Inner City Life
"Inner City Life" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Goldie Presents Metalheadz | ||||
from the album Timeless | ||||
B-side | "Inner City Life" (remix) | |||
Released | 21 November 1994[1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | FFRR | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Goldie | ||||
Goldie Presents Metalheadz singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Inner City Life" on YouTube |
"Inner City Life" is a song by British electronic musician
Background and release
"It's still a good b-line after all this time. The thing I was kind of mad about was it never got radio play. No one would ever want to play it on the radio. Rinse FM or Kiss FM would not play the record and I found it very difficult, because when you look at it conventionally, it's a good record. But then it was completely out of sorts and I found that very difficult as far as "Timeless" was concerned. "Timeless" was made first and then "Inner City Life" came out of it and I always found it very difficult that no one wanted to play it on radio and didn't want to give it the air time."
—Goldie talking to Red Bull Music Academy about the song.[5]
"Inner City Life" is a portion of the album's first track, "Timeless: Inner City Life/Pressure/Jah", which is a 21-minute opus. The song fuses the breakbeats and basslines common in jungle with orchestral textures and soul vocals by Diane Charlemagne. It has been described as a ghetto-blues ballad, 'a yearning reverie of sanctuary from "inner-city pressure"'[6] and features a sample from Ike Turner's song "Funky Mule", from his 1969 album, A Black Man's Soul.[7] Goldie/Metal Heads became the first jungle act to make the Radio One playlist, albeit the N-list, with the track.[8]
"Inner City Life" peaked at No. 49 on the
Critical reception
Andy Kellman from AllMusic described the song as "emotive".[10] Larry Flick from Billboard viewed it as a "flawless gem".[11] Ben Turner from The Guardian stated, "'Inner City Life' perhaps said it all – the sound of an intense and explosive urban city under a hot beautiful sunlight. The kind of feeling that something is about to blow. And that was jungle."[12] Simon Reynolds from Melody Maker felt the "gorgeous jazzy vocals and Goldie's angelic/demonic strings could well make "Inner City Life" the "Unfinished Sympathy" of jungle".[13] Another Melody Maker editor, Sarra Manning, praised the "caramel cream vocals" of Diane Charlemagne, "melting out urban angst platitudes over some more bass-heavy, bubbling fat noises."[14] Dom Phillips from Music & Media noted its "vocal future jungle delights",[15] while Maria Jimenez remarked the "soulful breakbeat", complimenting it as a high quality track of its dance sub-genre.[16] Andy Beevers from Music Week gave it four out of five and named it Pick of the Week in the category of Dance, stating, "This is the most creative jungle tune yet. Diane Charlemagne's superb vocal soars over the plunging bass, galloping beats and almost ambient synth sweeps. It is a powerful combination that is earning DJ plays from unlikely quarters and deserves to cross over."[17] In August 1995, Rupert Howe from Muzik wrote, "This is a masterpiece of melancholy, with all the dark/light, bass/melody contrasts in jungle thrown into kaleidoscopic relief. The spectral strings move disturbingly in and out of focus, the low frequencies seem to open up underneath you, and the eerie mutations of Diane Charlemagne's vocals float in the ether, utterly lost in space. Emotionally, it's all over the place - joyful one minute, intense enough to suck the daylight out of you the next. Anything to make you feel more alive."[18]
In a separate review for
Music video
The accompanying music video of "Inner City Life" was directed by Mike Lipscombe.
Impact and legacy
Upon the re-release of the song in November 1995, Mark Sutherland from
In 1996, British clubbing magazine Mixmag ranked "Inner City Life" No. 34 in its list of the best singles of 1996, "Mixmag End of Year Lists: 1996".[29]
Same year, British drum and bass DJ and producer Fabio named it one of his Top 10 tracks, saying, "This track showed the scope of the music and it shocked so many people: before this record people thought drum & bass was good dance music and nothing else. This showed that the music could be as deep as Massive Attack or anything. It's good and bad all wrapped up in one."[30]
In 2010, David Crawford called the track "epic" in his book 10,001 Songs You Must Hear..., adding that it "boasted swirling strings, a clattering break beat that evolved throughout the track, and Diane Charlemagne's sweet, soulful vocals on top."[31]
In 2013,
In 2018, Time Out listed the track at No. 23 in their "50 Best '90s Songs" list, adding, "Fusing jungle's intricate breakbeats, sub bass and unbridled futurism with heart-aching soul soundscapes and the lamenting voice of Diane Charlemagne, this beautiful-yet-brutal piece of sonic art switched an entire generation on to the power of jungle and D&B."[34]
Accolades
Year | Publisher | Country | Accolade | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
1995 | NME | United Kingdom | "50 Best Songs of 1994"[35] | 11 |
1996 | Mixmag | United Kingdom | "End of Year Lists: 1996"[citation needed] | 34 |
1999 | Spin | United States | "The Top 20 Singles of the 90s"[36] | 9 |
2004 | IDJ | United States | "The 50 Greatest Dance Singles"[citation needed] | 20 |
2005 | Süddeutsche Zeitung | Germany | "1020 Songs 1955-2005"[citation needed] | * |
2010 | Groove | Germany | "Die 100 wichtigsten Tracks der letzten 20 Jahre"[citation needed] | * |
2010 | Musikexpress | Germany | "The 50 Best Songs of the 1990s"[37] | 42 |
2011 | The Guardian | United Kingdom | "A History of Modern Music: Dance"[38] | * |
2013 | Complex
|
United States | "The 15 Best Songs from the Electronica Era"[39] | * |
2013 | Mixmag | United Kingdom | "50 Greatest Dance Tracks of All Time"[40] | 30 |
2013 | Robert Dimery | United States | 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die[31] | * |
2018 | Time Out | United Kingdom | "50 Best '90s Songs"[41] | 23 |
2019 | BBC | United Kingdom | "30 Tracks That Shaped Dance Music Over the Last 30 Years"[42] | * |
2022 | Pitchfork | United States | "The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s"[43] | 125 |
2022 | Rolling Stone | United States | "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time"[44] | 78 |
(*) indicates the list is unordered.
Track listing
- 12"-single, Goldie Presents Metalheads – "Inner City Life" (1994)
- "Inner City Life"
- "Jah"
- 12"-single, Goldie Presents Metalheads – "Inner City Life" (Remixes) (1994)
- "Inner City Life" (Roni Size Instant Mix)
- "Inner City Life" (Nookie Remix)
- Maxi-single, Goldie Presents Metalheads – "Inner City Life" (1994)
- "Inner City Life" (Radio Edit) – 3:50
- "Inner City Life" (Full-Length) – 7:00
- "Inner City Life" (4 Hero Mix Pt. 1) – 8:24
- "Inner City Life" (Roni Size Instant Mix) – 5:47
- CD-single, Goldie – "Inner City Life" (1995)
- "Inner City Life" (Original Version) – 7:00
- "Inner City Life" (Peshay Mix) – 9:41
- "Inner City Life" (Doc Scott Mix) – 8:14
- 12"-single, Goldie vs. Rabbit in the Moon – "Inner City Life" (The Remixes) (1996)
- "Inner City Life" (Rabbit in the Moon's Vocalic City) – 11:20
- "Inner City Life" (Rabbit in the Moon's Escape from Vocalic City) – 7:58
- "Inner City Life" (Rabbit in the Moon's Return to Vocalic City) – 7:06
- Maxi-single, Goldie – "Inner City Life" (The Remixes) (1996)
- "Inner City Life" (Original Edit) – 3:13
- "Inner City Life" (Baby Boy's Edit) – 3:34
- "Inner City Life" (Rabbit's Short Attention Span Edit) – 4:20
- "Inner City Life" (Goes to Miami Mix) – 5:39
- "Inner City Life" (4 Hero Mix Pt. 1) – 8:22
- "Inner City Life" (Rabbit in the Moon's Vocalic City) – 11:20
- "Inner City Life" (Rabbit in the Moon's Escape from Vocalic City) – 7:58
- "Inner City Life" (Peshay Mix) – 9:40
- "Inner City Life" (Baby Boys) – 6:49
- "Inner City Life" (Rabbit in the Moon's Return to Vocalic City) – 7:06
Charts
Chart (1994) | Peak position |
---|---|
Scotland (OCC)[45] | 88 |
49 | |
6 |
Chart (1995) | Peak position |
---|---|
Scotland (OCC)[48] | 47 |
39 | |
17 | |
6 |
Cover versions, samples and remixes
This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2018) |
- German jazz band [Re:jazz] covered "Inner City Life" on their 2004 album, Point of View.
- English rapper Wiley sampled "Inner City Life" on his song "I Need to Be" from the 2008 album, See Clear Now.
- Aaron Jerome and his musical project Sbtrkt sampled the song on the song "Timeless", in 2009.
