63-420: " Pump Up the Jam " is the opening track on Belgian act Technotronic 's first album, Pump Up the Jam: The Album (1989). It was released as a single on 18 August 1989 by Swanyard and SBK Records , and was a worldwide hit, reaching number two in the United Kingdom in late 1989 and on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1990. It also peaked at number-one in Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Portugal and Spain. "Pump Up
126-512: A double A-side ) on 24 August of that year. It entered the UK Singles Chart the following week at number 35, a strong initial showing for an unknown act, especially with 12" sales. However, what gave "Pump Up the Volume" its commercial edge was the remix released a week later. This remix became the best-known version of the track, transforming it by the addition of numerous samples that provided
189-549: A few successes in his native Belgium, but struggled with exporting the music to other countries. Since some of his previous dance records had experienced popularity in American clubs, he was therefore determined to have a hit in the US. He told in an interview with Los Angeles Times , "It was very difficult for us to export music to other countries. But some of my dance records were popular in U.S. dance clubs and I knew that if I hooked up with
252-488: A lyrical sample from " I Know You Got Soul ", a hit single by labelmates Eric B. & Rakim , released months prior in that same year. The single was the product of an uneasy collaboration between electronic group Colourbox and dream pop band A.R. Kane , two groups signed to the independent label 4AD . The A-side was written primarily by Colourbox, while the B-side "Anitina" was primarily an A.R. Kane creation. The link-up
315-585: A place to stay ' , but she sings ' Awa, a place to stay. ' Awa is Swahili (or Lingala , I'm not sure) for ' a place to stay, a home ' . Beyond all expectations PUTJ still sounds fresh, I am told." —Bogaert talking about the song in 2020. Outside Europe, "Pump Up the Jam" peaked at number four in Canada, but made it to number-one on the RPM Dance/Urban chart. It also reached number-one on
378-400: A radio interview. The offending article consisted of seven seconds of an anonymous background voice moaning the single word "hey", involved no musical or melodic information and could never be considered plagiarism in the literary sense. SAW member Pete Waterman wrote an open letter to the music press calling such things "wholesale theft". Some publications were quick to point out that Waterman
441-548: A solo artist with various new beat projects, including Acts of Madmen and Nux Nemo. Ya Kid K joined the project as a vocalist, Bogaert adopted the stage name Thomas De Quincey, and in September 1989, they released the single " Pump Up the Jam ". Ya Kid K was initially uncredited for her contributions to the song. A front for the act was put together (in a way similar to other Eurodance acts like Black Box and Milli Vanilli ), utilizing Congolese -born fashion model Felly Kilingi who
504-507: A successful defence. Despite all this, "Pump Up the Volume" went on to spend two weeks at number one in October 1987 and was a chart hit in many other countries, receiving considerable airplay on American, Australian and European airwaves. While the offending "Roadblock" sample was stripped from the official American release, the version containing it reached the Australian charts. In the U.S., where
567-591: A team from the warehouse to support Watts-Russell. Despite a heated argument in which a furious Birkett told Watts-Russell "You don't do that. You fucking stole my fucking band," A.R. Kane signed to 4AD for a one-off release. Following the release of the Lollita EP, the band voiced their disappointment with One Little Indian, who had failed to deliver on a promise that A.R. Kane could work with producer Adrian Sherwood . Watts-Russell suggested that they instead work with Martyn Young of Colourbox . The collaboration between
630-417: Is more than just a beat because of Felly's seductive voice. Another great track from the home of hithouse." David Hinckley from New York Daily News complimented it as "catchy". Parry Gettelman from The Sentinel remarked the song's "throbbing mixture of house music and Euro-disco ". Another TS editor, Rosemary Banks Harris, felt the sound is "intoxicating". A reviewer from People Magazine wrote that
