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Shadrach (Beastie Boys song)

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"Shadrach"
Single by Beastie Boys
from the album Paul's Boutique
B-side"And What You Give Is What You Get"
ReleasedOctober 30, 1989
Recorded1988
Genre
Length4:08
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Beastie Boys singles chronology
"Hey Ladies"
(1989)
"Shadrach"
(1989)
"Pass the Mic"
(1992)
Music video
"Shadrach" on YouTube

"Shadrach" is a song by American hip hop group Beastie Boys from their second studio album Paul's Boutique (1989). It was released as the album's second single on October 30, 1989, as a 7-inch vinyl backed with the non-album track "And What You Give Is What You Get". Both songs appear on the EP An Exciting Evening at Home with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (1989).

Composition

The song refers to the Biblical story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace in the Book of Daniel. However, the lyrics "Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego" in the track are used and sampled from Sly Stone's "Loose Booty", in which they are repeated and spoken rhythmically throughout the track in an almost rap-like form.[1]

The drum beat is a loop from the song "Hot & Nasty" by Black Oak Arkansas and played by drummer Tommy Aldridge.[citation needed]

In 2012, The Beastie Boys were sued for copyright infringement for sampling "Say What" in the song "Shadrach".[2]

Music video

The video released to promote the Beastie Boys' song was directed by Adam Yauch under his pseudonym Nathaniel Hörnblowér. Utilizing an abstract impressionist style, each frame of the video was hand-painted by animators working for Los Angeles–based animation studio Klasky Csupo.[3] It was later included in the 22nd International Tournée of Animation. The video can be seen on the Beastie Boys Video Anthology DVD compilation released by The Criterion Collection.[4]

They performed a live version of the song on Soul Train in 1990.[5]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Shadrach"4:07
2."And What You Give Is What You Get"3:42

Personnel

References

  1. ^ "Sly And The Family Stone - Loose Booty Lyrics and Info". Sly And The Family Stone Dot Net.
  2. ^ Rimmer, Matthew. 2012. An elegy for Greg Ham: copyright law, the kookaburra case, and remix culture. Deakin Law Review 17.2 385-423.
  3. ^ Melis, Matt (April 22, 2020). "The Genius of the Beastie Boys in 10 Music Videos". Consequence. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  4. ^ "Beastie Boys Video Anthology (2000)". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  5. ^ Beastie Boys - Shadrach (1990). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtEVKO9_ZDY