Deeper Underground
single
CoverDeeper-underground.jpg
ArtistJamiroquai
AlbumGodzilla: The Album
B-sideHigh Times
Released20 May 1998
Length
  • 4:44 (album version)
  • 3:33 (radio edit)
LabelSony Soho Square
Writer
ProducerRick Pope
Prev year1997
Next year1999

"Deeper Underground" is a single by British funk and acid jazz band Jamiroquai from the soundtrack to the 1998 film Godzilla. The song was written by group members Jason Kay and Toby Smith and was produced by Rick Pope. It was also included as a bonus track on the group's fourth studio album, Synkronized (1999), as well as on the special edition of the group's fifth album, A Funk Odyssey (2001).

Released in Japan on 20 May 1998 and in the United Kingdom two months later, "Deeper Underground" became a hit in several countries, giving Jamiroquai their only number-one single on the UK Singles Chart. As of March 2017, it has sold over 339,100 copies in the UK. This song was one of the last to feature founding bassist Stuart Zender before his departure during the recording of Synkronized.

Music video

Directed by Mike Lipscombe, the music video was used as a promotional tool for the 1998 film Godzilla. Partly shot on location at Grays' State Theatre, it depicts a 3D film theatre in which the movie is being shown. However, as the screen shows Godzilla walking on the ocean floor, one of its feet breaks the screen, causing water to flood into the theatre as if the screen were made of glass and everything behind it were real. The theatre turns into chaos as the audience tries to get out alive, in the midst of which Jay Kay appears and sings and dances on top of the seats. Several other things go through the screen, including a helicopter, cars, and New York taxis. Some stills from the movie are also interspaced between various scenes. At the end of the video, the camera pans out, and it emerges that this entire flood was itself being watched by a different cinema audience on another screen.

In an interview, Jay Kay claimed that the extras were not informed beforehand about the sudden influx of water near the start of the video, so the terrified reactions as they try to escape are actually genuine.[1]

Another version of the video replaces Godzilla with a man in the movie who smashes an aquarium, causing the theatre to flood. The rest of the video is completely identical.[2][3]

Track listings

UK CD1[4]

  1. "Deeper Underground" (radio edit) – 3:33
  2. "Deeper Underground" (The Metro Mix) – 6:59
  3. "Deeper Underground" (instrumental) – 4:44

UK CD2[5]

  1. "Deeper Underground" – 4:44
  2. "Deeper Underground" (The Ummah Mix) – 5:01
  3. "Deeper Underground" (S-Man Meets Da Northface Killa Dub) – 9:02

UK cassette single and European CD single[6][7]

  1. "Deeper Underground" (radio edit) – 3:33
  2. "Deeper Underground" (The Metro Mix) – 6:59

Australian and Japanese CD single[8][9]

  1. "Deeper Underground" (radio edit)
  2. "Deeper Underground"
  3. "Deeper Underground" (The Metro Mix)
  4. "High Times" (radio edit)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1998)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10]6
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[11]2
scope="row|Italy (Musica e dischi)[12]7
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[13]1
Spain (AFYVE)[14]10

Year-end charts

Chart (1998)Position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15]71
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[16]20
UK Singles (OCC)[17][18]55

Certifications and sales

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Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
Japan20 May 1998CDEpic[19]
United Kingdom13 July 1998CD · cassetteSony Soho Square[20]
United States29 September 1998Contemporary hit radioWork[21]

References

  1. ^ Jay Kay speaking on Jamiroquai High Times Singles 1992-2006 DVD (Sony BMG 2006), Behind the music Chapter III at 3'50"
  2. ^ "Jamiroquai | Music | Music Videos | Deeper Underground (Non-Godzilla Edit)". funkin.com. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  3. ^ Contigolo (17 March 2024). "Deeper Underground alternate music video". r/jamiroquai. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  4. ^ Deeper Underground (UK CD1 liner notes). Sony Soho Square. 1998. 666218 2.
  5. ^ Deeper Underground (UK CD2 liner notes). Sony Soho Square. 1998. 666218 5.
  6. ^ Deeper Underground (UK cassette single sleeve). Sony Soho Square. 1998. 666218 4.
  7. ^ Deeper Underground (European CD single liner notes). Sony Soho Square. 1998. EPC 665904 1.
  8. ^ Deeper Underground (Australian CD single liner notes). Columbia Records. 1998. 665989 2.
  9. ^ Deeper Underground (Japanese CD single liner notes). Epic Records. 1998. ESCA 7273.
  10. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 31. 1 August 1998. p. 11. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (30.7.–6.8. 1998)" (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. 31 July 1998. p. 11. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  12. ^ "Top National Sellers". Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 38. 19 September 1998. p. 14. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  13. ^ "Major Market Airplay: Italy". Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 41. 10 October 1998. p. 29.
  14. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st ed. Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  15. ^ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1998". Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 51. 19 December 1998. p. 8. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  16. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98" (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. 2 January 1999. p. 34. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7.
  18. ^ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  19. ^ "New Release: International". Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Archived 23 May 1998 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  20. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 11 July 1998. p. 23. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  21. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1267. 25 September 1998. p. 37.