Beat Dis

"Beat Dis"
Single by Bomb the Bass
from the album Into the Dragon
Released1987[1]
Recorded1987[2]
Genre
Length
  • 6:00 (original 12-inch version)
  • 3:21 (music video version)
LabelMister-Ron
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Tim Simenon
Bomb the Bass singles chronology
"Beat Dis"
(1987)
"Don't Make Me Wait"
(1988)

"Beat Dis" is a song by British act Bomb the Bass, a studio production 'group' formed by producer Tim Simenon originally as the Rhythm King All Stars, with producer Pascal Gabriel and Adele Nozedar from Indians in Moscow involved too.[4]

From Bomb the Bass' first album Into the Dragon, the track largely consists of samples, like other hits of the time such as "Pump Up the Volume" by M/A/R/R/S and "Theme from S'Express" by S'Express. The centre label on the record features a smiley lifted from Watchmen. This usage was the origin of the use of the smiley as a symbol for acid house.[5]

"Beat Dis" was first released on Simenon's own Mister-Ron label in 1987.[6][7] It debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart on 20 February 1988, and peaked at number two a week later. It was also a hit in Europe, reaching the top 10 in at least five countries, and in New Zealand, where it peaked at number five. It reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for one week and is Bomb the Bass' only chart hit in the US.

  1. ^ "12" Single: Bomb The Bass - Beat Dis (Extended Dis) (1987)" – via 45worlds.com.
  2. ^ "Bomb the Bass Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "Evolution of Hip House". Recording Arts Canada. January 28, 2020.
  4. ^ "How we made Beat Dis by Bomb the Bass". TheGuardian.com. 19 July 2021.
  5. ^ Savage, Jon (21 February 2009). "The history of the smiley face symbol". the Guardian. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  6. ^ "The Quietus | Features | Anniversary | Bits & Pieces: Angus Batey On The History Of Cut And Paste". The Quietus.
  7. ^ "Bomb The Bass - Beat Dis - 7" Vinyl Record". Atlas Records.