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Pump Up the Jam

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = Pump Up the Jam

| cover = Pump Up the Jam by Technotronic original 1989 single (common variant).png

| alt =

| caption = Common variant of the standard artwork

| type = single

| artist = Technotronic

| album = Pump Up the Jam: The Album

| released = 18 August 1989

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre =

*House

*hip house

*Eurodance

| length = 3:36

| label =

*Swanyard

*SBK

*EMI (US)

| writer =

*Manuela Kamosi

*Thomas de Quincey

| producer = Thomas De Quincey

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over)

| next_year = 1990

| misc =

}}

"'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 and was a worldwide hit, reaching number two in the United Kingdom in 1989 and on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100 in early 1990. The song was later certified triple platinum. It also peaked at number-one in Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Portugal and Spain. "Pump Up 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 named as 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 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. And in 2020, 'Slant Magazine' ranked it at number 40 in their list of 'The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time'.

Critical reception



AllMusic editor Alex Henderson described the song as "highly infectious". Nicole Leedham from 'The Canberra Times' noted that "Pump Up the Jam" and "Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over)" were "pushing the envelope of dance music in the late '80s." '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 the best dance songs of all time, becausewhile it should have disappeared in our cultural memory as a sort of punchline or joke or some one-hit wonderit'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." Harry Sumrall from 'Knight Ridder' said the song has "a beat the size of Boston, but Felly also sings with an unstoppable R&B swagger."

Bob Stanley from 'Melody Maker' wrote that "not only was it a compelling dance track with a chorus so contagious it could keep you awake at night, it also formed part of 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 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' deemed it "catchy". The 'Orlando Sentinel' said the sound is "intoxicating". A reviewer from 'People Magazine' wrote that 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." Josh Baines from 'Vice' called it "a towering masterpiece."

Chart performance



"Pump Up the Jam" proved to be very successful on the charts on several continents. It reached number-one in Flemish Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Portugal and Spain. In addition, 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. 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 the US 'Billboard' Hot Dance Club Play chart and the 'Cash Box' Pop Singles chart. 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, 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, and a platinum record in Australia and the United States.

Track listing



Multiple versions and re-releases were produced for the "Pump Up the Jam" singles.

*'7" single (2-track)'

#Pump Up The Jam (7" Version) 3:36

#Pump Up The Jam (Jam Edit Mix) 5:00

*'Standard CD single (4-track)'

#7" Version 3:38

#Vocal Attack 5:26

#Jam Edit Mix 4:58

#Original Mix 5:03

*'The Sequel (5-track)'

#Tin Tin Out Of the Radio Mix 3:52

#Dancing Divaz Radio Mix 3:51

#London Jam 4:58

#Tin Tin Out Of the Club Mix 7:16

#Dancing Divaz Master Mix 5:33

*'The Sequel (8-track)'

#Dancing Divas Radio Mix 3:52

#Dancing Divas Master Mix 5:35

#Sequential One Club Mix 5:16

#Tin Tin Out Club Mix 7:17

#Sequential One Radio Mix 3:36

#Tin Tin Out Radio Mix 3:52

#Sol Brothers Pumpin Mix 8:19

#Pulsar Village Mix 5:52

*'Remixes'

#U.S. Mix 6:53

#Sunshine Mix 4:39

#Hithouse Mix 7:52

#The Punami Mix 6:18

#Todd Terry Dome Mix 5:24

#Top FM Mix 4:41

#Vocal Attack Mix 5:22

#B-Room Mix 4:52

#Red Zone Mix 7:27

*'The Remixes'

#U.S. Mix by David Morales 6:56

#Sunshine Mix by David Morales 4:41

#Hithouse Mix by Peter "Hithouse" Slaghuis 7:56

#Top FM Mix by Kevin J. and R. Cue 4:44

#The Punami Mix by The Wing Command 6:20

#B-Room Mix by David Morales 4:53

#Manouche Jazz Remix by The Lost Fingers 3:49

*'96'

#Tin Tin Out Radio Mix 3:51

#Sol Brothers Pumpin' Mix 8:18

#Dancing Divas Mix 8:12

#Seventies Jam Part 2 5:28

#Sol Brothers Deep Vocal Mix 7:58

#Pulsar Village Mix 5:50

*'The Sequel'

#Tin Tin Out Radio Mix 3:51

#Sequential One Radio Mix 3:34

#Pulsar Radio Mix 3:15

#Village Mix 5:51

#Dancing Divaz Master Mix 5:34

#Sequential One Club Mix 5:15

Accolades



In 2004, 'Stylus Magazine' writer Nick Southall named the song "Belgium's finest club banger".

(*) indicates the list is unordered.

Charts



Weekly charts



*1 "Pump Up the Jam '96" by Technotronic

*2 "Pump Up the Jam" by D.O.N.S. featuring Technotronic

*3 "Pump Up the Jam 2005" by D.O.N.S. featuring Technotronic

Year-end charts



All-time charts



Certifications and sales



M.C. Sar & the Real McCoy version



In 1989, ZYX Records released a cover version of "Pump Up 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.

Track listing



*'1989 CD maxi single'

#"Pump Up the Jam" (Original Rap Version) 5:58

#"Pump Up the Jam" (Jam-Jam Quick House Version) 5:43

#"Pump Up the Jam" (Acapella) 1:46

#"Pump Up the Jam" (Freshbeats and Pieces) 1:06

#"Get Funky" 4:02

*'1989 7" single'

#"Pump Up the Jam" (Original Rap Version Edit) 3:51

#"Get Funky" 4:02

*'"Pump Up the Jam Rap '98"'

#"Pump Up the Jam Rap '98" (radio mix) 3:20

#"Pump Up the Jam Rap '98" (extended mix) 4:29

#"Pump Up the Jam Rap '98" (derezon remix) 3:48

#"Pump Up the Jam Rap '98" (beats and pieces) 1:31

#"Pump Up the Jam Rap '98" (original US remix '98) 6:13

#"Da Dome" 3:54

Charts



See also



*List of number-one hits of 1989 (Flanders)

*List of 'Cash Box' Top 100 number-one singles of 1990

*List of 'RPM' number-one dance singles of 1989

*List of number-one singles of 1989 (Spain)

*List of number-one dance singles of 1989 (U.S.)

References



Category:1989 songs

Category:1989 debut singles

Category:1996 singles

Category:1998 singles

Category:2005 singles

Category:Technotronic songs

Category:Real McCoy (band) songs

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Number-one singles in Finland

Category:Number-one singles in Iceland

Category:Number-one singles in Portugal

Category:Number-one singles in Zimbabwe

Category:EMI Records singles

Category:SBK Records singles

Category:Songs about dancing

Category:Songs about music

Category:Songs written by Jo Bogaert

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