"Tribal Dance" is a song by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited.[2] It was released in April 1993 by Byte, Zyx and PWL from the band's second album, No Limits! (1993). The UK release omits the main rap but leaves in more vocals from band member Ray Slijngaard than any of their previous releases. The single experienced chart success in several countries, topping the charts in Finland, Israel, Portugal and Spain. In North America, the song reached number one on the Canadian RPMDance/Urban chart, while peaking at number seven on the US BillboardHot Dance Club Play chart. The single's music video was directed by Nick Burgess-Jones and filmed in London, depicting the band performing in a jungle setting.
In 1994, the song received an award in the category for "Best Techno 12-inch" at the WMC International Dance Music Awards in the US.[3] In 2004, a new version of the song, titled "Tribal Dance 2.4" was released. It charted in both Austria and Germany, peaking at number 58 and 78.[4]
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The track is written by Phil Wilde, Ray Slijngaard, Xavier Clayton and Filip Martens, and was produced by Wilde with Jean-Paul De Coster. It features a trumpet riff and different kinds of drums throughout the song and the "Say that again" lyric at the start of the track was sampled from the 1985 film Back to the Future.
Alan Jones from Music Week gave the song four out of five, writing, "This is the usual high-octane, careering dance contender in rave/techno mould. It could hardly be as big as "No Limit", and is probably a little too similar, albeit with some ethnic sounding wailing, presumably to justify the title." He added, "Instant smash, of course".[5] Wendi Cermak from The Network Forty noted that here, 2 Unlimited "hits the dance floor with another tribal trancer".[6] A reviewer from Newcastle Evening Chronicle described it as a "brash, action packed pounder".[7] Gail Heritage of Port Lincoln Times declared it "a mix of rhythmic beat, almost changing at every eight bars, centring around the harmonic voice of Anita, before looming into a jungle of rap by Ray." She added, "'Tribal Dance' was one of my favourites on the album — those jungle drums just seem to be calling me to the dance floor."[8]James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update viewed it as a "jungle drummed simple chanting galloper".[9]Toby Anstis, reviewing songs for Smash Hits, stated that the song is "a nice bit of pop".[10]Smash Hits editor Leesa Daniels gave it two out of five, adding that it will "probably be number one for weeks."[11] Australian student newspaper Woroni called it a "thumping, driven dance track",[12] naming it an "obvious highlight" of the No Limits! album.[13]
In Europe, "Tribal Dance" peaked at number one in Finland (6 weeks),[14][15] Portugal (1 week),[16] and Spain (1 week),[17][18] as well as on both the Eurochart Hot 100 and the European Dance Radio Chart in June 1993.[19][20] Peaking at number two in Belgium (Flanders), Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland, the single was held off reaching the top spot by Haddaway's "What Is Love",[21][22]Culture Beat's "Mr. Vain",[23] and Spin Doctor's "Two Princes".[24] In Germany, it spent two weeks at number two and 23 weeks within the German singles chart. Additionally, "Tribal Dance" was a top-10 hit also in Austria (3),[25] Denmark (3),[26] France (4),[27] Italy (10),[28] Norway (4),[29] and the United Kingdom. In the latter nation, the song both peaked and debuted at number four on the UK Singles Chart in May 1993 and stayed at that position for two weeks.[30] It spent eleven weeks within the UK Top 100, and also peaked at number seven on the Music Week Dance Singles chart.[31] On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Tribal Dance" debuted at number 10 on 15 May[32] after charting in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK. It topped the chart four weeks later and spent one week at the top position.
Outside Europe, the song experienced chart success in Israel in West Asia, spending two weeks as number one.[33] In Northern America, it topped the Canadian RPMDance/Urban chart for three weeks, as well as peaking at number seven on the US BillboardHot Dance Club Play chart.[34][35][36] In Africa, "Tribal Dance" peaked at number four in Zimbabwe, while in Oceania, it peaked at numbers seven and 38 in Australia and New Zealand, respectively.[37][38][39]
"Tribal Dance" was awarded with a gold record in Germany, after 250,000 singles were sold there.[40]
The accompanying music video for "Tribal Dance" was directed by British director Nick Burgess-Jones and produced by Spidercom Films.[41] He had previously directed the video for "No Limit". "Tribal Dance" was filmed in Black Island studios in London[41] and is set in a jungle using blue screen in order to create the appearance of members of the band swinging across a jungle backdrop. A picture-in-picture screen showing a video game is also used. There are two versions; the rap version and the no rap version.[42] "Tribal Dance" received heavy rotationonMTV Europe in June 1993.[43]
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