View source for Let the Beat Control Your Body

{{Short description|1994 single by 2 Unlimited}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Let the Beat Control Your Body
| cover      = 2 Unlimited Let The Beat Single Euro Cover.jpg
| alt        = cover art
| caption    = Artwork for continental European releases
| type       = single
| artist     = [[2 Unlimited]]
| album      = [[No Limits (2 Unlimited album)|No Limits]]
| released   = {{start date|1994|1|21|df=y}}
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| length     =
* 4:02
* 3:38 (single remix)
| label      =
* [[Byte Records|Byte]]
* [[Zyx Records|ZYX]]
* [[Pete Waterman Entertainment|PWL]]
| writer     =
* Phil Wilde
* Jean-Paul De Coster
* [[Ray Slijngaard]]
* [[Anita Dels]]
| producer   =
* Phil Wilde
* Jean-Paul De Coster
| prev_title = [[Maximum Overdrive (song)|Maximum Overdrive]]
| prev_year  = 1993
| next_title = [[The Real Thing (2 Unlimited song)|The Real Thing]]
| next_year  = 1994
| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|YIWRIcSZG_w|"Let the Beat Control Your Body"}}}}
}}
"'''Let the Beat Control Your Body'''" is a song by Belgian/Dutch [[Eurodance]] band [[2 Unlimited]]. It was released in January 1994 by [[Byte Records|Byte]], [[Zyx Records|ZYX]] and [[Pete Waterman Entertainment|PWL]] as the fifth and final single from the band's second album, ''[[No Limits (2 Unlimited album)|No Limits]]'' (1993).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/artist/2-unlimited-p36898/biography|title=AllMusic: 2 Unlimited (Biography)|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=6 May 2012}}</ref> The album version is largely instrumental and contains just a few spoken words from bandmembers [[Ray Slijngaard]] and [[Anita Doth]]. The single version contains full verses rapped by Slijngaard and a new chorus sung by Doth, which were co-written by them both. The song enjoyed chart success in many European countries, peaking at number two in the Netherlands and within the top 10 in Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom. It was nominated in the category for Best Song on [[MTV]] Awards.<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-12-17.pdf |title= The Talents Behind The Dance Hits Of 94: 2 Unlimited |magazine= [[Music Week]] |date= 17 December 1994 |page= 30 |access-date= 23 April 2021}}</ref> Nigel Simpkiss directed the music video for "Let the Beat Control Your Body", which received heavy rotation on both [[MTV Europe]] and [[VIVA (German TV channel)|VIVA]].
==Reception and airplay==
[[Miranda Sawyer]] from ''[[The Guardian]]'' wrote, "The result is a hectic fusion of marching [[techno]] beat, catchy tune, and marvellously bossy lyrics: {{'}}''Speed up the pace./ Take it to the maximum./ Let the beat control your body.''{{'}}"<ref>[[Miranda Sawyer|Sawyer, Miranda]] (1 May 1994). "No limit to what 2 can do". ''[[The Guardian]]''.</ref> [[Simon Price]] from ''[[Melody Maker]]'' commented, "Try listening to the intros to "[[No Limit (2 Unlimited song)|No Limit]]" and "Let the Beat Control Your Body" without going at it like a woodpecker on poppers."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Simon|last=Price|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53169297884/|title=Albums|work=[[Melody Maker]]|date=4 June 1994|page=36|access-date=7 September 2023|author-link=Simon Price}}</ref> [[James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)|James Hamilton]] from ''[[Music Week]]'''s ''[[Record Mirror|RM]]'' Dance Update described the song as a "[[techno-pop]] galloper".