TheProdigy

hows this for a bit of musical paranoia: The Singaporean Government is using "Smack my Bitch Up" as background music for a choreographed naval boat display during their upcoming National Day Parade.....Singapore, a country that fines performers $10,000 for every instance of swearing onstage, who are looking to incarcerate and fine a local artist for putting whimsical stickers on a pedestrian crossing button, who have the DEATH penalty for drug offences, who have a "Speaker's Corner" in a park in town that is supposed to encourage free speech, but only if you submit the remarks you wish to make to the government for approval first.

They even edited the song so you don't hear the first yell of "Smack my Bitch Up!", there is a clatter of synth drums right over the vocal.

So did the Singaporeans buy the song, in which case, i'll never listen to the Prodigy again, or did the government steal it, in which case, what are the prodg going to do about it? even lady gaga had the metaphorical balls (bigger than her literal balls) to stand up and say no when they tried to use one of her songs last year....

You do realise they have previously played in Singapore ?


The shit will really hit the fans when they release "Steal A Jet Fighter"

do u think the prodigy are aware what the singaporean goverment (or any other goverment in that matter) is doing with their music? I would say, not really...

i am no expert, but FOTL came out on XL records (?), so they may not have entire control of what it is used for - that's the problem with labels. you write music but then it's not yours to use. which is why they would have set up their own label methink...

It's a 15 year old song, if someone wants to edit it out then it's up to them, I can't see lawyers going after them these days as it was released on XL recordings.

ratbagpuss wrote:


Over-reaction of the century right there.

It's difference between sold out music and sold out yourself.
And many years ago The Prodigy played at fashion show, so for someone like you it have to be finish of their of their existence...

sold out wat lol its the public bought there stuff

No, i hope not. You cant stop music being used a lot the time, they may not be aware or couldnt do much. Maybe someone will? As for XL and smack, TMTTH have all the rights to The prodigy now, I thought the deal was that way when they all 3 set up ragged flag records in 2007....

EDIT- PRODIGY ONLY HAVE HAD COPYRIGHT SINCE 'FIRST WARNING' WARNING AND PREVIOUS 2006 MATERIAL (SMACK) IS ALL XL WHO COULD SELL IT TO ANYONE

I love Norwegian copyright laws. The songwriters own the rights. Always. ^^

I've heard The Prodigy in tons of situations like this, and in most cases it's either no fee (due to length of the clip used - on TV/radio/public etc) or a simple one-time or per-play/minute payment in cases of cuts longer than 30 secs (?) In most countries, you need permition only to re-release the material in any form (remixes, covers etc), without me claiming to be an expert on international copyright laws.

And I don't see it as selling out if XL/Liam/the boys have given permition to such a use of a tune. To dance to the flute of a suit-wearing record label exec. would be selling out. Liam never done such a thing, as far as I've noticed. Probably one of the reasons they made TMTTH under Cooking Vinyl.

i don't think the lads have sold out,just don't know nothing about it.

liamhowlett1 wrote:


It is a wee bit confusing I don't really get it I don't believe the guys will ever sell out, they have principles and proper values. You can't control everyone around you can you?

I agree PS.it is confusing about the situation.i do not believe for one minute they would sell out,with your comments about proper values and principles.totally agree

Yes Howlett....check 1

How does this topic even remotely matter?