Bodyrock
by Moby

Album: Play (1999)
Charted: 38
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was released as the third single from Play. It made its biggest impression in the UK, where it peaked at #38 on the Singles chart, #7 on the Dance chart, and #3 on the Indie chart. In the US, it went to #6 on the Dance Club Songs tally and #26 on the Alternative Airplay chart.
  • This features a sample of the song "Love Rap" by Spoonie G featuring the Treacherous Three (B-side to their 1980 single "The New Rap Language"), and additional vocals from Def Jam recording artist Nikki D.
  • Moby told Rolling Stone that both his managers tried to persuade him to take this off Play. He explained: "They thought it was really tacky. They thought it sounded like a Fatboy Slim ripoff - which I guess it kind of did. I like it because the hip-hop sample was off the first mixtape I ever got, maybe in 1981, off the Mr. Magic Show on WBLS. The guitar is directly inspired by 'What We All Want' by Gang of Four. And I thought it was kind of funny to have an orchestral chorus on what is essentially a hip-hip song."
  • Moby drew attention to the album by licensing all of its tracks for use in media. The ploy helped Play become a surprise hit and brought Moby international acclaim at a time when he'd nearly given up music for good. This tune in particular was used in a Rolling Rock beer ad in 2000 and as the theme song to the sketch-comedy show Hype, which ran on The WB network from 2000 to 2001. It was also used as the theme song of the Kirstie Alley sitcom Veronica's Closet its third season.
  • Three music videos were made. The first, directed by Fredrik Bond, follows a young British man's attempts to impress Moby with his zany dancing skills. Moby, who seems confused by the performance, tries his hand at effects with but ends up blowing up a nearby car. The second video is an alternate take of the first, and incorporates footage of dancers auditioning for the clip. Both versions were released in the UK. Bond went on to direct the 2013 movie Charlie Countryman, starring Shia LaBeouf.

    The third video, directed by Steve Carr, was released in the US. Keeping with the dance theme, Moby borrows a pair of star-shaped sunglasses that make him see dancers wherever he goes. The clip features a cameo appearance by the hip-hop group Run-DMC. Carr, who directed the Ice Cube movie Next Friday (2000), also helmed music videos for numerous hip-hop acts, including Jay-Z ("Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)") and Nelly ("#1").
  • This was nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 2000 Grammy Awards but lost to "The Calling" by Santana and Eric Clapton.

Comments: 1

  • Filip from Lublin, PolandThe song was part of FIFA 2001's soundtrack.
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