{{Short description|1995 single by DJ Hixxy and MC Sharkey}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Use British English|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox song | name = Toy Town | version = <!--when a song is a remix/etc and the infobox needs that disambiguation to be noted--> | cover = Toy_Town_Single_Cover_1995.jpg | cover_size = | alt = | border = yes | caption = Single cover | type = single | artist = Hixxy and Sharkey | album = | EP = | language = <!--only if not in English--> | English_title = | A-side = | B-side = | written = | published = | released = 1995<!--{{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}}--> | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = Happy hardcore<ref name="DAZED">{{cite news |last1=Ravens |first1=Chal |title=Happy hardcore will never die: the life of rave's most juvenile subculture |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/48312/1/happy-hardcore-bang-face-weekender-history |access-date=13 April 2024 |work=Dazed |date=11 March 2020 |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201224709/https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/48312/1/happy-hardcore-bang-face-weekender-history |url-status=live }}</ref> | length = * {{Duration|m=4|s=46}} (original version) * {{Duration|m=5|s=02}} (vocal remix) * {{Duration|m=3|s=25}} (radio mix) * {{Duration|m=4|s=42}} (1996 mix) | label = Essential Platinum | writer = Ian Hicks, Jonathan Kneath | composer = | lyricist = | producer = Ian Hicks, Jonathan Kneath | chronology = | prev_title = <!--for a singles chronology--> | prev_year = | prev_version = <!--same as the version param, for the previous song--> | next_title = | next_year = | next_version = <!--same as the version param, for the next song--> | tracks = <!--see "Track listing examples" section for album track listing options--> | misc = <!--for use of {{Extra chronology}}, {{Extra track listing}}, {{Extra album cover}}, {{Audio sample}}, {{External music video}}--> {{External music video|{{YouTube|OXU3E9nRXMA|"Toy Town ('Noddy & Bigears' Mix)"}}}} {{External music video|{{YouTube|_C45hxT4yv4|"Toy Town ('In Ya Face' Mix)"}}|header=no}} }}
"'''Toy Town'''" is a happy hardcore track by British duo Hixxy and Sharkey. Released in 1995, the single was a hit in the UK clubbing scene, peaked at number 24 in the UK dance singles chart, and had a pivotal impact in the UK rave music scene with a move away from breakbeat towards the newer happy hardcore "cheesy" sound.
==History== The track, written and produced by Hixxy and Sharkey, was inspired by the earlier "toytown techno" phase characterised by tracks such as "Charly" by the Prodigy. It starts with a chopped amen break, and goes on to feature "sugar sweet" vocals, a "bouncy kick" and an "ultra-cheesy stab pattern". It has elements of hip hop, house, gabba and techno. Playing at the high tempo characteristic of the "speedrush" of the genre, by the end of the track it has been described as going towards "unstoppable mania".<ref name="DAZED"/><ref name="DJMAG"/><ref name="note"/><ref name = "slippy"/><ref name="Radar">{{cite web |title=The beginners guide to: hardcore |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-beginners-guide-to-hardcore |website=Music Radar |access-date=14 April 2024 |date=1 September 2021 |archive-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210201213/https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-beginners-guide-to-hardcore |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 1994, it became a club "anthem", and following release on the Essential Platinum label in 1995 it peaked at number 24 in the UK Dance Singles official chart and sold {{circa|5,000}} copies.<ref name="DJMAG"/><ref name = "slippy">{{cite news |last1=Wyburn |first1=Claire |title=Born Slippy |url=https://archive.org/details/muzik024_may_1997/page/n59/mode/2up?q=ToyTown |access-date=13 April 2024 |work=Muzik |date=May 1997 }}</ref><ref name="OCC"/> The reception of the track was divided, with both support and detraction. MC Magika stated it "was a fork in the road" that "almost destroyed the scene in its current form".<ref name="vice"/> On the one hand it was considered a "breath of fresh air" due to the lack of breakbeats, that appealed to a newer generation, but on the other many found the sound to be "cheesy".<ref name="note">{{cite web |last1=S |first1=Ian |title=Gone To A Rave #35: High On A Happy Vibe - The Rise And Fall Of Hardcore - Ransom Note |url=https://www.theransomnote.com/music/playlists/gone-to-a-rave-35-high-on-a-happy-vibe-the-rise-and-fall-of-hardcore/ |website=The Ransom Note |access-date=13 April 2024 |date=19 August 2021 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202083610/https://www.theransomnote.com/music/playlists/gone-to-a-rave-35-high-on-a-happy-vibe-the-rise-and-fall-of-hardcore/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The "juvenile" hardcore sound, being high tempo with pitched vocals and catchy choruses and samples, had been expected to herald the "death of rave" but the success of the track was cited as opposing evidence.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Billboard illustrated encyclopedia of music |date=2003 |publisher=Billboard Books |isbn=0823078698 |page=320 |url=https://archive.org/details/billboardillustr0000unse_v0o4/page/320/mode/2up?q=ToyTown}}</ref>
The "cult" success of the track led to interest from the React record label. As a result, Hixxy and Sharkey were signed to the label to create the ''Bonkers'' hardcore compilation series, which went on to have at least 19 releases from 1996 to 2009, achieving both chart and sales success even if not attaining the critical cachet of "cooler" sounds. "Toy Town" was the first track on the first compilation.<ref name="DJMAG">{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Joe |title=Happy hardcore will never die: An ode to the Bonkers series - DJ Mag |url=https://djmag.com/content/happy-hardcore-will-never-die-ode-bonkers-series |access-date=13 April 2024 |work=DJ Mag |date=10 March 2019 |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201713/https://djmag.com/content/happy-hardcore-will-never-die-ode-bonkers-series |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Radar"/><ref name="vice">{{cite news |last1=Hodgson |first1=Jaimie |title='Why Don't We All Go Bonkers?' – The Rise and Fall of Happy Hardcore |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/happy-hardcore-history-trivia-slipmatt-dougal-hixxy-sharkey/ |access-date=13 April 2024 |work=Vice |date=20 July 2021 |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201712/https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvzy5z/happy-hardcore-history-trivia-slipmatt-dougal-hixxy-sharkey |url-status=live }}</ref>
In a 2011 retrospective article BBC Radio 1 DJ Kutski stated that the track is a "classic" and "the definition of the UK hardcore sound".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kutski |title=Snap, Crackle....Drop! #5 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/blogparty/2011/05/snap-crackledrop-5.shtml |website=BBC |access-date=13 April 2024 |date=27 May 2011 |archive-date=16 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216001524/https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/blogparty/2011/05/snap-crackledrop-5.shtml |url-status=live |author1-link=Kutski }}</ref>
==Track listing== * "Toy Town" ('Noddy & Bigears' Mix) - (6:13) * "Toy Town" ('In Ya Face' Mix) - (5:16) * "Toy Town" (Bass-D, F. Noize and Potato Remix) - (3:23)
==Charts== {| class="wikitable" |+ "Toy Town" charting |- ! Chart !! Year !! Peak position |- | UK Dance Singles<ref name="OCC">{{cite web |title=TOY TOWN – DJ HIXXY & MC SHARKEY - Official Charts |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/dj-hixxy-mc-sharkey-toy-town/ |website=Official Charts Company |access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref> || 1995 || <div style="text-align: center;">24</div> |}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Discogs master}} * {{AllMusic}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1995 singles Category:1995 songs Category:Happy hardcore songs