Voodoo Child (Rogue Traders song)
"Voodoo Child" is a dance song which was written by Elvis Costello, James Ash, and Steve Davis, and produced by Ash for the Rogue Traders' second album Here Come the Drums. It was the first single for the new member Natalie Bassingthwaighte. It was released as a CD single in Australia on 27 May 2005 as the first song released from the album. It was later released in the United Kingdom on 10 July 2006 as a digital download and CD single.
"Voodoo Child" | ||||
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Single by Rogue Traders | ||||
from the album Here Come the Drums | ||||
Released | 27 May 2005 | |||
Recorded | 2005 | |||
Genre | Pop rock, dance-pop, electropop | |||
Length | 3:57 | |||
Label | Sony BMG | |||
Songwriter(s) | Elvis Costello, James Ash, Steve Davis | |||
Producer(s) | James Ash | |||
Rogue Traders singles chronology | ||||
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Rogue Traders UK singles chronology | ||||
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The song samples the riff from Costello's "Pump It Up", and he receives credit in some (but apparently not all) printings of the album's liner notes. The song marks a move for Rogue Traders away from standard dance music and towards a more electro-punk sound. According to band member James Ash,
The Sex Pistols were the biggest influence for "Voodoo Child". But it's not so much a musical influence as the attitude they had. The Sex Pistols were really about energy. It's exciting to listen to them. It's immediate music.
Promotion and chart performance
In Australia, the song was released without the promotion of the new band member Natalie Bassingthwaighte because the band wanted to release it knowing that people were buying it because they liked the song, instead of buying it for "celebrity value" (Bassingthwaighte was starring in Neighbours at the time of the single's release).[1]
"Voodoo Child" debuted at #20 on the Australian ARIA Charts singles chart, and by its third week had ascended into the top ten peaking at #9. In its eighth week, it ascended to its peak position at #4 and was certified Platinum by ARIA. The song spent an overall 21 weeks on the chart, and is to date the group's most successful single. In New Zealand, "Voodoo Child" also debuted at #20, becoming the group's first entry and so far only on the chart. It peaked at #7 for two consecutive weeks there, becoming the group's first top ten hit there, and spent a total of 16 weeks on the chart. It was later released in the UK in July 2006, and debuted at #18 based on download sales one week prior to its physical release. "Voodoo Child" ascended and peaked at #3 the following week, to become the group's first and so far only top 3 hit. The song has also peaked at #15 in Ireland, becoming the group's first top twenty hit there.
This song was used in Doctor Who in the climax to "The Sound of Drums", played diegetically as the Toclafane invade Earth on the Master's orders.
Track listing
Australian CD single
- "Voodoo Child" - 3:57
- "Voodoo Child" (James Ash lektric remix) - 5:38
- "Voodoo Child" (12" mix) - 6:58
- "Voodoo Child" (Fuzzy Hair remix) - 6:09
- "Voodoo Child" (Fuzzy Hair instrumental) - 6:23
UK CD #1
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Remix)
UK CD #2
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
- Voodoo Child (Tom Neville Vox Mix)
- Voodoo Child (12" Mix)
- Voodoo Child (CD-Rom Video)
German Maxi-Single-CD
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
- Voodoo Child (James Ash Lektric Remix)
- Voodoo Child (12" Mix Simple Track)
- Voodoo Child (Tom Neville Vox Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Remix)
UK Promo # 1
- Voodoo Child (12" Mix)
- Voodoo Child (James Ash Lektric Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Instrumental)
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
UK Promo # 2
- Voodoo Child (12" Mix)
- Voodoo Child (Tom Neville Vox Mix)
- Voodoo Child (Tom Neville Dub)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Remix)
- Voodoo Child (James As Lektric Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Instrumental)
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
UK Promo # 3
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
US Promo
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
- Voodoo Child (Album Version)
Israel Promo
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Remix)
We're Coming Home / Voodoo Child Promo
- We're Coming Home (James Ash Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Tom Neville Remix)
AU 12” Vinyl # 1
- Voodoo Child (Original 12" Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Remix)
AU 12” Vinyl # 2
- Voodoo Child (Tom Neville Vox Mix)
- Voodoo Child (James Ash Lektric Remix)
UK 12” Vinyl
- Voodoo Child (Tom Neville Vox Mix)
- Voodoo Child (Fuzzy Hair Remix)
- Voodoo Child (Radio Edit)
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[13] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] | Silver | 200,000^ |
^shipments figures based on certification alone |
Release history
Country | Date |
---|---|
Australia | 27 May 2005 |
United Kingdom | 10 July 2006 |
United States (Promo-only) | 10 July 2007 |
References
- "Natalie Bassingthwaighte". IMDb.
- "Australian-charts.com – Rogue Traders – Voodoo Child". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 118 no. 30. 29 July 2006. p. 69. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Voodoo Child". Irish Singles Chart.
- "Charts.nz – Rogue Traders – Voodoo Child". Top 40 Singles.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "Rogue Traders: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2005". ARIA. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Club Chart 2005". ARIA. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Dance Singles 2005". ARIA. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2006". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- "British single certifications – Rogue Traders – Voodoo Child". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 July 2020.