693-521: The Pump Up The Jam album, it was repackaged for the US market in 1992, retaining the original track listing but this time featuring Ya Kid K's face on the cover. In 1993, Technotronic released the compilation album The Greatest Hits . It included the new songs "Hey Yoh Here We Go" and "One + One", both featuring vocals from Ya Kid K. Both songs which were released as singles in 1993 and 1994. Continuing with Ya Kid K as frontwoman, Technotronic released
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#1732897745804756-426: The 1989 release of Belgian techno anthem "Pump Up the Jam." (*) indicates the list is unordered. Multiple versions and re-releases were produced for the "Pump Up the Jam" singles. Sales figures based on certification alone. Shipments figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. In 1989, ZYX Records released a cover version of "Pump Up
819-703: The Apollo . In February 1990, Ya Kid K and Bogaert collaborated with the group Hi Tek 3 and released the single " Spin That Wheel ", credited as "Hi Tek 3 featuring Ya Kid K". Further singles released from Pump Up the Jam: The Album were "This Beat Is Technotronic" (US Dance No. 3, UK No. 14) which featured MC Eric instead of Ya Kid K, and "Rockin' Over The Beat" (UK No. 9). Beginning in April 1990, Technotronic became an opening act for Madonna 's Blond Ambition World Tour . Following
882-570: The Bitter", and by Harry Enfield 's " Loadsamoney " single (produced by a young William Orbit ). Les Adams also released "Check This Out" under the LA Mix moniker—a record that replayed "Pump Up the Volume" and "This is a journey into sound" soundbites before a male voice yells, "Oh not again! Get off!" Tastes started to change and acid house started to dominate the charts. M|A|R|R|S themselves never came close to recording again. A.R. Kane gave interviews to
945-571: The Jam in late 1989, which featured vocals by Ya Kid K and MC Eric , but still featured Felly Kilingi on the cover. The album peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200 in the US and reached No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart . Following the release of the album, Ya Kid K was revealed to be the main vocalist for the songs, with Bogaert admitting "[Felly] didn't have much to do with the record. Me, Eric and Ya Kid did it all. We needed Felly to help promote
1008-630: The Jam" by M.C. Sar & the Real McCoy . The single reached number 16 in West Germany and number 100 on the Dutch Single Top 100 . Technotronic Technotronic was a Belgian electronic music project formed in 1987 by Jo Bogaert , best known for the 1989 single " Pump Up the Jam ", which features vocals by Ya Kid K . The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in
1071-421: The Jam" has been described as a fusion of hip hop and deep house elements, as an early example of the hip house genre, and it has been considered the first house song to become a hit in the US. Technotronic's vocalist Ya Kid K was initially overshadowed by Congolese model Felly Kilingi, who appears lip-syncing in the music video and was featured on the first album cover as a marketing tactic. Ya Kid K
1134-489: The Jam" number four in their list of "Top 20 80s House Hits". The Bob's Burgers episode " The Right Tough Stuff " (season 14, episode 15) features Ya Kid K singing a parody version of the song titled "Pump Up the Gayle" over the end credits. The 2022 mockumentary television series Cunk on Earth repeatedly refers to the song, correctly noting that every important event in the history of humanity has happened before, or after,
1197-507: The M|A|R|R|S track, also hit the top 20 in November, and both singles borrowed heavily from Coldcut 's previous UK chart success " Say Kids What Time Is It? ". This was a very rapid response, as "Pump Up the Volume" seemed to catch the record industry off-guard. It was not until February 1988, four months after "Pump Up the Volume" reached the top ten, that the floodgates truly opened. Like "Pump Up
1260-543: The UK and Australia, including "Move That Body", "Work" and "Money Makes The World Go Round" during 1991 and 1992. In 1992, the song " Move This " from Pump Up the Jam (featuring vocals by Ya Kid K) became popular through its use in a Revlon television commercial. Ya Kid K rejoined the group and the song was released as a single. It became the group's third Top 10 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 6. With renewed interest in
1323-674: The US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and the Cash Box Top 100 . On the Billboard Hot 100 , it reached number two, being held off the top spot by Michael Bolton 's " How Am I Supposed to Live Without You ". The single was recognized by the magazine as the US number-one single in sales point, but since Bolton's song had a lead in airplay points, it was given the top position on the Hot 100 chart. In Australia and New Zealand,
