Technotronic

Technotronic were a Belgian electronic music project formed in 1988 by Jo Bogaert, who originally gained notoriety in the early 1980s as part of a cover band and as a solo artist under various New Beat projects, including The Acts of Madmen and Nux Nemo. Together with vocalist Ya Kid K, he produced the hit single "Pump Up the Jam", which was originally an instrumental. An image for the act was later put together, utilizing Congolese-born fashion model Felly Kilingi as its album/single cover art, and supposed singer in the music video.

"Pump Up The Jam"

The track that became "Pump Up The Jam" began life as "Technotronic" (which later became the project's official name), an original instrumental that Bogaert released under the name The Pro 24s. Based on Farley Jackmaster Funk's "The Acid Life," this instrumental initially included vocal samples from Eddie Murphy's "Delirious" live set from 1983 and was months later replaced by newer music, along with lyrics and vocals from Ya Kid K. prior to the song's international release in September 1989.

The song became a worldwide success, eventually reaching #2 in both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart in late 1989/early 1990, becoming the first song in the house music genre to achieve commercial status. It not only introduced a new sound based on "New Beat", a dance genre developed around the Belgian music scene, but it was also one of the first songs outside of Chicago, Illinois, to pioneer the hip-house genre, a fusion of house music with elements of hip-hop.

Further career

The success of the project's first single led to the release of Pump Up the Jam: The Album, which featured tracks by Ya Kid K and MC Eric. They also became an opening act for Madonna and had appearances on Saturday Night Live, The Arsenio Hall Show, and It's Showtime at the Apollo. It was at this time that Ya Kid K became Technotronic's actual featured vocalist after it was revealed that Felly was merely lip-synching the vocals in the video for "Pump Up The Jam".

Three follow-up singles, "Get Up! (Before The Night Is Over)", a #7 hit in the US and a #2 hit in the UK; "This Beat Is Technotronic" (US Dance #3, UK #14); and "Rockin´ Over The Beat" (UK #9), also reached the Top 10 in many countries, and the album eventually climbed into the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 in the US and reached #2 in the UK Albums Chart.^[1]

In 1990, Kamosi contributed vocals on the single "Spin That Wheel", as part of Technotronic's "side project" Hi-Tek 3, for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles soundtrack.

A megamix was released compiling many of Technotronic's previous hits. Released as a single, it peaked at #6 in the UK^[1] and #1 on the Eurochart Hot 100.

	Technotronic feat. Monday Midnite – "Like This" (1999) An excerpt from Technotronic's "Like This" (1999)
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In 1992, the song "Move This" (also featuring Kamosi) from the album became popular through its use in a Revlon television commercial, and it became their third Top 10 hit in the United States, peaking at #6. With renewed interest in the album, it was repackaged in 1992 with the same track listing, but this time it featured Ya Kid K on the cover.

They later came back with "Like This" (1999), featuring Monday Midnite, described on Discogs as belonging to the deep house^[2] and tech house^[3] genres.

20th anniversary (1989–2009)

MC Eric and Ya Kid K. reunited and have toured parts of Europe, South America and Australia, as a part of commemorating Technotronic's 20th anniversary, performing their classic hits as well as new material. MC Eric also tours as a DJ.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Hi Tek 3

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

References

• Pump Up the Jam: The Album - sleeve notes

External links

• Technotronic official MySpace
• Technotronic at Discogs