Kernkraft 400

"Kernkraft 400"
Single by Zombie Nation
from the album Leichenschmaus
Released 15 March 1999[1]
Format 12"[1]
Genre Techno
Length
  • 4:46 (original mix)
  • 6:09 (DJ Gius Remix)
  • 3:31 (DJ Gius Remix Edit)
Label Gigolo
Songwriter(s)
  • Emmanuel Guenther
  • Florian Senfter
  • David Whittaker
Producer(s) Zombie Nation

"Kernkraft 400" (English: Nuclear Energy 400) is a song performed by German electronic artist Zombie Nation and the first single from their album Leichenschmaus. It is commonly used as a sports chant at sport stadiums (such as in American football, football, basketball, and hockey) all over the world and was ranked #8 by Sports Illustrated in their list of "Top 10 Stadium Anthems".[2] The first Zombie Nation record contained the song "Kernkraft 400", which is a remix of the soundtrack of the 1984 Commodore 64 game Lazy Jones by David Whittaker called "Star Dust" which was made with the SID chip. "Star Dust" in turn is based on "It Happened Then" by Electronic Ensemble. Florian Senfter ("Splank!") paid an undisclosed sum to David Whittaker for the use of the melody.[3]

Release

"Kernkraft 400" was released as a 12-inch single by Gigolo Records on 15 March 1999.[1] The single was released in the United Kingdom on 18 September 2000 by Data Records.[4]

Music video

The music video of Kernkraft 400 starts out inside a nuclear power plant room where an infomercial guy (Florian Senfter) dressed in '70s disco clothing comes out and later two models (Cindy and Mindy) come onto scene dancing. One model put 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 standard tanning 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 clothes. Finally, the infomercial guy sits on a couch in the studio, off camera, where he examines a standard vibrator and a Kernkraft 400™ version. The video ends with both women running towards the infomercial guy.

Reception

Select gave the single a review noting its widespread popularity stating that it was "as welcome in Pacha 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".[4]

"Kernkraft 400" has been sampled by various artists, including rapper The Game in the single "Red Nation".[5] It is featured in the soundtrack of the 2012 video game NHL 13, which uses the "Stadium Chant Mix" version.[6] The Pittsburgh Steelers have played this song pre-game kickoff since before 2010. The Seattle Mariners also play the song after a big hit or during rallies at Safeco Field.[7][8] The Los Angeles Dodgers play the song after a home run.[9] The Boston Bruins will also play the song after they score at a home game.[10]

Kernkraft 400 has become a semi-official anthem for Welsh football fans during their country's qualification campaign for UEFA Euro 2016. This stems from an incident after their 0–0 draw with Belgium at Stade Roi Baudouin in Brussels, in which the travelling Welsh fans danced enthusiastically to the song being played over the stadium's public address system.[11] As a result, the song would be played before the return fixture at Cardiff City Stadium on 12 June 2015.[12]


Charts

Chart (2000) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 10
Canadian RPM Dance Chart[14] 1
France (SNEP)[15] 100
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 5
UK Singles Chart[17] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 99

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Kernkraft 400 [Germany 12"]". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation.
  2. ↑ Mustard, Extra (29 September 2015). "Ranking the Top 10 Stadium Anthems". SI.com. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  3. ↑ "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2001-06-30. Archived from the original on June 30, 2001. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  4. 1 2 "tracks of the month reviews". Select. EMAP Metro: 99. October 2000. ISSN 0959-8367.
  5. ↑ "Game f. Lil Wayne - Red Nation [Prod. Cool & Dre] | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2011". HipHop DX. 2011-03-17. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  6. ↑ "NHL 13 Soundtrack Replicates Authentic In-Arena Hockey Experience". EA Sports. 2012-08-30. Archived from the original on 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
  7. ↑ "Seattle Mariners Ballpark Music | Mariners.com: Fan Forum". Seattle.Mariners.MLB.com. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  8. ↑ Pentis, Andrew (2 August 2012). "Stadium Songs: Seattle Mariners". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  9. ↑ http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/fan_forum/ballpark_music.jsp?c_id=la
  10. ↑ "Boston Bruins Goal Horn {HQ} - YouTube". YouTube. 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  11. ↑ Rogers, Gareth (18 November 2014). "Watch Wales fans enjoy the best two minutes of their Belgium trip as they dance to Zombie Nation". Wales Online. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  12. ↑ Rogers, Gareth (12 June 2015). "Wales v Belgium Zombie Nation: Watch the amazing moment Welsh and Belgian fans rave to Kernkraft 400". Wales Online. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Zombie Nation – Kernkraft 400" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
  14. ↑ "RPM: issue date September 18, 2000". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  15. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Zombie Nation – Kernkraft 400" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
  16. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl - Zombie Nation - Kernkraft 400" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
  17. ↑ "2000-09-30 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive". Official Charts. 2000-09-30. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  18. ↑ "Kernkraft 400 Zombie Nation Now, Vol. 47 [UK]". September 9, 2000. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
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