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Technotronic was a studio-based Belgian music project formed by Jo Bogaert (alias Thomas DeQuincey, born 1954, Aalst, Belgium) in 1988, who had already made his musical mark in the beginning of the 1980s as a part of a cover band and as a solo artist under various new beat projects, including The Acts of Madmen and Nux Nemo. Together with Ya Kid K (born Manuela Barbara Kamosi Moaso Djogi, January 26, 1973, Kinshasa, DR Congo), he produced the hit single "Pump Up the Jam" which was originally an instrumental. An image for the act was later put together utilizing Congolese-born fashion model Felly Kilingi as its album/single cover art and supposed singer in the music video.
"Pump Up The Jam"The track that would become "Pump Up The Jam" began life as "Technotronic" (which in turn became the project's official name), an original instrumental Bogaert released under the name "The Pro 24s". Based on Farley Jackmaster Funk's "The Acid Life," this instrumental initially included vocal samples from Eddie Murphy's "Delirious" live set and was months later replaced by newer music, along with lyrics and vocals from Ya Kid K. prior to the song's international release in September 1989.
It became an unexpected international smash, eventually hitting #2 on the American Hot 100 charts in late 1989/early 1990, becoming the first ever house record to break through to the pop mainstream. It not only introduced a new sound based on New Beat, a dance genre developed around the Belgian music scene, but it was also one of the first songs to pioneer the short-lived "hip-house" genre, a fusion of house and elements of hip-hop.
DiscographyThe success of the project's first single led to the debut of Pump Up The Jam—The Album, which featured tracks by Ya Kid K and MC Eric (born Eric Martin, August 19, 1970, Cardiff, Wales) as well as a live opening-act slot for Madonna and appearances on Saturday Night Live, The Arsenio Hall Show, and ''It's Showtime at the Apollo'', among others
. It was at this time that Ya Kid K stepped forward as Technotronic's actual vocalist after it was revealed that Felly was merely lip-synching, ŕ la Milli Vanilli, to the vocals of "Pump Up The Jam."
Three follow-up singles, "Get Up! (Before The Night Is Over)," a #7 hit in the US and a #2 hit in the UK; "This Beat Is Technotronic" (US Dance #3, UK #14); and "Move That Body" (UK #12), also hit the Top 10 in many countries, and the album eventually climbed into the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 in the USA.
In 1990 Kamosi also contributed vocals on the single "Spin That Wheel", as part of Technotronic's "side project" Hi Tek 3 for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie soundtrack.
A megamix was released compiling many of Technotronic's previous hits. Released as a single, it peaked at #6 in the UK and #1 on the Eurochart Hot 100.
Three years after its initial success, the song "Move This" (also featuring Kamosi) from its debut album became popularized through its use in a Revlon television commercial (and also used again in a recent Garanimals children's clothing commercial) and became their third Top-10 hit in the United States, peaking at #6. With renewed interest in the album, it was repackaged in 1992 with the same track listing, but this time it featured Ya Kid K on the cover.
Technotronic has sold approximately 14 million albums and singles worldwide.
20th Anniversary (1989-2009)MC Eric and Ya Kid K. have recently reunited and are now touring countries in Europe and South America as a part of commemorating Technotronic's 20th Anniversary, performing their classic hits as well as new material. Technotronic has also made plans to tour parts of Australia in 2010.
