Quite possibly the single most controversial piece of electronic
music ever produced. Released by The Prodigy in 1997, the lyrics consist entirely of eight
words sampled from the classic hip-hop track "Give the
Drummer Some." Four of those eight are, well, "smack my bitch up." The song has been interpreted as meaning a variety of things, ranging from shooting heroin to domestic violence to doing things intensely, the last of which is what the band maintains as the actual meaning.
The song was coupled with an equally controversial video, which depicts a wild night of
sex, drugs, and violence from a first-person perspective. However, it was far from mindless- in fact, the video consistently ranks as one of the best ever made, and contains a twist that makes
people rethink their entire interpretation of the song. Personally, I came away from it thinking the song was one big
joke making fun of
people who will dance to anything without caring what the lyrics are, but I'll let you decide for yourself.
Guy #
1: Have you heard that song, "Smack My Bitch Up"?
Girl: OMG, that song is so offensive!
Guy #2: Yeah, but you have to admit, there'
s a lot worse. Just listen to rap
music.
