The Prodigy first emerged in the underground rave scene in the early 1990s and achieved popularity and worldwide recognition with UK number one singles such as "Firestarter" and "Breathe", both singles coming from their UK and US chart topping album The Fat of the Land (1997). A third single from the album, “Smack My Bitch Up”, was also successful. They earned titles like "the premiere dance act for the alternative masses" and "the Godfathers of Rave", and remain one of the most successful electronic acts of all time. They have sold an estimated 25 million records worldwide, and won numerous music awards during their career, including two Brit Awards for Best British Dance Act, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Kerrang! Awards, five MTV Europe Music Awards, and received two Grammy Award nominations.
The Prodigy were founded in Braintree, Essex, in 1990 by keyboardist and songwriter Liam Howlett. He had taken piano lessons in his youth and gained the ability to play difficult passages in just a few run-throughs. After he decided to pursue a music career, Howlett met dancer and vocalist Keith Flint in mid-1989 at a rave at which Howlett was DJing. After Flint requested Howlett make a mix tape for him, Howlett obliged, returning a cassette several days later with a collection of his own songs on the other side. Howlett had scratched the word "Prodigy" onto the cassette, the same name as the Moog Prodigy analogue synthesiser, and Howlett's moniker. The tape was well-received by Flint and keyboardist Leeroy Thornhill who developed new dance sequences to the music and suggested to Howlett they begin a group together. They were soon joined by MC and vocalist Maxim, then known as Maxim Reality, and female dancer and vocalist Sharky, a friend of Flint's. Together they became the first line-up of the Prodigy.
On 4 March 2019, Keith Flint was found dead at his home in Essex, just weeks after playing six live dates in Australia and New Zealand. On 5 March, the band announced on Twitter that "all forthcoming concerts in 2019 would be canceled, effective immediately".
Following Flint's death, fans began using the Twitter hashtag "Firestarter4Number1" on various social media platforms to get "Firestarter" to top the British singles charts again. This was done out of respect for Keith Flint and to raise awareness of suicide among men.
On 20 August 2019, one day before his 48th birthday, Liam Howlett posted on the band's official Instagram page, saying he is "back in the studio making noise [...] brand new Prodigy tunes are gonna roll", referring to his intention to keep on releasing music under the Prodigy moniker.
Along with the Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim, the Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s. The Prodigy, however, is not considered entirely representative of the genre as their production "often reflected the more intelligent edge of trip-hop, and rarely broke into the mindless arena of true big beat" according to AllMusic. The Prodigy are also considered alternative dance, techno, electronica, breakbeat hardcore, and rave.
Liam Howlett cited early electro as a big influence, mentioning tunes like "Clear" by American music group Cybotron and "Al Naafiysh" by Hashim. Liam Howlett also cited The Bomb Squad, Public Enemy, and Rage Against the Machine as influences.
Ghost Town
The Prodigy Lyrics
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All the clubs have been closed down
This place (town) is coming like a ghost town
Bands won't play no more
Too much fighting on the dance floor
Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?
We danced and sang, and the music played in a de boomtown
This town (town) is coming like a ghost town
Why must the youth fight against themselves?
Government leaving the youth on the shelf
This place (town) is coming like a ghost town
No job to be found in this country
Can't go on no more
The people getting angry
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
This town is coming like a ghost town
The Prodigy's song Ghost Town is a cover of a popular 1981 song by The Specials. The lyrics tell the story of a town that has been abandoned and left to decay like a ghost town. The song laments the decline of the town, as all the clubs have been closed down and bands won't play anymore due to too much fighting on the dance floor. The youth are fighting against themselves with no jobs to be found in the country. The government has left the youth on the shelf and the people are getting angry.
The lyrics are a commentary on the social and economic issues of the time, particularly in the UK during the 1980s. The country was experiencing high unemployment rates, especially among young people, and a rise in social unrest. The song is a warning of the danger of neglecting the youth and leaving them with no hope for the future. It also highlights the importance of music and the role it plays in bringing people together.
The Prodigy's version of the song adds a harder, more electronic edge to the original, with pounding beats and distorted synths. The aggressive energy of the music matches the anger and frustration expressed in the lyrics. The song was released on their 1991 EP What Evil Lurks and quickly became a fan favorite.
Line by Line Meaning
This town (town) is coming like a ghost town
The city is slowly losing its vibrancy and becoming an abandoned place
All the clubs have been closed down
Nightclubs and social activities that once thrived here have ceased operation
This place (town) is coming like a ghost town
The same message as the first line, emphasizing the ongoing decline
Bands won't play no more
Musicians are no longer motivated to perform in a place with no audience
Too much fighting on the dance floor
The nightlife has become unpleasant due to numerous conflicts among patrons
Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?
The artist is reminiscing about the past when the city was bustling and full of life
We danced and sang, and the music played in a de boomtown
The good old days were marked by lively music, singing, and dancing
Why must the youth fight against themselves?
The artist is questioning why the young people are engaging in self-destructive behavior such as violence
Government leaving the youth on the shelf
The government has neglected the youths, leaving them to their own devices
This place (town) is coming like a ghost town
The city's continual decline is emphasized again in this repeated refrain
No job to be found in this country
Lack of employment opportunities has made the situation worse
Can't go on no more
The situation is unbearable
The people getting angry
The citizens are becoming more and more dissatisfied with their living conditions
This town is coming like a ghost town
The artist reiterates the message of the song to drive home the point
This town is coming like a ghost town
Repetition of the refrain to emphasize the point
This town is coming like a ghost town
Repetition of the refrain to emphasize the point
This town is coming like a ghost town
Repetition of the refrain to emphasize the point
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Jerry Dammers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind