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.
Jericho
The Prodigy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The horns of Jericho
The horns of Jericho
Feel the bass come down on me baby
Feel the bass come down on me baby
Want a favor, find a favor
Want a favor, find a favor
Keep on dancing, yeah keep on dancing
Baby keep on dancing, yeah keep on dancing
Baby keep on dancing, yeah keep on dancing
The Prodigy's song Jericho is a testament to their ability to create an intense, energizing atmosphere with their music. The lyrics themselves are sparse, but their repetition and driving rhythm contribute to the song's overall sense of urgency and power. The repeated lines about the "horns of Jericho" serve to evoke a sense of biblical grandeur and cosmic energy, a feeling that is further emphasized by the high-pitched, wailing synths that punctuate the track.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more focused on the physical sensations of dancing and the thudding bass that reverberates through the listener's body. This shift in focus serves to ground the song in the club culture that it was created for, and allows the listener to fully immerse themselves in the experience of being on the dance floor. Overall, Jericho is a prime example of The Prodigy's signature style: a relentless, high-energy assault on the senses that is impossible to resist.
Line by Line Meaning
The horns of Jericho
This line is repeated three times to emphasize the power of the sound, like the blast of horns used by ancient armies to signal an attack. In this context, the horns are a metaphor for the loud, pulsating beat of the music.
Feel the bass come down on me baby
The singer is urging someone to physically feel the music, particularly the bass, which is a deep, low-frequency sound. The use of 'baby' indicates a desire for intimacy or connection with the listener.
Want a favor, find a favor
This line implies a sense of reciprocity or mutual benefit. If you want something from someone, you should be willing to do something for them in return.
Keep on dancing, yeah keep on dancing
This repetition of the phrase 'keep on dancing' is a call to action, encouraging listeners to continue moving to the beat of the music. The use of 'yeah' indicates enthusiasm and adds emphasis.
Baby keep on dancing, yeah keep on dancing
This is a repetition of the previous line, but with the addition of 'baby,' which conveys a sense of affection or playfulness. The overall message is still an exhortation to keep dancing to the music.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrSoLiDIcEplays
Randomly feel compelled to listen to prodigy every now and again.. out of nowhere
@Strawhat010
+MrSoLiDIcE having that moment now! :)
@mihru6479
feel like this with some movies even though i dont really like them
@leocities
I'm gonna send you out of space... to find another race.
@astralsoulmate
MrSoLiDIcE hahaa same here thats normal
@Stanley88845
yes
@rong2962
Prodigy are one of those rare music groups that I can listen to and love all of their songs
@qmurec
Still remember the day when I played this for the first time...it was like a sonic bomb has dropped in my room.
@nickster1059
qmurec word
@klassAdj
Was lucky to be out raving back then, people don't understand how twisted we would be, big bass, big drums, piano rift....proper