Where It's At
Encyclopedia
"Where It's At" is the first single from Beck
's 1996 album, Odelay
. Beck wrote the song in 1995. He premiered it at Lollapalooza
1995, in a version very similar to its incarnation on Odelay. He has played the song very often since 1995, although he regularly experiments with the music and lyrics.
"Where It's At" has a number of spoken samples
that Beck and the Dust Brothers
incorporated into it. Many of these come from an obscure sex education
album titled Sex for Teens: (Where It's At), a subtitle Beck borrowed (see link below). Other vocal samples incorporated into "Where It's At" come from "Needle to the Groove" by old school rap group Mantronix
("we've got two turntables and a microphone..."), as well as The Frogs
("that was a good drum break"). The song also references Gary Wilson
, one of Beck's influences. Beck also pays homage to Captain Beefheart
by dressing as Captain Beefheart was dressed in the Trout Mask Replica
album photo sessions at 1:27 in the video. The video features a parody of William Shatner
's video of "Rocket Man". An adaptation of the song in Futurama
was also used with Bender playing the 'washboard' in various parts, the same episode
in which Beck makes an appearance throughout the show.
Beck earned the Grammy Award
for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
for the song. In October 2011, NME
placed it at number 76 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
, features Beck doing a variety of things, such as working as a garbage man, singing at a car dealership, wearing pirate clothes in a forest, and line dancing. "Where It's At" was the first music video
to be broadcast on MTV2
on August 1, 1996. The video was awarded a MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video
.
UK #1
UK #2
Australia
Japan
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
's 1996 album, Odelay
Odelay
Odelay is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock artist Beck, originally released on June 18, 1996, by DGC Records.After the mainstream success of "Loser", Odelay featured several hit singles, including "Where It's At", "Devils Haircut", and "The New Pollution"...
. Beck wrote the song in 1995. He premiered it at Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
1995, in a version very similar to its incarnation on Odelay. He has played the song very often since 1995, although he regularly experiments with the music and lyrics.
"Where It's At" has a number of spoken samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
that Beck and the Dust Brothers
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...
incorporated into it. Many of these come from an obscure sex education
Sex education
Sex education refers to formal programs of instruction on a wide range of issues relating to human sexuality, including human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, contraception, and...
album titled Sex for Teens: (Where It's At), a subtitle Beck borrowed (see link below). Other vocal samples incorporated into "Where It's At" come from "Needle to the Groove" by old school rap group Mantronix
Mantronix
Mantronix was an influential 1980s hip hop and electro funk music group founded by DJ Kurtis Mantronik , and rapper MC Tee...
("we've got two turntables and a microphone..."), as well as The Frogs
The Frogs (band)
The Frogs are an American rock music band founded in 1980, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by brothers Jimmy and Dennis Flemion. The brothers mainly write and perform short, catchy pop songs, but they are also known for their improvised home recordings which are delivered in a comedic style, and often...
("that was a good drum break"). The song also references Gary Wilson
Gary Wilson (musician)
Gary Wilson is an experimental musician/performance artist best known for his 1977 album You Think You Really Know Me, after which he promptly retired from recording and performing concerts...
, one of Beck's influences. Beck also pays homage to Captain Beefheart
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
by dressing as Captain Beefheart was dressed in the Trout Mask Replica
Trout Mask Replica
Trout Mask Replica is the third album by Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, released in June 1969. Produced by Beefheart's friend and former schoolmate Frank Zappa, it was originally released as a double album on Zappa's Straight Records label...
album photo sessions at 1:27 in the video. The video features a parody of William Shatner
William Shatner
William Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, and author. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T...
's video of "Rocket Man". An adaptation of the song in Futurama
Futurama
Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
was also used with Bender playing the 'washboard' in various parts, the same episode
Bendin' in the Wind
"Bendin' in the Wind" is the thirteenth episode in season three of Futurama. It originally aired April 22, 2001. The title comes from the Bob Dylan song "Blowin' in the Wind". In South America, this episode was #1 in "Bender's Best" top ten Bender-related Futurama episodes.- Plot :Fry gets a free...
in which Beck makes an appearance throughout the show.
Beck earned the Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance was an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to male recording artists for works containing quality vocal performances in the rock music genre...
for the song. In October 2011, NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
placed it at number 76 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
Music video
The music video, directed by Steve HanftSteve Hanft
Steven P. Hanft , more commonly known as Steve Hanft, is an American independent film director.-Early life:Hanft was born in Ventura, California. He started making films at the age of 11 growing up in California. His first works consisted of surf films and nature films followed later by...
, features Beck doing a variety of things, such as working as a garbage man, singing at a car dealership, wearing pirate clothes in a forest, and line dancing. "Where It's At" was the first music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
to be broadcast on MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
on August 1, 1996. The video was awarded a MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video
MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video is one of the four original general awards that have been handed out every year since the very first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984. In 2007, though, the award was briefly renamed Male Artist of the Year, and it awarded the artist's whole body of work...
.
Track listings
USA (12)- Where It's At (Edit)
- Make Out City
- Where It's At (remix by Mario C and Mickey P)
- Where It's At (remix by John King)
- Bonus Beats
UK #1
- Where It's At (Edit)
- Where It's At (remix by Mario C and Mickey P)
- Bonus Beats
- Where It's At (remix by U.N.K.L.E.)
UK #2
- Where It's At (Edit)
- Where It's At (remix by Mario C and Mickey P)
- Bonus Beats
Australia
- Where It's At (Edit)
- Where It's At (remix by Mario C and Mickey P)
- Bonus Beats
Japan
- Where It's At (Edit)
- Where It's At (remix by John King)
- Lloyd Price Express (remix by John King)
- Dark and Lovely (remix by the Dust Brothers)
- American Wasteland
- Clock