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.
Hot Ride
The Prodigy Lyrics
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Up, up and away in my beautiful, my beautiful
Up, up and away in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon
Hot ride
Now get out
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme,
Hot ride in my air balloon
Skipping fast right around the moon
On a bullet train outta town
One hill up and one hill down
Hot ride in my air balloon
Skipping fast right around the moon
Mind's made up too
Their's no luck when time leaves you
You gotta push it
The Prodigy's song Hot Ride is a fast-paced and pulsating track that is driven by the adrenaline-inducing electronic beats, heavy bassline and the hypnotic chant-like lyrics. The opening lines, "Up, up and away in my beautiful balloon" are actually taken from a popular 1960s song by The 5th Dimension titled "Up, Up and Away." Here, it serves as an introduction to the idea of escaping reality in a hot air balloon.
The singer is seeking a "hot ride," a thrilling and exhilarating experience, and urges someone to give him a ride. The lyrics switch back and forth from the balloon ride to other methods of escape, such as a bullet train, and up and downhill movements. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency, a desire to escape the mundane and predictable, and go on a wild ride, irrespective of the consequences. This is highlighted in the verse, "Mind's made up too, Their's no luck when time leaves you," suggesting that time is running out, and there is no looking back.
Overall, "Hot Ride" is a high-energy track that emphasizes the themes of escapism, thrill-seeking, and the need to live life in the fast lane.
Line by Line Meaning
You hear me
The singer is asking the listener to pay attention to what they are about to say
Up, up and away in my beautiful, my beautiful
The singer is referencing the popular song 'Up, Up and Away' which is about feeling free and escaping reality. The singer wants to emulate that feeling
Up, up and away in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon
The singer continues to reference the song and is specifically talking about floating away in their own personal escape vehicle
Hot ride
The artist is excited for their journey and views it as an exhilarating experience
Now get out
The artist is either telling someone to leave or to exit a vehicle in order for them to take control and continue their journey
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme,
The singer is insisting that they want something or someone to fulfill a need or desire immediately
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme a ride
The singer wants someone to provide them with transportation to continue their journey
Hot ride in my air balloon
The artist is traveling in their air balloon and feeling excited about the experience
Skipping fast right around the moon
The artist is moving at a fast pace and making their way around the moon
On a bullet train outta town
The artist is moving at a high speed and leaving town behind quickly
One hill up and one hill down
The journey is not always smooth, there are ups and downs along the way
Mind's made up too
The artist is determined to complete their journey and nothing will change their mind
Their's no luck when time leaves you
The singer is aware that success is a result of effort and timing plays an important role. They are reminding themselves that they need to keep pushing forward
You gotta push it
The singer is emphasizing the importance of perseverance and pushing through challenges in order to achieve their goals
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JIMMY L. WEBB, JULIETTE LEWIS, LIAM HOWLETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind