Born Slippy .NUXX

Last updated

"Born Slippy .NUXX"
Underworld bornSlippyNuxxUS.jpg
Single by Underworld
from the album Trainspotting: Music from the Motion Picture
A-side "Born Slippy"
B-side
  • Darren Price Remix
  • "Banstyle" (Alex Reece Remix)
ReleasedJuly 1995 (original release)
1 July 1996 (single)
Genre
Length11:46 (original release)
9:44 (album edit)
4:25 (single edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Rick Smith
  • Karl Hyde
  • Darren Emerson
Underworld singles chronology
"Pearl's Girl"
(1996)		"Born Slippy .NUXX"
(1996)		"Juanita"
(1997)
Underworldsingles chronology
"Cowgirl"
(1994)		"Born Slippy"
(1995)		"Rowla"
(1996)

"Born Slippy .NUXX" is a song by British electronic music group Underworld. It was released in July 1995 as the B-side to an unrelated instrumental track, "Born Slippy". The fragmented lyrics, by vocalist Karl Hyde, describe the perspective of an alcoholic.

Contents

After it was used in the 1996 film Trainspotting , "Born Slippy .NUXX" was reissued as a single and reached number two on the UK Singles Chart. It has been named one of the best tracks of the 1990s by numerous publications.

Writing

Vocalist Karl Hyde wrote the lyrics for "Born Slippy .NUXX" after a night drinking in Soho, London, hoping to capture the way a drunk "sees the world in fragments". The vocals were recorded in one take; when Hyde lost his place, he would sing the same line repeatedly, creating the line "lager, lager, lager, lager". [2] Hyde, who was struggling with alcoholism, said he did not intend the song to be a "drinking anthem" but rather a "cry for help". He was disturbed when audience members raised their lager cans during performances. [2] Underworld producer Rick Smith said the lyrics reflected "this energy of movement, and of time and place", like an abstract painting. [3]

Release

Underworld released "Born Slippy .NUXX" as the B-side to an unrelated instrumental track, "Born Slippy", in July 1995. [4] It does not feature on an Underworld album, but it was included as a bonus track on reissues of Second Toughest in the Infants (1996).[ citation needed ]

It became a hit after it was used in the 1996 film Trainspotting . [4] Director Danny Boyle described it as the "heartbeat" of the film, capturing its "euphoric highs following intense lows". [4] Underworld initially refused permission to use it in the film, as they disliked how often their music was used in negative portrayals of clubbing, but Boyle persuaded them after showing them a clip. [3]

Boosted by Trainspotting, [3] "Born Slippy .NUXX" reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in 1996. [2] Smith said he was shocked when BBC Radio 1 played the track on breakfast radio, and said: "I thought, music is moving, culture is moving, it's spreading. It's meaning things outside of just the context of on an amazing sound system in a club or on a PA system in a student hall. It was very nice!" [3]

Legacy

AllMusic wrote that "Born Slippy .NUXX" was "simply one of the best slices of electronica one will find. Musically austere in its emotional textures, the song becomes a nearly unstoppable force ... Dance music is rarely so artistic and enjoyable in the same instance." [5] Vice described "Born Slippy .NUXX" as one of one of the 90s' most iconic songs, [3] writing that it "mixed sublime synths with a four-to-the-floor freakout, and represented everything that was going on; it was new." [3] In 2004, it was voted the fourth best dance track by readers of Mixmag . [6] Slant Magazine listed it at number 95 in their ranking of "The 100 Best Singles of the 1990s" in 2011. [7] In 2014, NME named it the 261st greatest song of all time. [8] Pitchfork named it the 31st best track of the 1990s. [9] The Guardian called it, alongside the Chemical Brothers' "Setting Sun", the "most experimental and sonically extreme hit of the 90s". [1] The Guardian also named it among "the weirdest chart hits of all time". [10]

For the film T2 Trainspotting (2017), Smith created a new version with timestretched chords, "Slow Slippy". [3] He said in 2017, "We’ve been playing 'Born Slippy' live for 20 years, and the reaction from the audience is so strong it’s almost overwhelming. It’s never got tiring to perform or play. It’s what it triggers in people." [11]

Track listings

Charts and certifications

"Born Slippy .NUXX 2003"

"Born Slippy .NUXX 2003"
Single by Underworld
Released
  • 16 October 2003 (Japan)
  • 25 November 2003 (UK)
Genre Progressive trance
Length3:58
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Rick Smith
  • Karl Hyde
Producer(s) Underworld
Underworld singles chronology
"Dinosaur Adventure 3D"
(2003)		"Born Slippy .NUXX 2003"
(2003)		"JAL to Tokyo"
(2005)

"Born Slippy .NUXX 2003" is a version of "Born Slippy .NUXX" re-released by Underworld to promote the album 1992–2002 , originally released in 2003. New remixes were commissioned for this release, along with a new video, compiled by Danny Boyle of clips from his film Trainspotting . This release reached No. 1 on the UK Dance Singles Chart during the first week of November 2003.

The 2003 version of ".NUXX" eschews the synth melody, and replaces it with a new piano part, with a chord progression that is present throughout the song, rather than at key moments, like in the original version. The finale of the full length 12-inch version features additional, rapidly arpeggiating piano and keyboard harmonies intersecting as the drum beat eventually fades away.

One of the mixes of the track is extensively used by TV Asahi for their station opening sequence.

Track listings

UK and European CD single [43]

  1. "Born Slippy Nuxx" (2003 edit) – 3:58
  2. "Born Slippy Nuxx" (Atomic Hooligan Remix) – 7:19
  3. "Born Slippy Nuxx" (Paul Oakenfold Mix) – 8:11

European 12-inch single [44]

A. "Born Slippy Nuxx" (2003 12-inch version) – 7:01
B. "Born Slippy Nuxx" (Paul Oakenfold Mix) – 8:11

Charts

Chart (2003–2004)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders) [46] 13
Belgium Dance (Ultratop Flanders) [47] 12
Italy (FIMI) [48] 44
Scotland (OCC) [49] 24
UK Singles (OCC) [50] 27
UK Dance (OCC) [51] 1
UK Indie (OCC) [52] 4
US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) [34] 9

Related Research Articles

<i>Second Toughest in the Infants</i> 1996 studio album by Underworld

Second Toughest in the Infants is the fourth studio album by English electronic music group Underworld, and the second in their "MK2" line-up with Darren Emerson. With this album, Underworld expanded on their progressive palette, while developing their signature sound of abrasive beats and anthemic melodies. The name of the album derives from a comment made by member Rick Smith's six-year-old nephew, Simon Prosser, when asked on his progress at infant school. Second Toughest featured the single "Pearl's Girl". The re-issue featured the band's best known single, "Born Slippy .NUXX".

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References

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  13. ↑ Born Slippy .NUXX (UK CD2 liner notes). Underworld. Junior Boy's Own. 1996. jbo44cds2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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  15. ↑ Born Slippy .NUXX (US 12-inch single sleeve). Underworld. Wax Trax! Records, TVT Records. 1996. TVT 8745-0.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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