Lucky Star (Basement Jaxx song)
"Lucky Star" is a song by British electronic music duo Basement Jaxx. It was released as a single from their third studio album, Kish Kash. The song features grime artist Dizzee Rascal[1] and Mona Singh,[2] the daughter of Channi Singh. It was released under XL Recordings, the same label Dizzee Rascal himself was on at the time of release. It was released as a 12" single, and reached number 23 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Lucky Star" | ||||
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Single by Basement Jaxx featuring Dizzee Rascal | ||||
from the album Kish Kash | ||||
Released | 27 October 2003 | |||
Recorded | 2003 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:12 (edit) 3:54 (2005) | |||
Label | XL | |||
Songwriter(s) | Buxton, Ratcliffe, Mills | |||
Producer(s) | Basement Jaxx | |||
Basement Jaxx singles chronology | ||||
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Dizzee Rascal discography singles chronology | ||||
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A music video was produced to promote the single.
Development
"They just said they wanted to work so we went there and it didn't take long, about 20 minutes. I went back a couple of months later and finished it off. We connected together well, it was amazing. I'd never heard myself on something that big before - it was two worlds colliding and the outcome was heavy." Dizzee Rascal on working with Basement Jaxx. [3]
Reception
AllMusic's John Bush stated: "Teenage garage-rap sensation Dizzee Rascal turns in a fabulous outré performance on "Lucky Star," but the Indian filmi sample driving the song displays Basement Jaxx in a light they've never been in before: behind the times."[4]
While comparing the album's sound to "the aural equivalent of Shiva's rainbow cumshot," Mark Pytlik from Pitchfork Media stated: "Oh well-- at least Felix and Simon had the good sense to dress Dizzee up in pretty colors while they had him."[5]
Music video
The video for "Lucky Star" was directed by Katie Dawson and was shot at London-based The Camden Studio, with guest appearance by Rascal.
Dawson was picked directly from the duo after they saw her directorial work for MTV and wanted to create something similar.[6]
Dawson stated the video was "the quickest turn around job" she has ever worked on. "I was approached late in the day on a Thursday. The band wanted to see a treatment by Friday morning. They loved it and gave the go ahead to shoot the following Wednesday," she said. Later on, the casting for a belly dancer, martial arts expert, gymnast, rocket girl, breakdancer with booking crew and studio were all finished within two days.[6]
A Chroma key studio background from The Camden Studio was used.[7] After shooting the green screen shots, the duo needed the edit complete with all compositing and animations finished by the following week.
"Sticking Dizzee's head on a radioactive childs dancing body was never going to be straight forward; but I've always said Directing is a group effort and with something this complicated having a great team around you made it really enjoyable even though I didn't get much sleep that week," she said.
Charts
Chart (2003–2004) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[8] | 76 |
Ireland Dance (IRMA)[9] | 6 |
Scotland (OCC)[10] | 36 |
UK Singles (OCC)[11] | 23 |
UK Dance (OCC)[12] | 1 |
UK Indie (OCC)[13] | 2 |
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[14] | 3 |
References
- Morgan, Damien (2008). Hip Hop Had a Dream: Vol. 1 the Artful Movement. AuthorHouse. ISBN 1438902042.
- "Mona Singh Official Biography". Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
- Quotes regarding the making of "Lucky Star"
- Bush, John. "Kish Kash – Basement Jaxx". Allmusic. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- Pytlik, Mark (7 February 2005). "The Top 100 Albums of 2000-04". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- "Lucky Star - Basement Jaxx featuring Dizzee Rascal". Katie Dawson's official website. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- "Basement Jaxx feat. Dizzee Rascal 'Lucky Star': A Music Video Production". The Camden Studio's official website. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- "Issue 724" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 20 November 2003". GfK Chart-Track. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- "Basement Jaxc Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.