
  9. ^ "Jet – Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  10. ^ USMR
  11. ^ "Jet – Chart History: Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  12. ^ Sendra, Tim. "Get Born – Jet". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  13. ^ "2005 APRA Music Awards – Most Performed Australian Work Overseas". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  14. ^ "2006 APRA Music Awards – Most Performed Australian Work Overseas". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  15. ^ "The Hits Charts (Airplay) : Top 100 singles". Archived from the original on 2004-07-01. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  16. ^ "R&R Canada Rock Top 30". Radio & Records. No. 1556. 21 May 2004. p. 65. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  17. ^ "2004 Year End Charts: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Titles". Billboard. 25 December 2004. Archived from the original on 7 May 2005. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  18. ^ "Year in Music & Touring: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 52. 25 December 2004. p. YE-70.
  19. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1541. 6 February 2004. p. 25. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  20. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 26/07/2004". ARIA. 26 July 2004. p. 28. Archived from the original on 6 August 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  21. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 4 September 2004. p. 27.