Their first major hit as Coldcut was the house-inflected People Hold On, featuring a then-unknown Lisa Stansfield. The single took the U.K. by a storm, and the subsequent album featured such luminaries as Junior Reid (on the single "Stop This Crazy Thing") and Queen Latifah.
In 1991 they started their own record label, Ninja Tune, which continues to release groundbreaking and extremely diverse music by a small army of like-minded artists. In 1997 the duo unveiled their own real time video manipulation software, VJamm. Coldcut's current live and DJ sets rely on video as much as records, taking the concept of multimedia performance into largely uncharted territory.
Conceptually, Coldcut owes as much to the ideas of beat writer and cut-up theorist William S. Burroughs, 1970s art / industrial group Throbbing Gristle, and the religious writings of J. R. "Bob" Dobbs as much as to hip-hop originators like Grandmaster Flash or later innovators Double D and Steinski.
Recognizing the power inherent in Burroughs' cut-up technique and its presence in hip hop music, More and Black have relentlessly pushed the D.I.Y. ethic and an understanding of play as a means of fostering greater interaction with and understanding of the world around you. The similarities between this ethos and that of hacking need hardly be stated. Ninja Tune uses a corporate facade to communicate via the marketplace itself, an idea first implemented by Throbbing Gristle via their own Industrial Records imprint.
One of the key aspects of the Ninja Tune ethos, Stealth, implies that their following of DJs and listeners are "agents" in a Burroughsian sense, propagating the D.I.Y. ethic of play as an essentially subversive act by replaying and manipulating media under the radar of mainstream culture. Nowadays Coldcut reach a worldwide audience through their syndicated radio show Solid Steel. Black has recently (2003) worked with Penny Rimbaud (ex Crass) on Crass Agenda's Savage Utopia project.
In 2006, Coldcut released their fifth album, Sound Mirrors. single True Skool featured rapper Roots Manuva and featured an Indian sample from a cult Bollywood era, making the track popular on the bhangra and desi scene and with most of the British Asian urban nation.
Junior Reid
Coldcut Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stop this crazy thing!
See what they're doin'
People are starvin'
Children are cryin'
Animals are dyin'
Governments who lie to you
Don't let them tell you what to do
Whooay
Stop this crazy thing!
Rock if you're rockin'
Shake if you're shakin'
Move if you're movin'
Skank if you're skankin'
Skankin'
Skankin'
Shabadoo
Shabadey
Stababastoo
Meanwhile back in the jungle: (Tarzan call)
Plans that they're dealin'
It's a world without a feelin'
So all that they're doin'
Drivin' us to ruin
Get up people
Get up people
Get up people and stop
Stop this crazy thing!
Rock if you're rockin'
Shake if you're shakin'
See'mon everybody
Let's do it right
Stop the fuss
Stop the fight
See'mon everybody
Let's do it right
Stop this crazy thing!
See'mon everybody
Te's all unite
All unite
Whether you black or white
See'mon everybody
Let's all unite
Stop this crazy thing!
We got the music
Play
We just can't refuse it
So what the music keep on playing
This is all I've got to say
(Tarzan call) Stop this crazy thing!
Rock if you're rockin'
Shake if you're shakin'
See'mon everybody
Let's do it right
The lyrics to Coldcut featuring Junior Reid's song "Stop This Crazy Thing" speak to the social and political issues facing the world. The song starts with the call to action, urging people to stop the madness that surrounds them. The first verse highlights the various forms of suffering that people, animals, and the environment are subjected to, while the second verse speaks about the corrupt nature of governments and the plans they make without regard for their citizens' feelings.
The chorus calls for people to dance and enjoy the music while also urging them to unite and take action against the world's problems. The song's message is a clarion call for people to recognize the challenges that are facing society and work towards making the world a better place.
Overall, "Stop This Crazy Thing" is a powerful song with a strong social message that resonates with listeners, even years after its release. The combination of Coldcut's electronic beats and Junior Reid's soulful voice brings the song to life, making it impossible to ignore.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah
Expressing agreement to the fact that something has to be done.
Stop this crazy thing!
An urgent call to stop an ongoing senseless action that has been causing harm.
