Seventeen Years
Encyclopedia
"Seventeen Years" is a song by Ratatat
and is their first release as a band. It was first released in the USA on the independent record label Rex Records
in 2003, before being later released in the UK by Audio Dregs
, a label run by band member Evan Mast and his brother, E*Rock.
The track is instrumental
, except for a brief introduction given by local Crown Heights
MC and rapper Young Churf, from which the track takes its title:
The main part of the song consists of melodies and harmonies by synthesizer
s and electric guitar
s, overlapping to produce a rhythm that falls within the realms of techno, rock 'n roll and hip-hop
.
The single was only released on 12" vinyl
, though it appeared in two different versions. The original release of the track was on the record label Rex Records, and contained the B-side "Breaking Away". The second release of the track, in November 2003, was on the label Audio Dregs. This release was limited to 1100 copies, and had different artwork in addition to the different B-side "Spanish Armada". Both B-sides, as well as "Seventeen Years" itself, later appeared on Ratatat's debut album Ratatat
.
Ratatat
Ratatat is a New York City electronic music duo consisting of Mike Stroud and producer Evan Mast .-History:Evan Mast and Mike Stroud first met as students at Skidmore College, but they did not work together until 2001, when they recorded several songs under the name "Cherry"...
and is their first release as a band. It was first released in the USA on the independent record label Rex Records
Rex Records
Rex Records has been the name of at least five record companies:* Rex Records , a United States-based company* Rex Records , a United Kingdom-based company selling through Marks & Spencer department stores...
in 2003, before being later released in the UK by Audio Dregs
Audio Dregs
Audio Dregs is an independent record label run by electronic musicians and brothers E*vax and E*rock. It is based in Portland, Oregon and has released records from artists such as Ratatat and Global Goon.- Artists :* O.Lamm* Lullatone* Melodium* Kinn...
, a label run by band member Evan Mast and his brother, E*Rock.
The track is instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
, except for a brief introduction given by local Crown Heights
Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Crown Heights is a neighborhood in the central portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The main thoroughfare through this neighborhood is Eastern Parkway, a tree-lined boulevard designed by Frederick Law Olmsted extending two miles east-west.Originally, the area was known as Crow Hill....
MC and rapper Young Churf, from which the track takes its title:
The main part of the song consists of melodies and harmonies by synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s and electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
s, overlapping to produce a rhythm that falls within the realms of techno, rock 'n roll and hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
.
The single was only released on 12" vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
, though it appeared in two different versions. The original release of the track was on the record label Rex Records, and contained the B-side "Breaking Away". The second release of the track, in November 2003, was on the label Audio Dregs. This release was limited to 1100 copies, and had different artwork in addition to the different B-side "Spanish Armada". Both B-sides, as well as "Seventeen Years" itself, later appeared on Ratatat's debut album Ratatat
Ratatat (album)
Ratatat is Ratatat's 2004 self-titled debut album. It was recorded between July 2001 and May 2003 in Mast's Crown Heights, Brooklyn apartment and mixed in June 2003 before its release in 2004....
.
Uses in media
- The song was featured in television advertisementTelevision advertisementA television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
titled "Accessorize" for the Hummer H2Hummer H2The Hummer H2 is an SUV and SUT that was marketed by General Motors under the Hummer brand. It is a large truck , while longer, heavier , and taller with room for six passengers , seven passengers in some models. The rearmost part of the H2 SUV was modified to a pickup truck bed for the 2005 H2 SUT...
in 2004, on the BritishUnited KingdomThe 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...
television show Soccer AMSoccer AMSoccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
as the original background music for The Crossbar Challenge segment. - The song was featured in Level One Productions's ski movie Shanghai Six.
- The song was featured in the introduction of Rat Tail's Jan WelchJan WelchJan Eric Welch , is an American director of aggressive skating videos and commercials. He is also a freelance journalist and a winning designer.-Career:...
and Pat Lennon inline skatingAggressive inline skatingAggressive inline skating is a form of inline skating, performed on specially designed inline skates with focus on sliding stances known as grinds with a focus on new tricks, stunts and personal style. Participants refer to the activity as "'rollerblading'", "blading", "skating" or "rolling"...
movie Leading the Blind. - The song was used as the background song for professional skateboarder Keith Hufnagel's video part in the DVS - Skate More video.
- The song was also featured during the 2008 film CloverfieldCloverfieldCloverfield is a 2008 American disaster-monster film directed by Matt Reeves, produced by J. J. Abrams and written by Drew Goddard.The film follows six young New Yorkers attending a going-away party on the night that a gigantic monster attacks the city...
during a party sequence. - The song was featured in Adidas's The Left Right Project.
- The song was used in CSI: MiamiCSI: MiamiCSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....
season 7 episode 19. - The song was used as the background and introduction throughout the mash up "From Honor Roll to Out of Control" by Super Mash Bros.