Prodigy’s new single ‘BABY’S GOT A TEMPER’ has been given UK radio airplay – but only in an edited form.
The song is courting controversy because of its constant references to the ‘date rape’ drug, Rohypnol. The lyrics, written by Keith Flint, include the chorus: “We love Rohypnol/She got Rohypnol/We take Rohypnol/Just forget it all” and “This baby’s got a temper/You’ll never tame her”. At one point, Flint simply chants, “Rohypnol! Rohypnol! Rohypnol!”.
Rohypnol, the trade name for Flunitrazepam, is a tranquilliser which causes muscle relaxation and amnesia. It has gained an infamous reputation as a ‘date rape’ drug because there have been cases when it has been mixed with alcohol to incapacitate victims and prevent them from resisting sexual assault.
The song was given its world premiere on BBC Radio 1 today (May 16), but was edited to remove any reference to the drug.
A spokesperson for the band told NME.COM that the group had not provided a radio edit of the song to the station and have no intention of doing so. She said the track was edited by Radio 1 at their end so it would fit into their daytime schedules.
She commented: “We’ve given them the finished track but it’s up to radio to do what they see fit.” It is understood that the band have not heard the edited version, as they are on the way back from a video shoot for the single.
A spokesperson for Radio 1 said that no decisions have yet been made on whether to playlist the single, and the track had been given a “spot play” by Jo Whiley’s show. The word Rohypnol was “masked”, which means a layer of sound was added over it.
Recommended
The single, released on July 1, is Prodigy’s first new material in five years. Described by mainman Liam Howlett as, “a wall of fucking noise”, ‘Baby’s Got A Temper’ is a heavy, brutal clash of hard beats, electronic rhythms, guitar riffs and Keith Flint’s trademark dirty vocals.
Despite the obvious controversy any song celebrating Rohypnol is bound to cause, the Prodigy insist their song has nothing to do with date rape. Keith Flint told NME.COM: “I don’t know its true medical title. Have I tried it? Oh yeah, absolutely. That’s what the song’s about. It’s a reflection on going out, maybe doing cocaine, then doing downers. Y’know, some people do all manner of downers and Rohypnol is one of them.”
For the full story, see this week’s NME, which is out now.