Albums- 1989 Pump Up the Jam: The Album
- 1990 Trip On This - the Remixes
- 1991 Body To Body
- 1993 Greatest Hits
- 1995 Recall
Singles- 1988 "Technotronic" (as The Pro 24s) ("Pump Up The Jam" original instrumental version)
- 1989 "Pump Up The Jam" (as Technotronic featuring Felly) (UK #2, Ger #2, US Hot 100 #2, Dance/Club Play #1)
- 1990 "Get Up ! (Before the Night Is Over)" (as Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K) (UK #2, Ger #2, Ireland #2, Hot 100 #7, Dance/Club Play #2)
- 1990 "This Beat Is Technotronic" (as Technotronic featuring MC Eric) (Ireland #5, ger #10, UK #14, Dance/Club Play #3)
- 1990 "Spin That Wheel" (as Hi-Tek 3 featuring Ya Kid K) (Feb: UK #69; September re-release: UK #15)
- 1990 "Rockin' Over the Beat" (UK #9, Ger #18, Ireland #11, Hot 100 #95)
- 1990 "Megamix" By The Unity Mixers (Patrick Samoy & Luc Rigaux) (# 1 in Europe, #6 UK, Ger #9)
- 1990 "Turn It Up" (as Technotronic featuring Melissa and Einstein) (Ireland #26, UK #42, B #21)
- 1991 "Move That Body" (as Technotronic featuring Reggie) (Ireland #3, Ger #19, UK #12, CH #10)
- 1991 "Work" (as Technotronic featuring Reggie) (Ireland #12, UK #40, CH #24)
- 1991 "Money Makes The World Go Round" (as Technotronic featuring Reggie)
- 1991 "Voices" (promotion-only release)
- 1992 "Move This" (as Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K) (Hot 100 #6)
- 1993 "Hey Yoh, Here We Go" (as Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K)
- 1994 "One + One"
- 1994 "Move It To The Rhythm" (as Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K) (Hot 100 #83, Dance/Club Play #3)
- 1995 "Recall" (as Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K)
- 1995 "I Want You By My Side" (#31 B)
- 1996 "Pump Up The Jam--The '96 Sequel" (UK #36)
- 1996 "Crazy"
- 1998 "Get Up—The ’98 Sequel" ( Ger #91)
- 1998 "Pump Up The Jam" (as D.O.N.S. featuring Technotronic) (Ger #25)
- 1999 "Like This" (as Technotronic featuring Monday Midnite)
- 2000 "The G. Train" (as Technotronic featuring Monday Midnite)
- 2000 "The Mariachi" (as Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K) (#1 MEX)
- 2001 "Runaway Blues"
- 2002 "The Circle Unbroken"
- 2005 "Pump Up The Jam 2005" (as D.O.N.S. featuring Technotronic) (UK #22; Ireland #25)
Technotronic tracks are featured on the soundtrack of the following films:
- 1990 3 Men and a Little Lady - "Get Up! (Before The Night Is Over)"
- 1990 Men at Work - "Pump Up The Jam"
- 1993 The Meteor Man - "Move This"
- 1993 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III - "Rockin' Over The Beat"
- 1996 Space Jam - "Pump Up The Jam (Instrumental)"
- 2006 Let's Go To Prison - "Move This (Shake That Body)"
- 2008 You Don't Mess With The Zohan - "Pump Up The Jam"
TriviaTrivia - Patrick De Meyer, a well-known Belgian producer who had success with other bands, including T99 and Jarvic 7, played additional synthesizers on "Pump Up the Jam," as well as contributed production to and did programming work on other releases.
- German group MC B featuring Daisy Dee released a rival version of This Beat Is Technotronic on the Big One Records label. This was because of Technotronic's version being performed by a male artist—Eric Martin
- In the season two The Venture Bros. episode "Victor. Echo. November.," when a Stranger from the Guild of Calamitous Intent becomes convinced that he is going to die because of wounds suffered in an attack from Brock Samson, he implores Brock to "stroke [1] hair" and "sing a Technotronic song." Brock sighs and begrudgingly begins to sing the chorus of "Move This."
- "Weird Al" Yankovic did a polka version of "Pump up the Jam". It is included in his 1992 medley "Polka Your Eyes Out".
- In a Season 2 episode of Roseanne, Dan catches his daughter Becky dancing to "Pump up the Jam" while wearing headphones.
- Technotronic opened for Madonna on her 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour.
- In a Season 11 episode of Big Brother U.S., Jeff is made fun of when he incorrectly spells 'Technotronics' during a Power of Veto competition.
Copyright Citations
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