THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

424-Technotronic-Pump Up the Jam.

1989-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 2.03. It’s a good job that the lyrics are not too taxing, as Congolese model Felly Kilingi who is lip-syncing couldn’t speak a word of English.

At that time it was considered normal to get someone attractive to appear on the CD sleeve, or front the video, pretending to be the actual vocalist on the track. Other well known examples include Milli Vanilli, C&C Music Factory, and Black Box (see also best songs 501)Technotronic was the brainchild of Jo Bogaert who was born in Aalst, Belgium, in 1956. Using the stage name Thomas de Quincey he co-wrote, and produced for Technotronic. Over the course of the bands existence from 1987-2001 he worked with 12 other artists releasing three studio Albums, and one remix Album. There have also been five official greatest hits compilations released between 1993-2012, and 25 singles, 12 of which reached the top 40 in Belgium (including two Number 1’s.) In the UK they have achieved nine top 40 singles, and in America they have charted on three occasions.

‘Pump Up the Jam’ is the opening track on Technotronic’s debut studio Album of the same name from 1989. The song was co-written by Jo Bogaert (music) and Manuela Kamosi (lyrics) using her stage name ‘Ya Kid K,’ she also provides the vocals on the track. Ya Kid K was born on January 26th, 1972, in Kinshasa, Zaire, she moved to Belgium at the age of 11. As well as providing input, and the vocals to other Technotronic Albums, she has also released two solo studio Albums in 1992, and 2014. She has a child with fellow Technotronic performer ‘MC Eric,’ who provided the vocals on ‘This Beat Is Technotronic.’ the bands third single release from 1990. Also in 1990 both Bogaert and Ya Kid K, using the stage name ‘Hi Tek 3,’ wrote, produced, and performed ‘Spin That Wheel,’ which appeared on the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ soundtrack Album, and was released as a single, reaching Number 15 in the UK.

‘Pump Up the Jam’ is a ground breaking song, and is an early example of Rap and House Music joining forces, in what was to become known as ‘Hip-House.’ ‘Pump Up the Jam’ is credited with being the very first ‘House Music’ track to break in to the Billboard top 10 in America, when reaching Number 2 in 1989.

On a personal note, when I first heard the track back in 1989, my first thoughts were, is this a novelty song, maybe that was because it sounded so different to anything I had ever heard before. The song has stood the test of time a lot better than most, and still sounds fresh and new to this day.

‘Pump up the jam, pump it up, while your feet are stompin’ and the jam is pumpin.’ Look at here the crowd is jumpin.’ pump it up a little more, get the party going on the dance floor.’