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#17328977458041386-581: The United States. Later that year, the single was followed by the album of the same name , which peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200. They achieved further success with the singles " Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over) " and " Move This ". Technotronic went on to release the albums Body to Body (1991) and Recall (1995). Technotronic was formed in 1987 by Jo Bogaert . Bogaert gained popularity in Europe as
1449-408: The Volume" for several years. After continual setbacks resulting from the uneasy M|A|R|R|S collaboration, the organization gave up and released its own version in 1995 under "Greed featuring Ricardo da Force ". "Pump Up the Volume" was used during the late 1980s and early 1990s as the theme for Univision 's boxing series Boxeo Budweiser . In 1990, "Pump Up the Volume" became the theme song for
1512-406: The Volume", a percussion-led near-instrumental, featuring an Eric B. & Rakim sample that gave it its title, while A.R. Kane created the more deliberately arty "Anitina (The First Time I See She Dance)" in another studio. Colourbox then added a heavy drum-machine rhythm and effects to "Anitina" and A.R. Kane overdubbed some additional guitar to "Pump Up the Volume". The coup de grace , however,
1575-405: The Volume", many of the first major wave of British house hits were on independent labels, and many of these were obviously influenced by M|A|R|R|S. While Two Men, a Drum Machine and a Trumpet 's "Tired of Getting Pushed Around", one of the first such hits, was principally just a dance groove with minimal use of samples, it was the sampling angle that made most impact on the public consciousness in
1638-608: The Volume", which took its title sample from an Erik B. & Rakim song, was a milestone in the world of sampling culture, snatching bits of Criminal Element Orchestra's "Put the Needle to the Record", old soul records (a few years before Josh Davis hit the dustbins), and Ofra Haza 's " Im Nin'alu " (long before Kanye [West] played his 45s at the wrong speed), just to name a few. A one-off collaboration between U.K. indie label 4AD's Colourbox and A.R. Kane and DJs C.J. Mackintosh and Dave Dorrell,
1701-558: The band approached 4AD owner Ivo Watts-Russell to see if his label would take them on. Derek Birkett, the owner of One Little Indian, was under the impression that 4AD were trying to poach his band, and, along with label designer Paul White and Einar Örn Benediktsson from the Sugarcubes , visited the 4AD offices in Alma Road to confront Watts-Russell. Colin Wallace, a 4AD staff member, convened
1764-431: The best Top Three in years when it was sandwiched between Black Box and Sidney Youngblood ." Diana Valois from The Morning Call described it as a "sensuous groove" that "featured an irresistible bass line that threatened to start an avalanches; unleashed in the clubs, it motivated happy dancers instead." Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "A really hot hip/house track by Technotronic. This track
1827-446: The best dance songs of all time, because—while it should have disappeared in our cultural memory as a sort of punchline or joke or some one-hit wonder —it's still an infinitely playable tune that works in literally any dancefloor context. It doesn't get old, for some reason, and continues to thrive to this day. It's dancefloor perfection." Josh Baines from Vice called it "a towering masterpiece." In 2024, Classic Pop ranked "Pump Up
1890-423: The group at first - to create this image". In January 1990, they released their second single "Get Up! (Before The Night Is Over)", which was a No. 7 hit in the US and a No. 2 hit in the UK. The music video for the song features both Ya Kid K and Felly, though Felly's vocals do not appear on the song. That year, Technotronic made appearances on Saturday Night Live , The Arsenio Hall Show , and It's Showtime at
1953-449: The highly popular Finnish sketch comedy show Pulttibois , starring Pirkka-Pekka Petelius and Aake Kalliala . In 2004, Q magazine featured the song in their list of "The 1010 Songs You Must Own". [1] In 2005, Stylus Magazine included its bassline at number 15 in their list of the "Top 50 Basslines of All Time". In 2006, Slant Magazine ranked it 32nd in its "100 Greatest Dance Songs" list, writing, "M/A/R/R/S's "Pump Up
Pump Up the Jam - Misplaced Pages Continue
