Voodoo People

"Voodoo People" is a song by British electronic group the Prodigy, released as their eighth single on 12 September 1994. It was the third single from their second album, Music for the Jilted Generation (1994). It was also released as a 12" single and in EP format in the United States in 1995 through Mute Records. The guitar riff is based on "Very Ape" by Nirvana and is played by Lance Riddler.[4][5]

"Voodoo People"
Single by the Prodigy
from the album Music for the Jilted Generation
Released12 September 1994 (1994-09-12)[1]
RecordedEssex, England
GenreBreakbeat hardcore[2][3]
Length6:27 (album version)
LabelXL Recordings
Songwriter(s)Liam Howlett
Producer(s)Liam Howlett
The Prodigy singles chronology
"No Good (Start the Dance)"
(1994)		 "Voodoo People"
(1994)		 "Poison"
(1995)
Alternate cover
Mute Records stateside cover

Critical reception

Music writer James Masterton wrote, "The new single has little of the commercial charm or potential of that last hit ["No Good (Start the Dance)"], but its a creditable chart performance nonetheless."[6] Maria Jimenez from Music & Media complimented it as a "superb break-beat track".[7] Andy Beevers from Music Week rated it five out of five, adding that "this is one of their most accessible tracks with its rock guitar riffs and flute flurries."[8] Brad Beatnik from the magazine's RM Dance Update noted, "It's a sort of Jethro Tull-goes-hardcore and the result is a brilliant slice of uncompromising yet defiantly commercial techno."[9] Another editor, James Hamilton described it as "psychedelic guitar and flute prodded flurrying tribal techno".[10] Dele Fadele from NME wrote that "Voodoo People" "likens the rave scenario to a black magic ritual. With The Prodigy as witchdoctor, of course."[11]

Videos

The original music 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 doctors, 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.

Remixes and covers

The British release included a remix by the Chemical Brothers.

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, Alvaro and Shayning. Croatian cello duo 2Cellos have recorded an instrumental version for their album In2ition and have been performing it live on their subsequent tour.

Use in media

The track has also been a part of many soundtracks, such as Hackers, Dobermann, Wasabi, amongst others.

Track listing

UK 12-inch vinyl

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Voodoo People" (Original Mix)6:28
2."Voodoo People" (Haiti Island Remix)5:22
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Voodoo People" (Dust Brothers Remix)5:56
2."Goa (The Heat the Energy Part 2)"6:04

US 12-inch vinyl

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Voodoo People" (The Chemical Brothers Remix)5:56
2."Voodoo People" (Original Mix)6:28
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."No Good (Start the Dance)" (CJ Bolland Museum Remix)5:14
2."Speedway (Theme from Fastlane)" (Secret Knowledge Remix)10:26

Benelux CD single

No.TitleLength
1."Voodoo People" (Edit)4:05
2."Voodoo People" (Dust Brothers Remix)5:56

CD single

No.TitleLength
1."Voodoo People" (Edit)4:05
2."Voodoo People" (Dust Brothers Remix)5:56
3."Goa (The Heat the Energy Part 2)"6:04
4."Voodoo People" (Original Mix)6:28

North American EP

No.TitleLength
1."Voodoo People" (Edit)4:07
2."Voodoo People" (Dust Brothers Remix)5:56
3."No Good (Start the Dance)" (CJ Bolland Museum Remix)5:13
4."Rat Poison"5:31
5."Speedway (Theme from Fastlane)" (Secret Knowledge Remix)10:25
6."Voodoo People" (Haiti Island Mix)5:25
7."Voodoo People" (Original Mix)6:26

Charts

References
  1. "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 10 September 1994. p. 29. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  2. "BPM for Voodoo People (The Prodigy)". Retrieved 4 November 2019 – via getsongbpm.com.
  3. "Music for the Jilted Generation - The Prodigy | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  4. Moy, Ron (2015). Authorship Roles in Popular Music: Issues and Debates. p. 101. ISBN 9781317672746.
  5. James, Martin (2015). Dave Grohl - Times Like His: Foo Fighters, Nirvana & Other Misadventures. p. 8. ISBN 9781784187637.
  6. Masterton, James (18 September 1994). "Week Ending September 24th 1994". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  7. Jimenez, Maria (8 October 1994). "Short Grooves" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 11. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  8. Beevers, Andy (10 September 1994). "Market Preview: Dance - Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 21. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  9. Beatnik, Brad (20 August 1994). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 8. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  10. Hamilton, James (17 September 1994). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 6. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  11. Fadele, Dele. "THE PRODIGY – Music for the Jilted Generation". NME. Archived from the original on 23 June 2000. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  12. "The Prodigy – Voodoo People". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  13. "The Prodigy – Voodoo People" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  14. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Prodigy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Prodigy" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  17. "The Prodigy – Voodoo People" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 18 September 1994 - 24 September 1994". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  19. "The Prodigy – Voodoo People". Singles Top 100.
  20. "The Prodigy – Voodoo People". Swiss Singles Chart.
  21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  22. "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 24 September 1994. p. 26. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  23. "Jaarlijsten 1994" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  24. "British single certifications – Prodigy – Voodoo People". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 October 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Voodoo People in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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