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Voodoo People

A distorted guitar riff, warp-speed techno and a flute, from Music for the Jilted Generation.
The Prodigy, from Music for the Jilted Generation (1994)

Written by
Liam Howlett
Released
12 September 1994
Length
6:27
Album
Music for the Jilted Generation

Released on 12 September 1994 as the third single from Music for the Jilted Generation, it was written and produced by Howlett. The guitar riff is based on Nirvana's Very Ape and was played by Lance Riddler, and the album credits Phil Bent on live flute. The track samples Johnny Pate's You're Starting Too Fast. It reached number 13 in the UK, 6 on the UK dance chart and 7 in Ireland. Alexis Petridis of the Guardian wrote that none of the band's peers came up with anything like its blend of distorted guitar, warp-speed techno, drum'n'bass breakbeats and rasping flute.

Walter Stern and Russell Curtis directed the video in Saint Lucia, with Thornhill as a voodoo priest. Melody Maker's Calvin Bush called the band a feral Led Zep for the Nineties, and Music Week gave the single five out of five. In 2005 the Pendulum Remix, paired with an Audio Bullys remix of Out of Space, reached number 20. Refused and 6ix Toys have covered it, and 2Cellos recorded an instrumental version for In2ition. The Prodigy played it at Brixton Academy on 20 December 1997 for the Their Law DVD.

On stage

Covers and versions

More songs by The Prodigy

Firestarter, Breathe, Smack My Bitch Up, No Good (Start the Dance), Out of Space

Sources

  1. Voodoo People, Wikipedia
  2. Music for the Jilted Generation, Wikipedia
  3. Electronic review: The Prodigy, More Music For the Jilted Generation / Experience Expanded, The Guardian (2008-08-01)
  4. Their Law: The Singles, Pitchfork