Connected (Stereo MCs Song)

"Connected" is a song by British hip hop/electronic music group Stereo MC's. It is the title track of their third studio album, and was released in September 1992 as the album's lead single. The song samples "Let Me (Let Me Be Your Lover)" by Jimmy "Bo" Horne and peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. Internationally, it peaked within the top 10 of the charts in Austria, Sweden and Switzerland, and peaked within the top 20 of the charts in Belgium, Finland and the United States. The song appeared in the movie ''Hackers'', and it was the theme to the Rob Lowe programme ''Dr. Vegas'' (2004).

Production

The song uses a bassline sampled from Jimmy "Bo" Horne's song "Let Me (Let Me Be Your Lover)".QC And Post Production Duplicates by Marty Munsch (CPI)

Critical reception

Larry Flick from ''Billboard'' described the song as "an instantly insinuating hiphop/funk workout. A shuffling groove supports cool horns and a contagious chorus that is phattened by nifty femme vocal chants. In its current form, "Connected" is a sturdy precursor to an evening or a fine way to wind down into daylight." In 1993, Flick commented that the track, a "mid-tempo retro-funk affair", "has been making inroads with urban-minded DJs for several weeks now. "The song 'Connected' is about human beings and the lack of connection there is between anything today," and member NickHallam says. "It's about the way everyone tries to categorize everything. The way every race is trying to separate from each other."

Per Reinholdt Nielsen from ''Gaffa'' wrote that it "is a clever lesson in funk. The number is extremely simple. A great sound sampled from half a beat KC and the Sunshine Band pulls back, while Owen If whips the drums forward. Three chorus girls, rapper Rob Birch and various samples decorate the landscape, but it is the sucks of the "two rhythm groups" that lock Connected into the memory and body of the defenseless listener." Pan-European magazine ''Music & Media'' stated that it is a "sure hit" and noted further "the new female vocalists shining over expressive rich grooves." Alan Jones from ''Music Week'' said in his review of the ''Connected'' album, that "the introductory single Connected, with its pulsing bass, and slick femme harmonies is fairly typical of the fare here, with what raps there are well-couched and friendly." Victor Haseman from ''The Stanford Daily'' commented that the Stereo MC's "have made stitching their patchwork quilt of Euro-electro pop, hip-hop and house their top priority, tirelessly pushing it in new directions". Bill Lamb from ''ThoughtCo'' said the song "is propelled by a catchy but downbeat atmospheric brand of hip-hop."

Chart performance

"Connected" was a major hit on the charts in several countries, and is the group's most successful song to date. In Europe, it climbed into the top 10 in Austria, Sweden and Switzerland, and the top 20 in Belgium, Finland and the United Kingdom. In the latter, the single peaked at number 18 in its second week at the UK Singles Chart on 27 September 1992. It stayed at that position for two weeks. Additionally, "Connected" went to the top 30 in France, and on the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached the top 40, at number 36 in January 1993. Outside Europe, the song made it to number seven on the Canadian ''RPM'' Dance/Urban chart, number 15 on the US ''Cash Box'' Top 100, number 20 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, number 24 in New Zealand and number 47 in Australia.

Impact and legacy

'' Paste'' placed the song at number eight in their list of "25 Awesome One-Hit Wonders of the 1990s" in 2011.

In 2014, the track was listed as number 322 in the German magazine ''Musikexpress'' ranking of the 700 best songs of all-time.

''The Daily Telegraph'' ranked "Connected" number 34 in their "Top 50 Dance Songs" list in 2015.

''BuzzFeed'' put the song at number 82 in their list of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s" in 2017.

''ThoughtCo'' listed the song at number 65 in their list of "The Best 100 Songs from the 1990s" list in 2018.

Use in other media

The song appears in the movie ''Saving Silverman'' as well as ''Hackers''. It has also been used in commercials promoting the USA Network's program '' Burn Notice'', and by The Carphone Warehouse.

"Connected" was used in the reveal trailer of the upcoming video game '' Crime Boss: Rockay City''.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Connected" was directed by Matthew Amos.

Track listings

* CD maxi – Germany, United Kingdom
#"Connected" (edit) – 4:05
#"Connected" (full length) – 5:16
#"Disconnected" – 6:06
#"Fever" – 3:15

* 7" single
#"Connected" (edit) – 3:59
#"Fever" – 3:15

* 12" maxi – Germany, United Kingdom
#"Connected" (full length) – 5:12
#"Connected" (reprise) – 1:43
#"Disconnected" – 6:04
#"Fever" – 3:15

* 12" maxi – Promo – France
#"Connected" (Future Sound of London mix) – 6:19
#"Disconnected" – 6:04

* US promo cassette
:''Side A''
#"Connected" (edit)
:''Side B''
#"Step It Up"
#"Don't Let Up"
#"Ground Level"

Charts

References

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1992 songs
1992 singles
Island Records singles
Stereo MCs songs
Funk songs