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, โSmack My Bitch Upโ, 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.
World
The Prodigy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The World's On Fire
The World's On Fire
And it's too close to the wire
The World's On Fire
The World's On Fire
Too close
Too close
Too close to the wire
Your world's on fire
You're so special [Repeat: x4]
Why aren't you dead!
Three, two, one, zero
The World's On Fire
The World's On Fire
The World's On Fire
The World's On Fire
And it's too close to expire
Too close
Too close
Too close to the wire
The Prodigy's song "World's On Fire" is a commentary on the state of the world and the environmental problems that we face. The repetition of "The world's on fire" is a clear indication of the level of concern that the songwriter is expressing. The lyrics suggest that we are dangerously close to the edge, and that it may be too late to turn things around. The repeated phrase "Too close to the wire" gives the impression that we are running out of time and that urgent action is needed.
The lyrics also take a sarcastic tone with a reference to the listener being so "special" but then questioning why they aren't dead, suggesting that we are all in this together and all equally at risk. The countdown at the end of the song with "Three, two, one, zero" gives the impression that time is running out and that action is needed now.
Overall, the song's message is one of urgency and desperation. It is a call to action to take responsibility for the state of the world and to take steps to address the environmental problems we are facing. It serves as a warning that if we do not take action now, the world may be destroyed beyond repair.
Line by Line Meaning
The World's On Fire
The current state of the world is chaotic and destructive.
The World's On Fire
The current state of the world is chaotic and destructive.
And it's too close to the wire
The destruction is so severe that it's dangerously close to being irreversible.
The World's On Fire
The current state of the world is chaotic and destructive.
The World's On Fire
The current state of the world is chaotic and destructive.
And it's too close to expire
The destruction is so severe that it's dangerously close to everything coming to an end.
Too close
The situation is dire and needs immediate attention.
Too close
The situation is dire and needs immediate attention.
Too close to the wire
The situation is so severe that it's at a critical point of no return.
Your world's on fire
The lyrics shift to a second-person perspective, addressing the listener's personal world and struggles.
You're so special [Repeat: x4]
It may seem like everyone is unique and special but in the grand scheme of things, individuals are insignificant in comparison to the world's problems.
Why aren't you dead!
The artist expresses an overwhelming sense of despair and hopelessness, questioning why they and the world haven't given up and succumbed to the destruction.
Three, two, one, zero
An apocalyptic countdown, representing the imminent destruction and chaos.
The World's On Fire
The current state of the world is chaotic and destructive.
The World's On Fire
The current state of the world is chaotic and destructive.
And it's too close to expire
The destruction is so severe that it's dangerously close to everything coming to an end.
Too close
The situation is dire and needs immediate attention.
Too close
The situation is dire and needs immediate attention.
Too close to the wire
The situation is so severe that it's at a critical point of no return.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: KIM DEAL, LIAM HOWLETT, KEITH PALMER, MARCOS SALON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nicksunnyvale5489
Itโs 2023 worldโs still on fiya!!!
@erikfancovic1857
2020 and the world's still on fire
@xresinance1290
indeed my friend
@killerkegocr290
Literally
@jlearlywine8623
Even more so now
@maikerugo
Very, very much so now and literally!
@mlgalcatraz9840
Try 2021
@bricepaytes169
2023 and the world is still on fire๐ฆ ๐ฅ
@Breacher456
Driver: San Francisco has a really good selection of music. Thank you Ubisoft for including The Prodigy in your catalogue.
@VinnieG.
Arnav Sinha Roy When the games of Ubi were good