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.
Resonate
The Prodigy Lyrics
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Resonate into the brain
Resonate and break them chain
Tear down the place and break them chain
Tear down the place and break them chain
Tear down the place and break them chain
Tear down the place and break them chain
Resonate into the brain
Resonate and break them chain
Tear down the place and break them chain
Resonate and break them chain
Resonate into the brain
Resonate and break them chain
Tear down the place and break them chain
Break
Tear down the place and break them chain
Resonate and break them chain
Resonate into the brain
Resonate and break them chain
Tear down the place and break them chain
Resonate and break them chain
Resonate into the brain
Resonate and break them chain
Tear down the place and break them chain
Tear down the place and break them chain
The lyrics to The Prodigy's "Resonate" are simple but powerful. The repeated phrase "Resonate and break them chain" is a call to action, encouraging listeners to break free from the chains of conformity and the status quo. The use of the word "resonate" suggests that this call to action is not just directed at the listener, but also at those around them - the message needs to reverberate and be felt by all.
The phrase "Resonate into the brain" implies a deeper level of impact - this is not just a surface-level call to action but something that needs to be internalized and absorbed by the listener. The repetition of the phrase "Tear down the place and break them chain" only reinforces this message - it's time to shake things up, challenge the norm, and break free from the chains that bind us.
Overall, "Resonate" is a powerful anthem of rebellion and non-conformity, encouraging listeners to take action and stand up for what they believe in. It's a call to break free from the chains of society's expectations and make a change.
Line by Line Meaning
Resonate and break them chain
Let your energy and passion resonate and shatter the constraints or limitations holding you back.
Resonate into the brain
Make a lasting impact on people's minds with your message or music.
Tear down the place and break them chain
Destroy the establishment or system that is keeping you down and preventing you from achieving your goals.
Break
Unleash your full potential and break free from anything holding you back.
Tear down the place and break them chain
Raze the system to the ground and remove anything that is impeding your progress.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Liam Howlett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind