Emergency on Planet Earth (song)

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"Emergency on Planet Earth"
Emergencyplanetearth.jpg
Single by Jamiroquai
from the album Emergency on Planet Earth
B-side"Revolution 1993 (Demo)"
Released
  • 2 August 1993 (UK)
  • 22 September 1993 (Japan)
Recorded1993
Genre
Length3:34
Label
Songwriter(s)Jay Kay, Toby Smith
Producer(s)Mike Nielsen
Jamiroquai singles chronology
"Blow Your Mind"
(1993) 		"Emergency on Planet Earth"
(1993) 		"When You Gonna Learn"
(1993)

"Emergency on Planet Earth" is a song by the British funk/acid jazz band Jamiroquai, released as the fourth and final single from their debut studio album of the same name. The song was written by Jay Kay, and has a very environmentalist tone, urging the listener to "stop modernisation going on." The track peaked at #14 on the UK Singles Chart, and at #4 on the U.S. Dance Chart.

A remix of the song, which uses a completely different bass track and intro, and includes some changes in the arrangements, was featured on the single, and in the music video for the song. This version was later released on the group's greatest hits compilation, High Times: Singles 1992–2006.

"Emergency on Planet Earth" is in the key of B-flat. Kay's voice in the song ranges in pitch from F4 to Bb5.[1]

Critical reception[]

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "U.K. acid jazz/funk act is given a second shot at stateside acceptance with this house-fried throwdown." He noted, "Remixer Danny Tenaglia lays a crafty groove beneath the song that will work for discerning DJs, but maintains the integrity of the song and vocal. At a time when post-production seems to mean tossing out the entire track and starting all over, this is a nice change of pace. Deserves a shot."[2] Alan Jones from Music Week rated it four out of five. He added, "A cinematic widescreen intro ushers in a typical but slightly more uptempo retro-funk workout, complete with period electronic squelching that lopes purposefully under some fine vocal emoting."[3] James Hamilton from the magazine's RM Dance Update described it as "another uncompromisingly late Seventies style jazz-funk burbler".[4] Also Tony Cross from Smash Hits gave it four out of five, stating that "this is still strong stuff and the message is as important as the music - a green warrior that pop can be proud of."[5]

Music video[]

The music video for the single was directed by W.I.Z.. It features the members of Jamiroquai on a spaceship, resembling the Sith spaceship from Star Wars: A New Hope, receiving a video message from Kay, who is singing and dancing in the middle of nowhere.

Track listing[]

UK CD single[6]
  1. "Emergency on Planet Earth" - 3:39
  2. "Emergency on Planet Earth (Extended Version)" - 4:12
  3. "If I Like It, I Do It (Acoustic)" - 4:26
  4. "Revolution 1993 (Demo)" - 10:19
UK Promo CD[7]
  1. "Emergency on Planet Earth (Album Version)" - 4:07
  2. "Emergency on Planet Earth (Planetary Club Mix)" - 10:31
  3. "Emergency on Planet Earth (London Rican Mix)" - 7:16
  4. "Emergency on Planet Earth (12" Live)" - 4:00

Remixes[]

Charts[]

Chart (1993) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 14
UK Dance Singles (Music Week)[10] 13
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard) 4

References[]

  1. ^ https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0067768
  2. ^ Flick, Larry (28 May 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 51. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  3. ^ Jones, Alan (7 August 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  4. ^ Hamilton, James (7 August 1993). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  5. ^ Cross, Tony (4 August 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 53. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  6. ^ https://www.discogs.com/Jamiroquai-Emergency-On-Planet-Earth/release/263008
  7. ^ https://www.discogs.com/Jamiroquai-Emergency-On-Planet-Earth/release/2376344
  8. ^ https://www.discogs.com/Jamiroquai-Emergency-On-Planet-Earth/release/9100
  9. ^ https://www.discogs.com/Jamiroquai-Emergency-On-Planet-Earth-Masters-At-Work-Remixes/release/9096
  10. ^ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 21 August 1993. p. 24. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
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