Chaka Demus (EP)
| Chaka Demus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | 31 August 2009 | |||
| Recorded | 2009 | |||
| Genre | Indie rock, hip hop, ska | |||
| Length | 15:34 | |||
| Label | Virgin Records | |||
| Producer | Jamie T, Ben Bones | |||
| Jamie T chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Digital Spy |   [1] |
Chaka Demus is an extended play (EP) released by English singer-songwriter Jamie T on 31 August 2009.[2] It is Jamie T's second release of 2009, following his critically acclaimed Sticks 'n' Stones EP in June.[3] The titular song is also the sixth track on his second album Kings & Queens, which was released precisely one week later on 7 September 2009.[4][5]
Background
[edit]Jamie T told The Daily Telegraph that "Chaka Demus" was so named because, in its early stages of construction, it superficially sounded to him like Chaka Demus & Pliers.[5][6] The single interpolates the theme song from The Banana Splits, a.k.a. "The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)" throughout.[7] In his interview article with The Sunday Times, journalist Dan Cairns compared the intro to Wings.[3]
English reggae singer Hollie Cook, daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook, was a collaborator on the EP, serving as lead vocalist alongside Jamie T on the tropical rock song "Forget Me Not (The Love I Knew Before I Grew)", in addition to providing background vocals on the folk baroque track, "Planning Spontaneity".[8] The fourth and final song on the EP is the lo-fi "When They Are Gone (For Tim)".[2]
Music video
[edit]The video for "Chaka Demus" was directed by Dan Henshaw and Julian Fletcher, and was inspired by the film, The Cannonball Run (1981).[2] Jamie T is shown singing from the backseat of a speeding car with a large suitcase, as an array of quirky characters are in pursuit.[9] In the UK and Ireland, the video was first released online exclusively on MUZU.TV on 14 August;[10] then subsequently across all platforms on 17 August.[11]
Critical reception
[edit]Both the EP and the single itself received mostly positive reviews from critics, who praised its eclecticism. Andrew Perry from The Daily Telegraph lauded it as "catchy, funny, and edgy in equal measure".[5] Jessica Lewis of Exclaim! also favored the song in her album review, complimenting its "great drum and keyboard pairing".[12]
Alex Fletcher at Digital Spy rated the EP 4 out of 5 stars; regarding "Chaka Demus", he stated that Jamie T's "boisterous indie-rap…veers between [the] frantically politicised and scruffy guitar-jangling", albeit all with "a newly spruced-up melodic edge". While not evoking Chaka Demus & Pliers completely, Fletcher says this composition makes him "worthy of mainstream attention".[1]
Brianna Saraceno from Drowned in Sound praised "Chaka Demus" in her review, albeit noting its various incarnations with her preference being the album's incarnation. She described the tune as catchy with a "jubilant guitar line" and how it's "the simplicity of Jamie's lyrics" that render them so potent.[13]
Conversely, Dan Raper at PopMatters offered a mixed perspective, saying that it "chugs along on video game synths until it degenerates into '70s-style soft-pop" (in an otherwise negative review).[14] Meanwhile, Ash Akhtar at The Line of Best Fit commented that the title track "has a chorus like an old Motown song" in his slightly lukewarm review of the Kings & Queens album.[15]
Track listing
[edit]All lyrics are written by Jamie Alexander Treays, unless otherwise indicated.[8]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Chaka Demus" | Jamie Treays[a] |
| 3:36 |
| 2. | "Forget Me Not (The Love I Knew Before I Grew)" (feat. Hollie Cook[c]) |
|
| 4:36 |
| 3. | "Planning Spontaneity" | Treays |
| 3:55 |
| 4. | "When They Are Gone (For Tim)" | Treays |
| 3:27 |
| Total length: | 15:34 | |||
Notes:
- ^[a] "Chaka Demus" interpolates "The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)"—the theme song from the 1960s children's variety television series, The Banana Splits—throughout its melody.[2][7]
- ^[b] Indicates an additional mixing engineer/producer.[8]
- ^[c] Cook also contributed background vocals to track #3, "Planning Spontaneity".[8]
Chart history
[edit]Weekly charts
[edit]| Chart (2009)[d] | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[16] | 23 |
| UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[17] | 34 |
Notes:
- ^[d] The EP also peaked at #8 for physical sales, and remained amongst the Top 100 for eight weeks.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Fletcher, Alex (21 August 2009). "Jamie T: Chaka Demus — The latest Jamie T single is definitely worthy of mainstream attention". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
The rest of the track veers between frantic, politicised raps …and scruffy guitar jangling, but there's also a newly spruced-up melodic edge…
- ^ a b c d N/A. "Jamie T - "Chaka Demus" Video". Contactmusic.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
…three new tracks: "Forget Me Not (The Love I Knew Before I Grew)", "Planning Spontaneity" and "When They Are Gone (For Tim)" will be released on 31st August 09.
