Addicted to Bass

"Addicted to Bass"
Single by Josh Abrahams and Amiel Daemion
from the album Sweet Distorted Holiday
Released5 October 1998 (1998-10-05)
GenreDrum and bass
Length3:51
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Josh Abrahams
  • Amiel Daemion
Producer(s)Josh Abrahams
Josh Abrahams singles chronology
"Thrill Seeker"
(1998) 		"Addicted to Bass"
(1998) 		"Headroom"
(1999)
Amiel Daemion singles chronology
"Addicted to Bass"
(1998) 		"Headroom"
(1999)

"Addicted to Bass" is a song by Josh Abrahams (Puretone) and Amiel Daemion, featuring Daemion on vocals. It reached the top 20 in the Australian charts in 1998. It originally appeared on Abrahams' 1998 album, Sweet Distorted Holiday, and was included on the 2002 album Stuck in a Groove—credited to Abrahams' alias Puretone. The original release reached number 15 in Australia and number 27 in New Zealand while a 2002 remix by Apollo 440 reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the US Dance Club Songs charts.

In 2015, the song was listed at number 14 in In the Mix's '100 Greatest Australian Dance Tracks of All Time' with Nick Jarvis saying "With its memorable, sing-along vocals, nudge-wink drug references and – best of all – that monstrous pre-dubstep bassline paired with scattershot jungle breakbeats, it was a perfect fusion of radio-friendly pop smarts and club madness".[1]

Australian success

Abrahams met Amiel in 1997. They collaborated in the writing and recording of his album Sweet Distorted Holiday, released in 1998, and the single was credited to Josh Abrahams and Amiel Daemion. The song became a hit when released on Shock Records in 1998 reaching the top 20 of the Australian charts and eventually being certified. The Australian Record Industry Association listed the song as its 100th best-selling single for 1998 in its end of year chart. The song was also popular in the Triple J Hottest 100, 1998 being voted at number 16 and appearing on the compilation CD.

The song also enjoyed a strong critical response. It was nominated for the Australian Performing Right Association "Song of the Year" in the awards held in May 1999 but lost to "Buses and Trains" by Bachelor Girl.[2] Abrahams was nominated for five Australian Recording Industry Association Awards in 1999 including "Record of the Year" and "Music Video of the Year" for "Addicted to Bass".[3] While "Addicted to Bass" lost out to "The Day You Come" by Powderfinger in the "Record of the Year", he won in the "Best Independent Release" and "Best Dance Artist Album" categories for Sweet Distorted Holiday.[4]

European single

The song gradually became popular in dance clubs in the UK and received a positive response in the media. UKmix.net wrote: "This slice of Australian vocal drum & bass has been tearing up dancefloors, radio stations, and particularly music television for some time now." The song was credited to Puretone to avoid confusion with Josh Abraham who has worked with Limp Bizkit and Staind.

The song was officially released in the United Kingdom on 7 January 2002.[5] The week before its release, several retailers accidentally made the single available for purchase, causing it to debut at number 68 on the UK Singles Chart on 6 January, selling 809 copies.[6] The next week, it rose to number two, beaten to the top spot by "More than a Woman", a posthumous number one for Aaliyah. "Addicted to Bass" also reached number 18 in Ireland and was a modest hit in the rest of Europe.

Music video

Australian video

The original 1998 music video featured Amiel at GL Pro Sound, a high-end car audio store in Essendon, Victoria, sitting in a car, with installers working on a Holden VR Commodore and a Ford EL Falcon, installing various audio equipment. The Soundstream SPL series woofers were often shown operating on the heavy bassline of the song. Rockford Fosgate amplifiers, Image Dynamics speakers, JL Audio woofers, and Alpine head units were also featured. Josh Abrahams is shown performing on the decks on the screen of the Alpine headunit.

The video was nominated for Best Video at the ARIA Music Awards of 1999.[7]

European video

The European Music Video was inspired by the 1979 movie Mad Max, filmed using the same roads in the You Yangs region of Australia and also featured actors Megan Dorman and Kick Gurry. The video was conceived and directed by Jolyon Watkins (Exit Films, Australia) and was a finalist for music promo of the year of the 2002 Muzik Magazine awards.

The video begins with two bored girls (played by Dorman & Amiel Daemion herself) getting off a bus and looking for some fun, until they spot a black modified unoccupied 1974 Ford Falcon (XB) which resembles the iconic V8 Interceptor Pursuit Special from Mad Max parked next to a Bank of Australasia in Lancefield, Victoria. They steal it, but before they could drive off, two male bank robbers have robbed the bank and attempt to flee the scene in the car as it was theirs. They notice the girls inside, who immediately speed off with the robbers bag of stolen money. In the confusion, the robbers are arrested by police.

