Released 4 April 2004 Label XL, Astralwerks | Format CD | |
Genre Big beat, electronic rock Length 4:51 (album version)
3:20 (single edit) Writer(s) Felix Buxton, Simon Ratcliffe | ||
"Plug It In" is a song by British electronic music duo Basement Jaxx featuring American recording artist JC Chasez. It was released on 4 April 2004 as the third single from their album third studio album, Kish Kash, and debuted at 22 in the United Kingdom.
Contents
There are various versions of the song, including a radio edit which was featured on The Singles.
http://www.popjustice.com/articles/the-top-289-singles-of-2004/49698/
Background and development
JC Chasez was said to be "in town looking for producers for his own album." Buxton admits to The Scotsman that initially they didn’t think the collaboration with Chasez would work. "We thought he would be just another puppet who wanted to sound cool so he could be liked by tastemakers. But he was very humble and understood the irony of taking on a song about the masquerade of celebrity because it could have been written about him. And what’s more, he’s got a great voice."
Lisa Vennum-Kekaula from California to sing “Plug It In” but it didn’t work out so they wrote a new song for her on the spot, the adrenalized cyber-Motown stomp of “Good Luck”. "We thought we’d better write a song otherwise we’ve wasted all our money," says Felix sensibly.
Critical reception
John Bush from AllMusic picked the song as one of the highlights of Kish Kash, stated that Chasez "is a surprising success" on the song while called it "beguiling."
It’s OK); and Basement Jaxx ft. JC Chasez #22 (Probably my favourite off ‘Kish Kash’ if no-one else’s—JC falsettos it up nicely, and the backing is basically the Jaxx banging about in a faux-arrhythmic style amidst squeaking, except smashing. Should’ve been much higher than this, and yet it wasn’t. Oh well). http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/the_singles_jukebox/kanye-west-comedy-jam.htm http://www.popjustice.com/articles/the-top-289-singles-of-2004/
Music video
The music video, directed by Traktor, features two security guards testing out new lifelike female robots.