Electric Avenue (song)
Encyclopedia
"Electric Avenue" is a song by Eddy Grant
, from his 1982 album Killer on the Rampage
. It was released as a single in 1982, and went on to be very popular, reaching #2 on both United States
and United Kingdom
singles charts. The song's lyrics refer to the 1981 Brixton riot, the title referring to Electric Avenue
, a market street in the Brixton
area of London, England.
The song has been covered by several other artists since its release.
It is often sampled in commercials and other media, such as advertisements for Montgomery Ward
, the opening sequence of Pineapple Express
, the opening to one episode of Everybody Hates Chris
, and a montage on The Simpsons
episode, "Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes
". In the Family Guy
episode "And the Wiener Is...", the high school marching band plays the song during halftime. LSU
first baseman Sean Ochinko uses this song as his intro for each plate appearance. The ending of issue #17 of Deadpool
(vol. 2) features a scene where the titular character sings part of the song while on a mission. It is also featured in Jackass 3D
in the stunt Electric Avenue.
The B-Side to this song is a Non-LP track entitled "Time Warp."
Electric Avenue was re-released in 2001. The single featured the "Ringbang Remix", and reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart
in June 2001.
Eddy Grant
Edmond Montague "Eddy" Grant is a musician, born in Plaisance, Guyana.- Life and career :When he was still a young boy, his parents emigrated to London, UK, where he settled. He lived in Kentish Town and went to school at the Acland Burghley Secondary Modern at Tufnell Park...
, from his 1982 album Killer on the Rampage
Killer on the Rampage
Killer on the Rampage is an album by Eddy Grant. It remains his most successful album, hitting the top 10 in the US and the UK. It features the hits "Electric Avenue" , "I Don't Wanna Dance" and "War Party"...
. It was released as a single in 1982, and went on to be very popular, reaching #2 on both United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and United Kingdom
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...
singles charts. The song's lyrics refer to the 1981 Brixton riot, the title referring to Electric Avenue
Electric Avenue
Electric Avenue is a street in Brixton, London. Built in the 1880s, it was the first market street to be lit by electricity. Today, the street contains several butchers and fish mongers and hosts a part of Brixton Market, which specializes in selling a mix of African, Caribbean, and Portuguese...
, a market street in the Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
area of London, England.
The song has been covered by several other artists since its release.
It is often sampled in commercials and other media, such as advertisements for Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
, the opening sequence of Pineapple Express
Pineapple Express (film)
Pineapple Express is a 2008 American stoner action comedy directed by David Gordon Green, written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and starring Rogen and James Franco. Producer Judd Apatow, who previously worked with Rogen and Goldberg on Knocked Up and Superbad, assisted in developing the story,...
, the opening to one episode of Everybody Hates Chris
Everybody Hates Chris
Everybody Hates Chris is an African American television period sitcom inspired by the teenage experiences of comedian Chris Rock , while growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York . The show is set from 1982 to 1987; however, Rock himself was a teenager during years...
, and a montage on The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episode, "Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes
Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes
"Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes" is the season premiere of The Simpsons’ twentieth season, and first aired September 28, 2008. After getting charged for being involved in a fight, Homer meets bail bondsman Lucky Jim and Wolf the Bounty Hunter, who convince Homer to become a bounty hunter. In a...
". In the Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
episode "And the Wiener Is...", the high school marching band plays the song during halftime. LSU
LSU Tigers baseball
The LSU baseball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I college baseball.Along with the other LSU athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the West division of the Southeastern Conference...
first baseman Sean Ochinko uses this song as his intro for each plate appearance. The ending of issue #17 of Deadpool
Deadpool (comics)
Deadpool is a fictional character, a mercenary and anti-hero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by artist Rob Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza, Deadpool first appeared in The New Mutants #98 Deadpool (Wade Winston Wilson) is a fictional character, a mercenary and...
(vol. 2) features a scene where the titular character sings part of the song while on a mission. It is also featured in Jackass 3D
Jackass 3D
Jackass 3D is a 2010 American 3D comedy film and the fourth film in the Jackass series. It was released on October 15, 2010 by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films to American theaters and marked the 10th anniversary of the franchise, which started in 2000...
in the stunt Electric Avenue.
The B-Side to this song is a Non-LP track entitled "Time Warp."
Electric Avenue was re-released in 2001. The single featured the "Ringbang Remix", and reached number 5 in 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 ...
in June 2001.
Other versions
- Canadian rapcoreRapcoreRapcore is a subgenre of rap rock fusing vocal and sometimes instrumental elements of hip hop with punk rock .-History:...
band RaggadeathRaggadeathRaggadeath was a Canadian alternative rock–hip hop band in the 1990s that fused hard rock with dancehall reggae-style rhythms and vocals. The band featured a number of vocalists, including emcee Michie Mee...
covered the song on their self-titled 1997 album. - The Christian rock band TaitTait (band)Tait is a Christian rock band formed by Michael Tait, one of the members of dc Talk and the lead singer of Newsboys since 2010.- Pre-formation of Tait :...
covered the song on their album, Lose This LifeLose This LifeLose This Life is the second album by the Christian rock band Tait. It is a sequel to their first album, Empty. According to frontman Michael Tait, the songs all have to do with the striving human passion to know, feel and experience God's love....
. - Refugee Camp All StarsRefugee Camp All-StarsRefugee Camp All-Stars was an American hip hop duo active in 1997, consisting of rappers John Forté and Pras.Despite releasing no studio albums under their own name, their single, "Avenues", became a Top 40 hit in the United States...