The girls enjoy their joyride through the country roads until they are pursued by two Main Force Patrol (MFP) officers in a yellow interceptor that resembles to the ones used in the opening chase sequence in Mad Max. Ultimately the girls find the bag of stolen money in the backseat along with an explosive dye bomb planted inside, they subdue the MFP officers by throwing the dye bomb at their interceptor’s windscreen, making them lose sight and spin out in the process thus the officers start fighting.

Afterwards another MFP officer (played by Gurry) is called in and pursues the duo, he then stops his interceptor and waits for the girls just as they are speeding towards him. They both play a game of chicken with their cars and ultimately the MFP officer spins out but continues to pursuit.

The climax ends with both the MFP officer and the girls go neck-and-neck down the road. The MFP officer takes off his sunglasses to get a clear view of the girls, until they brake off and the MFP officer without watching, crashes his interceptor straight through a caravan towed by a broken down pick-up truck, similar to the stunt in Mad Max.

The MFP officer climbs out of his vehicle unharmed and looks at the girls in disappointment and defeat, they then once again speed off into the distance.

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[37] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Australia 5 October 1998 CD Prozaac [39]
United Kingdom 7 January 2002
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Gusto [5]
Australia (remix) 1 April 2002 CD Festival Mushroom [40]

See also

References

  1. ^ "The 100 Greatest Australian Dance Tracks of All Time". 2015. Archived from the original on 16 December 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  2. ^ Australian Associated Press (AAP), "Paul Kelly lauded for songwriting" 10 May 1999
  3. ^ AAP, "Complete List of 1999 ARIA Awards" 11 October 1999
  4. ^ AAP, "Complete List of 1999 ARIA Award Winners"
  5. ^ a b "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 22 December 2001. p. 27. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  6. ^ Jones, Alan (19 January 2002). "Chart Commentary". Music Week. p. 13.
  7. ^ ARIA Award previous winners. "Winners by Award – Artisan Awards – Best Video". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  8. ^ Addicted to Bass (Australian CD single liner notes). Josh Abrahams, Amiel Daemion. Prozaac Recordings. 1998. dista-31063.2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Addicted to Bass (Australian CD single liner notes). Puretone. Festival Mushroom Records. 2002. 020862.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Addicted to Bass (UK CD single liner notes). Puretone. Gusto Records. 2002. CDGUS6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Addicted to Bass (UK cassette single sleeve). Puretone. Gusto Records. 2002. CAGUS6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Addicted to Bass (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Puretone. Gusto Records. 2002. 12GUS6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Addicted to Bass (European CD1 single liner notes). Puretone. Gusto Records. 2002. DAN 671123 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Addicted to Bass (European CD2 single liner notes). Puretone. Gusto Records. 2002. DAN 671123 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Addicted to Bass (European CD3 single liner notes). Puretone. Gusto Records. 2002. DAN 671123 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ "Josh Abrahams and Amiel Daemion – Addicted to Bass". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  17. ^ "Josh Abrahams and Amiel Daemion – Addicted to Bass". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  18. ^ "Puretone – Addicted to Bass". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  19. ^ "Puretone – Addicted to Bass" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  20. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 5. 26 January 2002. p. 27. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Puretone – Addicted to Bass" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  22. ^ "Top 50 Singles" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on 3 April 2002. Retrieved 28 June 2020. See Best column.
  23. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Addicted to Bass". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  24. ^ "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 24 January 2002". GfK Chart-Track. Retrieved 3 June 2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  25. ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 22, saptamina 3.06–9.06, 2002" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 15 February 2005. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  27. ^ "Puretone – Addicted to Bass". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  28. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  29. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  30. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  31. ^ "Hot Dance Music: Club Play". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 42. 19 October 2002. p. 44.
  32. ^ "Hot Dance Music: Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 37. 14 September 2002. p. 56.
  33. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  34. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  35. ^ "Most Broadcast of 2002 – Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. 18 January 2003. p. 31. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  36. ^ "The Year in Music 2002: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 52. 28 December 2002. p. YE-52.
  37. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  38. ^ "British single certifications – Puretone – Addicted to Bass". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  39. ^ "New Releases – Product Available from: 5.10.98 > Singles (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 448)". ARIA. Retrieved 28 August 2017 – via Imgur.
  40. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 1st April 2002" (PDF). ARIA. 1 April 2002. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 April 2002. Retrieved 28 April 2021.