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Theme from S-Express

{{short description|1988 single by S'Express}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Theme from S-Express

| cover = S-Express Theme.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = S'Express

| album = Original Soundtrack

| released = April 1988

| recorded = 1988

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

  • Acid house
  • Eurodisco{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mroOLw8XZr8C|title=1989: Bob Dylan Didn't Have This to Sing About|first1=Joshua |last1=Clover|date=3 October 2023|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=9780520944640|via=Google Books|quote="Theme from S'Express" begins with a Eurodisco synthesizer line of the sort pioneered in the seventies by Giorgio Moroder and Jean-Marc Cerrone; member Chilo Harlo intones "Enjoy this trip... enjoy this trip... and it is a trip," like the world's squarest tour guide, and the song is off and racing over a sampled Rose Royce bass line and house's standard four-on-the-floor drums.}}

| length = 3:55

| label =

| writer =

| producer =

  • Mark Moore
  • Pascal Gabriel

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Superfly Guy

| next_year = 1988

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|IpeRShWMdYM|"Theme from S-Express"}}}}

{{Extra album cover

| header = Alternative cover

| type = single

| cover = S-Express Theme Remix.jpg

| border =

| alt =

| caption = "Theme from S-Xpress — The Return Trip" cover (1996)

}}

}}

"Theme from S-Express" is an acid house song by British electronic dance music group S'Express, from their debut studio album, Original Soundtrack (1989), written and produced by Mark Moore and Pascal Gabriel. One of the landmarks of early acid house and late 1980s sampling culture, the single was released by Rhythm King and Capitol, and became an instant hit upon its release in April 1988, peaking at number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks. It fared less well in the United States, only reaching number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100 but reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. It additionally peaked at number 11 in Australia and number two in West Germany, France and the Netherlands.

Production

The song samples liberally from many other works, including heavy usage of Rose Royce's "Is It Love You're After", and TZ's "I Got the Hots for You", which provided the song's campy hook.Reynolds, S., (2013), Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture, Faber & Faber, {{ISBN|978-0571289134}}, Chapter Two. The song used the line "Drop that ghetto blaster" prominently from the song "Tales of Taboo" by Karen Finley. The hi-hat is sampled from an aerosol spray.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} The track's "S express" refrain makes reference to the 42nd Street Shuttle, a line on the New York City Subway. The train sample used is of an InterCity 125. The cover artwork features a cutaway drawing of a British Rail Class 56, a contemporary freight locomotive. For the North American release, some spoken word samples had to be removed due to licensing issues, and were recreated by unnamed voice artists.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} The female vocalist is Michel'le.{{Cite web|url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/sexpress/theme-from-sexpress|title=Theme from S-Express|website=Songfacts.com|access-date=14 March 2022}}

Samples used

This is a list of samples used in "Theme from S-Express".{{cite web|url=http://www.du-bruit.com/samples-s-express.html |title=Les samples de S express |publisher=Du-bruit.com |date= |access-date=2014-03-30}}

Critical reception

Ben Thompson from NME wrote, "A mad disco travelogue hosted by a spaced-out Michael Rodd, this is probably in the top five already. The cinematic horny bit from Shaft (I think), lots of train noises. 'Uno Dos Tres Quatros' and they're off. All stations to Dartford via Woolwich Arsenal and Slade Green and No Messing; a synthesiser thump catchy enough to be 'AE IOU' by Freeeze says this one cannot fail. If you were down and out and had only one leg this record wouldn't buy you a cup of tea, but I suppose that's not a factor in this day and age."{{cite magazine|first=Ben|last=Thompson|url=https://flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/50910012098/|title=Singles|magazine=NME|date=16 April 1988|page=21|access-date=29 October 2023}} Nancy Culp from Record Mirror named "Theme from S-Express" Single of the Week, adding, "Coming on all Seventies and Cerrone (who could forget 'Supernature'?) Mark Moore's S'Express follows on in fine Rhythm King tradition (can the label do no wrong, I ask myself?). You see, the reason these DJs are making such great dancefloor records is that they know what gets you in the groove, man! With this one, you can have a giggle while you dance, too! It has just the right amount of tack/trendy quota to make sure it follows 'Beat Dis' straight to the top."{{cite magazine|first=Nancy|last=Culp|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/51802736032/in/album-72177720295770612/|title=45|magazine=Record Mirror|date=9 April 1988|page=29|access-date=8 March 2023}} The magazine's James Hamilton wrote in his dance column, "London DJ Mark Moore leads the Seventies flares fashion with a Rose Royce/BT Express-type buzzing bass synth and hissing hi-hat drive 117-0bpm semi-instrumental, full of samples, quotes and sound effects in current Eighties style, a likely hit."{{cite magazine|first=James|last=Hamilton|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/51759712564/in/album-72177720295403366/|title=BPM|magazine=Record Mirror|date=16 January 1988|page=18|access-date=8 March 2023|author-link=James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}}

