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.
Minefield
The Prodigy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is dangerous. I walk the mindfields so watch your head rock.
...
I walk through mindfields ha ha ha
...
I walk through mindfields so watch your head rock
The Prodigy's song "Minefield" is a commentary on the dangers of the mind, using the metaphor of a literal minefield. The opening lines, "This is dangerous. Open up your head feel the shell shock," suggest that exploring one's own thoughts can be unsettling and even traumatic. The repetition of "dangerous" reinforces this idea, emphasizing the risks associated with delving too deeply into the inner workings of one's mind.
The chorus, "I walk through mindfields so watch your head rock," further emphasizes the idea that navigating one's own psyche can be perilous. The use of laughter ("ha ha ha") in the next line adds a sinister edge to the lyrics, suggesting that the experience of exploring one's own thoughts can be both scary and exhilarating.
The final line of the chorus reinforces this idea: "I walk through mindfields so watch your head rock." Here, the emphasis is on the word "rock," which can mean either "move back and forth rapidly" or "enjoy oneself by dancing to music." This suggests that the experience of exploring one's own mind can be both unsettling and empowering.
Line by Line Meaning
This is dangerous. Open up your head feel the shell shock.
The situation is hazardous. You should prepare yourself mentally for the impact.
This is dangerous. I walk the mindfields so watch your head rock.
I am in a perilous situation. I navigate through difficult circumstances, so be cautious and protect yourself.
...
The singer laughs, indicating a sense of fearlessness and bravado in the face of danger.
I walk through mindfields ha ha ha
The artist walks through a hazardous environment, but does so with a fearless attitude.
I walk through mindfields so watch your head rock
I continue to navigate through difficult situations, so be careful and protect yourself from any danger.
Contributed by Eva M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@popcornenglishonline9548
2024 anyone?
@andreaswerner842
Of course 😂
@katanacrazyboy
Present 🙌 This beat never and never will get old everrr 😎
@ivogeorgiev5798
The always ready ✋🏴☠️🔥
@paulmacpherson3114
Me, Im an auld fart 60
@63-CV
Hell yeah!
@ethan0kaplan
Fun fact: this album is actually the reason people started creating and selling bigger and bigger speakers. Before then, there was no need.
@smurftarget
😂
@frankieatjumbleend4867
I went out and bought a REL subwoofer just for these tracks 👍
@jcraig1701
For decades now its been my goto subwoofer check album