Download Sound Bombastic Side Eye
Hilke Mcnally
Johnny Cigarettes from NME said, "As chat-up lines go this is so simple, it's brilliant, basically saying 'I'm really rather fantastic in bed, pet, would you like to have intercourse?' As a pop record, however, it is spectacularly boring, like Shabba Ranks' little brother doing toasting practice while he's getting the piano tuned up."[14] Gerald Martinez from New Sunday Times found that "with sparse, hypnotic backing, Shaggy's boastful rapping carries the song."[15] A reviewer from People Magazine opined that the album "is more like the real reggae thing", and "the raw title song is the style's most uncompromising Top 10 trip yet."[16] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update described it as "gruffy twiddly-diddled".[17] Al Weisel from Rolling Stone viewed it as "a stripped-down dub masterpiece, a percussive cacophony of samples, sound effects and a clanging piano. Shaggy's baritone growl oozes a sexuality that recalls both the dance-hall swagger of Shabba Ranks and theatrical self-deprecation of ska king Prince Buster."[18] Mark Sutherland from Smash Hits gave "Boombastic" two out of five, calling it a "gruff, grinding ragga-lite" track.[19] David Sinclair from The Times described it as "an entertaining tribute to the singer's boundless sex appeal", noting Shaggy's "mischievous glee, the Rs rolling off his tongue like the purr of a big cat." He added, "Set to a plonking, one-note piano riff and minimalist reggae beat, "Boombastic" is one of those feelgood dance records that seems to conjure a special magic out of thin air. Like the hero in the ad, it will be flying out of shops everywhere."[20]
Bill Lamb from About.com said Shaggy "exhibits oodles of personal charm alongside the funky grooves" of "Boombastic", naming it one of the best songs from 1990s.[21] Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger said the musician is "the benevolent monarch of this world, giving a comical, flirtatious, crowd-tickling performance, his army of mechanical instruments dancing in and out of his phrasing. His main trick here is using his voice like a yo-yo, winding his vowels out on "rohhhhhh-" before he flicks the word back "-mantic!"."[22]
The accompanying music video for "Boombastic" features Shaggy performing in and outside an old house, surrounded by dancing women and flickering lights.[23] It was later made available by VEVO on Shaggy's official YouTube channel in 2009 and had generated almost 200 million views as of early 2024.
The song was featured in the 2006 animated film Barnyard, sung by the character "Biggie Cheese". Alongside its corresponding scene, the song subsequently became an internet meme about a decade later.[67]
08ab062aa8