March 22, 2007
Video Hangover: "Firestarter"
Twice a week, we dig in the archives for videos that we find noteworthy, memorable, or just unbelievably stupid. And then, we break 'em down for you. Why Video Hangover? Because when you watch as many videos as we do, you're going to feel it afterwards.
"Firestarter"
The Prodigy, 1996
A few things to consider while you’re trying to figure out what a "self-inflicted mind-detonator" is...
Diddy should probably be on this list as well
Although some people understandably mistook him for a proper frontman, Anglophiles and dance-music connoisseurs knew Keith Flint was only moonlighting as a vocalist. In fact, Mr. Flint was the latest in a long and distinguished line of interpretive dancers, which includes the Happy Monday’s immortal (literally -- he should have died about 50 times by now) Bez and 23 out of the 147 people in Arrested Development.
We’ll see you all in 2013 at the Propellerheads reunion
Ah, Big Beat, we remember you fondly. For many techno-phobic Americans, “Firestarter” was their first exposure to so-called electronica music, which was all the rage across the pond but never quite caught on in the States (unless you count movie soundtracks and car ads). The Prodigy had a much more diverse (and influential) career than someone like Fatboy Slim, but all of the DJ-based bands of the era got lumped together into a giant, post-Nirvana ball of who-gives-a-crap. Well, we did. And we bet some of you did, too. But perhaps it’s too soon for nostalgia. What’s the turnaround on musical trends? 15 years? How long will we have to wait until bands start trying to sound less like The Talking Heads, and more like, say, Chemical Brothers circa “Exit Planet Dust”?
Confession: We are terrified of zombies of any ethnic background
It seems almost quaint now, but back in the day “Firestarter” was, if not "scary," exactly, then at least one of those videos we preferred to watch with the lights on. This list included, among others: "Closer", “Stink Fist"; and "Thriller." And we're only a little bit ashamed to admit it.
The Prodigy were so fucking badass. And I still love the reverse-mohawk...
Posted by: Charlie at March 22, 2007 11:57 AMI'd love to hear Beavis & Butthead's excitement with the title and letdown when no actual fire presents itself in the video.
Posted by: mattshu at March 22, 2007 12:16 PMThis video's still fun but "Smack My Bitch Up" is still one of the best videos ever made. Best Prodigy song as well. I wish these guys would return to form. We need them now more than ever and that last album was absolute shite.
Posted by: Mr. Negative at March 22, 2007 12:29 PMI totally feel you on "Closer". I can (now) fondly recall being a teenager very stoned and completly alone and watching MTV in the middle of the night and being very creeped out. Creepy song, creepy video.
Posted by: Carl at March 22, 2007 12:50 PMThis video makes me jones for a cage match between Keith Flint and Sufjan Stevens. Two men (ahem) enter, one man leaves.
That would be sweet.
Posted by: sparky at March 22, 2007 1:00 PMI saw them live right after that album. Those guys wore those same scary personas on stage and at one point came out into the audience. I was genuinely frightened!
Posted by: Scott at March 22, 2007 3:25 PMso is video hangover in addition to 'yo mtv crap" or is this another new category??
Posted by: nick at March 22, 2007 4:15 PMthis still kicks the "white boy pain" like only the prodigy can.
how do you dance to this?? this is music to kick people in the teeth too.
or seethe.
good seething music!
one shot of flame would have made this video much better.
like the people say "smack my bitch up" is the second best video ever made.
yo MTV crap got hit with a YO MTV lawyer letter i am thinking.
Posted by: mxpink at March 22, 2007 10:46 PMMTV can cram its lawyer letter right up Kurt Loder's adult-diapered stinkhole. It's called parody and it's a protected form of free speech. Under the fair use doctrine spelled out in Title 17, Chapter 1, § 107 of the U.S. copyright code.
Try to remember that when you're cleaning up the puddle after big, bad Viacom makes an unsubstantiated claim against you.
Posted by: hit the books at March 23, 2007 4:42 AMI'm lucky enough to share a small town with the Prodigy guys (well i was until Liam Howlett gained a showbiz wife) and they are very nice people. I still see Keith Flint every now and again, last time I saw him he was riding a large Harley Trike :D
Posted by: Ben at March 23, 2007 6:54 AM