Voodoo People (song)
Encyclopedia
"Voodoo People" is a song by The Prodigy
, released as their eighth single on 12 September 1994. It was the third single from the album Music For the Jilted Generation
and was released as a 12" single and its own EP
in the United States
through Mute Records
.
The British release included a remix by The Chemical Brothers
who at that time called themselves "The Dust Brothers" in honour of an American producer duo of the same name
. When "Voodoo People" was to be released in the States, and due to the British Dust Brothers' rising popularity, the American Dust Brothers threatened a lawsuit
if they didn't change their name. The British duo changed their name to "The Chemical Brothers", and the remix on the American Mute release was renamed in accordance. A small sample in the remix was also reversed on the American release due to copyright issues.
The original video was directed by Walter Stern
and Russell Curtis. It was filmed on location in Saint Lucia
and it showed Leeroy Thornhill
as a voodoo priest. This version included scenes featuring real witch Doctor
s, but these were cut because of problems with television censorship. A number of other more graphic versions of the video are available, one of them appearing in the Prodigy's Electronic Punks documentary.
The spoken parts ("... the voodoo who do what you don't dare do people...") are taken from "The Shalimar," written and performed by Gylan Kain
, one of The Last Poets
.
The main riff in the song is based on a sample of the Nirvana
song "Very Ape" from their third studio album In Utero
.
The song has been covered by Refused
and British funk band 6ix Toys as well remixed by Pendulum
(see Voodoo People (Pendulum Remix)) and other known and less known artists such as Eskimo
and Shayning. The track has also been a part of many soundtracks, such as Hackers
, Doberman, etc.
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
, released as their eighth single on 12 September 1994. It was the third single from the album Music For the Jilted Generation
Music for the Jilted Generation
Music for the Jilted Generation is the second album by English electronic dance music band The Prodigy. The album was released through XL Recordings in July 1994...
and was released as a 12" single and its own EP
Voodoo People (EP)
Voodoo People is the name of the second EP released by the British dance act The Prodigy, in 1995. It is a US-only extension of the single of the same name , and it was released this way because at the time of the original release, the band had no signed distributing label in the United States.-Track...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
through Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
.
The British release included a remix by The Chemical Brothers
The Chemical Brothers
The Chemical Brothers are a British electronic music duo comprising Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. Originating in Manchester in 1991, along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, and fellow acts, they were pioneers at bringing the big beat genre to the forefront of pop culture.- Background...
who at that time called themselves "The Dust Brothers" in honour of an American producer duo of the same name
Dust Brothers
The Dust Brothers are the Los Angeles, California based, Grammy Award winning producers, E.Z. Mike and King Gizmo , famous for their sample-based music in the 1980s and 1990s, and specifically for their work on the albums Paul's Boutique by the Beastie Boys, Odelay by Beck, and the soundtrack to...
. When "Voodoo People" was to be released in the States, and due to the British Dust Brothers' rising popularity, the American Dust Brothers threatened a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
if they didn't change their name. The British duo changed their name to "The Chemical Brothers", and the remix on the American Mute release was renamed in accordance. A small sample in the remix was also reversed on the American release due to copyright issues.
The original video was directed by Walter Stern
Walter Stern (director)
-Music videos:Stern began his career directing music videos at Control, a small production company based in London.In 1993, he moved to Stigma where he first directed a promo for the band The Prodigy...
and Russell Curtis. It was filmed on location in Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 620 km2 and has an...
and it showed Leeroy Thornhill
Leeroy Thornhill
Leeroy Thornhill is a British electronic music artist and formerly a rave dancer and live keyboardist of the British rave act The Prodigy. He has produced solo work under the names Longman and Flightcrank. He was born in Barking but raised in Rayne near Braintree in Essex, and grew up as a...
as a voodoo priest. This version included scenes featuring real witch Doctor
Witch Doctor
"Witch Doctor" is a song written and performed by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., and released in 1958 by Liberty Records under the name David Seville, a character whom Bagdasarian portrayed.-Song information:...
s, but these were cut because of problems with television censorship. A number of other more graphic versions of the video are available, one of them appearing in the Prodigy's Electronic Punks documentary.
The spoken parts ("... the voodoo who do what you don't dare do people...") are taken from "The Shalimar," written and performed by Gylan Kain
Gylan Kain
Gylan Kain is an American poet and playwright. He was a founding member, in 1968, of the Original Last Poets...
, one of The Last Poets
The Last Poets
The Last Poets is a group of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African American civil rights movement's black nationalist thread...
.
The main riff in the song is based on a sample of the Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
song "Very Ape" from their third studio album In Utero
In Utero
In Utero is the third and final studio album by the American grunge band Nirvana, released on September 13, 1993, on DGC Records. Nirvana intended the record to diverge significantly from the polished production of its previous album, Nevermind...
.
The song has been covered by Refused
Refused
Refused was a Swedish hardcore punk band originating from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1991. In total the band released five EPs and three albums, before splitting up in 1998...
and British funk band 6ix Toys as well remixed by Pendulum
Pendulum (band)
Pendulum is an Australian drum and bass and electronic rock band founded in 2002 in Perth by Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillen, and Paul Harding.Swire and McGrillen were members of the rock band known as Xygen. After hearing Konflict's "Messiah" at a club, they were inspired to enter into the drum and...
(see Voodoo People (Pendulum Remix)) and other known and less known artists such as Eskimo
Eskimo (artist)
Eskimo is an English Psychedelic Trance DJ and producer, son of John Ford .-Early career:...
and Shayning. The track has also been a part of many soundtracks, such as Hackers
Hackers (film)
Hackers is a 1995 American thriller film directed by Iain Softley and starring Angelina Jolie, Jonny Lee Miller, Renoly Santiago, Matthew Lillard, Lorraine Bracco and Fisher Stevens...
, Doberman, etc.
CD single
- "Voodoo People" (Edit) – 4:05
- "Voodoo People" (Chemical BrothersThe Chemical BrothersThe Chemical Brothers are a British electronic music duo comprising Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. Originating in Manchester in 1991, along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, and fellow acts, they were pioneers at bringing the big beat genre to the forefront of pop culture.- Background...
Remix) – 5:56 - "Goa" (The Heat the Energy Part 2) – 6:04
- "Voodoo People" (Original Mix) – 6:28
12" vinyl record
- "Voodoo People" (Chemical BrothersThe Chemical BrothersThe Chemical Brothers are a British electronic music duo comprising Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. Originating in Manchester in 1991, along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, and fellow acts, they were pioneers at bringing the big beat genre to the forefront of pop culture.- Background...
Remix) – 5:56 - "Voodoo People" (Original Mix) – 6:28
- "No Good (Start the Dance)" (CJ Bolland Museum Remix) – 5:14
- "Speedway [Theme from Fastlane]" (Secret Knowledge Remix) – 10:26
EP Version 1995
- "Voodoo People" (Edit) – 4:07
- "Voodoo People" (Chemical BrothersThe Chemical BrothersThe Chemical Brothers are a British electronic music duo comprising Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. Originating in Manchester in 1991, along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, and fellow acts, they were pioneers at bringing the big beat genre to the forefront of pop culture.- Background...
Remix) – 5:56 - "No Good (Start The Dance)" [CJ Bolland Museum Remix] – 5:13
- "Rat Poison – 5:31
- "Speedway [Theme from Fastlane]" (Secret Knowledge Remix) – 10:25
- "Voodoo People" [Haiti Island Remix] – 5:23
- "Voodoo People" [Original Mix] – 6:26