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.
We Eat Rhythm
The Prodigy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We eat rhythm, we sleep rhythm
I'd die for the rhythm
I live for the rhythm
We eat it, we sleep it
(? ? ? )
Rhythm, rhythm, rhythm
The rhythm we eat, the rhythm we live
Go!
We eat it, we sleep it
I live for the rhythm, I die for the rhythm
...
The lyrics to The Prodigy's "We Eat Rhythm" speak to the importance of rhythm in an individual's life. It is a celebration of the power of rhythm, which is essential not only to music but to life itself. The song speaks of an all-consuming love for rhythm, expressed through the repeated and intense phrase "We eat rhythm, we sleep rhythm." The lyrics seem to convey the idea that rhythm is an essential part of our existence, something that we cannot live without.
The singer goes on to say that they would "die for the rhythm," highlighting the extent of their devotion to this fundamental aspect of their life. The repetition of the phrase "I live for the rhythm" reinforces this idea, making it clear that the singer's life revolves around rhythm. The song ends with a call to action, as the singer implores the audience to "Go!" and embrace the rhythm that surrounds them.
In summary, "We Eat Rhythm" is a celebration of the power of rhythm and its importance in our lives. It conveys a powerful message about the role that rhythm plays in our existence and the extent to which we rely on it.
Line by Line Meaning
Rhythm, rhythm, rhythm
The beat, the beat, the beat
We eat rhythm, we sleep rhythm
We consume the music, it's always on our minds
I'd die for the rhythm
The music means everything to me, it's worth everything to keep it going
I live for the rhythm
The music is the only thing making life worth living
We eat it, we sleep it
We can't get enough of the music
Contributed by Adrian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
олег Синявский
Бомбический трек. От звучания мурашки по коже. Это что то не опесуемое. Легенда електронной музыки.
Василий Пупкин
the Prodigy уже в вечности!!!
Point Blank
Офигенный трэк! Действительно не стареет
Céline Cendrars
I see, but it's surprising that Liam didn't include this wonderful tune on The Prodigy's remastered 2 disc "More Music For The Jilted Generation" in 2008 that included remixes and bonus tracks. It's crazy how many amazing tunes that have been just left on the shelf by The Prodigy.
lilkakashy
Céline Cendrars EXACTLY!! something like Trigger, Gabba, Nuclear, Rock n roll, the devil inside of you and the original mix of we eat rhytm is missing on the singles collection...
DreamZcape
True this tune is stunning
Andrew Kessler
So so so many
80% Studios
My all-time favorite Prodigy track
Дмитрий Осадчий
Эта музыка не стареет....!!!!
Evgeniusz Fakov
Она нет,а мы да ...