Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)

"Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)" (also titled "Operation Blade (Bass in the Place London)") is a hard trance song by Scottish electronic group Public Domain, written and produced by the group's three members: Mark Sherry, Alistair MacIsaac, and James Allan. It samples a remix of New Order's song "Confusion", which was featured in the 1998 superhero horror film Blade, the source of the track's title.^[2] "Operation Blade" is also based on the theme to the 1982 science-fiction film Blade Runner.^[3][4]

"Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)"
Maxi-CD cover artwork
Single by Public Domain
from the album Hard Hop Superstars
Released	20 November 2000
Genre	Hard trance acid[1]
Length	8:22 (original mix) 3:07 (radio edit)
Label	Xtrahard
Songwriters	Mark Sherry Alistair MacIsaac James Allan
Producers	Mark Sherry Alistair MacIsaac James Allan
Public Domain singles chronology
"Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)" (2000) "Rock da Funky Beats" (2001)
Audio
"Operation Blade" (7-inch radio edit) on YouTube

The song was released on 20 November 2000 as Public Domain's debut single. On 26 November, it debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart and stayed at that position for another week. Throughout December 2000 and early 2001, the track charted in at least 10 other countries, peaking within the top 10 in Australia, Austria, Germany, and Norway. It was also critically successful, with British publication NME calling it "hardcore brilliance". In April 2001, it was included on Public Domain's only studio album, Hard Hop Superstars.^[5]

Critical reception

British music journalism website NME called "Operation Blade" a "gleefully manic song" and described it as "no-frills hardcore brilliance".^[6] Matthias Völlm of Swiss CHR radio station Radio 105 called the song "good" but doubted its airplay potential.^[2]

Track listings

UK, European, and Australian CD single^[7][8][9]

1. "Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)" (7-inch radio edit)
2. "Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)" (original mix)
3. "Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)" (B'n'G vs Musico remix)

UK 12-inch single^[10]

A. "Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)" (original mix)

B. "Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)" (B'n'G vs Musico remix)

UK cassette single^[11]

A. "Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)" (7-inch radio edit)

B. "Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)" (B'n'G vs Musico remix)

UK 12-inch single (2006 remix)^[12]

A. "Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)" (2006 remix) – 8:15

B. "Operation Blade (Bass in the Place)" (2006 XXX remix) – 7:54

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2000–2001) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[13] 7 Australian Club Chart (ARIA)[14] 1 Australian Dance (ARIA)[15] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16] 6 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 24 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[18] 22 France (SNEP)[19] 77 Germany (GfK)[20] 4 Ireland (IRMA)[21] 11 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] 36 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 32 Norway (VG-lista)[24] 10 Scotland Singles (OCC)[25] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 59 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 49 UK Singles (OCC)[28] 5 UK Dance (OCC)[29] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2000) Position UK Singles (OCC)[30] 43 Chart (2001) Position Australia (ARIA)[31] 25 Australian Club Chart (ARIA)[32] 12 Australian Dance (ARIA)[33] 2 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[34] 44 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[35] 82 Germany (Media Control)[36] 60 UK Singles (OCC)[37] 188

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38]	Platinum	70,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[39]	Silver	200,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	ID	Ref.
United Kingdom	20 November 2000	12-inch vinyl	Xtrahard	X2H112	[13]
Europe	8 January 2001	CD		XTR 670670	[13]
Australia	15 January 2001		Xtrahard Xtravaganza	670670.2	[40]
United Kingdom	December 2005	12-inch vinyl (2006 remix)	Xtrahard	BLADE2006	[13]