Is it just me: "Danger! High Voltage!"- utter pants or wot?!?!?

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I was most surprised to read on UK Teletext (C4 p161) today that Girls Aloud is in serious danger of being toppled from the number 1 spot by Electric 6's single "Danger! High Voltage!"!!!! Now don't get me wrong- I quite like the video and think it has a most interesting concept behind it, (Falco is re-incarnated with a moustache and lives with Sara Cox's mother in some dingy cellar in an art gallery!!! Oh, and they wear codpieces and bras which light up whenever they get a bit to hot under the collar...) but to be quite frank, the actual record makes the Cheeky Girls sound like Scott Walker!!!! Like a lot of 80s "retro"-styled stuff, it seems to be high on concept and pretty low on anything approaching a decent tune!!!!

So am I alone on this? It looks like it, because it might be UK number 1 this Sunday!! (Is this when Peelie is presenting the chart show on Radio 1?) Hopefully, somebody like Panjabi MC will knock it off the week after... (Yep, 'Mundian To Bach Ke' is getting released as a single next Monday!)

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:07 (twenty-two years ago)

the record is ok, its nice enough. not really my thing

― gareth (gareth), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Number 1? At last a triumph for real music over this manufactured pop pap.

Seriously though I love Danger! High Voltage! and I will be extra lenient and not throw a tantrum if some DJ plays it in the middle of a house set too.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:13 (twenty-two years ago)

If I am the only other person in the world, then yes, it is just you.

EIGHTIESMATCHBOXB-LINEDISASTERINLIKEABULLETAT24COMMMMMMMMMEONNNNNNNNNN

It does pretty much make up for the pure shiteness of their mailing list anyhow.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:13 (twenty-two years ago)

And Peel ain't doing the top 40 any more, it's Scott Mills till February.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I've not even heard it and I know it's pants.

I've never even heard the Electric 6, but I just KNOW that they are in no danger of being good at all...

(Yes, I am well aware of what an annoying indie snob muso journo I am sounding like right now...)

― kate, Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:15 (twenty-two years ago)

i like the teutonic way the singer goes "hehy foeulltij" and i like the record.

― michael wells (michael w.), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:18 (twenty-two years ago)

No no, Tatu (or should that be T.A.T.U.?) make the Cheeky Girls sound like Scott Walker...very literally!

Yes I am aware of the quiet voice saying "this is just the White Stripes and their mates having a larf" but, frankly, to hell with that; it's a great pop record and I'd love to see it at #1, just as I would've loved to see Cristina's "Is That All There Is" at #1 back in '79. Certainly wouldn't mind Panjabi MC getting to #1 either.

The big question is: can MC Pitman have a number one before the year's out?

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:18 (twenty-two years ago)

no its a funny party track and it reminds me of Talking Heads and i really think its good to have something like that at the top of the charts - AS OPPOSED TO ALL THE USUAL SHIT

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

kate, it's had stacks of airplay on xfm - for months !

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Marcello is completely right and Kate is completely wrong.

― RickyT (RickyT), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

touch my bum, it is life!

spans the ages, that does.

you are all wrong!

― doom-e, Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd imagine Radio 1's daytime DJ's (possible exception of Mark & Lard & Dave Pearce) would adore Pitman. Don't bet against it.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with Steve to be honest, I like lots of pop songs but it's still nice to have something like this going to number 1. Has it been on British radio alot besides Xfm? I haven't heard it once here but that's no radio station here touch anything remotely unexpected.

Is Cristina's "Is That All There Is" a cover of Derrick Carter?

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

steady on doomie the cheeky girls are fine by me!

Er, not quite, Ronan: it's a No Wave-style cover (on Ze Records) of an old art song written by Leiber and Stoller for Peggy Lee in (I think) '69. But the lyrics were changed so drastically in the Cristina version that Leiber and Stoller objected and the record was withdrawn pretty sharpish. Now going for ridiculous prices on ebay.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh sorry I was just making a joke, I'm not sure the Derrick Carter tune is even called "Is that all there is" but that's one of the lyrics, it's actually called "Where You At".

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:30 (twenty-two years ago)

its a very good record. not only is the video funny but there's some nice it has some nice sax squealing towards the end.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, I quite like the Cheeky Girls song, and I think it would have been absolutely ace if it had kept both Girls Aloud and One True Voice off the top spot at Xmas!!! So I dunno why a good "funny party track" like the Cheeky Girls can't get to number 1 while a not-very-good one-joke (which rapidly wears thin) "funny party track" can. Is it because it's a "funny party track" that's also a bit more "serious", "real", "ironic", whilst the other doesn't bother with all that tortuous self-justification and faffing about!??! Reminds me of that Spiller Vs Posh Spice chart battle where the entire record buying public seemed intent on buying the most boring house track ever recorded merely to put the wind up Posh!!!!

