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Poison (The Prodigy song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Poison
| cover = Poison Prodigy.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Prodigy
| album = Music for the Jilted Generation
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| length =
| label =
| writer =
| producer = Liam Howlett
| prev_title = Voodoo People
| prev_year = 1994
| next_title = Firestarter
| next_year = 1996
| misc =
}}
"'Poison'" is a song by English electronic music group the Prodigy, released on 6 March 1995 as the fourth and final single from their second studio album, 'Music for the Jilted Generation' (1994). Maxim Reality sings on this track.
Composition
The drums in the song are samples from "It's a New Day" by Skull Snaps, "Amen, Brother" by the Winstons, and "Heavy Soul Slinger" by Bernard Purdie.
Critical reception
John Bush from AllMusic viewed the song as "excellent". Larry Flick from 'Billboard' noted that it "marks the rave outfit's first foray into hip-hop", adding that "it's an inspired move. The act's penchant for quirky loops and industrial sound effects melds perfectly with the track's approachable downtempo groove." He also described the track as a "juicy jam", voiced by new band member Maxim Reality. Brad Beatnik from 'Music Week's 'RM' Dance Update stated that "with its hard hip hop beats yet funky feel, [it] is the stunning stand-out track" of the album. Another editor, James Hamilton deemed it as a "ponderously rumbling reggae-ish dub joller". James Hunter from 'Vibe' described it as "an excellent post-techno techno thing that ought to become an enormous, obnoxious hit."
Chart performance
"Poison" reached number one in Finland and was a top-five hit in Norway. The song also reached number 24 in Sweden, and number 23 in Switzerland.
Artwork
The packaging for the CD single follows a theme similar to the song: rat poison. The front cover features a box of said poison, the back shows a picture of a dead and decomposing rodent, and the CD itself has a rat superimposed onto it. The theme of rat poison ties into the music, as the official remix of the song is dubbed "Rat Poison".
Music video
The music video was directed by Walter Stern. The band performs the track in a basement-like location. By the end of the video, the floor has turned into a mud-bath where Keith Flint is mud wrestling with other band members.
The music video was also shown on an episode of Beavis and Butt-head.
Soundtracks
The song is featured on the soundtracks for the 1999 film 'End of Days' and the 1997 film 'The Jackal'. It's also featured briefly in the 1999 'Robbie the Reindeer' film 'Hooves of Fire'.
it also appeared on the FIFA 21 Volta football soundtrack.
Legacy
The spoken words on the introductory of the album version :
'"Liam, someone on the phone for you / Aw fuck's sake, tryin' to write this fuckin' tune, man"'
They were parodied by Clark on his remix of Milanese's Mr Bad News, where a voices with an affected received pronunciation English accent say Christopher, somebody's on the telephone for you / Oh for fucks sake, Im trying to write this fucking tune, man.
Electronic rock band Does It Offend You, Yeah? also make reference to the track's opening conversation on their song '"We Are the Dead"' from their album Don't Say We Didn't Warn You.
Track listing
#"Poison" (95 EQ) 6:12 [edited 4:05 version on CD edition]
#"Rat Poison" 5:34
#"Scienide" 5:54
#"Poison" (Environmental Science Dub Mix) 6:18
* Tracks 1-2 and 4 written by Liam Howlett and Keith Palmer. Track 2 remixed by Liam Howlett. Track 4 remix and additional production by Environmental Science
* Track 3 written by Liam Howlett
Charts
References
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