Voodoo Child (Rogue Traders song)
"Voodoo Child" | |
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Song |
"Voodoo Child" is a dance song which was written by Elvis Costello, James Ash, and Steve Davis, and produced by Ash for the Rogue Traders second album Here Come the Drums. It was the first single for the new member Natalie Bassingthwaighte. It was released as a CD single in Australia on 27 May 2005 as the first song released from the album. It was later released in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2006 as a digital download and CD single.
The song samples the riff from Costello's "Pump It Up", and he receives credit in some (but apparently not all) printings of the album's liner notes. The song marks a move for Rogue Traders away from standard dance music and towards a more electro-punk sound. According to band member James Ash,
The Sex Pistols were the biggest influence for "Voodoo Child". But it's not so much a musical influence as the attitude they had. The Sex Pistols were really about energy. It's exciting to listen to them. It's immediate music.
Promotion and chart performance
In Australia, the song was released without the promotion of the new band member Natalie Bassingthwaighte because the band wanted to release it knowing that people were buying it because they liked the song, instead of buying it for "celebrity value" (Bassingthwaighte was starring in Neighbours at the time of the single's release).[1]
"Voodoo Child" debuted at #20 on the Australian ARIA Charts singles chart, and by its third week had ascended into the top ten peaking at #9. In its eighth week, it ascended to its peak position at #4 and was certified Platinum by ARIA. The song spent an overall 21 weeks on the chart, and is to date the group's most successful single. In New Zealand, "Voodoo Child" also debuted at #20, becoming the group's first entry and so far only on the chart. It peaked at #7 for two consecutive weeks there, becoming the group's first top ten hit there, and spent a total of 16 weeks on the chart. It was later released in the UK in July 2006, and debuted at #18 based on download sales one week prior to its physical release. "Voodoo Child" ascended and peaked within the top 3 at #3 the following week, to become the group's first and so far only top 3 hit. The song has also peaked at #15 in Ireland, becoming the group's first top twenty hit there.
This song was used in "The Sound of Drums", a 2007 episode of the British sci-fi series Doctor Who, played diegetically during the climactic final scene of the episode. The song's lyrics refer to the sound of drums that the Master constantly hears in his head.
Track listing
Australian CD single
- "Voodoo Child" - 3:57
- "Voodoo Child" (James Ash lektric remix) - 5:38
- "Voodoo Child" (12" mix) - 6:58
- "Voodoo Child" (Fuzzy Hair remix) - 6:09
- "Voodoo Child" (Fuzzy Hair instrumental) - 6:23
2008 Australian re-release CD #1
- Voodoo Child (Chris Lake Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Groovehunter Mix)
- Voodoo Child (Miki Moto Mix)
- Voodoo Child (Jacques Lu Cont Dub)
2008 Australian re-release CD #2
- Voodoo Child (Steve Mac Mix)
- Voodoo Child (12" Dub)
- Voodoo Child (Dirty South Mix)
- Voodoo Child (Calderone / Quyale Anthem)
UK CD #1
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Remix)
UK CD #2
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
- Voodoo Child (Tom Neville Vox Mix)
- Voodoo Child (12" Mix)
- Voodoo Child (CD-Rom Video)
German Maxi-Single-CD
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
- Voodoo Child (James Ash Lektric Remix)
- Voodoo Child (12" Mix Simple Track)
- Voodoo Child (Tom Neville Vox Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Remix)
UK Promo # 1
- Voodoo Child (12" Mix)
- Voodoo Child (James Ash Lektric Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Instrumental)
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
UK Promo # 2
- Voodoo Child (12" Mix)
- Voodoo Child (Tom Neville Vox Mix)
- Voodoo Child (Tom Neville Dub)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Remix)
- Voodoo Child (James As Lektric Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Instrumental)
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
UK Promo # 3
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
US Promo
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
- Voodoo Child (Album Version)
Israel Promo
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Remix)
We're Coming Home / Voodoo Child Promo
- We're Coming Home (James Ash Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Tom Neville Remix)
AU 12” Vinyl # 1
- Voodoo Child (Original 12" Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Remix)
AU 12” Vinyl # 2
- Voodoo Child (Tom Neville Vox Mix)
- Voodoo Child (James Ash Lektric Remix)
UK 12” Vinyl
- Voodoo Child (Tom Neville Vox Mix)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
Release history
Country | Date |
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Australia | 27 May 2005 |
United Kingdom | 10 July 2006 |
United States (Promo-only) | 10 July 2007 |
Charts
Chart (2005-06) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[2] | 4 |
Ireland (IRMA)[3] | 15 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[4] | 7 |
UK Singles (OCC)[5] | 3 |