The Boomtang Boys

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The Boomtang Boys
Origin Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres Electronic, dance
Years active1991–present
MembersTony Grace
Rob DeBoer
Past membersPaul Grace

The Boomtang Boys are Canadian dance-remix musicians and music producers. [1] They are known for both their remix work and pop-dance music, in particular their singles "Squeeze Toy" and "Movin' On", which both topped the Canadian Singles Chart.

Contents

History

The Boomtang Boys first came together in 1991 as a music production group. [2] The group created dance-friendly remixes of familiar songs, as well as produced music for a number of musicians and bands, including the Juno-awarded Deeper Shade of Love by Camille. [3]

Their debut album, Greatest Hits Volume One, was released in 1999 [1] and produced the hit "Squeeze Toy" [4] [5] as well as "Pictures", both performed by Kim Esty. Greatest Hits did well in Canada, achieving gold status in sales. The single "Popcorn" appeared on the RPM dance chart in 1999. [6] The group also produced "The Hampsterdance Song", a track based on the Hampster Dance meme; the song reached number one on Nielsen SoundScan's Canadian Singles Chart in mid-2000. [7] "Squeeze Toy" and "Movin' On", a single from 2002, topped this chart as well. [8] [9] They also served as executive producers of Hampsterdance: The Album (2000).

In addition to their own recordings, they are known for several remixes for artists such as the Philosopher Kings, Bif Naked, Econoline Crush and Kim Stockwood. They are still active and involved in a number of production and remix projects. Members Tony Grace and Rob DeBoer also tour internationally as the jazz ensemble Four80East.

Paul Grace died on August 7, 2019, at the age of 63. [10]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
CAN
Greatest Hits Volume One23
Wet
  • Release date: October 15, 2002
  • Label: Virgin Music Canada
  • Formats: CD
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

YearSongChart peakAlbum
CAN
[11]
CAN
Dance
1999"Popcorn" (featuring Fred) [2] 10Greatest Hits Volume One
"Squeeze Toy" (featuring Kim Esty)105
"Pictures" (featuring Kim Esty)23
2000"Both Sides Now"23
2002"Movin' On"1Wet
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Related Research Articles

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"The Hampsterdance Song" is a novelty song by Hampton the Hampster. The song's hook is based on a sped-up sample of "Whistle-Stop", a song from the 1973 Disney film Robin Hood. This sample was originally used for a 1998 web page called the Hampster Dance, created by Canadian art student Deidre LaCarte. Using the web page's popularity as a springboard, she and a Toronto native, Jeffery Lane, worked together with Canadian remix duo the Boomtang Boys to create a full song out of the sample. Due to licensing issues with Disney, Rob DeBoer and Tony Grace of the Boomtang Boys re-recorded the sample and added new lyrics.

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"Squeeze Toy" is a song by Canadian music production team the Boomtang Boys featuring vocals from Canadian Eurodance singer Kim Esty. Written by group members Rob DeBoer, Tony Grace, and Paul Grace, it was released in March 1999 as the second single from their first studio album, Greatest Hits Volume One. The song topped the Canadian Singles Chart for four weeks and became a top-10 radio hit, peaking at number 10 on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. A French-language version of the song titled "Mon joujou" was also recorded, featuring vocals from Diane DiVito.

References

  1. 1 2 Larry LeBlanc (September 11, 1999). "Boomtang Boys' Hit 'Toy' Drives Virgin Debut Canadian Sales". Billboard . p. 95.
  2. 1 2 Larry LeBlanc (September 12, 1998). "Virgin's busy Boomtang Boys step out". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 73–. ISSN   0006-2510.
  3. "Want a dance-floor hit? Call these guys ; Boomtang Boys best known for 'Squeeze Toy' but they do so much more". Toronto Star - Toronto, Ont. August 19, 1999, Page: 1
  4. "The Boomtang Boys Greatest Hits, Vol. 1". AllMusic Review by Heather Phares
  5. "Boomtang Boys Interview". The Celebrity Cafe, November 29, 2000
  6. "RPM Dance/Urban 30". RPM Magazine, Volume 68, No. March 19, 1, 1999
  7. "Hits of the World: Canada". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 29. July 15, 2000. p. 66.
  8. "The Boomtang Boys Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  9. "Hits of the World: Canada". Billboard . Vol. 114, no. 14. April 6, 2002. p. 56.
  10. "Paul Grace of Canada's The Boomtang Boys Dies at 63". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  11. "Boomtang Boys". RPM Weekly. July 17, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2021 via Library and Archives Canada.