Electric Kingdom

Album: Twilight 22 (1983)
Charted: 79
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Twilight 22 was the creative moniker of Gordon Bahary. "Electric Kingdom" was Bahary's first solo recording. In our interview, Bahary told us the story behind this song: "I took the most seemingly opposite elements: my father's middle eastern record collection, and a hip-hop/dance beat and combined them. Then I co-wrote a rap encouraging people to make a positive life for themselves I suppose."
  • Few non-African Americans were involved with Hip-Hop in the early '80s, so Bahary's label insisted that he come up with a new name. "They were trying to hide that I was white," said Bahary. "I said, 'Call it whatever you want. Call me Twilight Zone for all I care.' Then the A&R guy said, 'What about Catch 22?' I said, 'Call it Twilight 22.'"
  • This song is sampled in DJ Maestro's "Cali Cuts" and Jocelyn Enriquez's "A Little Bit of Ecstasy."
  • "Electric Kingdom" peaked at #7 on the R&B charts.
  • Bahary is a coveted synthesizer player who has worked with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock and Ramsey Lewis. He has also produced for artists, among them Raven-Symoné of the Disney show, That's So Raven. In 2012, Bahary released his debut solo album, Unbreakable.

Comments: 2

  • Heidijo from NycAnd Peaked at #5 on The Billboard Club Chart.
  • Mark Ingoldsby from Nh"Electric Kingdom" was one of the first songs featuring rap to make it onto Billboard's Hot 100 (after "Rapper's Delight", "The Breaks", "Rapture", "The Message", "Planet Rock" and a few others). The song peaked at #79 on 1/21/84.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

TV Theme Songs

TV Theme SongsFact or Fiction

Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?

Alice Cooper

Alice CooperFact or Fiction

How well do you know this shock-rock harbinger who's been publicly executed hundreds of times?

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.

Gary Lewis

Gary LewisSongwriter Interviews

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven Top 10 hits despite competition from The Beatles. Gary talks about the hits, his famous father, and getting drafted.