Danger! High Voltage

2002 single by Electric Six From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Danger! High Voltage

"Danger! High Voltage" is a song by American rock band Electric Six. It was released as the band's debut single and the lead single from their debut studio album, Fire (2003), in December 2002 by XL Recordings. It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and reached the top 20 in Ireland and the Netherlands. It received positive reviews from critics and was named Single of the Week by the NME.

Quick Facts Single by Electric Six, from the album Fire ...
"Danger! High Voltage"
Thumb
Single by Electric Six
from the album Fire
B-side
  • "I Lost Control (Of My Rock and Roll)"
  • "Remote Control (Me)"
ReleasedDecember 23, 2002 (2002-12-23)
RecordedEarly 2000
Genre
Length3:34
LabelXL
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Stuart Bradbury
  • Damien Mendis
Electric Six singles chronology
"Danger! High Voltage"
(2002)
"Gay Bar"
(2003)
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Background

The song was originally recorded in early 2000,[3] when the band was under the name the Wildbunch. They were forced to drop this name following legal pressure from the Bristol trip hop collective of the same name.[4] The later album and single version were produced by British music producers Damien Mendis and Stuart Bradbury, who also created club mixes under the name of Soulchild.

Fellow Detroit native Jack White of the White Stripes performed the secondary lead vocals on the track.[5] Members of the band have claimed in interviews that the singer was an auto mechanic named John S. O'Leary and not White,[6][7] although music critics suspected this name was a pseudonym for White.[8][9]

Critical reception

The New York Times called the song "catchier than anything on the radio by the White Stripes."[10] The Guardian called it "insanely catchy", though "the archetypal comic novelty single."[11] Josh Tyrangiel with Time magazine also praised the track.[12] NME's Piers Martin wrote "[Electric Six] rustle up the sort of pop-party thrash which sounds like the idiot half-brother to The Rapture's 'House Of Jealous Lovers'. That good."[13] The song is listed at number 234 on the best songs of the 2000s by Pitchfork Media. It was also featured in The Pitchfork 500.[14] Writing for The Village Voice, Amy Phillips said, "The two men shout declarations of affection to each other over a sizzling Saturday Night Fever groove, and the sax sounds as if it's being played by someone with a long, luscious mullet. The video features taxidermy and a glowing codpiece."[15]

Music video

The video for this song was directed by Tom Kuntz and Mike Maguire. Set in a manor house, it shows lead singer Dick Valentine and actress Tina Kanarek as a wealthy couple, outfitted with a brightly flashing codpiece and bra respectively. Paintings featured in the video were created by artist Brian Rea.[16]

Track listings

Charts

More information Chart (2003), Peak position ...
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Certifications

More information Region, Certification ...
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] Silver 200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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Release history

More information Region, Date ...
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
Australia December 23, 2002
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
XL [33]
United Kingdom January 6, 2003
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
[14][34]
January 20, 2003 7-inch vinyl [35]
United States March 17, 2003 Alternative radio [36]
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References

Bibliography

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