See what they're doin'
Noticing the effect of an ongoing event on the people, including starvation, crying, and dying animals.
People are starvin'
Acknowledging the widespread poverty and hunger that the people are experiencing.
Children are cryin'
Expressing concern and empathy towards the children who have been harmed and are crying because of the ongoing action.
Animals are dyin'
Highlighting the negative impact of the ongoing senseless act on the creatures that inhabit the earth.
Governments who lie to you
Pointing out the betrayal of trust from the authorities who have been misleading their constituents.
Don't let them tell you what to do
Encouraging the people to take control of their lives and not be swayed by the government's deceitful messages.
We gotta stop
Urging a collective action to prevent the continuation of the senseless action that is causing harm.
Whooay
Expressing a rallying call to carry out the desired action.
Rock if you're rockin'
Encouraging those enjoying the music to appreciate every moment by nodding their heads in time with it.
Shake if you're shakin'
Encouraging those who are feeling the rhythm to move their bodies to it.
Move if you're movin'
Encouraging those feeling the beat to dance to it.
Skank if you're skankin'
Encouraging anyone who can to join the skanking.
Skankin'
Emphasizing the importance of one of the key elements of the song that should be enjoyed by everyone present.
Shabadoo
A nonsense word that adds to the overall vibe of the song and doesn't have any specific meaning.
Shabadey
A nonsense word that adds to the overall vibe of the song and doesn't have any specific meaning.
Stababastoo
A nonsense word that adds to the overall vibe of the song and doesn't have any specific meaning.
Meanwhile back in the jungle: (Tarzan call)
Making a reference to the jungle and then mimicking Tarzan's famous call to emphasize the need to act on the situation.
Plans that they're dealin'
Suggesting that there may be ulterior motives behind the senseless act, and that these plans may not be in the best interest of the people.
It's a world without a feelin'
Highlighting the lack of empathy that has led to this senseless act.
So all that they're doin'
Emphasizing the negative impact of the senseless action on a broad scale.
Drivin' us to ruin
Expressing a concern that the ongoing, senseless action is causing harm and could lead to the downfall of society.
Get up people
Encouraging the people to take action and make a change.
Let's do it right
Emphasizing the importance of doing things correctly and producing a positive outcome.
Stop the fuss
Advocating for people to stop bickering and focus on stopping the harm caused by the ongoing, senseless action.
Stop the fight
Encouraging people to put an end to any arguments or unnecessary disputes that may be preventing progress.
Te's all unite
Calling for everyone to come together, regardless of racial or social backgrounds, to achieve a common goal.
Whether you black or white
Stressing the point that everyone is equal and should work together to achieve a positive outcome.
We got the music
Acknowledging that music is a powerful tool that can unite people and inspire action.
Play
Encouraging the DJ to keep the music going and providing a vibe for people to enjoy while still focusing on the goal at hand.
We just can't refuse it
Emphasizing that people should not resist the power of music because it can inspire and bring people together.
This is all I've got to say
Stating that these are the thoughts and feelings that sum up the sentiment of the song.
(Tarzan call) Stop this crazy thing!
Using another Tarzan call to reemphasize the urgent call to stop the senseless act that is causing harm.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MATT BLACK, JONATHAN RICHARD MORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ryoamora8655
True 80's goodness, with Tarzan yell, awesome beats, Jetsons sample and Junior Reid... What's not to love?
@CC-jy4gr
the whole lot of you make me sick!!!
@solesirching73
And don't forget the sample from Jimmy Castor Bunch's "King Kong"
@ryoamora8655
@C C Shut the FUCK UP, asshole. Lmao
@Sonne7hz
THAT! is nostalgia.. had this in vinyl(LP) when i was quite younger!, and loved the tune,... still do.
@patmackie3499
Quality tune.... 1luv 😎....
@kiwiana661
Finally no lies I remember the album cover when I was about 9 now I’m 39 and just found it I’ve been looking alot
@donpablo63
Used to have this 12" vinyl but it got stolen
@dolphinmania2010
Still great in 2021
@jaylin4eva
George Jetson. Lol. Always loved this tune.