Sabotage
| Title | Sabotage |
|---|---|
| Artist | Beastie Boys |
| Album | Ill Communication |
| Release Date | 1994-01-28 |
| Description | This is track 6 on Beastie Boys’ fourth (full-length) studio album, Ill Communication, released 5/31/1994. As the first single, it was released well ahead of the album, on 01/28/1994. In terms of genre, the song is considered rapcore, with traditional rock instrumentation (Adrock on guitar, MCA on bass, and Mike D on drums), turntable scratching, and deeply distorted bass guitar riffs. In the “Beastie Boys Book,” Ad-Rock explains that he jokingly wrote the lyrics about the group’s then-producer, Mario Caldato Jr. He writes, “I decided that it would be funny to write a song about how Mario was holding us all down. How he was trying to mess it all up. Sabotaging our great works of art” (p.365). In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine placed “Sabotage” #480 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In March 2005, Q magazine ranked it at #46 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. VH1’s 100 “Greatest Songs of the 90s” listed it at #19. Pitchfork Media put the song at #39 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s list. The music video played extensively on MTV. “Sabotage" unfolds as the opening credits of a fictional 1970s-style police show, an homage/parody of retro crime drama tv series, such as Hawaii Five-O, The Streets of San Francisco, S.W.A.T., Baretta, and Starsky and Hutch. The band members appear as the show’s characters… Vic Colfari as Bobby, “The Rookie” (Adrock) Alasondro Alegré as “The Chief” (Mike D) Nathan Wind as Cochese (also played by MCA) Sir Stewart Wallace guest-starring as himself (MCA) Fred Kelly as Bunny (DJ Hurricane) source: chadn Directed by Spike Jonze, the video was nominated in five categories at the 1994 MTV Music Video Awards. Here’s some outtakes, set to “Futterman’s Rule.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpXMVCM1lcI “Sabotage” has been performed in 237 known Concerts… And now from the mind of Derek Langille, give it up for Sabotage—uncut—in comic form… |
| Lyrics | [Verse 1] I can't stand it, I know you planned it I'ma set it straight, this Watergate I can't stand rockin' when I'm in here 'Cause your crystal ball ain't so crystal clear So while you sit back and wonder why I got this fuckin' thorn in my side Oh my god, it's a mirage I'm tellin' y'all, it's sabotage [Verse 2] So, so, so, so listen up, 'cause you can't say nothin' You'll shut me down with a push of your button But, yo, I'm out and I'm gone I'll tell you now, I keep it on and on [Verse 3] 'Cause what you see, you might not get And we can bet, so don't you get souped yet Scheming on a thing, that's a mirage I'm trying to tell you now, it's sabotage [Pre-Chorus] Whhhhhyyyyyy (Our backs are now against the wall) [Chorus] Listen all y'all, it's a sabotage Listen all y'all, it's a sabotage Listen all y'all, it's a sabotage Listen all y'all, it's a sabotage [Verse 4] I can't stand it, I know you planned it I'm-a set it straight, this Watergate But I can't stand rockin' when I'm in this place Because I feel disgrace because you're all in my face But make no mistakes and switch up my channel I'm Buddy Rich when I fly off the handle What could it be – it's a mirage You're scheming on a thing, that's sabotageYou might also like |