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.
Wake the Fuck Up
The Prodigy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back on tour, one, two, three, we all back on four you better wake up
You gotta feel me
The lyrics of The Prodigy's song Wake Up Call convey a sense of exhaustion and weariness. The singer has been touring for a long time, and they can't seem to find the energy to wake up and face the day. Despite this, the singer is urging their listeners to wake up and pay attention. The repetition of the phrase "wake up" emphasizes the urgency of the message.
The second line, "back on tour, one, two, three, we all back on four," suggests that the singer is part of a group that is on tour. The use of numbers in this line adds a sense of rhythm and momentum to the lyrics. However, the final line, "you gotta feel me," reveals that the singer is struggling to connect with their audience. They are asking their listeners to understand what they are going through and to empathize with their exhaustion.
Overall, the lyrics of Wake Up Call convey a sense of frustration and fatigue, while also urging people to stay alert and engaged. The Prodigy's use of repetition and rhythmic language contributes to the energy and urgency of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a long time but I just can't wake up
I've been away for a while, but I'm finding it hard to snap back into reality.
Back on tour, one, two, three, we all back on four you better wake up
We're on tour again, ready to rock the stage, and you should be ready to join in.
You gotta feel me
You need to connect with the emotions I'm pouring into this song.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KEITH THORNTON, LIAM HOWLETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@YershJRSZ
@Lee Booker But they HAVE their facts right XDDD
Wake the Fuck Up was a live only track, which gave life for the Nightbreed rmx of spitfire, which then was reworked as Spitfast, but Liam felt that it deserves more, and here comes the roadblox
https://youtu.be/72jjWfiNG14 (Nightbreed)
https://youtu.be/u295D-Qn8uM (Spitfast)
https://youtu.be/aPbZABYQJV8 (Roadblox)
Just listen to them in that order right after this vid ;)
@zerocoolberry69
Still 1 of my fav tunes wish I could get this on Spotify
@besiprimitif9513
Oh damned it's not on Spotify 😤
@prodigypc32
Not in spotfy, apple music.... 🥹
@Makkoslecso
unreleased, therefore u cant get it on any platform
@Arsendis_idm
underrated track
@jiltedgenerator
used to always have this track as my training warm up tune
@loungejay8555
It's a shame this studio version doesn't have the Indian female chant vocal on it like the live version did.
@xanadu1830
Philza's first video :)
@artemis9012
Shut the fuck up.
@prime5976
did you seriously come from him