Impact and legacy

In 1999, Spex included "Theme from S-Express" in their "The Best Singles of the Century" list.{{cite web|url=http://home.rhein-zeitung.de/~tommi.s/spex20jh.htm#singles|title=Die besten Singles aller Zeiten at home.rhein-zeitung.de|access-date=7 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706022353/http://home.rhein-zeitung.de/~tommi.s/spex20jh.htm#singles|archive-date=6 July 2012|url-status=dead}} In 2020, The Guardian ranked the song number 51 in their list of "The 100 greatest UK No 1s",{{Cite news|last1=Beaumont-Thomas|first1=Ben|last2=Petridis|first2=Alexis|last3=Snapes|first3=Laura|date=2020-06-05|title=The 100 greatest UK No 1s: 100-1|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/apr/27/the-100-greatest-uk-no-1s|access-date=27 July 2020|issn=0261-3077}} writing, "To watch Top of the Pops as 1987 gives way to 1988 is to watch the freaks taking over the asylum: after MARRS and Bomb the Bass's earlier acid house hits, S-Express's sample-heavy track affirmed the sound's chart coronation, making the Stock Aitken Waterman stable look even more square, and stuck one in the eye of London's throttlingly cool club scene with its euphoric, queer collage." In 2024, Classic Pop ranked "Theme from S-Express" number one in their list of "Top 20 80s House Hits".{{cite web|first=Jon|last=O'Brien|title=Top 20 80s House Hits|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2024/05/top-20-house-hits/|website=Classic Pop|date=2 May 2024|access-date=11 November 2024}}

Track listings

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

  • CD maxi
  1. "Theme from S-Express" – (3:55)
  2. "The Trip" (Microdot House Mix) – (5:41)
  3. "Theme from S-Express" (Herbal Tea Casualty Mix) – (8:05)
  • 7" single
  1. "Theme from S-Express" – (3:55)
  2. "The Trip" (Microdot House Mix) – (4:18)
  • 12" maxi, Europe 1
  1. "Theme from S-Express" – (5:58)
  2. "The Trip" (Microdot House Mix) – (5:40)
  3. "Theme from S-Express" – (3:55)
  • 12" maxi, Europe 2
  1. "Theme from S-Express" (Herbal Tea Casualty Mix)
  2. "The Trip" (Microdot House Mix) – (5:40)
  3. "Theme from S'Express" – (3:55)
  • 12" maxi, Canada & UK
  1. "Theme from S-Express" (12" U.S.A. Mix) – (5:53)
  2. "Theme from S-Express" (7" U.S.A. Mix) – (3:53)
  3. "The Trip" (Microdot House Mix) – (5:53)

{{col-2}}

  • Cassette
  1. "Theme from S-Express" (7" U.S.A. Mix)
  2. "Theme from S-Express" (12" U.S.A. Mix)
  3. "The Trip"
  4. "Theme from S-Express" (7" U.S.A. Mix)
  5. "Theme from S-Express" (12" U.S.A. Mix)
  6. "The Trip"
  • CD maxi - Theme From S-Express (The Return Trip) (1996 release)
  1. "Theme from S-Express" (Tony De Vit 7" Mix) – (4:04)
  2. "Theme from S-Express" (Aquarius 7" Mix) – (4:12)
  3. "Theme from S-Express" (Original Theme 7" Mix Plus-8) – (3:36)
  4. "Theme from S-Express" (Tony De Vit 12" Mix) – (8:51)
  5. "Theme from S-Express" (Aquarius 'Party On The Orient Express' Mix) – (7:36)
  6. "Theme from S-Express" (Carl Craig's Edited Birthday Surprise Mix) – (7:36)

