"Playing with Knives" is a song by British electronic dance music group Bizarre Inc. It was their second single released through Vinyl Solution (their fourth single overall), as well as their second single to be written and produced as a trio. It is also the first single from their debut full-length album, Energique (1992). The song originally reached number 43 in the UK Singles Chart in March 1991.[3] It was re-released later the same year and peaked at number four in the UK charts. In 1999, the song was released for a third time, charting at a peak of number 30.
Ned Raggett from AllMusic found that the song "has a wonderful squelching lead hook, leading into the mid-song shift to vocals and piano effortlessly."[4]Larry Flick from Billboard noted that it "spills industrial/acid keyboard noises on top of a fast-paced house groove". He added, "Nice contrast comes via occasional disco strings and diva wailing. Totally wild."[5]James Hamilton from Music Week complimented the track as a "frantic exciting rave".[6] Mandi James from NME felt that it showed "their scope, imagination and innate skill for pure pop songs".[7] Another editor, James Brown, wrote, "Token Techno track for people who prefer twisting and rolling at the hips to lying between the sheets listening to Peel. And a fine sound it is too."[8] Richie Blackmore from Record Mirror viewed it as a "furious piano-techno workout" that "is certainly at the cutting edge of current trends".[9] Marc Andrews from Smash Hits commented, "Throbbing "basslines" laced with meaningless phrases and there you have it. But just try sitting still when it's played at your next tea dance."[10]
Impact and legacyedit
NME ranked "Playing with Knives" number 14 in their list of "Singles of the Year" in December 1991.[11]
Clubbing magazine Mixmag ranked the song number 24 in its "100 Greatest Dance Singles Of All Time" list in 1996.[12]
Same year, English DJ Tall Paul chose the song as one of his Top 10 tracks, saying, "I don't know why this hasn't been reissued yet. I've seen so many bootlegs. It's just waiting to be brought out again."[13]
"Playing with Knives" uses vocal samples from the 1990 house track "Shelter Me" by Circuit. Later in 1991, Circuit released a remix of "Shelter Me" known as the Retaliation Mix, which itself samples the acid bassline from "Playing with Knives".
The American/British act Blue Pearl used the song as their basis for their 1991 single "(Can You) Feel the Passion," which went on to be a bigger hit in the United States, reaching number one on Billboard'sDance Club Songs chart in 1992. The group mentions "Playing with Knives" in the chorus.
^"Spirit of Ecstasy - Various Artists - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
^Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "Bassline Changed My Life: Dance Music". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 674. ISBN978-0-571-28198-5.
^"Official Singles Chart Top 100". UK Singles Chart. 17 March 1991. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
^Raggett, Ned. "Bizarre Inc. – Energique". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
^Flick, Larry (1 June 1991). "Dance Trax: Giving 'Peace' A Spin; Irma Sets Up Shop In N.Y." (PDF). Billboard. p. 31. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
playing, with, knives, song, british, electronic, dance, music, group, bizarre, their, second, single, released, through, vinyl, solution, their, fourth, single, overall, well, their, second, single, written, produced, trio, also, first, single, from, their, d. Playing with Knives is a song by British electronic dance music group Bizarre Inc It was their second single released through Vinyl Solution their fourth single overall as well as their second single to be written and produced as a trio It is also the first single from their debut full length album Energique 1992 The song originally reached number 43 in the UK Singles Chart in March 1991 3 It was re released later the same year and peaked at number four in the UK charts In 1999 the song was released for a third time charting at a peak of number 30 Playing with Knives Single by Bizarre Incfrom the album EnergiqueA side Playing with Knives Quadrant Mix B side Plutonic Released19911999 remixes Recorded1991 Out of the Blue Studios Manchester GenreTechno 1 Breakbeat hardcore 2 Length6 46 Quadrant Mix 3 22 radio edit video version 3 19 1999 version radio edit LabelVinyl SolutionSongwriter s Andrew Meecham Dean Meredith Carl TurnerProducer s Bizarre IncBizarre Inc singles chronology Bizarre Theme X Static 1991 Playing with Knives 1991 I m Gonna Get You 1992 Music video Playing with Knives on YouTube Contents 1 Critical reception 2 Impact and legacy 3 Sampling and covers versions 4 Track listings 5 Charts 5 1 Weekly charts 5 2 Year end charts 6 References 7 External linksCritical reception editNed Raggett from AllMusic found that the song has a wonderful squelching lead hook leading into the mid song shift to vocals and piano effortlessly 4 Larry Flick from Billboard noted that it spills industrial acid keyboard noises on top of a fast paced house groove He added Nice contrast