Alas, my introduction to this week's tune was little more than its original release. Though I don't recall for certain, I'm pretty sure it had to be the music video, as I know we didn't play the song in store ("mother fucker" not being a word that many customers want to hear in their music) and I don't remember any local radio station playing the uncensored version. In the end, I suppose it doesn't much matter--a tune you love is a tune you love....
The Bloodhound Gang got its start in King of Prussia (now there's a name), PA in 1992 (though technically the band began as Bang Chamber 8 in 1988, made a couple of demo tapes, and after some personnel changes became the Bloodhound Gang in 1992). They released their first album in 1995, changed labels and released their second album in 1996, and were on their way to stardom. In fairness, this week's tune is the only song I know by them, so this is more of a one-off than a multi-year love affair. The band has gone through numerous incarnations, as nineteen people have been a member at one time or another, with Jimmy Pop (James Franks) being the only constant. The band has toured extensively and is quite popular in Europe. They are known for their crude lyrics and sense of humor. For their career, Bloodhound Gang has released five studio albums (highest charting was #14, but they do have a gold and platinum album), two EPs, two compilations, and fifteen singles (highest charting #52). The band continues to tour, and this past July Pop posted on Twitter that the band is working on recording a new album (though the band made an announcement of a new album coming in 2023 and their fans are still waiting),
Fun Fact: The band's name comes from the PBS show 3-2-1 Contact, which featured a segment of young detectives figuring out crime using science. Amazingly enough, the detectives were called The Bloodhound Gang....
"Fire Water Burn" was released in 1997 from their second album, the rather man cave-ishly entitled One Fierce Beer Coaster. The single did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 (though it did chart on two different alternative charts, as well as being top five in five European countries, and top fifteen in Australia and New Zealand--so many cool kids around the world!). The album peaked at #57 on the Billboard 200.
[Blogger's Note--Before I launch into my song synopsis, I should note that the chorus--played considerably slower--comes from "The Roof Is on Fire" by Rock Master Scott & the Dynamic Three which I heard today for the first time. Robert Christgau I'm not.]
Yeah, this one isn't going to win a Pulitzer Prize for Pop Songs (for the most part because there isn't one), but that doesn't mean it can't take its rightful place in the pantheon of tunes that make up Friday Night Jukebox. Opening with lines borrowed from the song noted above sung in a monotone, Jimmy Pop segues into a white fifth grader trying his best to be the worst gangsta ever. Pop makes a number of pop culture references, music references, and dumb white guy references (several of them sexually suggestive), some of which are quite clever and some of which are keeping with the persona. The song closes with a call to arms for all party people to get down and get funky which only adds to the fun. And in the end, that's what this one is all about--fun. I can see how any number of people wouldn't find the song particularly entertaining, but for me it's a chance to smile at how dumb men are, were, and always will be with a lot of funkiness thrown in to keep the limbs shaking.
Lyric Sheet: "Everybody here we go/(Ooh ooh) C'mon party people/(Ooh ooh) Throw your hands in the air/(Ooh ooh) C'mon party people/(Ooh ooh) Wave 'em like you don't care..."
Enjoy:
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
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