PS I think you're probably right William about Mark & Lard liking MC Pitman, though they'd first have to find a track where he's not going "Fook off, you slaaag!!!" or suchlike on it!!!!

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Re: sax squealing towards - is it improvised, Julio?

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:35 (twenty-two years ago)

"about Mark & Lard liking MC Pitman" = "about R1 DJs, except Mark & Lard, liking MC Pitman"

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

martian- of course! that's why its the best bit of the rec.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Witness the Pitness was radio edited quite tightly. Do Not Bet Against It.

It's a weird week for the charts, though - Audio Bullys, Badly Drawn Boy, Foo Fighters are going top 20, and I think Erasure are going top 10 with a Peter Gabriel cover. And, of course the Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster are going to go top 30 by virtue of the old Hundred Reasons/Feeder method of touring oneself to death in order to gain a minor chart placing, but it's OK because unlike the aforementioned pair they are fucking fantastic. And them on TOTP would be best thing ever. So I am happy there.

Next week - Panjabi MC vs. Layo & Bushwacka: FITE!

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Criminy... that's pretty amazing. And I thought nothing was gonna shock me about Detroit bands anymore.

Do I get points for knowing who did the sax solo and for having heard the song two years ago on a CDr dub straight from the studio?

Now I know how Legs McNeil must've felt.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Anyone heard that dreadful new Brit-rock band, InMe - they are tipped for the singles chart with 'Crushed Like Fruit'. Naff Nirvana Karaoke rawk, rock music made by teenagers for teenagers.

As for Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster - soundlike The Birthday Party ..but 20 years late.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I wanted it to be a hit because it's nice to review a record and say "This should be a big hit" and for it actually to be one!

The keyboard noises on the re-recording are a bit annoying.

"rock music made by teenagers for teenagers" - umm.....

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

rock music made by teenagers for teenagers" - umm..... you know what I am getting at Tom ! lowest common denominator angst rock aimed at the teenage rock market ! InMe would appeal to 14-19 Year old Hundred Reasons market of Rawk muzak.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

What are Layo and Bushwacka doing next week Mr Swygart? They're not re-releasing Love Story with the "Finally" vocal that Radio 1 have been playing alot. If so, classic. (and I'm sure Tom agrees ; )

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Tom - it's rock music made for teenagers by teenagers trying to fuse Hundred Reasons and The Music and dying on its arse. #19 in the midweeks. Oh joy.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Tom, will absolutely hate InMe !

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Danger! High Voltage: C/D?
Danger! High Voltage! is the best song in the world, discuss

― Alan (Alan), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

DJ M I have no doubt I will I just think that yr baldly stated reason was somewhat lacking.

Ronan Muzik is on about that Layo etc record, it is the one you speak of, dont think i know the vocal tune.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 16:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Ronan - according to Radio 1, yes.

Oddly enough, The Free Association's single makes no impression on the top 40, which is a bit of a shame.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

i preferred love story with chase the sun. i'm sick to death of the finally vocal.

― michael wells (michael w.), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah I think it's the Tim Deluxe remix and it's got this pleasantish vocal from a crap Kings of Tomorrow song which got alot of hype a while ago. To be honest I'm only glad cos I'd like to see it chart, the vocal adds something I guess but not much. I mean it's been the most played song in nearly any set for so long I'm kinda sick of it anyway.

I don't like Love Story with Chase the Sun cos I thought it sounded blotchy and badly out of sync alot. I hated the original Finally anyway, it was just a cheap crap Love Story itself.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 16:06 (twenty-two years ago)

And Richard Ashcroft's Science Of Silence is also set for the top 20. I expect fifty posts worth of discussion on this by the time I get back from the corner shop.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

It's the Babylon Zoo effect in full force!

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

re: INme and their lack of quality

I don't feel so bad about being given a free promo copy, putting in in my back pocket, and forgetting about it for a day (I have huge pockets, ladies and gentlemen) and finding it broken a few hours ago, then.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 19:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm trying to remember what I said about this thing in the Focus Group. I was tolerably bemused, I believe.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 20:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Erasure comeback? Bloody hell. Their version doesn't even have the best bit of the original "Solsbury Hill", namely the foot-and-mouth pyres over the outro.

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 22:07 (twenty-two years ago)

You might be in for a long try, Ned - it's not yet been in a Focus Group!

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 22:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Is Ned thinking of Mystikal?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 22:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I gotta say there really is nothing that good about this song.

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 8 January 2003 23:02 (twenty-two years ago)

aw c'mon, even I can appreciate Jack White squealing like his balls are in a vice

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 9 January 2003 00:17 (twenty-two years ago)

but it still keeps reminding me of the bloody Bad Touch!

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 9 January 2003 00:19 (twenty-two years ago)

You might be in for a long try, Ned - it's not yet been in a Focus Group!

