Released 2002 (2002) Recorded 2000 Length 3:34 | Format 7"
12"
CD Genre Funk rock
dance-punk | |
B-side I Lost Control (Of My Rock and Roll) | ||
"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 2002 as a 7" vinyl. It was re-released by XL Recordings on January 6, 2003. It was a number-one hit in Scotland and peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. It received positive reviews from critics and was named Single of the Week by the NME.
Contents
Background
Jack White of The White Stripes performed the secondary lead vocals on the track. Members of the band have claimed in interviews that the singer was an auto mechanic named John S. O'Leary and not White, although music critics suspected this name was a pseudonym for White.
The song was originally recorded in early 2000, 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. The later album and single version was produced by British music producers, Damien Mendis and Stuart Bradbury—who also created 'club mixes' under the name of Soulchild.
The song is also featured in films Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It was used in commercials for Subaru and the video game Forza Motorsport 6.
Critical reception
The New York Times called the song "catchier than anything on the radio by the White Stripes." The Guardian called it "insanely catchy", though "the archetypal comic novelty single." Josh Tyrangiel with Time magazine also praised the track. 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." The song is listed at #234 on the best songs of the 2000s by Pitchfork Media. It was also featured in The Pitchfork 500. 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."
Music video
The video for this song was produced by Tom Kuntz and Mike Maguire and stars lead singer Dick Valentine and actress Tina Kanarek outfitted with a brightly flashing codpiece and bra, respectively, engaging in acts of lovemaking.
CD1
- "Danger! High Voltage (Soulchild Radio Mix)"
- "I Lost Control (Of My Rock & Roll)"
- "Remote Control (Me)"
CD2
- "Danger! High Voltage (Soulchild 12" Blitz Mix)"
- "Danger! High Voltage (Thin White Duke Mix)"
- "Danger! High Voltage (Kilogram Mix)"
7"
- "Danger! High Voltage (original 7" mix)"
- "I Lost Control (Of My Rock & Roll)"
12"
- "Danger! High Voltage (Soulchild 12" Blitz Mix)"