| "Kernkraft 400" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single byZombie Nation | |
| from the albumLeichenschmaus | |
| Released | 20 October 1999 (1999-10-20) |
| Genre | Electro[1] |
| Length | 4:46 |
| Label | Drehscheibe |
| Songwriters |
|
| Producer | Zombie Nation |
| Music video | |
| "Kernkraft 400" onYouTube | |
"Kernkraft 400" (English: Nuclear Power 400) is a song performed by Germantechno musicianZombie Nation and the first single from the 1999 debut album,Leichenschmaus. It is a remix of theSID track "Star Dust" byDavid Whittaker, from his 1984Commodore 64 gameLazy Jones. Though permission for the sampling was not initially granted, Whittaker was paid an undisclosed sum from Zombie Nation.[2]
The remix of the original song, done byCristiano Giusberti (as DJ Gius, also known as the hardstyle producer Technoboy) was issued as a single in October 1999.[3][4] This version peaked at number 22 in Germany in February 2000 and became a top-10 hit inFlanders and the Netherlands several months later. In September, the song debuted and peaked at number two on theUK Singles Chart, remaining there for two weeks, and has received a platinum certification from theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales and streams of at least 600,000 units. In the United States, the song peaked at number 99 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart.
The DJ Gius mix of "Kernkraft 400" is commonly used as a sports chant at sport stadiums (such as inAmerican football,Association football,baseball,basketball, andhockey) all over the world and was ranked number eight bySports Illustrated in their list of "Top 10 Stadium Anthems".[5]
"Kernkraft 400" was first released in Germany (through Drehscheibe) and Spain (through Insolent Tracks) as a12-inch single on 20 October 1999.[6][7] The following year, the single was issued in the United Kingdom on 18 September byData Records and in New Zealand on 27 November through the Bang On! label.[8][9][10]
The music video of "Kernkraft 400" starts out inside a nuclear power plant room where aninfomercial host (Florian Senfter) dressed in '70s disco clothing comes out and later two models (Cindy and Mindy) come onto scene dancing. One model puts a plate of food into a trademarked Kernkraft 400™ microwave oven, which cooks the food much faster and hotter than the other model's conventional microwave oven. Mindy then gets into a standardtanning bed, while Cindy waits before getting into a Kernkraft 400™. Mindy reveals a sunburnt tan, while Cindy has a perfect sun tan which has even worked under her beachwear. Finally, the host sits on a couch in the studio, off camera, where he examines a standardvibrator and a Kernkraft 400™ version. As the camera pulls away, both women are seen running towards the host while the video production staff are seen wearinghazmat suits.
The video was produced and directed by Hendrik Hölzemann, Grischa Schmitz and Dominique Schuchman who at that time were studying film at the Filmacademy Ludwigsburg, under the name Panic Pictures.
Select gave the single a review noting its widespread popularity stating that it was "as welcome inPacha as in the Munich underpass, Tongo and Coxo like this Teutonic techno," as well as noting it was "Not bad for a couple of DJs called Splank and Mooner".[8]
In the liner notes of theKiss mix albumKiss House Nation 2001,Mixmag music editor Matthew Kershaw named the song among 2000's "uncategorisable" club tracks, noting it "was championed everywhere from children's television to the most underground techno clubs. Was it techno, trance, electro or house? No-one knew, and frankly, no one cared."[11]
"Kernkraft 400" first received US radio airplay on now defunct station Energy 92.7 & 5 in Chicago, Illinois in 2001. Due to its popularity with all ages on that station, it was first introduced to sports fans atChicago Rusharena football games. The song was not a featured song during player introductions but received regular play during timeouts and commercial breaks to assist in keeping the indoor American Football fans loud and aroused at the team's home field atAllstate Arena in suburban Rosemont, Il.
The song was briefly featured in 2004Edgar Wright filmShaun of the Dead.
Collegiate athletic teams have been using the song during sporting events as early as 2005. Notably,Skip Prosser introduced the song to Wake Forest men's basketball games as early as the 2004/05 season[12] while head coach of the Demon Deacons. The song gained prominence and became a staple of both men's and women's teams during tip-offs and fast breaks.Penn State football also famously began using "Kernkraft 400" in the fall of 2005. During the break in the song, fans chant "We Are Penn State."[13]
TheUCF Knights began using "Kernkraft 400" as their rallying anthem at least as early as 2007 with the opening ofFBC Mortgage Stadium.[14] When the song plays, UCF fans jump chanting "U-C-F Knights" during the breaks in the song. The song became controversial on campus as it became a cue for fans to start jumping, which when done in unison makes the stadium reverberate and bounce, earning it the nickname, "The Bounce House". University officials originally wanted to stop playing the song all together for the longevity of the built stadium, but after safety inspections showed no structural damage, they instead settled on playing shorter clips of the song fewer times during a game.[15]
Many professional sports teams, most prominently theBoston Bruins but also includingLeigh Leopards,Milwaukee Admirals,Toronto Maple Leafs,Los Angeles Dodgers,[16]New Jersey Devils,Atlanta United,Atlanta Braves,Atlanta Thrashers,Gent,Real Valladolid,Celtic,A.C. Milan,Beitar Jerusalem,Southampton,PSV Eindhoven,Tranmere Rovers,Pittsburgh Steelers,Cleveland Monsters,Indianapolis Colts,Gillingham,Geelong Cats,Vanderbilt University athletics and theOklahoma City Thunder play (or have played) "Kernkraft 400" either as part of pregame introductions, after scoring, or for wins. TheSeattle Mariners also play the song after a bighit or during rallies atT-Mobile Park.[17][18]
The song became a semi-official anthem forWelsh football fans during their country's qualification campaign forUEFA Euro 2016. This stems from an incident after their 0–0 draw withBelgium atStade Roi Baudouin in Brussels, in which the travelling Welsh fans danced enthusiastically to the song being played over the stadium's public address system.[19] As a result, the song was played before the return fixture atCardiff City Stadium on 12 June 2015.[20]
"Kernkraft 400" has been sampled by various artists, including rapperThe Game in the single "Red Nation".[21]
"Kernkraft 400" is featured in the soundtrack of the 2012video gameNHL 13, which uses the "Stadium Chant Mix" version.[22]
On 8 May 2022,W268BB 101.5 inState College, Pennsylvania launched the station by playing this song over and over for a week.
Elemental (2023) uses the "Live Remix" version (credited in-film as the "Sport Chant Stadium Remix") of this song during the airball game at Cyclone Stadium.[23]
Its the entrance theme of the reliver pitcherYasuaki Yamasaki, the cheering entrance is also known as Yasuaki Jump (ヤスアキJUMP,Yasuaki janpu).[24]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[48] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
On 17 June 2022, German DJTopic and Swedish singerA7S released the cover "Kernkraft 400 (A Better Day)".[49] The song charted at 26 on theGerman chart.[50]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[58] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[59] | Gold | 40,000‡ |
| France (SNEP)[60] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
| Germany (BVMI)[61] | Gold | 200,000‡ |
| Poland (ZPAV)[62] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
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