Strike It Up

"Strike It Up"
Single by Black Box
from the album Dreamland
Released 6 February 1991[1]
Format
Recorded 1990
Studio The Record Classics
(Italy)
Genre Eurodance[2]
Length
  • 5:17 (album version)
  • 3:29 (radio edit)
Label Polydor
Songwriter(s)
  • Mirko Limoni
  • Daniele Davoli
  • Valerio Semplici
Producer(s) Groove Groove Melody
Black Box singles chronology
"The Total Mix"
(1991)		 "Strike It Up"
(1991)		 "Open Your Eyes"
(1991)

"The Total Mix"
(1991)		 "Strike It Up"
(1991)		 "Open Your Eyes"
(1991)
Music video
"Strike It Up" on YouTube
Alternative cover
CD maxi - Megaremix

"Strike It Up" is a song by the Italian band Black Box. It was the sixth single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in 1991 in many countries worldwide.

The song was a success on many charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, where it peaked at number 8. It also topped the Hot Dance Club Play in June 1991 for one week. In the UK, it peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.[3]

Critical reception

Billboard wrote about the song: "Not even the litigation alleging Martha Wash is the actual singer of group's hits can cool interest in this Italo-house act. Busy rave bears marks similar to previous hits, with a cute (and uncredited) rap adding a street vibe."[4]

The Gavin Report wrote: "Their first international hit, "Everybody Everybody," crept up and took everybody by surprise. Back in the batter's box with a dynamic Dance entry featuring the exceptional vocals of Martha Wash, they jump 24-15 at HOT 97 New York where APD/MD Kevin McCabe proclaims it, "one of our secret weapon records."[5]

Controversy

The song features an un-credited Martha Wash on lead vocals. However, Wash was not featured in the music video or singles cover art as it was customary for Katrin Quinol, a French model, to be used as the 'face' of the group, and it was her that was featured lip-synching the lyrics sung by Wash.[6] In 1990, after suing over false advertising, Wash reached an out-of-court settlement with Black Box record label RCA, with financial compensation and a guarantee of proper credit in the future.[7]

Track listings

7" single
  1. "Strike It Up" (DJ Lelewel mix) – 5:05
  2. "Strike It Up" (sensitive mix) – 3:35
12" maxi
  1. "Strike It Up" (original mix) – 5:58
  2. "Strike It Up" (DJ Lelewel mix) – 5:05
  3. "Strike It Up" (hardcore remix) – 3:20
CD maxi
  1. "Strike It Up" (radio edit) – 3:30
  2. "Strike It Up" (sensitive mix) – 3:35
  3. "Strike It Up" (original mix) – 5:58
  4. "Strike It Up" (hardcore remix) – 3:20
12" maxi - Megaremix
  1. "Strike It Up" (DJ Lelewel mix) – 5:05
  2. "Strike It Up" (hardcore mix) – 3:18
  3. "Ride on Time" (the bright on mix) – 4:28
  4. "Strike It Up" (sensitive mix) – 3:35
CD maxi - Megaremix
  1. "Strike It Up" (DJ Lelewel mix)
  2. "Ride on Time" (bright on mix)
  3. "Strike It Up" (hardcore mix)
  4. "Strike It Up" (sensitive mix)

Chart performance

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Ultratop.be – Black Box – Strike It Up" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  2. ↑ Birchmeier, Jason. "Culture Beat – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 16 February 2014. Along with other Euro-dance hits from the early '90s -- Snap's "Rhythm Is a Dancer," 2 Unlimited's "Get Ready for This," Black Box's "Strike It Up" -- it took some time before "Mr. Vain" broke in the U.S.
  3. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  4. ↑ Flick, Larry (2 March 1991). "Single Reviews > Dance" (PDF). Billboard. p. 77.
  5. ↑ Sholin, Dave (29 March 1991). "Personal Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 1849. p. 60. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2009). Top Pop Singles 1955-2008 (12th ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 97. ISBN 0-89820-180-2.
  7. ↑ Pareles, Jon (6 December 1990). "Lawsuits Seek Truth In Music Labeling". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Black Box – Strike It Up". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  9. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Black Box – Strike It Up" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 1525." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  11. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1564." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 19. 11 May 1991. p. 19.
  13. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 16. 20 April 1991. p. 29. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  14. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Black Box – Strike It Up" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  15. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Black Box – Strike It Up". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  16. ↑ "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 31. 3 August 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  17. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Strike It Up". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  18. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Black Box - Strike It Up" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  19. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Black Box – Strike It Up" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  20. ↑ "Charts.nz – Black Box – Strike It Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  21. 1 2 3 4 "Black Box – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  22. ↑ "CASH BOX Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending JUNE 29, 1991". Cash Box. 27 August 2012. Archived from the original on 27 August 2012.
  23. ↑ "RPM Dance Tracks of 1991". RPM. Vol. 55 no. 3. Library and Archives Canada. 21 December 1991. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  24. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  25. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1991" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  26. ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1991". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
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