comes via occasional disco strings and diva wailing Totally wild 5 James Hamilton from Music Week complimented the track as a frantic exciting rave 6 Mandi James from NME felt that it showed their scope imagination and innate skill for pure pop songs 7 Another editor James Brown wrote Token Techno track for people who prefer twisting and rolling at the hips to lying between the sheets listening to Peel And a fine sound it is too 8 Richie Blackmore from Record Mirror viewed it as a furious piano techno workout that is certainly at the cutting edge of current trends 9 Marc Andrews from Smash Hits commented Throbbing basslines laced with meaningless phrases and there you have it But just try sitting still when it s played at your next tea dance 10 Impact and legacy editNME ranked Playing with Knives number 14 in their list of Singles of the Year in December 1991 11 Clubbing magazine Mixmag ranked the song number 24 in its 100 Greatest Dance Singles Of All Time list in 1996 12 Same year English DJ Tall Paul chose the song as one of his Top 10 tracks saying I don t know why this hasn t been reissued yet I ve seen so many bootlegs It s just waiting to be brought out again 13 Alexis Petridis writing for The Guardian in 2020 ranked the Quadrant Mix of Playing with Knives at number 13 in his list of his 25 best early 90s breakbeat hardcore tracks 14 Sampling and covers versions edit Playing with Knives uses vocal samples from the 1990 house track Shelter Me by Circuit Later in 1991 Circuit released a remix of Shelter Me known as the Retaliation Mix which itself samples the acid bassline from Playing with Knives The American British act Blue Pearl used the song as their basis for their 1991 single Can You Feel the Passion which went on to be a bigger hit in the United States reaching number one on Billboard s Dance Club Songs chart in 1992 The group mentions Playing with Knives in the chorus Parts of the song were sampled in the 1994 hit dance single The Rhythm of the Night by Corona In 2006 Big Bass vs Michelle Narine remixed it as What you do Playing With Knives In 2014 the song s sample was used in the single Got to Be Good by Peter Gelderblom and Randy Colle In 2015 a sample appeared in Ruffnek by FineArt Elements of the song can be heard in the chorus hook of the Pet Shop Boys 2016 single The Pop Kids The piano riffs was sampled in RatPack s 2017 track Got To Have Your Love English musician Shygirl sampled the song in her single TASTY Track listings edit1991 release STORM 25 Playing with KnivesA1 Playing with Knives Quadrant Mix B1 Playing with Dub B2 Strings 1991 release STORM 25R Playing with Knives The Climax A1 Playing with Knives The Climax B1 Playing with Knives Love 91 B2 Playing with Knives Quadrant Radio Mix 1991 re release STORM 38 Playing with Knives PlutonicA Playing with Knives Quadrant Mix B Plutonic 1999 re release VC01 Playing with Knives1 Playing with Knives Radio Edit 2 Playing with Knives Tall Paul Mix 3 Playing with Knives Dillon and Dickins Mix 4 Playing with Knives Tarrentella Mix 5 Playing with Knives Al Scott Mix Charts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1991 PeakpositionUK Singles OCC 4UK Dance Music Week 15 1Chart 1999 PeakpositionUK Singles OCC 30UK Dance OCC 16 1 Year end charts edit Chart 1999 PositionUK Club Chart Music Week 17 20References edit Spirit of Ecstasy Various Artists Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic AllMusic Retrieved 26 August 2017 Stanley Bob 13 September 2013 Bassline Changed My Life Dance Music Yeah Yeah Yeah The Story of Modern Pop Faber amp Faber p 674 ISBN 978 0 571 28198 5 Official Singles Chart Top 100 UK Singles Chart 17 March 1991 Retrieved 11 November 2016 Raggett Ned Bizarre Inc Energique AllMusic Retrieved 8 November 2020 Flick Larry 1 June 1991 Dance Trax Giving Peace A Spin Irma Sets Up Shop In N Y PDF Billboard p 31 Retrieved 11 October 2020 Hamilton James 16 February 1991 Dance PDF Music Week p 8 Retrieved 3 October 2020 James Mandi 31 October 1992 Albums NME p 34 Retrieved 13 March 2023 Brown James 23 March 1991 Singles NME p 16 Retrieved 16 April 2023 Blackmore Richie 6 April 1991 Dj Directory Record Mirror p 30 Retrieved 11 December 2022 Andrews Marc 13 November 1991 Review Singles Smash Hits p 51 Retrieved 20 October 2020 Singles of the Year NME 21 December 1991 Retrieved 2 May 2023 The 100 Greatest Dance Singles of All Time Mixmag 1996 Retrieved 10 October 2020 Jock On His Box PDF Music Week in Record Mirror Dance Update Supplemental Insert 6 July 1996 p 5 Retrieved 5 September 2021 Petridis Alexis 27 August 2020 The greatest hardcore rave tracks ranked The Guardian Top 60 Dance Singles PDF Music Week 16 March 1991 p 20 Retrieved 27 September 2020 Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company Most Broadcast of 1999 Club Chart Top 50 of 1999 PDF Music Week 22 January 2000 p 32 Retrieved 24 April 2022 External links editPlaying with Knives at Discogs list of releases BIZARRE INC at The Official UK Charts Company Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Playing with Knives amp oldid 1198774363, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