- It was sampled on "Strictly (Kassem Mosse 'Need to Feel edit' remix)" by Commix in 2010.
- British band Hackney Colliery Band covered "Inner City Life" on their 2013 album, Common Decency.
- British DJ Om Unit sampled "Inner City Life" on his song "Parallel" from the 2014 album, Inversion.
- Goldie remastered the song in 2017.[52]
- In 2020 Goldie announced a project on 25 years of project with interviews, archives, re-masters, remixes and re:jazz version.[53]
References
- ^ "Goldie presents Metalheads — Inner City Life". Melody Maker. 19 November 1994. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "Diane Charlemagne, Vocalist for Moby, Urban Cookie Collective and Goldie, Dies at 51". billboard.com. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^ "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ "What is the greatest dance track of all time?". mixmag.net. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Goldie". redbullmusicacademy.com. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ISBN 9781136783173. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^ "Inner City Life by Goldie feat. Diane Charlemagne". whosampled.com. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^ Robinson, Nick (19 November 1994). "On A&R" (PDF). Music Week. p. 13. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ "Goldie Presents Metalheads Inner City Life". YouTube. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^ Kellman, Andy. "Goldie – The Alchemist: The Best of 1992-2012". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ Flick, Larry (28 September 1996). "Dance Trax: 'The Way It Is' Changes Color Under Chameleon" (PDF). Billboard. p. 30. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ Turner, Ben (1 December 1995). "Dance CDs of the year". p. 20. The Guardian.
- ^ Reynolds, Simon (5 November 1994). "Stone free". Melody Maker. p. 46. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ Manning, Sarra (26 November 1994). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 36. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ Phillips, Dom (3 December 1994). "On The UK Groove Scene" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 49. p. 9. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ Jimenez, Maria (26 November 1994). "Groovemix: Short Grooves" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 48. p. 8. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ Beevers, Andy (5 November 1994). "Market Preview: Dance - Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 14. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ Howe, Rupert (1 August 1995). "Albums" (PDF). Muzik. p. 67. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- NME. p. 19. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- NME. p. 48. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ Reynolds, Simon (23 October 1994). "Tales from the dark side". p. 7. The Observer.
- ^ Beatnik, Brad (22 October 1994). "Hot Vinyl - Tune of the Week" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 6. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ Hamilton, James (12 November 1994). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ Aaron, Charles (May 1995). "Singles Review". Spin: 100. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ Danielsen, Shane (11 December 1995). "CD Guide > Electronic > Goldie: Timeless". p. 13. The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ "Goldie – Inner City Life (1994)". mvdbase.com. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Goldie - Inner City Life (Official Remastered HD Video)". YouTube. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- NME. p. 45. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Rocklist.net...Mixmag lists".
- ^ "Jock On His Box" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 20 July 1996. p. 5. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-84403-770-4 – via Internet Archive.
- Complex. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ "What is the greatest dance track of all time?". mixmag.net. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "50 Best '90s Songs". Time Out. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ "The Top 20 Singles". Spin. Vol. 15, no. 9. New York. September 1999. p. 137. Retrieved 11 February 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Die Hits, an die wir uns gerne erinnern". Musikexpress (in German). No. 650. March 2010. p. 48.
- ^ "A history of modern music: Dance". The Guardian. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- Complex. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "What is the Greatest Dance Track of All Time?". Mixmag. 15 February 2013. Archived from the original on 28 March 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- Time Out London. Archived from the originalon 12 March 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "30 Tracks That Shaped Dance Music Over the Last 30 Years". BBC. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ "The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s". Pitchfork. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
- ^ Dolan, Jon; Lopez, Julyssa; Matos, Michaelangelo; Shaffer, Claire (22 July 2022). "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 27 November 1994 - 03 December 1994". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- ^ "Goldie presents Metalheads". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (04 December 1994 – 10 December 1994)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 05 November 1995 - 11 November 1995". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- ^ "GOLDIE (BAND)". Official Charts. 27 May 1978. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (05 November 1995 – 11 November 1995)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ "Official UK R&B Singles Chart (05 November 1995 – 11 November 1995)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ "Goldie - Inner City Life (2017 Rebuild / Burial Remix)". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ Middleton, Ryan. "Goldie Announces 'Timeless' 25 Year Capsule With Interviews, Remixes, Archival Footage, Remastered Vinyl & More". Magnetic Magazine. Retrieved 27 February 2021.