"King of Snake" is a song by

Underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underwor ...

. It was played live many times in improv versions, then released on two promo-only

12-inch single The twelve-inch single (often written as 12-inch or 12″) is a type of vinyl ( polyvinyl chloride or PVC) gramophone record that has wider groove spacing and shorter playing time with a 'single' or a few related sound tracks on each surfac ...

s. This was the second single released from the album ''

Beaucoup Fish ''Beaucoup Fish'' is the fifth album by Underworld, released in 1999. Following the huge success of the single "Born Slippy .NUXX" from its use in the film '' Trainspotting'', ''Beaucoup Fish'' was Underworld's most anticipated release. It spawn ...

''. The song contained an interpolation of the bassline from the Donna Summer single "

I Feel Love "I Feel Love" is a song by American singer and songwriter Donna Summer. Produced and co-written by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, it was recorded for Summer's fifth studio album, ''I Remember Yesterday'' (1977). The album concept was to have ...

". The single peaked on the UK Singles Chart at number 17.

Track listings

CD : Junior Boy's Own; JBO5008793 (UK) Part 1/2

# "King of Snake (Straight (Mate) Mix)" – 3:51 # "King of Snake (Fatboy Slim Remix)" – 6:56 # "King of Snake (Slam Remix)" – 7:31

CD : Junior Boy's Own; JBO5008798 (UK) Part 2/2

# "King of Snake (Barking Mix) – 3:53 # "King of Snake (Ashley Beedle's Save Our Discos Re-Edit)" – 8:31 # "King of Snake (Dave Clarke Remix) – 6:03 :* "King of Snake (Barking Mix)" (Video)

CD : Junior Boy's Own; JBO5009623 (SE)

# "King of Snake (Straight (Mate) Mix)" – 3:51 # "King of Snake (Fatboy Slim Remix)" – 6:56

CD : Junior Boy's Own; JBO5010853 (IT)

# "King of Snake (Straight (Mate) Mix)" – 3:51 # "King of Snake (Barking Mix) – 3:53 # "King of Snake (Fatboy Slim Remix)" – 6:56 # "King of Snake (Dino Lenny Remix)" – 7:58 # "King of Snake (Coccoluto Remix)" – 8:34 # "King of Snake (Martinez Orchestramix) – 8:04 :* "King of Snake (Barking Mix)" (Video)

CD : Junior Boy's Own; JBO5009573 (AU)

# "King of Snake (Straight (Mate) Mix)" – 3:51 # "King of Snake (Barking Mix) – 3:53 # "King of Snake (Fatboy Slim Remix)" – 6:56 # "King of Snake (Ashley Beedle's Save Our Discos Re-Edit)" – 8:31 # "King of Snake (Slam Remix)" – 7:31 # "King of Snake (Dave Clarke Remix) – 6:03 :* "King of Snake (Barking Mix)" (Video)

CD : V2 Japan; V2CI 49 (JP)

# "King of Snake (Straight (Mate) Mix)" – 3:51 # "King of Snake (Fatboy Slim Remix)" – 6:56 # "King of Snake (Ashley Beedle's Save Our Discos Re-Edit)" – 8:31 # "King of Snake (Dave Clarke Remix) – 6:03 # "King of Snake (Barking Mix) – 3:53 # "King of Snake (Slam Remix)" – 7:31 # "King of Snake (Original Version)" – 8:56 :* "King of Snake (Barking Mix)" (Video)

CD : V2; 63881-27622-2A (US) as part of the '' Beaucoup Fish Singles'' box set

# "King of Snake (Straight (Mate) Mix)" – 3:51 # "King of Snake (Barking Mix) – 3:53 # "King of Snake (Fatboy Slim Remix)" – 6:56 # "King of Snake (Slam Remix)" – 7:31 # "King of Snake (Dave Clarke Remix) – 6:03 :* "King of Snake (Barking Mix)" (Video)

CD : Junior Boy's Own; (UK) promo

# "King of Snake (Rick's Bungalow Mix 7" Edit)" – 4:07 # "King of Snake (Rick's Bungalow Mix)" – 8:53

CD : Junior Boy's Own; JBO5008623P (UK) promo

# "King of Snake (Straight (Mate) Mix)" – 3:51 # "King of Snake (Barking Mix)" – 3:53

12" : Junior Boy's Own; JBO5008796 (UK) Part 1/2

# "King of Snake (Original Version)" – 8:49 # "King of Snake (Ashley Beedle's Save Our Discos Re-Edit)" – 6:03 # "King of Snake (Fatboy Slim Remix)" – 6:56

12" : Junior Boy's Own; JBO5009806 (UK) Part 2/2

# "King of Snake (Rick's Bungalow Remix)" – 8:49 # "King of Snake (Dave Clarke Remix) " – 6:03

12" : Junior Boy's Own; JBO5010856 (IT)

# "King of Snake (Dino Lenny Remix)" – 7:58 # "King of Snake (Fatboy Slim Remix)" – 6:54 # "King of Snake (Coccoluto Mix)" – 8:34 # "King of Snake (Martinez Orchestramix)" – 8:04

12": Junior Boy's Own; JBO5005816P (UK) promo

# "King of Snake (Original Version)" – 8:56 # "King of Snake (Dave Angel Rework)" – 6:54

12": Junior Boy's Own; JBO5005826P (UK) promo

# "King of Snake (Dave Clarke Remix)" – 6:01 # "Kittens" – 7:30

2x12": Junior Boy's Own; JBO5008606P (UK) promo

# "King of Snake (Original Version)" – 8:35 # "King of Snake (Ashley Beedle's Save Our Discos Re-Edit)" – 8:23 # "King of Snake (Fatboy Slim Remix)" – 6:56 # "King of Snake (Slam Remix)" – 7:17

Critical reception

Paul Cooper of Pitchfork gave the single a positive review, writing "I have to wonder if 'King of Snake' is such a smoking choon that nobody--not even that geezer from Adamski--could screw it up. At the moment, unfortunately, these are important singles and consequently about nine dollars apiece. But I assure you, while you might find pretenders of the throne, there is only the one King of Snake."

Charts

Notes

* There were several exclusive releases for this; Ricks Mixes on CD were promo only. * There were three exclusive mixes for Italy released on 12", and CD.

Appearances

* "Shudder / King of Snake" appears on ''

''. * "King of Snake ( Fatboy Slim Remix)" appears in the 2000 film Kevin & Perry Go Large. * "Shudder / King of Snake" appears in the 2010 film Biutiful

References

External links

Underworld discography pages at dirty.orgUnderworldlive.com
{{authority control Underworld (band) songs 1999 singles 1998 songs Songs written by Donna Summer Songs written by Giorgio Moroder Songs written by Pete Bellotte Songs written by Darren Emerson Songs written by Rick Smith (musician) Songs written by Karl Hyde UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles