Beat Box (song)
Encyclopedia
"Beat Box" is the debut single released by the British
group Art of Noise in 1983. The track, one of the world's very first and most influential Hip-Hop hits intended as an instrumental, originally appeared on the 12" EP Into Battle with the Art of Noise
, recorded during the same sessions as Malcolm McLaren
's debut album Duck Rock
, which was also co-produced by Art Of Noise member and ZTT Records
founder Trevor Horn
.
"Beat Box" is an experimental piece that implements sounds and noises (such as car key ignitions, falling drain water, and calliope
music—most notably on the chorus) to ride the rhythm of the beat. One particular sound effect in the song, which can only be described as an "orchestra hit", featured in the second "verse" of the song was sampled later by Kurtis Blow
for his 1984 B-side hit "AJ Scratch", and would also become a common sound effect that would make it to various Hip-Hop songs and movie scores, including the score of the 1992 hit romantic comedy, Boomerang
As a single, the song reached the lower regions of the UK singles chart
, where it peaked at #92. It was more popular with dance music and (particularly) Hip-Hop audiences, and in February 1984 the song reached #1 on the American dance chart, where it remained for two weeks. "Beat Box" was a hit on the Soul Singles chart, where it reached #10.
After the original "Beat Box" grew popular, The Art Of Noise decided to expand on the tune by adding on more instruments and sounds, giving the song a completely different outlook and practically drowning out the Hip-Hop element that now only remained in the drum beat itself. Two remix cuts resulted from this session and were initially released on 12" single in 1984 and referred to as "Diversion One" and "Diversion Two", along with the song "Moments in Love".
The song can be heard in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
. It also formed the basis for the theme for the British game show
, The Krypton Factor
. A sample can be found in the song "Love Is Everywhere" by WestBam
(a popular German
DJ) & the Love Committee, which was an anthem for the Berlin
Love Parade
in 2007. Rapper Tech N9ne
also samples the song for the single, "Bout Ta' Bubble" from his 2006 album, Everready (The Religion)
.
The artwork of some editions has "Beat Box" as one word, "Beatbox".
The remix "Beat Box (Diversion Two)" was edited down — about 20 seconds were cut from the middle — to create another hit single, "Close (To the Edit)
".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
group Art of Noise in 1983. The track, one of the world's very first and most influential Hip-Hop hits intended as an instrumental, originally appeared on the 12" EP Into Battle with the Art of Noise
Into Battle with the Art of Noise
Into Battle with the Art of Noise is an EP by the Art of Noise—its first release, and also the first release by ZTT Records. The record represented the first instalment in the ZTT's Incidental Series ....
, recorded during the same sessions as Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was an English performer, impresario, self-publicist and manager of the Sex Pistols and the New York Dolls...
's debut album Duck Rock
Duck Rock
Duck Rock is an album released by British impresario Malcolm McLaren In 1983. The album mixes up styles from South Africa, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, and the US, including hip hop. The album proved to be highly influential in bringing hip hop to a wider audience in the UK...
, which was also co-produced by Art Of Noise member and ZTT Records
ZTT Records
ZTT Records is a record label founded in 1983 by NME journalist Paul Morley, record producer Trevor Horn, and businesswoman Jill Sinclair. The label's name was also printed as "Zang Tumb Tuum" and "Zang Tuum Tumb" on various releases....
founder Trevor Horn
Trevor Horn
Trevor Charles Horn CBE is an English pop music record producer, songwriter, musician and singer. He was born in Houghton-le-Spring in north-east England....
.
"Beat Box" is an experimental piece that implements sounds and noises (such as car key ignitions, falling drain water, and calliope
Calliope
In Greek mythology, Calliope was the muse of epic poetry, daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne, and is now best known as Homer's muse, the inspiration for the Odyssey and the Iliad....
music—most notably on the chorus) to ride the rhythm of the beat. One particular sound effect in the song, which can only be described as an "orchestra hit", featured in the second "verse" of the song was sampled later by Kurtis Blow
Kurtis Blow
Kurt Walker , better known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the first commercially successful rappers and the first to sign with a major record label...
for his 1984 B-side hit "AJ Scratch", and would also become a common sound effect that would make it to various Hip-Hop songs and movie scores, including the score of the 1992 hit romantic comedy, Boomerang
As a single, the song reached the lower regions of the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, where it peaked at #92. It was more popular with dance music and (particularly) Hip-Hop audiences, and in February 1984 the song reached #1 on the American dance chart, where it remained for two weeks. "Beat Box" was a hit on the Soul Singles chart, where it reached #10.
