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.
Hotride
The Prodigy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You hear me
You hear me
Up, up and away in my beautiful, my beautiful
Up, up and away in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon
Up, up and away in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme a ride
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme a ride
Hot ride in my air balloon
Skipping fast, right around the moon
On a bullet train out of town
Walkin' further one hill down
You hear me
You hear me
Up, up and away in my beautiful, my beautiful
Up, up and away in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon
Up, up and away in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon
I'll push you out
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme a ride
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme a ride
Hot ride in my air balloon
Skipping fast, right around the moon
On a bullet train out of town
Walkin' further one hill down
Hot ride in my air balloon
Skipping fast, right around the moon
Mind's made up
There's no luck when time leaves you
Hot ride in my air balloon
Skipping fast, right around the moon
Mind's made up
There's no luck when time leaves you
You gotta push it
Push it
You gotta push it
Push it
You gotta push it
Push it
You gotta push it
My air balloon
Push it
My air balloon
You gotta push it
The Prodigy's song "Hotride" is an electrifying and engaging track that captures a sense of speed and urgency. The first verse of the song speaks of taking off into the sky in a beautiful balloon ride with the words "Up up and away in my beautiful my beautiful/ balloon". However, the second verse speaks of a hot ride in the air balloon, as the singer speeds around the moon and wants to escape to a train out of town. The tone of the verses is somewhat reckless, as the individual wants to move fast and not be held back.
The repetition of the phrase "Gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme, gimme away" highlights this need to escape and move on to the next adventure. The chorus repeats the opening verse, with the words "Your here baby/ Up up and away in my beautiful in my beautiful/Up up and away in my beautiful in my beautiful balloon". This repetition emphasizes the sense of urgency and propulsion that drives the song forward.
The final verse returns to the theme of speed, as the singer's "mind's made up," and there's "no luck when time leaves you". The final lines "You gotta push it, push it (my air balloon)" speak to the need to take action and move decisively, rather than waiting for luck or fate to intervene. Overall, "Hotride" is a song about seizing the moment, taking chances and embracing the thrill of the ride, whatever it may be.
Line by Line Meaning
Your here baby [Repeat: x3]
You're here with me, baby.
Up up and away in my beautiful my beautiful
Rising up high into the sky.
Up up and away in my beautiful my beautiful balloon [Repeat: x2]
Going on a magical balloon ride.
Gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme, gimme away [Repeat: x2]
I want to go away.
Hot ride in my air balloon
Having an exciting adventure on a hot air balloon.
Skipping fast right around the moon
Exploring space and moving quickly around the moon.
All I wants a train outta town
I want to escape and leave this town behind.
Walkie talkie I want help down
I need someone to help me descend safely from the balloon.
Ill put you out
I'll knock you out, or extinguish something.
Minds made up there's no luck when time leaves you [Repeat: x2]
When time goes by, there's no guarantee of good fortune.
You gotta push it, push it (my air balloon)
You have to keep going and pushing yourself forward, even when faced with challenges.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jimmy L. Webb, Juliette Lewis, Liam Howlett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@swaguwuflexcringe
You hear me
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,
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme a ride
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
@phulen7681
This song was way ahead of its time,the intro is just perfect
@onlyme3628
Juliette Lewis on vocals ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@Scienide1995_Deep_and_Dub
One of the best by the Prodigy! That electronic punk blend that is what the band is all about 🔥
@KaraokeNig
love it
@georgespahouse
Who would’ve ever thought that an Oscar nominated actress would sing in a Prodigy song?
@CatSussyGaming
everytime this song comes up on my playlist i turn up the volume, its sooooo good!
@Spudcore
I kind of wish they made more straight up punk songs, they do it so well.
Then again, golden rule of showbiz, always leave them wanting more!
R.I.P. Keith Flint, you beautiful wild man, miss you.
P.L.U.R. 4 life <3
@Jimarakis1
RIP Keith Flint.
You will be remembered through music.
@davidwhitt2717
this was the first vnyl i gt by them. like 14 years ago. glad im not the only one who ended up here. RIP Keith.
@TwitchingBomb
@@davidwhitt2717 First album was Experience on cassette, then Jilted generation on vinyl - which I still have :) - a lot of years ago RIP Keith, you will always be missed and treasured in equal quantities x