Maximum Overdrive (song)

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"Maximum Overdrive"
Maximum Overdrive.jpg
Artwork for continental European and Australian releases
Single by 2 Unlimited
from the album No Limits!
Released8 November 1993
Recorded1993
GenreEurodance
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Phil Wilde
  • Jean-Paul De Coster
2 Unlimited singles chronology
"Faces"
(1993) 		"Maximum Overdrive"
(1993) 		"Let The Beat Control Your Body"
(1994)
Music video
"Maximum Overdrive" on YouTube
UK cover

"Maximum Overdrive" is a song recorded by Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited, released in November 1993 as the fourth single from their second album, No Limits!. The UK release was the first UK single to maintain all the rap lyrics from Ray used in the European release. It reached number 15 in the UK top 40 in late 1993. The song was also a number-one hit in Finland and on the European Dance Radio chart by Music & Media.

Critical reception[]

Music writer James Masterton stated in his weekly UK chart commentary, "In as much as it is possible to classify things like this, 2 Unlimited are the most successful dance act ever."[1] In Pan-European magazine Music & Media's review of No Limits!, they noted the song as a "potential single", and added "with a racing car breaking all speed limits."[2] Alan Jones from Music Week commented, "He raps, she sings, the music ponds in typical pop/rave style...yes, the usual 2 Unlimited hallmarks are present and correct, though melodically this is perhaps the weakest single they've released yet. Even so, this will probably scrape into the Top 10."[3] James Hamilton from the magazine's RM Dance Update described it as "typical rapped and chanted revving techno-pop".[4]

Chart performance[]

The release scored chart success in many European countries, topping the chart in Finland as well as Music & Media's European Dance Radio chart. It peaked at number 2 in Portugal and Spain. And at number 4 in Belgium and number 5 in the Netherlands. On MTV's European Top 20, it reached number 3. The single was also a top 20 hit in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and the UK. In the latter, the single peaked at number 15 in its second week at the UK Singles Chart, on 21 November 1993.[5] "Maximum Overdrive" stormed into the Eurochart Hot 100 on November 28 at number 19 and peaked three weeks later at number 7. Outside Europe, it went to number 32 in Australia.

Airplay[]

"Maximum Overdrive" entered the European airplay chart Border Breakers at number 19 on 14 November 1993 following crossover airplay in North West-Europe. It peaked at number 5 on 18 December.[6]

Music video[]

A music video produced to promote "Maximum Overdrive", directed by British director David Betteridge. He also directed the videos for "Get Ready for This", "Twilight Zone", "Workaholic" and "The Magic Friend". The concept of the video is described as a Wacky Races style chase with rivals on skateboards and pogo sticks. It was released on November 8, 1993.[7] In December 2013, it was also published on YouTube. The video has received more than 300,000 views as of September 2021.

Track listings[]

Charts[]

References[]

  1. ^ Masterton, James (November 14, 1993). "Week Ending November 20th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  2. ^ "New Releases: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 22. May 29, 1993. p. 14. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  3. ^ Jones, Alan (November 6, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 14. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  4. ^ Hamilton, James (November 13, 1993). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  5. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 75 21 November 1993 - 27 November 1993". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  6. ^ "Border Breakers: Monitoring The Impact Of Euro Talent" (PDF). Music & Media. November 19, 1994. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  7. ^ "Promos In Production" (PDF). Music Week. October 30, 1993. p. 14. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Maximum Overdrive", in various Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 15, 2008)
  9. ^ "Ultratop.be – 2 Unlimited – Maximum Overdrive" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  10. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. December 18, 1993. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  11. ^ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. January 29, 1994. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  12. ^ Billboard: Hits of the World, January 15, 1994
  13. ^ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de Archived January 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  14. ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved February 15, 2008)
  15. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – 2 Unlimited – Maximum Overdrive" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  16. ^ "Top 10 Portugal" (PDF). Music & Media. December 11, 1993. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  17. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  18. ^ UK Singles Chart Everyhit.com (Retrieved February 15, 2008)
  19. ^ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 20, 1993. p. 24. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  20. ^ "Single top 100 over 1993" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  21. ^ "jaaroverzichten 1994" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  22. ^ "1994 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. December 24, 1994. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  23. ^ "Jaarlijsten 1994" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved November 29, 2019.

External links[]

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