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.
Stop this Crazy Thing
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 of the song "Stop this Crazy Thing" by Coldcut is a call to action on various issues in society. The first verse calls attention to the problems of starvation, crying children, and dying animals that are happening all around us. The next verse delves into political matters and warns us about the governments that lie to us and their plans that are driving us towards ruin. The call to action is to stand up against these issues, to not let these governments tell us what to do and to stop this crazy thing.
The chorus demands us to rock if we are rocking, shake if we are shaking and skank if we are skanking. These directives are meant to bring everyone together, to move and sway to the music as one, and to create a sense of unity in a time where there are many disillusioning issues to be fought against. The third verse is a plea for people of all races to unite against these issues and "do it right." The final lines reiterate the call to action with Tarzan's call, "Stop this crazy thing!"
Overall, the song is a political and social commentary on the problems of the world and a call to action against them. The upbeat and catchy tune combined with the powerful and insightful lyrics create an anthem of hope and motivation for all those who listen.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah
The song starts with an upbeat exclamation.
Stop this crazy thing!
The song's main message is to call for the cessation of the destructive actions that are happening in the world.
See what they're doin'
The song urges the listeners to pay attention to the negative consequences brought about by human activities.
People are starvin'
The song acknowledges the hunger that people around the world experience.
Children are cryin'
The song recognizes the plight of children affected by the destructive events happening globally.
Animals are dyin'
The song highlights the negative impact of human activities on animals and their habitats.
Governments who lie to you
The song points out the untrustworthiness of governments that deceive their people.
Don't let them tell you what to do
The song encourages the listeners to think for themselves instead of being blindly led by government propaganda.
We gotta stop
The song reiterates the need for change and action.
Whooay
The song includes a vocal expression of enthusiasm and determination.
Rock if you're rockin'
The song incorporates calls to action and movement to express one's feelings on the current situation.
Shake if you're shakin'
The song encourages the listeners to express their emotions physically.
Move if you're movin'
The song urges people to take action and make changes in their lives and the world.
Skank if you're skankin'
The song includes calls for dancing to the music.
Skankin'
The song repeats the call for dancing.
Shabadoo
The song incorporates a fun sounding vocal expression.
Shabadey
The song includes another fun sounding vocal expression.
Stababastoo
The song concludes with another vocal expression.
Meanwhile back in the jungle: (Tarzan call)
The song incorporates a Tarzan call to add some flavor to the song.
Plans that they're dealin'
The song refers to the schemes and plans being carried out by people in power.
It's a world without a feelin'
The song notes that the world lacks the empathy needed to address the problems people face.
So all that they're doin'
The song critiques the decisions made by those in power that contribute to the world's problems.
Drivin' us to ruin
The song points out that the actions of those in power lead to everyone's demise.
Get up people
The song strongly encourages people to take action to make things right.
And stop
The song reiterates the need for change and urgency in taking action.
See'mon everybody
The song calls for a collective effort among people to create change.
Let's do it right
The song encourages the listeners to make positive changes rather than continuing to contribute to the world's problems.
Stop the fuss
The song urges people to stop arguing and bickering and instead work together to create positive change.
Stop the fight
The song calls for an end to violence and conflict that harm people and the world.
Te's all unite
The song repeats the call for people to band together in solidarity.
All unite
The song reiterates the importance of people coming together to create change.
Whether you black or white
The song emphasizes that change is needed regardless of race or ethnicity.
We got the music
The song recognizes the power of music to unite people and inspire change.
Play
The song encourages the listeners to continue playing music to create positive change.
We just can't refuse it
The song notes that once the power of music is recognized, it cannot be ignored or overlooked.
So what the music keep on playing
The song encourages people to continue creating music to raise awareness and inspire action.
This is all I've got to say
The song concludes the message of the song.
(Tarzan call) Stop this crazy thing!
The song ends with a final call to action and the Tarzan call added for fun.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MATT BLACK, JONATHAN RICHARD MORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind