Boombastic (song) explained

Boombastic
Cover:Boombastic Shaggy.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Shaggy
Album:Boombastic
B-Side:"In the Summertime" (remix)
Genre:
Length:
  • 4:10 (original version)
  • 3:52 (Sting International remix)
Label:Virgin
Producer:Shaggy
Prev Title:In the Summertime
Prev Year:1995
Next Title:Why You Treat Me So Bad
Next Year:1996

"Boombastic" or "Mr. Boombastic" is a song by Jamaican musical artist Shaggy, released in May 1995 by Virgin Records as the second single from his third studio album, Boombastic (1995). The song was both produced and co-written by Shaggy. After being used in an ad for Levi's, it achieved commercial success in many countries, including Ireland, UK, Sweden, New Zealand, and Australia, where it topped the singles charts. It spent a week at number one on both the US Billboard R&B chart and the UK Singles Chart. It also reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The track contains a sample from King Floyd song "Baby Let Me Kiss You".[1] A remix featuring Sting International, which features a sample of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On", was released in January 1996. The latter is featured on some versions of the Boombastic album as a bonus track.

Chart performance

"Boombastic" was a major hit all over the world, becoming Shaggy's most successful song to date. It peaked at number one in Australia, El Salvador, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, and the UK, where it topped the UK Singles Chart in September 1995. In Europe, the song entered the top 5 also in Austria (2), Belgium (4), Denmark (2), Finland (2), Germany (2), Iceland (4), the Netherlands (4), Norway (2), Spain (3), and Switzerland (3). In France, it was a top-10 hit (7). On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Boombastic" also reached number one in November 1995. In the US, the song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100. In Canada, it reached number eight on the RPM Dance/Urban chart.

"Boombastic" earned a Gold record in Austria (25,000), France (250,000) and Germany (250,000), while receiving a Platinum record in Australia (70,000), New Zealand (10,000), Norway (10,000), the UK (600,000), and the US (1,200,000).

Critical reception

"Boombastic" received mainly favorable reviews from music critics. AllMusic editor David Jeffries viewed the song as "pivotal" for the musician.[2] Larry Flick from Billboard noted that it "jerks about with a hypnotic groove that owes as much to hip hop and rave/pop as it does to traditional island music. Shaggy's toasting is quite friendly to mainstream pop ears, and he masterfully twists and bends the chorus. Primed for immediate picking by jeep listeners, smoking track comes in two radical versions that are designed to lure both street kids and their more mature counterparts."[3] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel declared it as "a confident come-on" driven by the singer's "gravelly purr". He added that it's "making a deeper mark on the American psyche. Unfortunately for Shaggy, the song sounds more like a summer novelty hit than a trendsetting milestone."[4] Heidi Siegmund Cuda from Los Angeles Times felt "Boombastic" "is by far this summer’s most enchanting radio tune."[5] David Hemingway from Melody Maker deemed it "ragga ordinaire".[6] A reviewer from Music Week gave the track four out of five, stating that being used in the latest Levi's ad, it's "guaranteeing the Shagster another UK smash with this slo-mo pop ragga which samples Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On"."[7] John Kilgo from The Network Forty declared it a "reggae/rap masterpiece".[8]

Johnny Cigarettes from NME said, "As chat-up lines go this is so simple, it's brilliant, basically saying 'I'm really rather fantastic in bed, pet, would you like to have intercourse?' As a pop record, however, it is spectacularly boring, like Shabba Ranks' little brother doing toasting practice while he's getting the piano tuned up."[9] Gerald Martinez from New Sunday Times found that "with sparse, hypnotic backing, Shaggy's boastful rapping carries the song."[10] A reviewer from People Magazine opined that the album "is more like the real reggae thing", and "the raw title song is the style's most uncompromising Top 10 trip yet."[11] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update described it as "gruffy twiddly-diddled".[12] Al Weisel from Rolling Stone viewed it as "a stripped-down dub masterpiece, a percussive cacophony of samples, sound effects and a clanging piano. Shaggy's baritone growl oozes a sexuality that recalls both the dance-hall swagger of Shabba Ranks and theatrical self-deprecation of ska king Prince Buster."[13] Mark Sutherland from Smash Hits gave "Boombastic" two out of five, calling it a "gruff, grinding ragga-lite" track.[14] David Sinclair from The Times described it as "an entertaining tribute to the singer's boundless sex appeal", noting Shaggy's "mischievous glee, the Rs rolling off his tongue like the purr of a big cat." He added, "Set to a plonking, one-note piano riff and minimalist reggae beat, "Boombastic" is one of those feelgood dance records that seems to conjure a special magic out of thin air. Like the hero in the ad, it will be flying out of shops everywhere."[15]

