Pump Up the Jam

"Pump Up the Jam" is the opening track on Belgian act Technotronic's album Pump Up the Jam: The Album. Released as a single, it was a worldwide hit, reaching number two in the United Kingdom in 1989 and in the American Billboard Hot 100 in early 1990. The song was later certified triple platinum. It also peaked at number 1 in Belgium, Iceland, Portugal and Spain.

"Pump Up the Jam"
Common variant of the standard artwork
Single by Technotronic
from the album Pump Up the Jam: The Album
Released1989
Genre
Length5:20
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Thomas De Quincey
Technotronic singles chronology
"Pump Up the Jam"
(1989)		 "Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over)"
(1990)
Music video
"Pump Up the Jam" on YouTube

"Pump Up the Jam" has been described as a fusion of hip hop and deep house elements,[4] as an early example of the hip house genre,[2] and it has been named as the first house song to become a hit in the U.S.[1]

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.[5] Ya Kid K was ultimately recognized upon a U.S. tour and a repackaged album cover that featured her instead of Felly.[4] 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.[6] And in 2020, Slant Magazine ranked it at number 40 in their list of The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time.[7]

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Alex Henderson described the song as "highly infectious" in his review of the album Pump Up the Jam: The Album.[8] Nicole Leedham from The Canberra Times said that "Pump Up the Jam" and "Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over)" were "pushing the envelope of dance music in the late '80s."[9] Complex stated that it "was the first house track to crack into the mainstream", adding it as "the perfect track at the perfect time."[10] In 2018, Insomniac said it's "one of the best dance songs of all time, because—while it should have disappeared in our cultural memory as a sort of punchline or joke or some one-hit wonder—it'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."[11] 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."[12] 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."[13] 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."[14] David Hinckley from New York Daily News described it as "catchy".[15] The Orlando Sentinel said that "the sound is intoxicating".[16] 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."[17] Pop Rescue noted the "phat synth and hi-hats" ushering "in a thumping bass drum."[18] Josh Baines from Vice called it "a towering masterpiece."[19]

Chart performance

"Pump Up the Jam" proved to be very successful on the charts on several continents. It reached number-one in Flemish Belgium, Iceland, Portugal and Spain. In addition, the single also reached number 2 in Austria, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Western-Germany. On the UK Singles Chart, it reached that position in its seventh week, on October 1, 1989.[20] On the Eurochart Hot 100, it went to number 3 same month. Outside Europe, "Pump Up the Jam" peaked at number 4 in Canada, but mangaged to reach number-one on the RPM Dance/Urban Chart. It also reached number-one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and the Cash Box Pop Singles Chart. But on the Billboard Hot 100, it reached number 2. In Australia and New Zealand, the single went to number 4, 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.

Music video

A music video was made to accompany the song. It was uploaded to YouTube in June 2010. As of February 2021, the video has got more than 202 million views.[21]

Track listings

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

Accolades

In 2004, Stylus Magazine writer Nick Southall named the song "Belgium's finest club banger".[22]

Year Publisher Country Accolade Rank
1989 The Face United Kingdom "Recordings of the Year" (Singles)[23] 30 (40)
1995 Life United States "The Best Recordings of the 90's"[24] *
2005 Bruce Pollock United States "The 7,500 Most Important Songs of 1944-2000"[25] *
2010 Robert Dimery United States "1,001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die"[26] *
2011 The Guardian United Kingdom "A history of modern music: Dance"[6] *
2013 Complex United States "15 Songs That Gave Dance Music a Good Name"[27] *
2015 Les Inrockuptibles France "1000 morceaux indispensables"[28] *
2017 BuzzFeed United States "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s"[29] 21
2018 Time Out United Kingdom "The 100 Best Party Songs"[30] 32
2020 Slant Magazine United States "The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time"[7] 40

(*) indicates the list is unordered.

Charts

Weekly charts

M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy version
"Pump Up the Jam"
One of variants of 1989 standard artwork
Single by M.C. Sar & the Real McCoy
from the album On the Move!
Released1989
Length5:58
LabelGalaxis
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Juergen Wind, Quickmix
M.C. Sar & the Real McCoy singles chronology
"Pump Up the Jam"
(1989)		 "It's on You"
(1990)
"(If You're Not in it for Love) I'm Outta Here"
(1997)
"Pump Up The Jam - Rap '98"
(1998)
"It's on You '99"
(1999)

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 Germany[84] and number 100 on the Dutch Single Top 100.[85]

Track listings

Weekly charts
Chart (1989–1990) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[88] 71
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[85] 100
West Germany (Official German Charts)[84] 16

See also

References
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  3. Leber, Sebastian (20 December 2007). "Die entstaubte Bassdrum". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Retrieved 9 April 2014.
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