2002 single by Electric Six

"Danger! High Voltage" is a song by American rock band Electric Six. It was released as the band's debut single and the lead single from their debut studio album, Fire (2003), in 2002 as a 7-inch vinyl. It was re-released by XL Recordings on January 6, 2003.[1] It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. It received positive reviews from critics and was named Single of the Week by the NME.

Background [ edit ]

Jack White of The White Stripes, a fellow Detroit native, performed the secondary lead vocals on the track.[2] Members of the band have claimed in interviews that the singer was an auto mechanic named John S. O'Leary and not White,[3][4] although music critics suspected this name was a pseudonym for White.[5][6]

The song was originally recorded in early 2000,[7] when the band was under the name The Wildbunch. They were forced to drop this name following legal pressure from the Bristol trip hop collective of the same name.[8] The later album and single version was produced by British music producers, Damien Mendis and Stuart Bradbury—who also created club mixes under the name of Soulchild.

Critical reception [ edit ]

The New York Times called the song "catchier than anything on the radio by the White Stripes."[9] The Guardian called it "insanely catchy", though "the archetypal comic novelty single."[10] Josh Tyrangiel with Time magazine also praised the track.[11] NME's Piers Martin wrote "[Electric Six] rustle up the sort of pop-party thrash which sounds like the idiot half-brother to The Rapture’s 'House Of Jealous Lovers'. That good."[12] The song is listed at number 234 on the best songs of the 2000s by Pitchfork Media. It was also featured in The Pitchfork 500.[1] Writing for The Village Voice, Amy Phillips said, "The two men shout declarations of affection to each other over a sizzling Saturday Night Fever groove, and the sax sounds as if it's being played by someone with a long, luscious mullet. The video features taxidermy and a glowing codpiece."[13]

In other media [ edit ]

The song is also featured in films Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It was used in commercials for Subaru, the TV show Malcolm in the Middle, animated series The Simpsons and the video game Forza Motorsport 6.[14]

Music video [ edit ]

The video for this song was produced by Tom Kuntz and Mike Maguire and stars lead singer Dick Valentine and actress Tina Kanarek outfitted with a brightly flashing codpiece and bra, respectively, as well as a similarly endowed moose, engaging in acts of lovemaking. Paintings featured in the video were created by artist Brian Rea.[15]

Track listings [ edit ]

CD1

"Danger! High Voltage (Soulchild Radio Mix)" "I Lost Control (Of My Rock & Roll)" "Remote Control (Me)"

CD2

"Danger! High Voltage (Soulchild 12-inch Blitz Mix)" "Danger! High Voltage (Thin White Duke Mix)" "Danger! High Voltage (Kilogram Mix)"

7-inch single

"Danger! High Voltage (original 7-inch mix)" "I Lost Control (Of My Rock & Roll)"

12-inch single

"Danger! High Voltage (Soulchild 12-inch Blitz Mix)"

Charts [ edit ]

Certifications [ edit ]

Region Certification Certified units/sales United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Silver 200,000 sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Notes [ edit ]

^ Originally released in 2002, re-released on January 6, 2003.

References [ edit ]

Bibliography [ edit ]