<ref>{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Hamilton |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-02-26.pdf |title= Dj directory |magazine= [[Music Week]], in [[Record Mirror]] (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= 26 February 1994 |page= 5 |access-date= 16 April 2021 |author-link= James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}}</ref> Stephen Dalton from ''[[New Musical Express|NME]]'' wrote that songs like this "are about clean, controlled fun and strict discipline booted along by stormtrooper hardcore beats designed to encourage Eurokids to work hard and use leisure time constructively."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Dalton|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53587982818/|title=Long Play|magazine=[[New Musical Express|NME]]|date=4 November 1995|page=49|access-date=17 March 2024}}</ref> Scottish ''[[Perthshire Advertiser]]'' stated, "You know what to expect and, yes, they deliver it!"<ref>"2 Unlimited - Let the Beat Control Your Body". ''[[Perthshire Advertiser]]''. 22 February 1994. page 16.</ref> Mark Frith from ''[[Smash Hits]]'' described it as "buzzy" in his review of the ''[[No Limits (2 Unlimited album)|No Limits]]'' album, complimenting it as a song "that stands out individually."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Mark|last=Frith|title=New Albums|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/52546600927/in/album-72177720304262089/|work=[[Smash Hits]]|date=12 May 1993|page=50|accessdate=9 December 2022}}</ref> Another ''Smash Hits'' editor, Tony Cross, gave it two out of five, saying, "It's still techno, techno, techno with a dash of techno for good measure."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Tony|last=Cross|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/52591650530/in/album-72177720304798704/|title=New Singles|magazine=[[Smash Hits]]|date=2 February 1994|page=50|access-date=29 December 2022}}</ref>
"Let The Beat Control Your Body" entered the European airplay chart Border Breakers at number 16 on 4 February due to crossover airplay in Central-, North West- and North-Europe and peaked at number four on 19 March.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Karen|last=Holt|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-11-19.pdf|title=Border Breakers: Monitoring The Impact Of Euro Talent|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=47|date=19 November 1994|page=20|access-date=1 April 2018}}</ref>
==Chart performance==
"Let the Beat Control Your Body" was a sizeable hit all over Europe, entering the top 10 in Belgian [[Flanders]] (4), Finland (3), Germany (8), Ireland (6), the Netherlands (2), Scotland (7), Spain (10) and the United Kingdom. In the Netherlands, the single was held off reaching the number-one position for two weeks by "Ik wil niet dat je liegt/Waarheen waarvoor" by [[Paul de Leeuw]]/Annie de Rooy in February and March 1994. In the UK, it peaked at number six on 27 February 1994,<ref name="uk"/> its third week on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. It also charted on the [[UK Dance Singles Chart]], peaking at number 14. On the [[Eurochart Hot 100]], "Let the Beat Control Your Body" made it to number five,<ref name="eurocharthot100">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-03-05.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=10|date=5 March 1994|page=11|accessdate=6 March 2018}}</ref> entering the chart on 12 February at 87 and soaring up to peak at five within three weeks. It also reached number-one on the [[European Dance Radio Chart]]<ref name="europeandanceradio">{{cite magazine|title=European Dance Radio Top 25|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-02-12.pdf|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=7|date=12 February 1994|page=22|accessdate=18 December 2019}}</ref> and number three on [[MTV]]'s [[Euro Top 20|European Top 20]]. Additionally, the song was a top-20 hit in Austria (11), Denmark (16), Sweden (11) and Switzerland (11).
Outside Europe, "Let The Beat Control Your Body" peaked at number six in Israel, number 29 in New Zealand and number 39 in Australia.
