Rok the Nation

"Rok the Nation"
Single by Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K
from the album Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K
ReleasedMarch 1990
GenreHip hop
LabelBMG
Songwriter(s)Rob'n'Raz, Leila K, MC II Fresh
Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K singles chronology
"Got to Get"
(1989) 		"Rok the Nation"
(1990) 		"Open Sesame"
(1992)
Music video
"Rok the Nation" on YouTube

"Rok the Nation" is a song by Swedish electronic music duo Rob'n'Raz featuring rapper Leila K, released in March 1990 by BMG as the second single from their debut album, Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K (1990). It peaked at number three in both Sweden and Finland. Additionally, the song was a top-20 hit in the Netherlands and Switzerland, and a top-30 hit in Ireland and West Germany. In the UK, "Rok the Nation" reached number 41 on the UK Singles Chart.[1]

Critical reception

Mick Mercer from Melody Maker commented, "Ah, now here's something interesting. Leila K [...] has a nice voice that made "Got to Get" the little fun bundle that it was. This is more interesting, with some studiously sharp vocals and a chintzy keyboard carpet pattern for her to rub the dirt into. It's tougher than you'd expect with lovely trumpet touches and a successful plunge down to the rhythm near the end followed by some fast, oddly stippled vocal delivery."[2]

David Giles from Music Week wrote, "The team that sneaked a surprise hit with the recent "Got to Get" follow up with a track that is heavy enough to please clubbers but with enough hooks to succeed chartwise again. The drum machine break sounds suspiciously similar in Japan's "Vision Of China" though..."[3] Siân Pattenden from Smash Hits felt that "this is harder, dare I say funkier than 'Got to Get'".[4]

Versions

  • Rok The Dancefloor 6:52
  • Radio Edit 3:43
  • SweMix Club Version 5:20
  • Panik Mix 6:08
  • Funk-E-Drummer Mix 6:11
  • Like A Drum Mix 3:42

Charts

Chart (1990) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[5] 79
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6] 41
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[7] 3
Ireland (IRMA)[8] 21
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9] 16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 23
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] 13
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 41
West Germany (GfK)[14] 21

References

  1. ^ Rob 'n' Raz featuring Leila K | Artist | Official Charts
  2. ^ Mercer, Mick (17 March 1990). "Singles". Melody Maker. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  3. ^ Giles, David (10 March 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  4. ^ Pattenden, Siân (21 March 1990). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. No. 295. p. 53. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  5. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 05 Aug 1990 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 30)". Imgur.com. Retrieved 2016-05-21. N.B. The HP column displays the highest position reached.
  6. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 28 April 1990. p. IV. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  7. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  8. ^ "Chart Track: Week 25, 1990". Irish Singles Chart.
  9. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  10. ^ "Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K – Rok the Nation" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  11. ^ "Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K – Rok the Nation". Singles Top 100.
  12. ^ "Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K – Rok the Nation". Swiss Singles Chart.
  13. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  14. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K – Rok the Nation" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.