After the original "Beat Box" grew popular, The Art Of Noise decided to expand on the tune by adding on more instruments and sounds, giving the song a completely different outlook and practically drowning out the Hip-Hop element that now only remained in the drum beat itself. Two remix cuts resulted from this session and were initially released on 12" single in 1984 and referred to as "Diversion One" and "Diversion Two", along with the song "Moments in Love".
The song can be heard in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is a 2006 sandbox-style action video game developed by Rockstar Leeds in association with Rockstar North. It was published by Rockstar Games for the PlayStation Portable in late 2006 and later for the PlayStation 2 in March 2007. The game is the eighth...
. It also formed the basis for the theme for the British game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
, The Krypton Factor
The Krypton Factor
The Krypton Factor was a British game show produced by Granada Television for broadcast on ITV. The show originally ran from 7 September 1977 to 20 November 1995, and was hosted by Gordon Burns and usually broadcast on the ITV network on Mondays at 19:00....
. A sample can be found in the song "Love Is Everywhere" by WestBam
WestBam
WestBam, real name Maximilian Lenz , is techno DJs in Germany. His brother is Fabian Lenz, also known as DJ Dick....
(a popular German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
DJ) & the Love Committee, which was an anthem for the Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
Love Parade
Love Parade
The Love Parade was a popular electronic dance music festival and parade that originated in 1989 in West Berlin, Germany. It was held in Germany annually between 1989 and 2003 in Berlin, and then from 2006 to 2010 in the Ruhr region...
in 2007. Rapper Tech N9ne
Tech N9ne
Aaron Dontez Yates , better known by his stage name Tech N9ne , is an American rapper from Kansas City, Missouri. In 1999, Yates and Travis O'Guin founded the record label Strange Music. Throughout his career, Yates has sold over one million albums and has had his music featured in film,...
also samples the song for the single, "Bout Ta' Bubble" from his 2006 album, Everready (The Religion)
Everready (The Religion)
Everready is the sixth studio album by rapper Tech N9ne. The album was released in 2006 as a "Collector's Edition" CD that contains a second CD featuring 14 songs from Tech N9ne as well as other Strange Music artists...
.
The artwork of some editions has "Beat Box" as one word, "Beatbox".
The remix "Beat Box (Diversion Two)" was edited down — about 20 seconds were cut from the middle — to create another hit single, "Close (To the Edit)
Close (to the Edit)
"Close " was a single by Art of Noise, released on various formats in May 1984. It was closely related to their earlier single "Beat Box", though the two tracks were developed as separate pieces from an early stage....
".
Versions
- Original version (4:48) appears on Into Battle With The Art of Noise
- Original 7" edit (2:55) and U.S. Special 7" Re-Edit (2:52), derived from original version.
- "Diversion One" (8:30) 12" remix, appears on Who's Afraid of The Art of Noise and many compilations.
- "Diversion Six" also known as "Diversion Ten" and "Ambassador's Reel: Beat Box" (3:52), 7" edit of "Diversion One".
- "Diversion Two" (6:02), often said to be a longer version of "Close (To The Edit)".
- "Diversion Seven" (4:10), edit of "Diversion Two" used on UK "Beat Box" 7" and Influence.
- Further tracks more closely related to "Diversion Two", main article: Close (To the Edit)Close (to the Edit)"Close " was a single by Art of Noise, released on various formats in May 1984. It was closely related to their earlier single "Beat Box", though the two tracks were developed as separate pieces from an early stage....
.
- Further tracks more closely related to "Diversion Two", main article: Close (To the Edit)
- "Diversion Seven" (4:10), edit of "Diversion Two" used on UK "Beat Box" 7" and Influence.
- "Diversion Three" and "Diversion Four", remixes appearing on a Melody MakerMelody MakerMelody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
cassette. Latter also known as "Diversions 5".
See also
- Number-one dance hits of 1984 (USA)Number-one dance hits of 1984 (USA)These are the Billboard magazine Hot Dance Club Play number one hits of 1984.-See also:*1984 in music*List of number-one dance hits *List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart...