Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Where It's At

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Released
  
July 11, 1996

Recorded
  
1995-1996

Format
  
12", 4 CDs

Label
  
DGC/Bong Load

Genre
  
Alternative rock, alternative hip hop, rap rock

Length
  
3:42 (radio edit) 5:30 (album version)

"Where It's At" is the first single from Beck's 1996 album, Odelay. Beck wrote the song in 1995. He premiered it at Lollapalooza 1995, in a version very similar to its incarnation on Odelay. He has played the song very often since 1995, although he regularly experiments with the music and lyrics.

Contents

Production

"Where It's At" has a number of spoken samples that Beck and the Dust Brothers incorporated into it. Many of these come from an obscure sex education album titled Sex for Teens: (Where It's At), a subtitle Beck borrowed (see link below). Other vocal samples incorporated into "Where It's At" come from "Needle to the Groove" by old-school hip hop group Mantronix ("we've got two turntables and a microphone..."), as well as The Frogs ("that was a good drum break"). The song also references Gary Wilson, one of Beck's influences. Beck also pays homage to Captain Beefheart by dressing as Captain Beefheart was dressed in the Trout Mask Replica album photo sessions at 1:27 in the video. The video features a parody of William Shatner's video of "Rocket Man" or perhaps a reference to Chris Elliot's parody of same. An adaptation of the song in Futurama was also used with Bender playing the 'washboard' in various parts, the same episode in which Beck makes an appearance throughout the show.

Beck earned the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for the song. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 76 on its list of 150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years.

Music video

The music video, directed by Steve Hanft, features Beck doing a variety of things, such as working as a garbage man, singing at a car dealership, dressed as the Candyman, and line dancing. In one moment, Beck pays homage to William Shatner's performance of "Rocket Man" at the 1977 Saturn Awards ceremony. "Where It's At" was the first music video to be broadcast on MTV2 on August 1, 1996. The video was awarded a MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video.

Track listings

USA (12)

  1. Where It's At (Edit)
  2. Make Out City
  3. Where It's At (remix by Mario C and Mickey P)
  4. Where It's At (remix by John King)
  5. Bonus Beats

UK #1

  1. Where It's At (Edit)
  2. Where It's At (remix by Mario C and Mickey P)
  3. Bonus Beats
  4. Where It's At (remix by U.N.K.L.E.)

UK #2

  1. Where It's At (Edit)
  2. Where It's At (remix by Mario C and Mickey P)
  3. Bonus Beats

Australia

  1. Where It's At (Edit)
  2. Where It's At (remix by Mario C and Mickey P)
  3. Bonus Beats

Japan

  1. Where It's At (Edit)
  2. Where It's At (remix by John King)
  3. Lloyd Price Express (remix by John King)
  4. Dark and Lovely (remix by the Dust Brothers)
  5. American Wasteland
  6. Clock

Personnel

  • Beck Hansen: Vocals, electric piano, guitar, bass, organ, programming
  • The Dust Brothers: Turntables, programming
  • Mike Boito: Trumpet, organ
  • David Brown: Saxophone
  • Money Mark: Organ
  • Eddie Lopez: Outro talking
  • Written by: Beck/The Dust Brothers

    • References

    Where It's At Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA