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Weapon Of Choice (Song)

This article is about the song by Fatboy Slim. For the song by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, one might, if sufficiently confused, consult Baby 81 (album).

"Weapon of Choice" Single by Fatboy Slim featuring Bootsy Collins from the album Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars A-side "Star 69" Released 23 April 2001 (2001-04-23) Recorded 2000 Genre

Fatboy Slim singles chronology "Demons" (2001) "Star 69" / "Weapon of Choice" (2001) "Song for Shelter"/"Ya Mama" (2001) • That Old Pair of Jeans (2006) "Weapon of Choice (Remix)" (2006) Champion Sound (2006) • Music video "Weapon of Choice" from YouTube • Audio sample "Weapon of Choice" • • file • help

"Weapon of Choice" is a track of considerable impact by the English big beat musician Fatboy Slim, also known to those with a penchant for formal identification as Norman Cook. This particular composition was drawn from his third studio album, titled with a rather poetic flourish, Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars. The song is notably distinguished by the presence of lead vocals provided by the American funk legend, Bootsy Collins, a collaboration that, against all odds, proved to be rather effective. It initially entered the public consciousness as a double A-side single alongside "Star 69", making its debut on 23 April 2001. Not content with a singular release, it also saw a standalone single version and, for those who appreciate a second helping, a 2010 re-release featuring a collection of remixes. This memorable track managed to ascend to a respectable No. 10 position on the highly competitive UK Singles Chart, proving that sometimes, even the most unconventional pairings can capture the public's fleeting attention. [2]

The accompanying visual narrative, a rather memorable piece of performance art masquerading as a music video, was orchestrated by the acclaimed director Spike Jonze. It famously features the perpetually enigmatic actor Christopher Walken, not merely acting, but dancing with an unsettling grace through what appears to be a forgotten hotel lobby. The sheer audacity of this pairing, a big beat track and a seasoned Hollywood actor, resonated profoundly within the cultural zeitgeist. This resonance translated into a rather respectable haul of accolades, including multiple awards at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards and, for some baffling reason, a Grammy Award for Best Music Video in 2002. One might even call it a triumph of unexpected synergy.

Background

The collaboration between Bootsy Collins and Fatboy Slim, captured here in an image from 2008, highlights the fusion of disparate musical worlds that defined "Weapon of Choice." This track stands as a testament to Fatboy Slim's knack for weaving together unexpected elements into a cohesive, undeniably catchy whole. The song's distinct character is largely owed to the lead vocals of Bootsy Collins, a figure widely revered for his foundational contributions to the funk genre. Collins's illustrious career includes significant tenures as a member of the iconic funk collective Parliament-Funkadelic and as the charismatic leader of his own influential outfit, Bootsy's Rubber Band. His unique vocal delivery, instantly recognizable for its cool, laid-back yet undeniably groovy quality, forms a crucial layer of the track. In the album version, a particularly intriguing production choice is evident: Collins's standard, unadulterated vocals are channeled through the right audio speaker, while a duplicate, heavily distorted and pitched down to a much deeper register, emanates from the left. This sonic duality creates a rich, almost disorienting, stereo effect, adding a layer of depth and complexity to the track's already vibrant soundscape.

The composition of "Weapon of Choice" is, as is typical for Fatboy Slim's work, a meticulously constructed pastiche of samples, demonstrating a keen ear for sonic appropriation. A particularly prominent and foundational element is the sample derived from Sly & the Family Stone's 1968 track, "Into My Own Thing". The inclusion of this particular sample pays homage to the seminal funk and soul sounds that heavily influenced the big beat movement. Beyond this, the song also incorporates sonic fragments from "All Strung Out Over You" by the psychedelic rock and soul group The Chambers Brothers, adding another layer of classic American musical heritage. Furthermore, a sample from "Word Play" by the renowned DJ collective The X-Ecutioners can be discerned within the track. This particular sample is not new to Fatboy Slim's repertoire, having previously been utilized in "Don't Forget Your Teeth", which served as the B-side to his immensely popular single "Right Here, Right Now", as well as in "Gangster Trippin". This re-use of samples across different tracks highlights Cook's characteristic approach to production, often revisiting and recontextualizing sonic snippets to create new narratives.

The lyrical content, while often overshadowed by the song's infectious groove and iconic video, carries its own subtle layers of reference. The recurring chorus, "You could blow with this, or you could blow with that", functions as a clear and deliberate homage to "The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)", a seminal track by the hip hop group Black Sheep. This nod to hip hop culture further cements the song's eclectic influences and its position within the broader landscape of sample-based music. More surprisingly, the lines "Walk without rhythm/and it won't attract the worm" are a direct quotation from Frank Herbert's monumental science fiction novel, Dune. This unexpected literary inclusion adds a layer of intellectual whimsy to a track otherwise designed for dancefloors, suggesting a hidden depth beneath the surface. Some interpretations also propose that the phrase "tone of my voice" within the lyrics might itself be the titular "weapon", echoing the subtle, psychological tools of influence employed by certain characters within the Dune universe. [3] Another literary connection surfaces in the song's title, and indeed the album's title, Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars. This phrase is a direct allusion to a poignant line from Oscar Wilde's play Lady Windermere's Fan: "We are all of us in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." This reference infuses the album and song with a touch of classical cynicism and aspiration, a rather sophisticated sentiment for a big beat record, wouldn't you agree?

The version of the song tailored for broadcast, often referred to as the "Attack Hamster Edit," represents the more concise iteration commonly found on radio waves and subsequently featured on Fatboy Slim's greatest hits compilation, The Greatest Hits – Why Try Harder. In this particular edit, while Bootsy Collins's dual vocal tracks—both the standard and the distorted versions—remain technically present, the deeper, distorted track is rendered almost imperceptibly quiet. This modification was a practical necessity, designed to condense the track into a more radio-friendly length and avoid startling unsuspecting listeners with overly aggressive bass. This "Attack Hamster Edit" did not fare as well on the charts as its longer counterpart, managing to peak at No. 137 on the UK Singles Chart. [citation needed] Beyond its chart performance, "Weapon of Choice" found its way into various forms of popular media, a testament to its pervasive cultural appeal. It made brief appearances in the 2001 film Joe Somebody, an episode of the acclaimed television series Malcolm in the Middle titled "Malcolm vs. Reese", and was also heard in The Lone Gunmen episode "All About Yves". Furthermore, the song provided a fitting backdrop for a scene in the 2006 film Night at the Museum. [citation needed] Its enduring appeal was further evidenced in 2013, when it was prominently featured in the E3 trailer for the video game Skylanders: Swap Force, demonstrating its versatility across different media platforms.

The album version of "Weapon of Choice" presents a slightly different listening experience than the single release, a common practice in music production that caters to different consumption formats. On the album, the song seamlessly segues from the preceding track, "Retox", meaning that the concluding moments of "Retox" are subtly woven into the beginning of "Weapon of Choice". This continuous flow enhances the album's overall narrative and sonic journey. Around the 5:06 mark in the "single version," a specific production technique is employed where the final second of the track (at 5:05) is repeated numerous times, creating a rhythmic, almost hypnotic echo that extends the song until its conclusion at 5:36. In contrast, the album version handles its conclusion differently: the last two seconds are repeated until the 5:23 mark, at which point distinct scratching sounds begin to emerge at 5:14, continuing and building until the track finally fades out at its 5:45 conclusion. These subtle yet deliberate differences in the outro demonstrate the artistic choices made for each format, with the album version often affording more space for extended sonic experimentation. Beyond these structural variations, both the single and album versions also feature several other minor distinctions, including the precise ordering of various vocal snippets as they approach the five-minute mark, further showcasing the meticulous attention to detail in Fatboy Slim's production.

Music video

The "Weapon of Choice" video, featuring the inimitable Christopher Walken, is not merely a visual accompaniment to the song; it is, in its own right, a celebrated piece of media, particularly acclaimed for its unexpected yet utterly captivating choreography. It’s the kind of visual that sticks with you, whether you want it to or not.

The creation of this now-iconic music video unfolded within the rather mundane setting of the lobby of the Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles (an establishment now known as the L.A. Grand Hotel Downtown), with filming taking place in December 2000. The visionary behind the lens was Spike Jonze, a director renowned for his distinctive and often surreal cinematic style. At the heart of the video's enduring appeal is the performance of actor Christopher Walken, a man whose career has spanned decades of memorable roles. What many may not realize is that before his ascent to acting stardom, Walken received formal training as a dancer in musical theatre. This background proved crucial, as Walken himself had approached Jonze with a desire to film his dancing, an idea that Jonze promptly embraced by suggesting his participation in the video. [4] A minor, yet amusing, historical footnote: Fatboy Slim (Norman Cook) was originally slated to make a cameo appearance in the video, specifically to step in for Walken during the more physically demanding harness shots. However, the universe, in its infinite wisdom, had other plans. Cook was unavailable that pivotal weekend due to the rather significant event of his wife, Zoe Ball, giving birth. [4] One can only imagine the alternate reality where the producer, rather than the actor, was suspended from the ceiling.

The narrative, if one can call it that, is elegantly simple yet profoundly engaging. The video opens with Christopher Walken in a state of relaxed repose, seated in a chair within the deserted expanse of the hotel lobby. His tranquility is gently interrupted by the faint strains of the song emanating from a radio perched on a nearby cleaning cart. As the infectious big beat takes hold, Walken undergoes a subtle transformation, shedding his stillness to embark on an impromptu, mesmerizing dance across the vast marble floors of the hotel. His movements are a unique blend of formal training and inherent eccentricity, carrying him through various parts of the building. He glides into an elevator, ascends, and then, in a moment of surreal liberation, leaps off a balcony, seemingly defying gravity as he soars and dances through the air around the mezzanine level. This sequence of flight, achieved through clever wirework and seamless editing, is a highlight, adding a dreamlike quality to the performance. Ultimately, the gravity-defying interlude concludes as Walken gently descends, returning to his original chair as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

The critical reception to the "Weapon of Choice" video was overwhelmingly positive, solidifying its status as a landmark in music video history. It garnered a remarkable six awards at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, a testament to its creative and technical prowess. [5] Among these accolades, Christopher Walken himself was personally recognized, receiving one of MTV's coveted "Moonmen" trophies for Best Choreography, an honor that justly acknowledged his extraordinary performance. The video's impact was further underscored in April 2002 when it was ranked as the number one music video of all time on a list compiled by VH1, based on a comprehensive survey of music industry professionals. [6] This kind of enduring acclaim is rarely bestowed, indicating the video's truly exceptional nature. The video's influence has also manifested in various homages and re-creations across different cultural spheres. The Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt, for instance, delivered his own interpretation of the dance in a version of the video directed by Malik Bendjelloul. [7] [8] [9] In 2012, British comedian and television presenter Rowland Rivron captivated audiences and ultimately triumphed on the charity television program Let's Dance for Sport Relief with his earnest and entertaining reenactment of the video's distinctive choreography. [10] Even as recently as 2025, the music video's iconic movements were once again referenced in a promotional segment for an episode of Saturday Night Live. The promo featured that week's host, Glen Powell, attempting to replicate the video's choreography within the hallowed confines of Studio 8H, only to comically, and perhaps inevitably, suffer an accidental neck injury that necessitated a trip to the hospital. [11] [12] Such repeated homage speaks volumes about the video's indelible mark on popular culture.

Christopher Walken himself has offered insights into his decision to participate in the project. He openly cited his profound admiration for director Spike Jonze as one of the primary motivators for his involvement, viewing the opportunity as a unique chance to engage in "something different" from his typical acting roles. He also observed that his background as a trained tap dancer unexpectedly suited the rhythmic demands of dancing to electronic music, allowing him to adapt his classical training to a contemporary soundscape with remarkable ease. [13]

In a rather curious twist of fate, the music video experienced a significant resurgence in public consciousness during the 2020s. This renewed interest was largely triggered by the announcement of Walken's casting as Shaddam IV, the Padishah Emperor, in Dune: Part Two. [14] [15] The irony, of course, lies in the fact that the original song prominently features lyrics that directly reference Dune, creating a serendipitous connection between the actor, the music, and the literary source material. However, it is crucial to note that this lyrical coincidence had absolutely no bearing on Walken's casting in the film. [16] In an interview with GQ, a publication known for its incisive celebrity profiles, Walken candidly admitted that he was entirely unaware of any connection between the Fatboy Slim song and the Dune universe prior to accepting his role in the highly anticipated sequel. [17] One can only assume the universe enjoys its little jokes at our expense.

Track listing

"Star 69" / "Weapon of Choice"

No. Title Length
1. "Star 69" (full version) 5:57
2. "Star 69" (radio edit) 3:35
3. "Weapon of Choice" 5:38
4. "Weapon of Choice" (video) 3:31

"Weapon of Choice 2010"

No. Title Length
1. "Weapon of Choice 2010" (Lazy Rich Remix) 6:05
2. "Weapon of Choice 2010" (Lazy Rich Dub) 5:48
3. "Weapon of Choice 2010" (Radio Edit) 2:59

Accolades

The song and its accompanying music video garnered a considerable number of awards and nominations, a testament to their critical and popular reception, proving that sometimes, even the most unconventional artistic endeavors can be universally applauded.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2001 MTV Video Music Award Video of the Year Nominated
Best Dance Video Nominated
Breakthrough Video Won
Best Direction Won
Best Choreography Won
Best Visual Effects Nominated
Best Art Direction Won
Best Editing Won
Best Cinematography Won
MTV Europe Music Award Best Video Nominated
2002 Grammy Award Best Music Video Won

Charts

"Star 69" / "Weapon of Choice" double A-side chart positions

Chart (2001) Peak position
Australia (ARIA) [18] 23
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [19] 14
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [20] 18
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [21] 20
Germany (GfK) [22] 81
Ireland (IRMA) [23] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [24] 85
Scotland Singles (OCC) [25] 6
UK Singles (OCC) [26] 10
UK Dance (OCC) [27] 2

"Weapon of Choice"

Chart (2001) Peak position
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard) [28] 33

Certifications

The commercial success of "Weapon of Choice" was further underscored by its official certifications, reflecting its widespread appeal and sales performance in various regions.

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [29] Silver 200,000 ‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.