The rise of Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook, was a sign of the times. With the record industry at its late-’90s apex, the progressive UK music scene was the ideal launchpad for dance music to explode into every avenue of media culture. Under these conditions, Fatboy Slim became an internationally charting platinum-selling artist. The cultural moment also fast-tracked his catchy cuts into feature films like Lost In Space, Go, Cruel Intentions, and video games like FIFA 99 and Gekido: Urban Fighters. Here’s how the artist’s omnipresent ’90s hit “Praise You” harnessed the Roland TB-303 to become a radio and dancefloor sensation.
A Funk-filled Collage
Like the North American release of You’ve Come a Long Way, “Praise You” featured a picture of an impressive vinyl collection as the cover art. This image matched the vibe, as Fatboy Slim produced the song using carefully chosen samples from a plethora of obscure albums. These curated sounds span rock, disco, soul, and R&B from the late 1960s through the early 1980s. Yet the song retains a modern edge with a danceable arrangement and dynamic twists.
The Genius of Juxtaposition
From the intro onwards, “Praise You” relies on the marriage between two key samples: the lead vocal from Camille Yarbrough’s “Take Yo’ Praise” and a wonderfully organic piano chord progression. The latter is culled from the 1973 educational album JBL Sessions. Recorded at Capitol Studios, the Hoyt Axton session demonstrated the recording process, including the track “Balance & Rehearsal,” from which those magic piano chords originate.
Transitions are a fundamental feature of dance music, and Fatboy Slim delivers a master class on “Praise You.” The clever sample looping creates an endlessly sustaining vocal phrase that introduces the rhythm section, lifting the atmosphere. Following the heartfelt, emotional intro, the rest of the sampled band joins the vocal and piano accompaniment, and the mood bubbles with anticipation. Eventually, we receive a signature Fatboy break-beat drum build-up, taking us into the song’s first drop.
"Notice how seamlessly the disparate parts work together—as if the musicians time-traveled to the same studio to perform their parts."
With the groove in full swing, Cook unveils other exciting elements. Notice how seamlessly the disparate parts work together—as if the musicians time-traveled to the same studio to perform their parts. Soon, a funky guitar riff lifted from “It’s a Small World” on Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Disco emerges. Its sparkly fuzz tone matches the audio palette, allowing the vocals to breathe. Furthermore, the guitar figure foreshadows the arrival of the iconic Roland TB-303 acid line after the bridge.
Build It Up, Break It Down
Now that we’re rolling along on the funk train, the song breaks into a bridge utilizing an electric piano sample from Steve Miller Band’s “Lucky Man.” Then, Fatboy Slim hits us with yet another outlandish sample. This time, it’s a vocal cut from the chorus of the Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids theme tune, “Gonna Have A Good Time.” As if from nowhere, the TB-303 rises, panned to the right channel of the mix. Although an electronic sound, it delivers warmth and organic character consistent with the rest of the sonic cast.
As it bubbles up, the timbre and rhythm of the 303 act as a missing puzzle piece, complementing the other sounds. In particular, the guitar riff and the 303 work together, evoking the near-religious euphoria of the rave experience. Before the listener gets too carried away, “Praise You” breaks down again into the main drop with a dramatic filter swell and some deft sample retriggering. To emphasize how “long we’ve come together,” the song reverts to the intro sequence before the lead vocal transforms into a pulsating rhythm pattern.
Finally, the beat crashes back in with full force. When the funk symphony peaks, the TB-303 again takes center stage, unleashing the squelchy high frequencies that defined the warehouse movement. The 303’s futurist edge affirms that we aren’t listening to a mere disco throwback.
"When the funk symphony peaks, the TB-303 again takes center stage, unleashing the squelchy high frequencies that defined the warehouse movement."
We’ve Come a Long Way
“Praise You” was a groundbreaking record from a music production perspective. It also boasted an iconic music video by Spike Jonze and Roman Coppola. The guerrilla production cost less than $1000 and depicted an impromptu performance by the fictional Torrance Community Dance Group. The clip won awards for choreography and direction, effortlessly capturing the song’s joyful essence. Visually and sonically, “Praise You” is a contemporary electronic music landmark, exemplifying how outlandish ideas, with the proper execution, can lead to timeless art.