2016-449: The later records relied heavily on recycling the same samples already heard on the aforementioned hits. Litigation would also play its part, and the adage "Where there's a hit — there's a writ " was coined as both house and hip hop artists underwent a period of legal trouble for using unlicensed samples in their recordings. The sampling style was also being parodied , notably by Star Turn on 45 (Pints) with their UK number 12 hit "Pump Up
2079-410: The music press in which they explained that while they were proud to have been part of M|A|R|R|S, it was not an experience that they were keen to repeat. They were particularly unhappy at having their contribution to "Pump Up the Volume" all but removed from the track. Colourbox attempted to carry on using the name M|A|R|R|S, but were not willing to pay the £100,000 that A.R. Kane wanted for full rights to
2142-456: The name, and the project remained a one-off. Colourbox disbanded soon afterward, leaving "Pump Up the Volume" as their last original work. A.R. Kane continued, releasing the critically acclaimed though commercially unsuccessful albums 69 and i . However, neither album contains a track that could be considered a successor to "Pump Up the Volume". Disco Mix Club Records, a British DJ pool and remix service, sought permission to remix "Pump Up
2205-499: The record with additional hooks besides its oft-repeated title chant, such as those of tracks by Public Enemy , Criminal Element Orchestra and the Bar-Kays . It was this remix, rather than the original, that was edited down to create the 7-inch version of the track, which began picking up radio play. As the record climbed the charts, the single ran into legal difficulties. With "Pump Up the Volume" standing at number two, an injunction
2268-414: The record, and being on the record sleeve. Bill Coleman from Billboard complimented "Pump Up the Jam" as "yet another uptempo club track that doesn't try to be anything but a party song. Memorable hook both instrumentally and in the chorus keeps the crowd humming and is sure to find success stateside when it's released imminently on SBK Records ." Harry Sumrall from Knight Ridder felt it has "a beat
2331-527: The record. What a situation! I saw trouble. Now Felly is learning to speak English, but at that time she spoke only French. She did interviews in the States - in French. I'm glad it's over now. But I am very grateful to her. She brought something to Technotronic. She was the image." —producer Jo Bogaert talking about the song in 1990. Belgian musician, songwriter, and record producer Jo Bogaert had previously had
2394-402: The right people, I could make a record that would be a hit in the U.S." After meeting Congolese–Belgian singer and songwriter Ya Kid K (a.k.a. Manuela Barbara Kamosi Moaso Djogi) and Welsh rapper MC Eric (a.k.a. Eric Martin), Bogaert used Ya Kid K's lyrics and vocals and they constructed what would become "Pump Up the Jam", a fresh, compelling fusion of hip hop and deep house elements. On
2457-572: The short term. Among the hits clearly following in M|A|R|R|S's footsteps were " Beat Dis " by Bomb the Bass , "Bass (How Low Can You Go?)" by Simon Harris , " Theme from S-Express " by S'Express and " Doctorin' the House " by Coldcut featuring Yazz and the Plastic Population . These in turn spawned imitators from across Europe and the U.S. The sample montage craze would soon burn itself out, since many of
2520-468: The single "Get Up – The '98 Sequel" as well as compilations This Beat Is Technotronic (Hits & Mixes) and Pump Up The Hits . Technotronic returned in 1999 with new singles "G-Train" and "Like This", featuring male vocalist Monday Midnite. In 2000, Ya Kid K returned as the group's vocalist once more, releasing the non-album single "The Mariachi" to moderate success in Belgium. In 2001, Technotronic released
2583-453: The single "Move It to the Rhythm" in 1994. It was followed in 1995 by the album Recall and the further singles "Recall" and "I Want You by My Side", the latter of which features male singer Black Diamond. Beside vocal contributions from Ya Kid K, the album also featured singer Daisy Dee on two tracks. In 1996, the group released the remix EP Pump Up The Jam – The '96 Sequel , followed in 1998 by
Pump Up the Jam - Misplaced Pages Continue
2646-643: The single also reached number two in Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Western-Germany. On the UK Singles Chart , it reached that position in its sixth week, on October 1, 1989. On the Eurochart Hot 100 , it went to number three same month. "Yes, it is exactly that: a song. People sing along, they know the lyrics. Well, not all the lyrics. Most think Manuela [Ya Kid K] sings ' I want,