==Music video==
The accompanying music video for "Let The Beat Control Your Body" was directed by Nigel Simpkiss, produced by Swivel Films<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurokdj.com/search/video.php?id=604|title=2 Unlimited - Let The Beat Control Your Body music video|publisher=Eurokdj.com|access-date=29 February 2024}}</ref> and released in the UK in January 1994. It received [[Rotation (music)|heavy rotation]] on [[MTV Europe]]<ref>{{cite magazine|first=|last=|title=Station Reports > MTV Europe/London|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-03-12.pdf|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=11|date=12 March 1994|page=21|accessdate=17 December 2022}}</ref> and was A-listed on Germany's [[VIVA (German TV channel)|VIVA]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first=|last=|title=Station Reports > VIVA TV/Cologne|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-02-26.pdf|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=9|date=26 February 1994|page=22|accessdate=17 December 2022}}</ref> In the video, Anita Doth and Ray Slijngaard performs in front of a wall consisting of vibrating speakers. In between, several gymnasts and dancers are performing, mixed with computer generated images. In the rap part, Slijngaard trains bare-chested with weights. Tom Sheehan from ''[[Melody Maker]]'' felt the 2 Unlimited look in the video was very provocative: "Head-to-toe [[PVC]] suffocation gear. It was ''very'' [[S&M]]. [[Stephen Milligan]] would have loved it."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Tom|last=Sheehan|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53155548679/|title=Double Dutch|work=[[Melody Maker]]|date=14 May 1994|page=26|access-date=7 September 2023}}</ref>
"Let the Beat Control Your Body" was later made available on 2 Unlimited's official [[YouTube]] channel in 2013, and as of September 2023, it had generated almost five million views. Simpkiss would also be directing the video for the duo's next single, "[[The Real Thing (2 Unlimited song)|The Real Thing]]".
==Appearances==
Dance music artist Chaah (aka Susanne Jark) uses the melody from "Let the Beat Control Your Body" in her 1999 release titled "The Funkiness of You".<ref>[http://mp3skyline.com/rid-0x3eb6c-chaah_-_funkiness-of-you--groove-gangstas-mix--mp3-download.html Mp3skyline.com]</ref>
It also became famous again because of [[Britain's Got Talent]] when act DJ John performed the song in the auditions.
==Track listings==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* '''7-inch single'''
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (airplay edit)
# "Get Ready for No Limits" (Part 2)
* '''Belgian 12-inch maxi'''
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (X-Out in Trance) (5:11)
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (extended) (5:58)
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (extended) (5:58)
# "Get Ready for No Limits" (Murphy's Megamix Part 2) (6:45)
* '''Germany 12-inch maxi'''
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (X-Out in Trance remix) (5:11)
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (extended) (5:58)
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (X-Out in Rio) (5:06)
# "Get Ready for No Limits" (Murphy's Megamix Part 2) (6:45)
* '''UK CD single'''
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (airplay edit) (3:38)
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (X-Out in Rio) (5:06)
# "Murphy's Megamix Part 1"
# "Get Ready for no Limits" (Murphy's Megamix Part 2) (6:45)
{{col-2}}
* '''Australian CD maxi'''
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (airplay edit)
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (X-Out in Trance)
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (extended)
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (X-Out in Rio)
# "Murphy's Megamix Pt 2"
* '''Dutch CD maxi'''
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (airplay edit) (3:38)
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (X-Out in Trance) (5:11)
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (extended) (5:58)
# "Let the Beat Control Your Body" (X-Out in Rio) (5:06)
# "Get Ready for no Limits" (Murphy's Megamix Part 2) (6:45)
{{col-end}}
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1994–1995)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|Australia ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref name="Lescharts">"Let the Beat Control Your Body", in various singles charts [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?key=2749&cat=s Lescharts.com] (Retrieved 15 February 2008)</ref>
|align="center"|39
|-
|Austria ([[Ö3 Austria Top 40]])<ref name="Lescharts"/>
|align="center"|11
|-
{{Single chart|Flanders|4|artist=2 Unlimited|song=Let The Beat Control Your Body}}
|-
|Denmark ([[IFPI Denmark|IFPI]])
|align="center"|16
|-
|Europe ([[Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref name="eurocharthot100"/>
|align="center"|5
|-
|Europe ([[Euro Top 20|MTV European Top 20]])<ref>[http://www.charts-surfer.de/musiksuche.php Musik-Charts durchsuchen]</ref>