Retrospective response

Bill Lamb from About.com said Shaggy "exhibits oodles of personal charm alongside the funky grooves" of "Boombastic", naming it one of the best songs from 1990s.[16] Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger said the musician is "the benevolent monarch of this world, giving a comical, flirtatious, crowd-tickling performance, his army of mechanical instruments dancing in and out of his phrasing. His main trick here is using his voice like a yo-yo, winding his vowels out on "rohhhhhh-" before he flicks the word back "-mantic!"."[17]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Boombastic" features Shaggy performing in and outside an old house, surrounded by dancing women and flickering lights.[18]

Track listings

United Kingdom

  1. "Boombastic" (7-inch Original Edit) – 3:52
  2. "Boombastic" (StoneBridge Vocal Remix) – 5:59
  1. "Boombastic" (7-inch Original Edit) – 3:52
  2. "Boombastic" (StoneBridge Vocal Remix) – 3:52
  3. "Boombastic" (Wag Ya Tail Remix) – 4:19
  4. "Boombastic" (Firefox & 4Tree BassBoom Remix) – 6:32
  5. "Boombastic" (Sting vs. Shaggy Remix) – 5:59
  6. "Boombastic" (Boom the Dancehall Dub) – 6:05
  1. "Boombastic" (7-inch Original Edit) – 3:52
  2. "Boombastic" (StoneBridge Vocal Remix) – 3:52
  3. "Boombastic" (Firefox & 4Tree BassBoom Remix) – 6:32
  4. "Boombastic" (Sting vs. Shaggy Remix) – 5:59
  1. "Boombastic" (7-inch Original Edit) – 3:52
  2. "Boombastic" (Sting vs. Shaggy Remix) – 5:59
  1. "Boombastic" (LP Version) – 4:08
  2. "Boombastic" (StoneBridge Vocal Remix) – 3:52
  3. "Boombastic" (Wag Ya Tail Remix) – 4:19
  4. "Boombastic" (Firefox & 4Tree BassBoom Remix) – 6:32
  5. "Boombastic" (Sting vs. Shaggy Remix) – 5:59
  6. "Boombastic" (Boom the Dancehall Dub) – 6:05
  1. "Boombastic" (Firefox & 4Tree BassBoom Remix) – 6:32
  2. "Boombastic" (Boom the Dancehall Dub) – 6:05

United States

  1. "Boombastic" (LP Version) – 4:08
  2. "Boombastic" (Sting vs. Shaggy Remix) – 4:16
  3. "Boombastic" (Firefox & 4Tree BassBoom Remix) – 6:32
  4. "In the Summertime" – 4:00
  5. "Gal Yu a Pepper" – 4:16
  1. "Boombastic" (LP Version) – 4:08
  2. "Boombastic" (Sting vs. Shaggy Remix) – 4:16
  3. "In the Summertime" – 4:00
  4. "Gal Yu a Pepper" – 4:16
  1. "Boombastic" (LP Version) – 4:08
  2. "Boombastic" (Sting vs. Shaggy Remix) – 4:16
  3. "Boombastic" (Boom the Dancehall Dub) – 6:05
  4. "In the Summertime" – 4:00
  5. "Gal Yu a Pepper" – 4:16

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1995–1996)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[19] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)5
Denmark (IFPI)[20] 2
El Salvador (El Siglo de Torreón)[21] 1
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[22] 1
Europe (European Dance Radio)[23] 5
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[24] 2
France (SNEP)7
Germany (Official German Charts)[25] 2
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[26] 4
Ireland (IRMA)[27] 1
Italy (Musica e dischi)[28] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[29] 4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)1
Norway (VG-lista)2
Scotland (OCC)[30] 2
Spain (AFYVE)[31] 3
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)3

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[32] 28
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[33] 30
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[34] 39
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[35] 3
Europe (European Dance Radio)[36] 14
France (SNEP)[37] 45
Germany (Official German Charts)[38] 26
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[39] 92
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)42
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[40] 28
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[41] 3
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[42] 4
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 34
UK Singles (OCC)[44] 15
US Billboard Hot 100[45] 18
Chart (1996)Position
Australia (ARIA)[46] 16
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[47] 75

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesMay 1995Virgin
United Kingdom11 September 1995[48]
Japan27 September 1995CD[49]

In popular culture

The song was featured in the 2006 animated film Barnyard, sung by the character "Biggie Cheese". Alongside its corresponding scene, the song subsequently became an internet meme about a decade later.[50]

