The tale of the 1989 classic electronic dance hit, “Pump Up the Jam,” might be, depending on how you look at it, either celebratory or sordid. On the one hand, there’s the music, itself. The instantly energetic beat uses timeless elements from the Roland TR-909. But there’s also the odd—at times confusing—backstory behind the music video’s center stage star and the track’s powerful singer.
So, get ready to put on your detective hat and your favorite headphones. It’s time to learn more about the sound (and the story) behind “Pump Up the Jam” by the Belgian band, Technotronic.
A Billion Served
To date, “Pump Up the Jam” boasts more than 183 million YouTube views. Likely, over a billion people have listened to the song. The quintessential dance track, it exudes moxie. The groove calls on the very DNA in each listener’s trillions of cells, beseeching movement, dance, and enjoyment.
"The groove calls on the very DNA in each listener's trillions of cells, beseeching movement, dance, and enjoyment."
“Pump Up the Jam,” the opening track on Technotronic’s Pump Up the Jam: The Album, topped the charts all over the globe. From the U.K., U.S., Belgium, Portugal, Australia, and New Zealand to Canada, Greece, Western-Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain, and Iceland, the record was ubiquitous. It is now certified triple-platinum.
But why is it so popular?
The Secret Formula
The success of “Pump Up the Jam” comes down to three important elements. To begin with, the music is a blend of dance, house, and hip-hop. It’s an amalgam of European sonic sensibilities and American culture. Moody synths mesh with speedy snares and kicks.
Next, the music video features the beautiful Congolese supermodel, Felly Kilingi. Many believed Kilingi to be the song’s singer, but she wasn’t.
Finally, this brings us to the third element that makes this track such a success. The lyrics and verbal delivery of Ya Kid K (born Manuela Barbara Kamosi Moaso Djogi), a Congolese-Belgian rapper.
Lip-Synch Controversy
The prominence of the lip-syncing Kilingi overshadowed Ya Kid K. Indeed, credit to the emcee (who discovered hip-hop while living in Chicago for a spell) was not paid in full. It’s a sad detail of a thrilling story. Yet, Ya Kid K lives on forever in the scintillating track. She even toured with Technotronic when they supported the record.
Immediately, upon hearing the beat, the words stretch out. “Pump up the jam, pump it up!” and “Get your booty on the floor tonight. Make my day!” That vocal hook emblazoned those indelible lyrics on the brains of millions. The words cross genres and continents.
"That vocal hook emblazoned those indelible lyrics on the brains of millions. They cross genres and continents."
A Pioneering House Hit
Boasting sounds from the Roland TR-909, “Pump Up the Jam,” was one of the first U.S. house hits. The song is one of the most sampled in history. Countless DJs have remixed, recalibrated, and remade the track for raves, clubs, and studio sessions. Roland created such foundational sounds that decades later they remain building blocks for new music.
For example, in 2017, Luca Lush remixed “Pump Up the Jam.” The new track has since garnered over one million views on YouTube. Indeed, it helped create yet another career. “Pump Up the Jam” is the musical equivalent of the titular character in The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein’s 1964 classic.
A song like this, with its million-plus views, is one more example of an artist deciding to pump up their own jam. Their hope? Keep the dance floor moving that much longer and that much louder.
