Sabotage (Beastie Boys song)

"Sabotage"
Single by Beastie Boys
from the album Ill Communication
ReleasedJanuary 28, 1994[1]
Genre
Length2:58
LabelGrand Royal
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Beastie Boys singles chronology
"Professor Booty"
(1992) 		"Sabotage"
(1994) 		"Get It Together"
(1994)
Music video
"Sabotage" on YouTube

"Sabotage" is a song by American rap rock group Beastie Boys, released by Grand Royal Records in January 1994 as the first single from their fourth studio album, Ill Communication (1994). The song features traditional rock instrumentation (Ad-Rock on guitar, MCA on bass, and Mike D on drums), turntable scratches, heavily distorted bass guitar riffs and lead vocals by Ad-Rock. A moderate commercial success, the song was notable for its video, directed by Spike Jonze; it was also nominated in five categories at the 1994 MTV Music Video Awards.

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Sabotage" No. 475 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[8] In 2010, it was dropped to No. 480. In a 2021 updated list, Rolling Stone re-ranked the song at No. 245. In March 2005, Q magazine placed it at No. 46 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks, and was ranked No. 19 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s list. Pitchfork Media included the song at No. 39 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s list.[9]

  1. ^ Billboard May 7, 1994, page 12
  2. ^ Aaron, Charles (September 1999). "Top 20 Singles". Spin. 15 (9): 137.
  3. ^ Weiss, Dan (April 6, 2012). "Ten Rap-Rock Songs That Are Actually Awesome". LA Weekly. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference flick was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Hand, Christian. ""Sabotage"". PSAudio. Retrieved June 29, 2021. The Beastie Boys maintained their cred, punk-rock attitude, and roots throughout their careers. This song is a 90's Classic, of that there is no doubt.
  6. ^ Gerard, Chris (22 April 2021). "THE 100 GREATEST ALTERNATIVE SINGLES OF THE '90S: 40 – 21". PopMatters. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  7. ^ "The 100 Best Alternative Rock Songs Of 1994". SPIN. August 18, 2014. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  8. ^ "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: Beastie Boys, 'Sabotage'". rollingstone.com. 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Staff Lists: The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s: 50-21". Pitchfork Media. 2 September 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2012.