"Boom! Shake the Room" is a song by American hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. The track samples the 1973 song "Funky Worm" by the Ohio Players.[1] Released on July 16, 1993, by Jive Records, as the second single from the duo's fifth studio album, Code Red (1993), the single peaked at numbers 13 and 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, as well as topping the charts of Australia, Ireland, Spain, and the United Kingdom. In Spain, it was a number-one hit for six weeks. Its music video was directed by American film director Scott Kalvert, featuring the duo performing onstage in front of a live crowd.
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard described 'Boom! Shake the Room' as a "butt-shaggin' pop/hip-hop romp", remarking that the "highly danceable jam has a shouted, air-punching chorus that should work well in a live environment."[2] Troy J. Augusto from Cash Box felt that it "slams harder than any single this duo has so far produced", noting that the "groovin' track boasts sing-a-long chorus that'll make Hammer blush for sure".[3] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote, "With the success Will Smith's had as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, he and Jazzy Jeff will probably do more than just "shake the room" at some stations. School is out for summer and the duo's latest has potential to light up those request lines."[4] Australian music channel Max included it in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2018.[5]
A reviewer from Music & Media said, "It looks like they're having a party on the border between hip hoponia and the land of swingbeat. Shake it, don't fake it!"[6]James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update deemed it a "'Jump Around' type ultra frenetic jaunty rap jiggler".[7] Wendi Cermak from The Network Forty wrote, "Here we have a song that everyone who's anyone is talking about. Currently in heavy rotation in On the Tip, this jam has picked up over 300 plays in its first week!"[8] Simon Williams from NME felt it's "a poor man's 'Shamrocks and Shenanigans (Boom Shalock Lock Boom)' and hence is a waste of a damn good title."[9] Gavin Reeve from Smash Hits gave it five out of five and named it Best New Single. He described it as "power rap", and concluded that 'Boom! Shake the Room' "will be exploding on turntables everywhere this summer."[10]
Chart performance
"Boom! Shake the Room" was successful on the charts on several continents. In Europe, the song topped the charts in the Republic of Ireland,[11] Spain (6 weeks),[12][13] and the UK. In the latter country, it peaked at the top of the UK Singles Chart on September 19, 1993 – for the week ending date September 25, 1993 – during its third week on the chart, becoming Smith's first and Townes' only chart-topping song in Britain.[14] The song spent two weeks at the top and 15 weeks within the UK Top 100, including two weeks on the chart again in 1995 (number 40 and 57). It also peaked within the top ten of the charts in Denmark (6),[15] Germany (8),[16] and Switzerland (8),[17] as well as on the European Hot 100, where it peaked at number seven in October 1993.[18] It debuted on the chart at number 55 on September 18, after charting in the Netherlands and UK.[19] On the European Dance Radio Chart by Music & Media, it reached number four.[20] Additionally, the single was a top-20 hit in Austria (17), the Netherlands (18), and Sweden (12).
"Boom! Shake the Room" earned a gold record in Germany (250,000) and the United States (600,000), a silver record in the United Kingdom (200,000), and a platinum record in Australia (70,000) and New Zealand (10,000).
Track listings
UK CD1
"Boom! Shake the Room" (LP version) – 3:51
"Boom! Shake the Room" (club radio mix) – 3:55
"Boom! Shake the Room" (Street remix) – 4:30
"Boom! Shake the Room" (Mr. Lee's club mix) – 5:02
"Boom! Shake the Room" (Mr. Lee's extended club mix) – 5:55
"Boom! Shake the Room" (LP instrumental) – 4:12
"Boom! Shake the Room" (Street Remix Bonus Beats) – 4:17
