Electrify

Album: Hello Nasty (1998)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The main groove in this song - the one with the brass instruments - comes from the song "Company," written by Stephen Sondheim, from the 1970 Broadway musical of the same name. Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys found it on one of his many crate-digging expeditions through used records. "I'd get home and listen to records I had just purchased at a Salvation Army and cry tears of joy after finding just one glorious bar of music to loop over and over," he wrote in the Beastie Boys Book.
  • "Electrify" is one of 22 tracks on Hello Nasty, the fifth of eight Beastie Boys albums. The song finds their three MCs trading lines in their trademark style, keeping up an electric energy as they reach the chorus:

    So can I get a witness to testify?
    Open your eyes, realize, electrify

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.

Dr. John

Dr. JohnSongwriter Interviews

The good doctor shares some candid insights on recording with Phil Spector and The Black Keys.