Word Up! (song)

Gun version

In the 1990s, "Word Up!" was first covered by British rock band Gun, whose version carried a harder, more rock-oriented sound, including a guitar solo. Taken from their album Swagger, it was released on July 1, 1994, and reached number 8 in the UK singles chart. Two versions of the CD single were released in the UK, each carrying different cover art and different tracks.

Gun's version of the song was featured on the soundtrack to 1996 film Barb Wire, and was also used in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation season one episode "Who Are You?". The Gun version was also featured on the 2011 series of British television show Dancing on Ice, when Vanilla Ice used it as background music for his dance in the first episode.

Mel B version

"Word Up!" was later covered by Mel B of the Spice Girls (known as Melanie G at that time). It was released on June 28, 1999. It peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was also on the Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack and was later featured on the Japanese edition of her album Hot. "Word Up!" sold about 77,996 copies in the United Kingdom.

1. "Word Up" (Radio Edit) – 3:23
2. "Sophisticated Lady" (featuring Emma Bunton) – 2:43
3. "Word Up" (Tim's Dance Mix) – 5:31

Korn version

"Word Up!" by American nu metal band Korn is a cover of the Cameo song. Its musical arrangements are similar to that of the cover version by Gun, except it is played in a lower sounding 7 string guitar tuning instead of the standard E. "Word Up!" was the first track featured on Korn's 2004 retrospective album, Greatest Hits, Volume 1, and was one of three new tracks along with Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" that was exclusive to the album (the "Word Up!" CD single also featured a live performance of the latter).

Background and release

It was released as the album's first single in July 2004, and received heavy airplay on alternative radio at its time of release, peaking in the top 20 of both Billboard charts, whilst making a respectable impression on the mainstream charts of other countries, including Australia (where it debuted at number 28), and Germany (number 46). It is the only Korn single to be sent out to Top 40 radio stations, notably receiving airplay on New York City's Z-100, the largest Top 40 station in the US. Lead singer Jonathan Davis has said of the band's decision to include the song on their greatest hits, "We've been doing 'Word Up!' for years as a sound-check song—not the full version, just messing around with the riff."

Music video

The music video for the song, directed by Antti Jokinen, featured the band-members' faces digitally edited onto dogs in a club scene with women dancing topless.

In other media

The cover was featured in "Credit Where Credit's Due", an episode of the television series Veronica Mars. The track is also featured in the video game Lego Rock Band.

Little Mix version

British girl group Little Mix covered the song for Sport Relief 2014. It was released digitally on March 16, 2014, followed by a physical release the following day, which was only available to purchase from Sainsbury's.

Background and release

Little Mix first announced the single on January 16, 2014, through their official Twitter. The song was first played on BBC Radio 1 on January 20, 2014, during Nick Grimshaw's Breakfast show.

The cover art of the single was revealed on January 24, 2014.

Critical reception

The song received rather positive reviews with the Popjustice ranking it as third for the best version of the song and third for the best Sport Relief single and gave the song 7 out of 10 stars. Kevin Kevinpod of DirectLyrics said that "[Little Mix's] harmonies are spot-on, and the whole record is pure fire." and that the song is a chance of the band getting a number one hit. Its production was also likened to Janet Jackson's single "Black Cat."

Music video

The shooting for the music video started in early February 2014. The band posted an exclusive picture from the video on February 25, 2014. The video was first shown on the Chart Show TV on February 28, 2014 and was posted on Vevo on March 3, 2014. It features celebrity cameos from Nick Grimshaw, Louie Spence, Louis Smith, Arlene Phillips, Melanie C and Chris Barrie.

The video starts off with the band in a changing room of a gym. As they walk out of the changing room, Jade tries to pick up a barbell pretending that she cannot lift it but then she lifts it up and walks away carrying it. Perrie then walks along four women who are working out while Jade is on a stationary bicycle among three other women, following the instructions of a trainer. With the bicycle, Jade starts going forward with the rest following her at the back.

The scene then switches to a court with the band exercising and dancing the same time along with other people while singing the chorus of the song. Afterwards, Leigh-Anne is stood in front of some athletes with one using her as a barbell at the end of her part. Jesy continues with her part while dancing in front of two men working out on treadmills and fall off them after some time. During the chorus, the scene changes again to the court with the owner (Barrie, who had previously played a gym manager in BBC sitcom The Brittas Empire) of the gym seeing the girls and the rest dancing and runs upset out of his office. As he is going down to the court, he sees the athletes in the swimming pool shaping out the title of the song. When he reaches the court, he starts dancing with them.

Track listings

1. "Word Up!" – 3:26

1. "Word Up!" (The Alias Radio Edit) – 3:33
2. "Word Up!" (Extended Mix) – 4:59
3. "Word Up!" (Instrumental) – 3:05

1. "Word Up!" – 3:26
2. "Word Up!" (The Alias Radio Edit) – 3:33
3. "Word Up!" (Extended Mix) – 4:59
4. "Word Up!" (Instrumental) – 3:05

Other cover versions