- ^ a b Cairns, Dan (30 August 2009). Witherow, John (ed.). "Jamie T is back with The Chaka Demus". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
…the cheesy, Wings-like synth that introduce Treays's new single, Chaka Demus;
- ^ Stokes, Paul (5 August 2009). "Jamie T announces new EP plans – exclusive". News. NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Perry, Andrew (2 September 2009). "Jamie T interview: [His] vernacular songs lovingly celebrate the details of modern British life. He explains what he gets up to in his shed". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
…vernacular of post-millennial British life along w/ rising stars like Lily Allen & Arctic Monkeys.
- ^ "Chaka Demus by Jamie T." Songfacts.com. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
Treays shrugged: 'It's only a drum beat. I know it's been used before, but Quentin Tarantino's been stealing from other films for years, and he gets away with it; [with a pretentious lisp] It's postmodernism!'
- ^ a b Mackay, Emily; Robinson, Martin (8 September 2009). Abbott, Jeremy (ed.). "Album review: Jamie T – Kings And Queens". NME. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
…a song which uses the theme tune to The Banana Splits to nefarious ends.
- ^ a b c d "Jamie T* – Chaka Demus EP — (12", 33½ RPM, EP); Vinyl § 2009". Discogs. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
Mixed By – Greg Fleming "Wizard"* (tracks: A2 to B2) … Producer [Additional Production], Mixed By – Tom Elmhirst (tracks: A1) … Vocals [Additional] – Hollie Cook (tracks: A2 to B1)
- ^ NME Blog (19 August 2009). Murison, Krissi (ed.). "New Jamie T – "Chaka Demus"". NME. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
South London geezer/boarding school boy Jamie T continues dropping his 'aitches' on Chaka Demus,
- ^ "Jamie T Video Premier & Competition | MUZU Blog | Broadcast your Music TV". Archived from the original on 28 August 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
- ^ Murray, Robin (19 August 2009). "Jamie T: Chaka Demus; No sign of Pliers though". Clash. ISSN 1743-0801. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
Cheeky chart-happy troubadour Jamie T is preparing to release his new single "Chaka Demus" on August 31st, but you can watch it now!
- ^ Lewis, Jessica (2 November 2009). "Jamie T ~ Kings & Queens". Exclaim!. ISSN 1207-6600. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
…there are tracks like "Chaka Demus", with a great drum and keyboard pairing,…
- ^ Saraceno, Brianna (8 September 2009). Adams, Sean (ed.). "Jamie T: Kings & Queens". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
…and still kept the focus on the lyrics, including probably the album's best line: 'Two world wars and one world cup / … / Used to have an empire then we grew up / Lost everything who gives a fuck?!'
- ^ Raper, Dan (2 November 2009). "Jamie T: Kings & Queens". PopMatters. OCLC 1122752384. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
"Chaka Demus" chugs along on video-game synths until it degenerates into '70s-style soft-pop.
- ^ Akhtar, Ash (29 September 2009). "Jamie T – Kings & Queens". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
It's no test to imagine Amy Winehouse (or temporary stand-in, Paloma Faith) re-interpreting it at a festival and replacing the original with their version deep in the public consciousness whilst making millions from it.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ Treays, Jamie (12 September 2009). "Chaka Demus EP by Jamie T". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
8 weeks - 12/09/2009 to 31/10/2009
