Fatboy Slim The Greatest Hits Why Try Harderrar
Berry Spitsberg
Fatboy Slim The Greatest Hits Why Try Harder
Fatboy Slim is the stage name of Norman Cook, an English DJ, musician, and record producer who rose to fame in the 1990s with his distinctive style of big beat, a fusion of electronic, rock, funk, and hip hop music. He is best known for his hits such as "The Rockafeller Skank", "Praise You", "Right Here, Right Now", and "Weapon of Choice".
In 2006, he released his first compilation album, The Greatest Hits Why Try Harder, which featured 18 tracks from his previous albums and singles, as well as two new songs: "Champion Sound" and "That Old Pair of Jeans". The album was a commercial and critical success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart and receiving positive reviews from critics. It also included a bonus DVD with 10 music videos directed by acclaimed filmmakers such as Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry, and Christopher Walken.
The title of the album comes from the slogan on the T-shirt of the man who adorns the non-US covers of both this album and his second album, You've Come a Long Way, Baby: "I'M # 1 SO WHY TRY HARDER". The US cover features a different image of Christopher Walken from the "Weapon of Choice" music video. The album showcases Fatboy Slim's eclectic and innovative approach to music production, sampling various genres and sources, such as Bollywood films, soul singers, rock bands, and spoken word artists. The album also demonstrates his ability to create catchy hooks, groovy beats, and uplifting anthems that appeal to a wide audience.
Some of the highlights of the album are:
- "The Rockafeller Skank", a fast-paced and energetic track that samples four different songs, including a guitar riff from The John Barry Seven's "Beat Girl" and a vocal hook from Just Brothers' "Sliced Tomatoes". The song was featured in several films and TV shows, such as She's All That, Digimon: The Movie, and Malcolm in the Middle.
- "Praise You", a gospel-inspired track that samples Camille Yarbrough's "Take Yo' Praise" and features a piano riff from J.J. Cale's "Travelling Light". The song was accompanied by a low-budget music video directed by Spike Jonze, in which Fatboy Slim and a group of amateur dancers perform a flash mob outside a cinema in Los Angeles. The video won three MTV Video Music Awards in 1999.
- "Weapon of Choice", a funky track that features vocals from Bootsy Collins, the bassist of Parliament-Funkadelic. The song was also accompanied by a music video directed by Spike Jonze, in which Christopher Walken dances around an empty hotel lobby. The video won six MTV Video Music Awards in 2001 and was ranked number one on VH1's list of "The 100 Greatest Videos of All Time".
- "Right Here, Right Now", an uplifting track that samples Angela Bassett's voice from the film Strange Days and features a guitar riff from James Gang's "Ashes, the Rain and I". The song was used as the theme song for the 1999 MTV Europe Music Awards and was also featured in several films and TV shows, such as Rush Hour 2, Queer as Folk, and Futurama.
- "That Old Pair of Jeans", a new track that features vocals from Lateef the Truth Speaker, a member of the hip hop group Latyrx. The song is a mellow and soulful tune that reflects on nostalgia and happiness. The song was accompanied by a music video directed by Jon Watts, in which professional hula hooper Ana Rokafella Garcia performs various tricks with her hoop.
The Greatest Hits Why Try Harder is a must-have album for any fan of Fatboy Slim or electronic music in general. It showcases his musical talent, creativity, and versatility over the years. It also serves as a reminder of why he is one of the most influential and successful artists in the history of dance music.
For more information about Fatboy Slim and his discography, you can visit his official website [here] or his Wikipedia page [here]. You can also listen to his songs on Spotify [here] or YouTube [here].