|align="center"|3
|-
|Europe ([[European Dance Radio Chart|European Dance Radio]])<ref name="europeandanceradio"/>
|align="center"|1
|-
|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>
|align="center"|3
|-
|France ([[SNEP]])<ref name="Lescharts"/>
|align="center"|10
|-
{{Single chart|Germany|8|artist=2 Unlimited|song=Let the Beat Control Your Body|songid=2749|access-date=3 December 2022|refname="ger"}}
|-
|Ireland ([[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRMA]])<ref>Irish Single Chart, database [http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement Irishcharts.ie] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602061251/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |date=2 June 2009 }} (Retrieved 15 February 2008)</ref>
|align="center"|6
|-
|Netherlands ([[Dutch Top 40]])<ref name="Dutch">{{cite web |url=http://www.top40.nl/pdf/Top%20100/top%20100%20-%201994.pdf |title=Single top 100 over 1994 |publisher=Top40 |language=nl |accessdate=17 April 2010}}</ref>
|align="center"|2
|-
{{Single chart|Dutch100|2|artist=2 Unlimited|song=Let the Beat Control Your Body}}
|-
|New Zealand ([[RIANZ]])<ref name="Lescharts"/>
|align="center"|29
|-
|Scotland ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19940227/41/|title=Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 (27 February 1994-05 March 1994)|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=7 February 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|7
|-
|Spain ([[Productores de Música de España|AFYVE]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref>
|align="center"|10
|-
|Sweden ([[Sverigetopplistan]])<ref name="lescharts">"Maximum Overdrive", in various Singles Chart [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?key=2709&cat=s Lescharts.com] (Retrieved 15 February 2008)</ref>
|align="center"|11
|-
|Switzerland ([[Schweizer Hitparade]])<ref name="lescharts"/>
|align="center"|11
|-
{{Single chart|UK|6|date=19940305|access-date=3 December 2022|refname="uk"}}
|-
|[[UK Dance Singles Chart|UK Dance]] (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-02-19.pdf |title= Dance Singles |magazine= [[Music Week]] |date= 19 February 1994 |page= 22 |accessdate= 24 April 2021}}</ref>
|align="center"|14
|}
{{col-2}}
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1994)
!Position
|-
|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1994|title=Jaaroverzichten 1994|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=7 December 2019}}</ref>
|align="center"|50
|-
|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-12-24.pdf|title=1994 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=52|page=12|date=24 December 1994|access-date=28 November 2019}}</ref>
|align="center"|34
|-
|Europe (European Dance Radio)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-12-24.pdf|title=1994 in Review: European Dance Radio|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=52|page=8|date=24 December 1994|access-date=29 February 2024}}</ref>
|align="center"|12
|-
|Germany (Official German Charts)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1994|title=Top 100 Singles – Jahrescharts 1994|publisher=[[GfK Entertainment]]|language=de|access-date=26 November 2019}}</ref>
|align="center"|57
|-
|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref name="Dutch"/>
|align="center"|39
|-
|Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1994&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten - Single 1994|publisher=[[MegaCharts]]|language=nl|access-date=12 December 2019}}</ref>
|align="center"|30
|-
|Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43?dspy=1994&dspp=1|title=Årslista Singlar, 1994|publisher=[[Sverigetopplistan]]|language=sv|access-date=23 November 2019}}</ref>
|align="center"|46
|-
|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Singles 1994|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=9|date=14 January 1995}}</ref>
|align="center"|70
|}
{{col-end}}
==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"|Germany
|21 January 1994
|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD}}
|[[Zyx Records|ZYX]]
|<ref name="ger"/>
|-
!scope="row"|United Kingdom
|7 February 1994
|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}
|[[Pete Waterman Entertainment|PWL]]
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=29|date=5 February 1994}}</ref>
|}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{2 Unlimited}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Let The Beat Control Your Body}}
[[Category:1993 songs]]
[[Category:1994 singles]]
[[Category:2 Unlimited songs]]
[[Category:Byte Records singles]]
[[Category:English-language Dutch songs]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Nigel Simpkiss]]
[[Category:Pete Waterman Entertainment singles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Anita Doth]]
[[Category:Songs written by Jean-Paul De Coster]]
[[Category:Songs written by Phil Wilde]]
[[Category:Songs written by Ray Slijngaard]]
[[Category:ZYX Music singles]]