2709-597: The single reached number four, while it peaked at number-one also in Zimbabwe. It was awarded with a gold record in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, after 40,000 and 400,000 singles were sold. Additionally, it also earned a silver record in France (125,000), and a platinum record in Australia (70,000) and the United States (1,000,000). A music video was produced to promote the single, having model Felly Kilingi lip synching
2772-437: The size of Boston , but Felly also sings with an unstoppable R&B swagger." Dennis Hunt from Los Angeles Times named it "a hyperkinetic, booming-bass number that may be the most popular dance-club tune since M.A.R.R.S. ' ' Pump Up the Volume '." Bob Stanley from Melody Maker wrote, "Not only was it a compelling dance music track with a chorus so contagious it could keep you awake at night, it also formed part of
2835-424: The song "is so enticing, the production so crisp and precise, that most people would have to put on a straitjacket to keep from bouncing around to the beat." Gary Graff from The Province described it as "simple, spare and relentlessly rhythmic". "Pump Up the Jam" proved to be very successful on the charts on several continents. It reached number-one in Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Portugal, and Spain. In addition,
2898-416: The song and its follow-up, " Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over) ", were pushing the envelope of dance music in the late '80s. In 2004, Stylus Magazine writer Nick Southall named the song "Belgium's finest club banger". An editor of Complex stated that it was the first house track to crack into the mainstream, adding it as "the perfect track at the perfect time." In 2018, Insomniac said it's "one of
2961-472: The song was licensed to 4th & B'way Records , the original version contained several samples from previous 4th & B'way releases, and the label was able to provide clearance for new samples for the American version. As one of the first big British-made house hits, "Pump Up the Volume" marked a turning point in the popularity of the genre. Eric B. & Rakim's " Paid in Full ", which had been released prior to
3024-401: The standalone single "Runaway Blues". Pump Up the Volume (song) " Pump Up the Volume " is the only single by British recording act M|A|R|R|S . Recorded and released in 1987, it was a number-one hit in many countries and is regarded as a significant milestone in the development of British house music and music sampling . The song derives its title directly from
3087-544: The tour, Ya Kid K departed from the group. In September 1990, A megamix was released compiling Technotronic's previous hits. Released as a single, it peaked at No. 6 in the UK and No. 1 on the Eurochart Hot 100. The megamix was the first single from the remix album Trip on This: The Remixes , released in late 1990. Trip on This featured the new song "Turn It Up" featuring vocals by new group members Melissa Bell and " Another Monsterjam " rapper MC Einstein. "Turn It Up"
3150-460: The track as M|A|R|R|S as originally planned. This led to the relationship with the band collapsing, and they never recorded for 4AD again. The two tracks were released to United Kingdom dance clubs in July 1987, on an anonymous white label with no artist credit. "Pump Up the Volume" proved to be the more popular side and was the track more heavily promoted. 4AD released the 12" single (as, officially,
3213-455: The track was a patently European interpretation of American house music and became the first big crossover U.K. house hit." In 2011, The Guardian featured the song in the "A History of Modern Music: Dance" playlist. In 2020, Slant Magazine ranked it number 18 in their list of "The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time". In 2024, Classic Pop ranked "Pump Up the Volume" number three in their list of "Top 20 80s House Hits". The table below
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#17328977458043276-458: The track, it was Congolese model Felly Kilingi who was pictured on the album and in the accompanying music video . The reason was because the Belgian ARS record company, who bought the rights to the song, wanted a face fronting it. Ya Kid K was in a hip-hop band at the time, still going to school and did not want to do the promotion and video. ARS then came up with the idea of having Felly promoting
3339-401: The two groups did not go entirely to plan. Once in the studio, the groups' different working methods and personalities failed to gel. Producer John Fryer found himself in the middle and unable to resolve the conflict. The result was that instead of working together, the groups ended up recording a track each, then exchanging them to the other for additional input. Colourbox came up with "Pump Up