Curious. Coulda sworn that's where I finally heard it. Both it and "Lose Yourself" have the disadvantage of sounding like a modern "Eye of the Tiger," of course.

Is Ned thinking of Mystikal?

Even curiouser!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 9 January 2003 01:19 (twenty-two years ago)

D-d-disadvantage???!

I heard a dancehall track a cpl months ago using the "Eye of the Tiger riddim"! It was great music but the MCing was a bit hectoring.

Both those songs will be in the next FG i would think.

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 9 January 2003 01:25 (twenty-two years ago)

D-d-disadvantage???!

YOU HEARD ME.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 9 January 2003 01:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I hope Sarah Whatmore's "Automatic" is in the next Focus Group, she nicked the "Oh" from J-Lo's "play" and says "holla" like she means it,and it has this great fuzzy electronic background.

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 9 January 2003 10:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm among those who think "Danger!" is the best video in ages, but what's no one's said over 3 threads and a Google sampling (because it's obvious?) is the key to it is the sheer viciousness of it, putting the pash back into passion etc. It's one of those rare clips where the visuals add to the music - the hold back/full throttle gives the beast an impetus that I don't think is in the music alone (although those who heard it before seeing it seem to disagree). So the video's about as much of a novelty as the song, i.e. not very.

― B.Rad (Brad), Thursday, 9 January 2003 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Repeat listening to this tune, especially on the radio just makes it sound even worse. People will wince when they hear it in a few years time - I reckon it's the Daisy Chainsaw of the 21st century.

― Jacob (Jacob), Thursday, 9 January 2003 14:35 (twenty-two years ago)

but i heard it over a year ago and it still sounds great (even if the remix extra noises grate)

― Alan (Alan), Thursday, 9 January 2003 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

hmm... i dunno. if by 'pants' you mean 'shit' then yes, electric 6 are pants.

ken

― kennnnT., Thursday, 9 January 2003 21:34 (twenty-two years ago)

The song is great, but the b-side on the 7" when it was released under their former name, "Wildbunch" is MUCH better....

...its called "She's Gautamalan". Anyone know where I can d/l a mp3?

― Nik (Nik), Thursday, 9 January 2003 22:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Here's the video

― Chris Dahlen (Chris Dahlen), Friday, 10 January 2003 23:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I reckon it's the Daisy Chainsaw of the 21st century

what on Earth is wrong with 'Love Your Money'?!

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 10 January 2003 23:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I have heard it now. I was right. It is shite.

Maybe the video might be the most brilliant thing ever (don't know) but props should be given to the video's director, not the band.

― kate, Friday, 10 January 2003 23:13 (twenty-two years ago)

electric six are on born sloppy NOW

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Friday, 10 January 2003 23:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought it would be missing something w/o the video, but that were ace, actually. Sweaty saxophonist = riveting.

― Zora (Zora), Friday, 10 January 2003 23:23 (twenty-two years ago)

number 2

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Sunday, 12 January 2003 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

they sounded like just another rock band with no tunes on born sloopy, like a cross between the fun loving criminals and the mighty mighty bosstones.

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 12 January 2003 19:42 (twenty-two years ago)

in a focus group, i'd give it a 4.

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 12 January 2003 19:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha. If I like it, ILM is sure to hate it. It's fine. It's cute. Whatever.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 12 January 2003 19:58 (twenty-two years ago)

i wish it had been an anonymous one hit wonder OR that they change their sound to be more like 'high voltage' and less like 'gay bar' and their other songs

― minna (minna), Sunday, 12 January 2003 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

i hate this song with most of the fibers of my being.

― Douglas Mosurak (mosurock), Sunday, 12 January 2003 20:22 (twenty-two years ago)

but it still keeps reminding me of the bloody Bad Touch!

yesyesyesyesyes...still quite like it tho...knew I'd heard it before...couldn't work out why...then I was listening to 2manyDJs the other day...and shazam!

― Charlie (Charlie), Sunday, 12 January 2003 21:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh this song is just fucking beautiful, it really is. There hasn't been a guitar song as intensely and violently funky as this in as long as I can remember. I was wondering would a DJ play the original in a club, and last night Mint Royale did, really just an amazing rush every time I hear it.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 12 January 2003 21:57 (twenty-two years ago)

i was at Trash some time summer last year and the DJ played it, and we went "wheeeeee!" and the rest of the dancefloor seemed to grind to a bored halt. FOOOOOLS.

it is grebt for disco cos it has the intro hook that you mix into the previous song to wind up anticipation. num num.

― Alan (Alan), Monday, 13 January 2003 12:08 (twenty-two years ago)

On Born Sloppy the singer looked like Chris Morris! He is called "Dick Valentine." Does that mean he'll end up crashing his car into a tree in Wales at 150 mph and inspire his next-door neighbour JG Ballard to write his most famous novel?

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 13 January 2003 12:44 (twenty-two years ago)

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