Bassline Junkie

"Bassline Junkie"
Promotional single by Dizzee Rascal
from the album The Fifth
Released1 January 2013
Recorded2012
GenreBassline
Length3:22 (album version) 2:48 (radio edit)
LabelDirtee Stank
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)MJ Cole

"Bassline Junkie" is a song by British rapper Dizzee Rascal from his mixtape Dirtee TV.com – The Mixtape EP, Vol.2 (2013). The song was produced by MJ Cole and peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart despite not being officially released as a single. The track also appeared on The Fifth, Dizzee's 2013 album, and was one of the few UK urban tracks on the album, with most tracks continuing his move away from grime and garage to other genres.

Music video

The video was released on YouTube on 31 December 2012. It follows Rascal and his friend (played by comedian Eric Lampaert) preaching "the way of the bassline". They first visit a block of flats, where Rascal aggressively threatens a small boy after he turns off the "large speakers" that the song is playing through, only to be silenced himself when the boy's mother confronts him. From there, Rascal and his friend get in a taxi (1965 Ford Zodiac MkIII) and use a PA system to blast the song to the public. They then visit a prison, where he shows the prisoners a public service announcement-type video and "cleanse" the prisoners. They also cleanse a man in a pub. Rascal and his friend then visit a church, with Rascal dressed like a priest giving a sermon and his friend playing an organ with all its keys taped off apart from the bass notes. This sends the churchgoers into a frenzy, dancing wildly and tearing off their clothes. Rascal finally uses "the way of the bassline" to set a man on fire before the video ends.

Commercial performance

"Bassline Junkie" debuted at number 72 on the UK Singles Chart on 13 January 2013. It entered the top 40 the following week at number 38, soon climbing up to number 14. The single peaked at number 10 in its fifth week. On the Scottish Singles Chart, "Bassline Junkie" debuted at number 32 on 27 January 2013, going on to peak at number 14 in its third week on the chart.

Covers

The song was covered by the pirate/folk metal band Alestorm on their 2020 album Curse of the Crystal Coconut as one of the bonus tracks on the wooden box edition.[1]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Bassline Junkie"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[8] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "Bassline Junkie"
Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom 1 January 2013
Dirtee Stank

References

  1. ^ Bowes, Christopher. "ALESTORM - Curse of the Crystal Coconut (Listening Party W/ Christopher Bowes)". Napalm Records. Retrieved 29 May 2020 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 18 February 2013 (Issue 1199)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2022 – via Pandora Archive.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Dizzee Rascal". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  5. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  6. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  7. ^ "End of Year Charts 2013" (PDF). Ukchartsplus.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  8. ^ "British single certifications – Dizzee Rascal – Bassline Junkie". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 9 December 2022.