It is also featured in the 2007 comedy film Mr. Bean's Holiday.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shaggy – Boombastic (1995) . 14 October 2016 .
  2. Web site: David. Jeffries. Shaggy / Chaka Demus & Pliers / Aswad - The Very Best of Shaggy, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Aswad. AllMusic. 23 March 2020.
  3. Larry. Flick. Single Reviews. Billboard. 15 April 1995. 3 February 2020. 49. Larry Flick.
  4. Campbell, Chuck (28 July 1995). "Morissette's 'Pill' Is Easy To Swallow". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  5. News: Heidi. Siegmund Cuda. In Brief. Los Angeles Times. 20 August 1995. 22 January 2023.
  6. David. Hemingway. Singles. Melody Maker. 16 September 1995. 32. 13 March 2024.
  7. Reviews: Singles . . 2 September 1995 . 10 . 12 May 2021 .
  8. John. Kilgo. Mainstream: Music Meeting. The Network Forty. 28 July 1995. 20. 2 April 2020.
  9. Johnny. Cigarettes. Singles. NME. 9 September 1995. 44. 11 March 2024.
  10. Gerald. Martinez. Wistful delivery of ironic lyrics. New Sunday Times. 18 February 1996. 15 March 2020.
  11. Picks and Pans Review: Boombastic. People. 14 August 1995. 9 March 2020.
  12. James . Hamilton . Dj directory . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) . 16 September 1995 . 11 . 12 May 2021 . James Hamilton (DJ and journalist).
  13. [Al Weisel|Weisel, Al]
  14. Mark. Sutherland. Singles. Smash Hits. 58. 13 September 1995. 23 April 2020.
  15. Sinclair, David (16 September 1995). "Pop Single; Recordings". The Times.
  16. Web site: Bill. Lamb. The Best 100 Songs From the 1990s. About.com. 7 September 2019. 21 March 2020.
  17. Web site: Tom. Ewing. Shaggy – "Boombastic". Freaky Trigger. 15 July 2013. 6 March 2020.
  18. Web site: Shaggy - Boombastic (Official Music Video) . .
  19. "Boombastic", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved 21 January 2009)
  20. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 12. 44. 23. 4 November 1995. 12 April 2020.
  21. Discos populares en Latinoamérica. El Siglo de Torreón. 9 December 1995. 39. 6 August 2021. es.
  22. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 12. 44. 21. 4 November 1995. 12 April 2020.
  23. European Dance Radio Top 25. Music & Media. 12. 46. 18 November 1995. 30. 26 April 2023.
  24. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 12. 44. 23. 4 November 1995. 23 September 2023.
  25. Web site: Shaggy singles, German Singles Chart . musicline . de . 19 April 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080803223112/http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Shaggy/single . 3 August 2008 . dead .
  26. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (18.11.1995 – 24.11.1995). Dagblaðið Vísir – Tónlist. 3 April 2018. is.
  27. Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved 21 January 2009)
  28. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 12. 44. 21. 4 November 1995. 26 November 2019.
  29. Web site: Single top 100 over 1995 . Top40 . nl . 17 April 2010.
  30. Web site: Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. 9 June 2018.
  31. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st . September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
  32. Web site: 1995 Austrian Singles Chart . Austriancharts . de . 18 April 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100924013357/http://www.austriancharts.at/1995_single.asp . 24 September 2010 .
  33. Web site: 1995 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart . Ultratop . nl . 19 April 2010.
  34. Web site: 1995 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart . Ultratop . fr . 19 April 2010.
  35. 1995 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 12. 51/52. 23 December 1995. 14. 2 December 2019.
  36. 1995 in Review: European Dance Radio 1995. Music & Media. 12. 51/52. 23. 23 December 1995. 7 March 2024.
  37. 1995 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved 30 January 2009)
  38. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. de . GfK Entertainment. 26 November 2019.
  39. News: Árslistinn 1995. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 25. 2 January 1996. 30 May 2020.
  40. Web site: JAAROVERZICHTEN - Single 1995. 4 December 2019. dutchcharts.nl.
  41. Web site: End of Year Charts 1995. Recorded Music NZ. 3 December 2017.
  42. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 1995. Sverigetopplistan. sv. 24 November 2019.
  43. Web site: 1995 Swiss Singles Chart . Swisscharts . de . 18 April 2010.
  44. Top 100 Singles 1995 . . 9 . 13 January 1996.
  45. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1995 . 27 August 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090815124541/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1995 . 15 August 2009.
  46. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1996. ARIA. 10 August 2017.
  47. 1996 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 13. 51/52. 21 December 1996. 12. 19 December 2019.
  48. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 51. 9 September 1995.
  49. Web site: ブンバスティック シャギー. Boombastic Shaggy. Oricon. ja. 22 September 2023.
  50. News: Hathaway . Jay . How the Rapping Mouse From 'Barnyard' Mounted a Meme Comeback . 2 July 2021 . The Daily Dot . 30 November 2016.