Jimmy James

Beastie Boys

About Jimmy James

"Jimmy James" is the first song and third single from Beastie Boys' third album Check Your Head. The song has been described as a tribute to Jimi Hendrix by Beastie Boys member MCA, and contains samples from several Hendrix songs including "Foxy Lady", "Happy Birthday", and "Still Raining, Still Dreaming". The song also samples the drum beat from "I'm Chief Kamanawanalea (We're the Royal Macadamia Nuts)" by The Turtles, as well as a line from Mantronix's 1985 single, "Fresh Is the Word" (". ..for all the Blacks, Puerto Ricans, and the White People too"). 


Year:
2000
102 
#2

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This next one's the first song on our new album

People how you doin', there's a new day dawnin'
For the earth mother, it's a brand new mornin'
For such a long while, there's been such a longin'
But now the sun is shinin', let's roll back the awnin'

This is a type of kinda like a formal dedication
Givin' out a shout
for much inspiration
All I ever really want to do is get nice
Get loose and goof a little slice of life
Sendin' out love to all corners of the land
I jump up on the stage and take the mic in my hand
I'm not playin' the roll, just being who I am
And if you try to dis me, I couldn't give a damn

Bass from the back of my car feels soothin'
Eight bazookas is what I'm usin'
I'm Mike D, and it's been proven
I love it when I see the party people just movin'
Strapped on my ear goggles and what did I see?
But the music brought the people into harmony

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Beastie Boys

Beastie Boys is an American hip hop band from New York City, formed in 1981. For the majority of its career, the group has consisted of three MCs and musicians Michael "Mike D" Diamond (vocals, drums), Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass) and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (vocals, guitar). more »

4 fans

Written by: ADAM HOROVITZ, ADAM NATHANIEL YAUCH, EDWARD CHAPLIN, MARIO CALDATO JR., MICHAEL LOUIS DIAMOND

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, SCHUBERT MUSIC PUBLISHING INC.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


20 facts about this song

Album Release
"Jimmy James" is a song by the Beastie Boys, released as the first track on their third studio album, "Check Your Head," which was released on 21st April 1992.
Song Length
The song has a runtime of 3 minutes and 14 seconds, which makes it one of the longer songs on the album.
Genre Classification
"Jimmy James" is a fusion of alternative hip hop, rock, and funk, demonstrating the Beastie Boys' signature genre-bending style.
Jimi Hendrix Tribute
The song is named after rock legend Jimi Hendrix (whose real name was Johnny Allen Hendrix, later changed to James Marshall Hendrix), thus paying him a tribute.
Sample Controversy
Initially, the Beastie Boys wanted to sample Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady" and "Happy Birthday" for the track, but were denied by the Hendrix estate. Nonetheless, they managed to include imitations of Hendrix's guitar style.
Alternative Version
There is an alternative version of the song titled "Jimmy James (Original Version)" which includes the original Hendrix samples.
Album Success
"Check Your Head," the album that "Jimmy James" appeared on, was a commercial success, reaching Gold status in the United States after just two months and later being certified Double Platinum.
Album Cover
The images of the band members in oscilloscope on the cover of the album visually represent the sound waveforms of the music from "Jimmy James".
Music Video
A music video for "Jimmy James" was also made and it was directed by Tamra Davis, a film and music video director who made multiple videos for Beastie Boys.
Others' Tribute
Beastie Boys' tribute to Jimi Hendrix has been honored by various musicians after them. For example, a cover version of "Jimmy James" featured in the video game Rock Band 3.
Album Origin Fact
"Jimmy James" is the opening song of the Beastie Boys' third studio album "Check Your Head," which was released in 1992.
Track Inspiration
The song title references guitar legend Jimmy James, a stage name used by Jimi Hendrix in the early days of his career.
Sound Design Fact
The song's heavy guitar sounds and funky bass line signaled a change in the Beastie Boys' musical direction from their previous hip-hop style.
Sample Usage Fact
The Beastie Boys sampled sounds from two Jimi Hendrix songs, "Foxy Lady" and "Hear My Train a Comin'," but were only given permission to use the latter in regions outside North America due to copyright issues.
Album Influence
The song's experimental blend of hip-hop and rock influenced the direction of their later works, solidifying Beastie Boys as versatile artists unafraid to cross genre boundaries.
Music Video Fact
The music video for "Jimmy James" features the Beastie Boys playing in various locations including a warehouse and on the rooftop of a building, illustrating their punk roots.
Band Instrumentation Fact
For the album "Check Your Head," Beastie Boys returned to their punk roots by playing their own instruments; "Jimmy James" highlights this with distinct guitar, bass, and drum parts performed by the band members themselves.
Chart Performance
While "Jimmy James" did not chart highly on major music charts, the album "Check Your Head" achieved commercial success, eventually reaching double Platinum according to the RIAA.
Live Performance Fact
"Jimmy James" became a regular staple in Beastie Boys live performances, demonstrating the band's affection for the track.
Cult Status
Despite not being a commercial hit, "Jimmy James" remains a fan favourite and is considered a classic example of Beastie Boys' eclectic style.

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