The single proved successful, charting high in several countries. It became Cher's first million-selling single and her first top 3 hit in the UK (and her last until "
The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" reached No. 1 in 1991).
Critic Tim Sendra, in his album review of The Sonny Side of Cher, gave the song a mixed review: "The only track that has any real zest is the Bono-written novelty 'Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)', the kind of dramatic song Cher could knock out in her sleep but also a song with no real heart."[3] The reviewer for Cashbox said the song was "inventive" and predicted it would become a "blockbuster" hit. The reviewer praised its "plaintive, blues-soaked" style, as well as the "interesting Gypsy-ish backing".[4]
Nancy Sinatra recorded one of the best-known covers of the song, for her 1966 album How Does That Grab You? Featuring
tremolo guitar played by her arranger,
Billy Strange, Sinatra's version had a resurgence in popularity when it was used in the opening credits of the 2003
Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill Volume 1. In the sequence preceding the opening credits, Tarantino creates a literal, bloody interpretation of the song's chorus and the third verse, about a wedding day.[30] Sinatra's cover was also sampled and she was officially featured in the 2005
electro house track "
Shot You Down" by
Audio Bullys, which peaked at #3 in the United Kingdom and #20 in Australia.
Bengali-Pakistani pop singer
Alamgir sang the Urdu version of this song titled "Mere Lafzo Ki Mehkar Tu" (you are the fragrance of my words). The second section of the song is sung to the tune of Mary Hopkins' song
Those Were the Days. The tunes of both songs were mashed together in this version. Pakistani pop singer
Tina Sani also sang a version of this song with
Alamgir. In another version,
Alamgir mashed up the English and Urdu versions, the first section being Bang Bang and the second version being Mere Lafzo Ki Mehkar Tu.
Yugoslav singer
Đorđe Marjanović covered the song and included it in his 1967 EP "Devojke".[31]
Vanilla Fudge, an American band known predominantly for their slow extended heavy rock arrangements of contemporary hit songs, included the song in their eponymous album released in 1967.[32]
The song was also popular in Italy in 1966, when it was covered in Italian by
Dalida, reaching number one and charting for two months, winning her a gold record. It appeared on her 1967 album, Piccolo Ragazzo.
Terry Reid released the song on the album, “Bang Bang You’re Terry Reid” on October 30, 1968, on Epic Records.
David Guetta released a version of the song in 2014 as the single "
Shot Me Down". Alternating between Sinatra's musical arrangement in the verses (sung by
Skylar Grey) and driving
EDM instrumental breaks, the single was certified gold and platinum in multiple countries.
Caroline Polachek recorded a funky, upbeat cover of "Bang Bang" for the soundtrack of the 2022 film Minions: The Rise of Gru, which also features a version in Chinese by
G.E.M., and several other modern covers of older songs.[43]