3402-415: The unexpected success of the song, Bogaert commented, "I knew, yeah, this was a good track, but my farthest expectation was that it would be a club hit." Martin later told, "The hairs on my arms stood up and I knew that it was history." On the release, Bogaert is credited as producer (as Thomas de Quincey ). The song was picked up for US release by SBK Records . Although it used Ya Kid K's lyrics and voice on
3465-401: The vocals, while dancing, wearing different costumes throughout the video. Catherine Texier for New York Times commented, "Technotronic's "Pump Up the Jam", as commercial as it is, features a sweaty Felly who's all power and muscles, and even though her leotard shows a lot of breast and thigh, her message is more athletic than sexual, or, if it is sex, she's the one pumping the jam." The video
3528-496: Was currently using the bassline from the Colonel Abrams song "Trapped" in his production of Rick Astley 's " Never Gonna Give You Up ", which was competing in close proximity to "Pump Up the Volume" in the pop charts. Observers suggested that SAW's motives had just as much to do with extending the run of "Never Gonna Give You Up" at the top of the chart. SAW could afford extensive legal resources and M|A|R|R|S stood little chance of
3591-612: Was later published by Vevo on YouTube . AllMusic editor Alex Henderson described "Pump Up the Jam" as "highly infectious". British NME ranked the song number four in their list of "Top Five Euro-Hits of All Time" in December 1993, writing, "The late '80s, and the Top Ten gets invaded by a record which has a video consisting only of endless footage of outer space. A nation is baffled. Thumping techno-pop at its most compelling." In 1994, Nicole Leedham from The Canberra Times remarked that
3654-401: Was not as successful as the group's prior releases, and Melissa and Einstein departed from the group. In 1991, Technotronic released their second studio album Body to Body , which featured new main vocalist Reggie ( Réjane Magloire ). Reggie provided vocals for six tracks on the album, which also featured singer Riv and rapper Colt 45 on two tracks. Several singles were released in Europe,
3717-438: Was obtained against it by pop music producers Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW), who objected to the use of a sample from their hit single "Roadblock". Distribution was held up for several days while negotiations took place, and the result was that overseas releases would not include the "Roadblock" sample. Dorrell later stated that he believed SAW would never have noticed the highly distorted sample had he not rashly boasted about it in
3780-461: Was presented as the group's vocalist. She appeared on the single's cover art which was credited as "Technotronic featuring Felly" and also appeared in the music video for the song. The song became a worldwide success, eventually reaching No. 2 on both the US Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart in late 1989 and early 1990. The success of the project's first single led to the release of the album Pump Up
3843-424: Was suggested by label founder Ivo Watts-Russell after the two groups had independently suggested the possibility of releasing a commercial dance record, inspired by the American house music that was starting to make an impact on the UK chart. A.R. Kane had released an E.P. entitled When You're Sad on One Little Indian Records in late 1986. Frustrated by the lack of support from One Little Indian, Alex Ayuli of
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#17328977458043906-423: Was the addition of scratch mix effects and samples by DJs Chris "C.J." Mackintosh and Dave Dorrell . Colourbox told Watts-Russell that they didn't want "Anitina" on the B-side and wanted "Pump Up the Volume" released solely as a Colourbox track. Watts-Russell overruled them, in part because of Young's notoriously slow work rate with the prospect of the track being held up for another 12 to 18 months, and released
3969-502: Was ultimately recognized upon a U.S. tour and a repackaged album cover that featured her instead of Felly. In 2005, the song was remixed by DJ-producer D.O.N.S. and reached number one on the British Dance Chart . The Guardian featured the song on their "A History of Modern Music: Dance" in 2011. In 2020, Slant Magazine ranked it at number 40 in their list of "The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time". "She didn't actually sing on
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