(featuring Pras Michel, former member of The FugeesThe FugeesFugees were a Haitian American hip hop group who rose to fame in the mid-1990s. Their repertoire included elements of Hip hop, soul and Caribbean music, particularly reggae. The members of the group were rapper/singer/producer Wyclef Jean, rapper/singer/producer Lauryn Hill, and rapper Pras Michel...
) covered the song in 1997 for the original soundtrack of the movie Money TalksMoney TalksMoney Talks is a 1997 American comedy film directed by Brett Ratner, starring Chris Tucker and Charlie Sheen.- Plot :Franklin Hatchett is a car wash hustler, who gets dimed out to the police by an investigating news reporter named James Russell When placed on a prison transport unit, he is...
. This cover was titled "Avenues", featuring ReggaeReggaeReggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
artist Ky-Mani MarleyKy-Mani MarleyKy-mani is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist whose east African name means Adventurous Traveler. The only child of table tennis champion Anita Belnavis and reggae icon Bob Marley, Ky-mani Marley was born in Falmouth, Jamaica...
. Their version peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. - Los RabanesLos RabanesLos Rabanes is a Latin Grammy winner Rock band from Chitré, Herrera, Republic of Panama. Originated in the year 1992 after the end of the bands "Rum & Coke" and "El Decimo Piso". They formed the band with the idea to play in small pubs and bars at weekends. Soon the group won international...
covered the song on their album "Kamikaze", using their own lyrics in Spanish. - Rapper C-Rayz WalzC-Rayz WalzWaleed Shabazz, better known by his stage name C-Rayz Walz, is an MC from The Bronx, New York. He is currently a member of the Legendary NY hip hop Syndicate Stronghold. C-Rayz Walz has been a fixture in the New York hip-hop scene for years. He hosts many hip-hop shows and events, has appeared on...
covered the song on his 2007 album Monster MakerMonster Maker (C-Rayz Walz album)Monster Maker is a collaborative album between rapper C-Rayz Walz and hip hop producer Sharkey. Sharkey describes the title of the album as the breaking point in day-to-day life...
. - House duo Firefox sampled the song for their single "Pull My Trigger".
- ServotronServotronServotron was a science fiction-influenced rock band active from 1995 to 1999. Members portrayed a collective of robots whose chosen medium for dissemination of ideas was music...
covered this album on a 7-inch record release with the B-Side of Finest Work Song. - "Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" YankovicAlfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
performed a concert-only parody this song called "Flatbush Avenue". The recording was never released on any of his albums. - GrindcoreGrindcoreGrindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
band Anal CuntAnal CuntAnal Cunt, also known as AxCx and A.C., was an American grindcore band that formed in Newton, Massachusetts in 1988. Since its inception, the band underwent a number of line-up changes. Known for its grindcore musical style and controversial lyrics, Anal Cunt released eight full-length studio...
covered the beginning of the song on track "Eddy Grant" from their 1994 album Everyone Should Be KilledEveryone Should Be KilledEveryone Should Be Killed is the debut full-length studio album by American grindcore band Anal Cunt, released by Earache Records on May 24, 1994.-Track listing:-Personnel:Musicians*Seth Putnam – vocals, guitar*John Kozik – guitar...
. - VelvetVelvet (singer)Jenny Marielle Pettersson , professionally known as Velvet is a Swedish dance-pop singer. She has released two albums since her 2005 debut in the music industry and her first eight singles have all achieved a top twenty peak on the Swedish Singles Chart.-Early life:Velvet moved from Helsingborg to...
, a Swedish singer sampled it on her (2006) album "Finally". Velvet's version is called "Rock Down To (Electric Avenue)" - SkindredSkindredSkindred is a Welsh rock band from Newport. The band was formed in 1998 following the disbandment of vocalist Benji Webbe's previous band, Dub War. Skindred's musical style mixes alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and reggae...
released a cover of the song on their third studio album Shark Bites and Dog FightsShark Bites and Dog Fights-Personnel:* Benji Webbe * Daniel Pugsley * Michael John Fry * Arya Goggin...
. - A version with Wyclef JeanWyclef JeanWyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
, PrasPrasPrakazrel Samuel Michel, known as Pras, is a Grammy Award-winning Haitian-American rapper, actor, film producer, and member of the hip hop trio The Fugees.-Early life:...
, and Ky-Mani MarleyKy-Mani MarleyKy-mani is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist whose east African name means Adventurous Traveler. The only child of table tennis champion Anita Belnavis and reggae icon Bob Marley, Ky-mani Marley was born in Falmouth, Jamaica...
, featuring the chorus of the original, and verses from each contributor. - Swedish rock band Vains of JennaVains of JennaVains of Jenna are a rock band formed in Falkenberg, Sweden during January 2005. They have since relocated to Los Angeles, California. They will be performing around the States with the help of and -History:...
released their cover on the studio album Reversed Tripped (2011). - The song "Special Request" on PlayStation Home sampled the recurring beat from "Electric Avenue".
- Powerman 5000Powerman 5000Powerman 5000 is an American Metal band formed in 1991. Through the span of over two decades, the group has released several albums and gained their highest commercial success with 1999's science fiction themed Tonight the Stars Revolt!...
covered the song on their 2011 album Copies, Clones & Replicants
External links
- Music video at MTV.com (Windows Media format)