THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

989-Underworld-Born Slippy NUXX.

1996-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 4.58. If you’re planning on dancing all the way through, then make sure you pace yourself, because it’s only just getting started.

Underworld were formed in Cardiff, Wales, in 1987 by Karl Hyde, (vocals. and guitars) Rick Smith, (keyboards) Bryn Burrows, (drums) Alfie Thomas, (guitars and keyboards) and Baz Allen, (bass) they had previously worked with others using different band names, but eventually chose ‘Underworld,’ after the 1985 horror film that Hyde and Smith, and other members of a band named ‘Freur,’ that they had been in, wrote the musical score to. For ‘Underworld’s’ first two studio Albums they were very much making music in the ‘Synth Pop’ genre, which was very popular at that time, and it wasn’t until the arrival of the 19 year old Darren Emerson in 1993 that their music drastically changed into ‘Progressive House,’ and ‘Techno’ music, this new line up would become known as ‘Underworld MK2.’ In total there have been seven different members of ‘Underworld’ come and go with Hyde and Smith being the only two constants.

The discography of Underworld includes nine studio Albums released between 1988-2019, and 46 singles issued between 1988-2018, they have also remixed many songs for several different artists since 1990. In the UK, ten of their singles have made the top 40, including the 2003 remix of ‘Born Slippy NUXX 2003,’ which reached Number 27. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles top 40 they have never charted, but eight of their singles have charted on the ‘US Dance’ chart.

‘Born Slippy NUXX,’ which was co-written, and co-produced by Rick Smith, Karl Hyde, and Darren Emerson, was first released in 1995 as the ‘B’ side of another song which was completely different, but also called ‘Born Slippy,’ this 1995 release reached Number 52 on the UK top 40. It wasn’t until ‘Born Slippy NUXX’ was chosen for the film ‘Trainspotting,’ that the song took off, reaching Number 2 in the UK during the summer of ‘Euro 96,’ the football tournament that was played in England that year. ‘Born Slippy NUXX’ was one of 14 tracks that made up the soundtrack Album to the film ‘Trainspotting,’ and was the only song on the Album to be issued as a single (see also best songs 701 and 131.)

The song lyrics to ‘Born Slippy NUXX’ were written by Karl Hyde during his time as an alcoholic, incidentally ‘Born Slippy’ was the name of a greyhound that the band had won some money on, so both ‘Born Slippy’ songs are named in it’s honour. Karl Hyde has said,’We used to go out drinking in Soho, and I ended up in the Ship on Wardour Street. All the lyrics were written on that night. A drunk sees the world in fragments and I wanted to recreate that. I was inspired by Lou Reed’s New York album, and Sam Shepard’s Motel Chronicles. I was into flash photography as well, so I was walking around Soho with a notebook and camera, just observing things. In those days I’d open the book whenever a musical idea inspired me. Rick came up with a rhythm and I started singing over it. The vocals were done in one take. When I lost my place, I’d repeat the same line; that’s why it goes, ‘lager, lager, lager, lager.’ The first time we played it live, people raised their lager cans and I was horrified because I was still deep into alcoholism. It was never meant to be a drinking anthem, it was a cry for help. Now I don’t mind.’

It was the director of the film ‘Trainspotting’ Danny Boyle who pushed for the inclusion of ‘Born Slippy NUXX’ in the film. Initially Karl Hyde was reluctant as he didn’t want his song associated with the theme of the films story of drug abuse, but after Boyle arranged for Hyde to see how the song would fit into the films scene he changed his mind. In 2012 Hyde and Rick Smith, and Danny Boyle once again joined forces, this time for the ‘Summer Olympics’ opening ceremony, which was held in the UK. The opening ceremony was directed by Boyle, with Hyde and Smith working as musical directors, and contributing to the musical score.

‘Drive boy dog boy,dirty numb angel boy. In the doorway boy she was a-lipstick boy. She was a-beautiful boy, and tears boy, and all in your inner space boy.’