Technotronic
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Technotronic is a Belgian House Music act formed by American-born Jo Bogaert (real name Thomas de Quincy) in the late eighties. Together with Ya Kid K (Manuela Kamosi), he wrote the hit single Pump Up The Jam which was originally intended as a one-off club song. Bogaert and Kamosi parted ways shortly after recording the song, and an image for the act was put together utilizing Zaire-born fashion model Felly as its album and single cover art and "singer" in the music video.
The song became an unexpected international smash, eventually hitting #2 on the Hot 100 in late 1989/early1990, becoming the first major house music record to break through to the pop mainstream. This success led to the recording of Pump Up the Jam - The Album (which featured additional tracks by Ya Kid K and MC Eric) as well as appearances on Saturday Night Live and a live opening-act slot for Madonna. It was at this time that Kamosi stepped forward as Technotronic's real singer.
A follow-up single Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over) also hit the Top 10 in many countries, including the US, and the album eventually climbed into the Top 10 of the Billboard 200.
In 1990 Kamosi also rapped on the single Spin That Wheel, performed by Hi Tek 3 for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie soundtrack.
Three years after their initital success, the song Move This (also featuring Kamosi) from their debut album became popularized via its use in a Revlon television commercial and became their third Top 10 hit in the United States. With renewed interest in the album, it was repackaged in 1992 with the same tracklisting, but this time featuring Ya Kid K on the cover.
So far, Technotronic has sold approximately 14 million albums.
Singles and Billboard Chart Placings
- 1989 "Pump Up the Jam" (as "Technotronic featuring Felly") (Hot 100 #2, Dance/Club Play #1)
- 1990 "Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over)" (as "Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K") (Hot 100 #7, Dance/Club Play #2)
- 1990 "This Beat Is Technotronic" (as "Technotronic featuring MC Eric") (Dance/Club Play #3)
- 1990 "Rockin' Over the Beat" (Hot 100 #95)
- 1992 "Move This" (as "Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K") (Hot 100 #6)
- 1995 "Move It To the Rhythm" (as "Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K") (Hot 100 #83, Dance/Club Play #3)
Albums
- 1989 "Pump Up the Jam: the Album"
- 1990 "Trip On This: the Remixes"
- 1995 "Recall"