{{col-end}}

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1988)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|11|artist=S-Express|song=Theme from S-Express|rowheader=true|access-date=4 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Austria|9|artist=S-Express|song=Theme from S-Express|rowheader=true|access-date=4 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Flanders|1|artist=S-Express|song=Theme from S-Express|rowheader=true|access-date=4 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Canadadance|1|chartid=8546|rowheader=true|access-date=4 April 2018}}
scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1988/M&M-1988-06-11.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=5|issue=24|date=11 June 1988|page=11|access-date=11 March 2020}}

| 1

scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|first=Jake|last=Nyman|year=2005|title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja|edition=1st|publisher=Tammi|location=Helsinki|isbn=951-31-2503-3|language=Finnish}}

| 2

{{single chart|France|2|artist=S-Express|song=Theme from S-Express|rowheader=true|access-date=4 April 2018}}
scope="row"|Greece (IFPI){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1988/M&M-1988-07-16.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=5|issue=19|date=16 July 1988|page=16|access-date=14 March 2022}}

| 1

{{single chart|Ireland2|2|song=Theme from S'Express|rowheader=true|access-date=4 April 2018}}
scope="row"|Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=Musica e dischi|language=it|access-date=7 June 2022}} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "S. Express".

| 5

{{single chart|Dutch40|2|year=1988|week=23|rowheader=true|access-date=4 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|2|artist=S-Express|song=Theme from S-Express|rowheader=true|access-date=4 April 2018}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|7|artist=S-Express|song=Theme from S-Express|rowheader=true|access-date=4 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Norway|2|artist=S-Express|song=Theme from S-Express|rowheader=true|access-date=4 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Sweden|9|artist=S-Express|song=Theme from S-Express|rowheader=true|access-date=4 April 2018}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|1|artist=S-Express|song=Theme from S-Express|rowheader=true|access-date=4 April 2018}}
{{single chart|UK|1|date=19880430|rowheader=true|access-date=4 April 2018}}
scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1988-07-02/|title=Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|date=2 July 1988|access-date=23 July 2023}}

| 91

scope="row"|US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-dance-singles-sales/1988-07-23/|title=Dance Singles Sales|magazine=Billboard|date=23 July 1988|url-access=subscription|access-date=23 July 2023}}

| 4

scope="row"|US Dance Club Play (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs/1988-07-02/|title=Dance Club Songs|magazine=Billboard|date=2 July 1988|access-date=23 July 2023}}

| 1

{{single chart|West Germany|2|artist=S-Express|song=Theme from S-Express|songid=1781|rowheader=true|access-date=4 April 2018}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1996)

!Peak
position

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-05-25.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=13|issue=21|date=25 May 1996|page=16|access-date=25 June 2018}}

| 54

scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=S-Express&titel=Theme+From+S-Express+%28The+Return+Trip%29&cat=s|title=S-Express – Theme from S-Express (The Return Trip)|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=22 July 2021}}

| 24

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1988)

!Position

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1988|title=Jaaroverzichten 1988|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=14 July 2019}}

| 14

scope="row"|Canada Dance/Urban (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume%2049-No.%2010-December%2024,%201988.pdf|title=Top 25 Dance Singles of '88|magazine=RPM|volume=49|issue=10|page=10|date=24 December 1988|access-date=14 July 2019}}

| 13

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-01-01.pdf|title=1988 Year End Eurocharts|magazine=Music & Media|volume=6|issue=52/1|date=1 January 1988|page=30|access-date=14 January 2020}}

| 6

scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1988&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1988|language=nl|access-date=4 April 2018}}

| 11

scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1988|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1988|language=de|access-date=4 April 2018}}

| 9

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite book|editor-first=Peter|editor-last=Scaping|title=BPI YearBook 1989/90|chapter=Top 100 Singles: 1988|publisher=British Phonographic Industry|location=London, England|pages=64–65|date=1991|isbn=978-0-9061-5410-6}}

| 19

scope="row"|US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=No. 1 Awards|magazine=Billboard|volume=100|issue=52|page=Y-25|date=24 December 1988}}

| 36

scope="row"|US Dance Club Play (Billboard)

| 15

scope="row"|West Germany (Media Control){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1988|title=Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1988|publisher=GfK Entertainment|language=de|access-date=4 April 2018}}

| 22

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1996)

!Position

scope="row"|UK Club Chart (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-01-11.pdf|title=The RM Club Chart of the Year 96|magazine=Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|page=8|date=11 January 1997|access-date=4 May 2022}}

| 35

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|artist=S-Express|title=Theme from S-Express|award=Gold|relyear=1988|certyear=1988|source=infodisc|certmonth=6|access-date=22 March 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=S-Express|title=Theme from S-Express|award=Silver|relyear=1988|certyear=1988|id=7512-463-1|access-date=14 July 2019}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Theme From S-Express}}

Category:1988 songs

Category:1988 debut singles

Category:1996 singles

Category:Capitol Records singles

Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles

Category:Number-one singles in Greece

Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland

Category:S'Express songs

Category:Songs written by Pascal Gabriel

Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles

Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles