{{short description|1994 single by the Prodigy}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{About|the Prodigy single|3=Voodoo (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox song | name = Voodoo People | cover = Voodoo People 01.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = [[the Prodigy]] | album = [[Music for the Jilted Generation]] | released = {{start date|1994|9|12|df=y}} | recorded = 1994 | studio = [[Essex]], [[England]] | genre = * [[Techno]] * [[breakbeat]] * [[breakbeat hardcore]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/music-for-the-jilted-generation-mw0000622674|title=Music for the Jilted Generation - The Prodigy | Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=4 November 2019}}</ref> | length = 6:27 (album version) | label = [[XL Recordings|XL]] | writer = [[Liam Howlett]] | producer = Liam Howlett | prev_title = [[No Good (Start the Dance)]] | prev_year = 1994 | next_title = [[Poison (Prodigy song)|Poison]] | next_year = 1995 | misc = {{Extra album cover | header = Alternate cover | type = single | cover = Voodoo People 02.jpg | border = yes | alt = | caption = US cover }} }}
"'''Voodoo People'''" is a song by British [[electronic music]] group [[the Prodigy]], released on 12 September 1994 as the third single from their second studio album, ''[[Music for the Jilted Generation]]'' (1994), and as their eighth single overall. It was both written and produced by group member [[Liam Howlett]] and released as a [[12-inch]] single and in [[Extended play|EP]] format in the United States in 1995 through [[Mute Records]]. The guitar riff, based on "[[In Utero|Very Ape]]" by [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]], is played by Lance Riddler.<ref>{{cite book |last=Moy |first=Ron |year=2015 |title=Authorship Roles in Popular Music: Issues and Debates |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rabwCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA101|isbn=9781317672746 |page=101|publisher=Routledge }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=James |first=Martin |year=2015 |title=Dave Grohl - Times Like His: Foo Fighters, Nirvana & Other Misadventures |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lya3DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT8|isbn=9781784187637 |page=8|publisher=Bonnier Zaffre }}</ref> The accompanying music video was directed by [[Walter Stern (director)|Walter Stern]] and Russell Curtis and filmed in [[Saint Lucia]].
==Critical reception== Spence Dookey from the ''[[Gavin Report]]'' remarked that "Voodoo People" "unleashes fiery fuzztronics that blaze and smolder amidst autobahn speed chase rhythms and red alert sirens."<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Spence Dookey|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/95/Gavin-1995-03-10.pdf|title=Gavin Alternative: New Releases|magazine=[[Gavin Report]]|date=10 March 1995|page=61|access-date=20 January 2023}}</ref> British columnist [[James Masterton]] wrote, "The new single has little of the commercial charm or potential of that last hit ('[[No Good (Start the Dance)]]'), but its a creditable chart performance nonetheless."<ref>{{cite web|last=Masterton|first=James|title=Week Ending September 24th 1994|url=https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1994/week-ending-september-24th-1994|website=Chart Watch UK|date=18 September 1994|accessdate=8 September 2021|author-link=James Masterton}}</ref> Calvin Bush from ''[[Melody Maker]]'' commented, "It's official. The Prodigy are a feral [[Led Zep]] for the Nineties, swamping psychedelic [[techno]] with the bluesiest of [[Jungle music|jungle]] rhythms and ruff-metal riffing. DJs who don't road-test this should be pitied for their petty snobbery."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Calvin|last=Bush|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53242841577/|title=Stone free|magazine=[[Melody Maker]]|date=27 August 1994|page=45|access-date=8 October 2023}}</ref> Another ''Melody Maker'' editor, Ian Gittins, felt it "is jungle almost bereft of The Prodigy's normal bubblegum quota but will doubtless smack into the upper reaches of the chart regardless."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Ian|last=Gittins|url=https://flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53273241645/|title=Singles|magazine=[[Melody Maker]]|date=17 September 1994|page=35|access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref>
Maria Jimenez from ''[[Music & Media]]'' complimented it as a "superb [[Breakbeat|break-beat]] track".<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Maria |last= Jimenez |title= Short Grooves |magazine= [[Music & Media]] |volume= 11 |issue= 41 |date= 8 October 1994 |page= 11 |access-date= 15 March 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-10-08.pdf}}</ref> Andy Beevers from ''[[Music Week]]'' gave it a full score of five out of five and named it Pick of the Week in the category of Dance, adding that "this is one of their most accessible tracks with its rock guitar riffs and flute flurries."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Andy |last= Beevers |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-09-10.pdf |title= Market Preview: Dance - Pick of the Week |magazine= [[Music Week]] |date= 10 September 1994 |page= 21 |access-date= 19 April 2021}}</ref> [[Dele Fadele]] from ''[[NME]]'' felt that "Voodoo People" "likens the [[Rave music|rave]] scenario to a black magic ritual. With the Prodigy as [[witchdoctor]], of course."<ref>{{cite web|first= Dele |last= Fadele |title= The Prodigy – Music for the Jilted Generation |url= http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000315reviews.html |work= [[NME]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20000623034757/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000315reviews.html |access-date= 24 November 2020|archive-date= 23 June 2000 |author-link= Dele Fadele}}</ref> Another ''NME'' editor, [[Iestyn George]], called it "a mean piece of breakbeat techno with jungle overtones" that serves as the "perfect appetiser" from the album.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Iestyn|last=George|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53280870820/|title=Singles|magazine=[[New Musical Express|NME]]|date=24 September 1994|page=39|access-date=24 October 2023|author-link=Iestyn George}}</ref> Brad Beatnik from the ''[[Record Mirror|RM]]'' Dance Update wrote, "It's a sort of [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]]-goes-hardcore and the result is a brilliant slice of uncompromising yet defiantly commercial techno."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Brad |last= Beatnik |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-08-20.pdf |title= Hot Vinyl |magazine= [[Music Week]], in [[Record Mirror]] (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= 20 August 1994 |page= 8 |access-date= 19 April 2021}}</ref> Another ''RM'' editor, [[James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)|James Hamilton]], described it as "psychedelic guitar and flute prodded flurrying tribal techno" in his weekly dance column.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Hamilton |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-09-17.pdf |title= Dj directory |magazine= [[Music Week]], in [[Record Mirror]] (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= 17 September 1994 |page= 6 |access-date= 19 April 2021 |author-link= James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}}</ref> English [[pop-punk]] duo [[Shampoo (duo)|Shampoo]] reviewed the song for ''[[Smash Hits]]'', giving it a score of three out of five.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=[[Shampoo (duo)|Shampoo]]|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/54029074866/in/album-72177720320691403|title=New Singles|work=[[Smash Hits]]|date=14 September 1994|page=54|access-date=6 October 2024}}</ref>
==Music videos== The original music video for "Voodoo People", directed by [[Walter Stern (director)|Walter Stern]] and Russell Curtis, was filmed on location in [[Saint Lucia]], an [[island country]] in the eastern [[Caribbean]], and featured [[Leeroy Thornhill]] as a [[Haitian Vodou|voodoo]] priest. This version included scenes featuring real [[witch doctor]]s, but these were cut because of problems with television censorship. A number of other more graphic versions of the video are available, one of them appearing in the Prodigy's ''Electronic Punks'' documentary.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}} It was released in late July 1994 and was inspired by voodoo-related films such as ''[[Live and Let Die (film)|Live and Let Die]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-06-18.pdf#page=12|title=Promos In Production|magazine=[[Music Week]]|date=18 June 1994|page=12|access-date=8 June 2025}}</ref> "Voodoo People" was a Box Top on British music television channel [[The Box (British and Irish TV channel)|The Box]] in October 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-10-22.pdf|title=Station Reports: The Box/London|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=43|date=22 October 1994|page=27|access-date=16 December 2025}}</ref> Same month, it received "prime break out" rotation on [[MTV Europe]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-10-22.pdf|title=Station Reports: MTV Europe|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=43|date=22 October 1994|page=27|access-date=16 December 2025}}</ref>
==Remixes and covers== The song has been covered by [[Refused]] and British funk band 6ix Toys as well remixed by [[Pendulum (drum and bass band)|Pendulum]] (see [[Voodoo People / Out of Space|Voodoo People (Pendulum Remix)]]) and other known and less known artists such as [[Eskimo (artist)|Eskimo]], Alvaro and [[Shayning]]. Croatian [[cello]] duo [[2Cellos]] have recorded an instrumental version for their album ''[[In2ition (album)|In2ition]]'' and have been performing it live on their subsequent tour.
==Track listing== '''UK 12-inch vinyl''' {{Track listing | headline = Side one | all_writing = | title1 = Voodoo People | note1 = Original Mix | length1 = 6:28 | title2 = Voodoo People | note2 = Haiti Island Remix | length2 = 5:22 }} {{Track listing | headline = Side two | title1 = Voodoo People | note1 = [[The Chemical Brothers|Dust Brothers]] Remix | length1 = 5:56 | title2 = Goa (The Heat the Energy Part 2) | length2 = 6:04 }}
'''US 12-inch vinyl'''
{{Track listing | headline = Side one | all_writing = | title1 = Voodoo People | note1 = [[The Chemical Brothers|Dust Brothers]] Remix | length1 = 5:56 | title2 = Voodoo People | note2 = Original Mix | length2 = 6:28 }}
{{Track listing | headline = Side two | title1 = No Good (Start the Dance) | note1 = [[CJ Bolland]] Museum Remix | length1 = 5:14 | title2 = Speedway (Theme from Fastlane) | note2 = [[Kris Needs|Secret Knowledge]] Remix | length2 = 10:26 }}
'''Benelux CD single'''
{{Track listing | all_writing = | title1 = Voodoo People | note1 = Edit | length1 = 4:05 | title2 = Voodoo People | note2 = [[The Chemical Brothers|Dust Brothers]] Remix | length2 = 5:56 }}
'''CD single'''
{{Track listing | all_writing = | title1 = Voodoo People | note1 = Edit | length1 = 4:05 | title2 = Voodoo People | note2 = [[The Chemical Brothers|Dust Brothers]] Remix | length2 = 5:56 | title3 = Goa (The Heat the Energy Part 2) | length3 = 6:04 | title4 = Voodoo People | note4 = Original Mix | length4 = 6:28 }}
'''North American EP'''
{{Track listing | title1 = Voodoo People | note1 = Edit | length1 = 4:07 | title2 = Voodoo People | note2 = [[The Chemical Brothers|Dust Brothers]] Remix | length2 = 5:56 | title3 = No Good (Start the Dance) | note3 = CJ Bolland Museum Remix | length3 = 5:13 | title4 = Rat Poison | length4 = 5:31 | title5 = Speedway (Theme from Fastlane) | note5 = Secret Knowledge Remix | length5 = 10:25 | title6 = Voodoo People | note6 = Haiti Island Mix | length6 = 5:25 | title7 = Voodoo People | note7 = Original Mix | length7 = 6:26 }}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! Chart (1994–1995) ! Peak<br />position |- {{single chart | Australia | 24 | artist=The Prodigy | song=Voodoo People | rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart | Flanders | 26 | artist=The Prodigy | song=Voodoo People | rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=41|page=14|date=8 October 1994}}</ref> | 20 |- !scope="row"|Finland ([[Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref name="Book">{{cite book|first= Timo |last= Pennanen |year= 2006 |title= Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |language= fi |edition= 1st |publisher= Tammi |isbn= 978-951-1-21053-5 |location= Helsinki}}</ref> | 1 |- {{single chart | Ireland2 | 7 |artist=The Prodigy | rowheader=true | access-date=26 September 2020}} |- {{single chart | Dutch40 | 14 | artist=The Prodigy | song=Voodoo People | rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart | Dutch100 | 20 | artist=The Prodigy | song=Voodoo People | rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart | Scotland | 14 | date=19940924 | artist=The Prodigy | song=Voodoo People | rowheader=true | access-date=6 March 2023}} |- {{single chart | Sweden | 32 | artist=The Prodigy | song=Voodoo People | rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart | Switzerland | 36 | artist=The Prodigy | song=Voodoo People | rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart | UK | 13 | date=19940924 | artist=The Prodigy | song=Voodoo People | rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart | UKdance | 6 | date=19940924 | artist=The Prodigy | song=Voodoo People | rowheader=true | access-date=6 March 2023}} |- !scope="row"|[[Record Mirror Club Chart|UK Club Chart]] (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-09-03.pdf|title=The ''RM'' Club Chart|magazine=[[Music Week]], in [[Record Mirror]] (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=3 September 1994|page=6|accessdate=20 May 2023}}</ref> | 35 |} {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! Chart (2005) ! Peak<br />position |- !scope="row"|Canada ([[Canadian Singles Chart|Nielsen SoundScan]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-prodigy/chart-history/cns/|title=The Prodigy Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref> | 10 |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! Chart (1994) ! Position |- !scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.top40web.nl/jaarlijsten/jr1994.html|title=Jaarlijsten 1994|publisher=Stichting Nederlandse Top 40|language=nl|access-date=30 November 2019}}</ref> | 131 |- !scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=1994 – Singles|magazine=[[Hit Music]]|page=31|date=7 January 1995}}</ref> | 168 |} {{col-end}}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Prodigy|title=Voodoo People|award=Platinum|relyear=2005|certyear=2024|id=15938-772-1|access-date=1 March 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Prodigy|title=Voodoo People/Out of Space|award=Silver|relyear=2005|certyear=2016|id=13673-772-1|access-date=6 March 2023|note="Voodoo People" / "[[Out of Space]]"}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |12 September 1994 |{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}} |[[XL Recordings|XL]] |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-09-10.pdf|title=Single Releases|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=29|date=10 September 1994|access-date=18 August 2021}}</ref> |- !scope="row" rowspan="2"|Australia |19 September 1994 |{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD}} |rowspan="2"|{{hlist|XL|Dance Pool}} |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Release Summary – Product Available from : 19/09/94: Singles|magazine=[[The ARIA Report]]|issue=240|page=21|date=19 September 1994}}</ref> |- |21 November 1994 |Cassette |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases – Product Available from : 21/11/94: Singles|magazine=The ARIA Report|issue=249|page=20|date=20 November 1994}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{The Prodigy}} {{The Chemical Brothers}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1994 singles]] [[Category:1994 songs]] [[Category:Dance Pool singles]] [[Category:Music videos directed by Russell Curtis]] [[Category:Music videos directed by Walter Stern]] [[Category:Number-one singles in Finland]] [[Category:Songs written by Liam Howlett]] [[Category:The Prodigy songs]] [[Category:XL Recordings singles]]