"Horny '98" is a house song by German producer Mousse T. and pop duo "Hot 'n' Juicy" with vocals provided by Inaya Day. The song is Mousse T's first CD-single release and it reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart in June 1998 and stayed on the chart for 17 weeks. It also reached number one in Italy, number 2 in New Zealand and number 5 in Ireland. In 2006, a mash-up of the song with "Bohemian Like You" by The Dandy Warhols—titled "Horny as a Dandy"—reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, number 14 in Austria and number 10 in Italy.
Release and performance
Originally called "Horny Track", the single was actually first released as an instrumental in 1997 on a limited edition vinyl 12" single as a little "present" for fellow club DJs. But the 1998 remake was given a commercial edge after adding vocals by duo Emma Lanford and Nadine Richardson, with Inaya Day, working under the name Hot'N'Juicy. Italian house music fans were the first to pick upon the record. The single reached number one on the singles chart in Italy and became a massive summer hit. Then the track reached the top position on the German dance chart after some seven weeks. It also peaked at number 2 in the UK, number 3 in Scotland, number 5 in Ireland, number 9 in Norway, number 11 in Switzerland and number 12 in Iceland. On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Horny '98" reached number 6 in June 1998. Outside Europe, it peaked at number 2 in New Zealand, number 12 on the BillboardHot Dance Singles Sales chart in the US and number 13 in Australia. There were made two very similar music videos for the song.
Critical reception
from Billboard wrote, "As one of many highlights on the new "South Park" collection, "Horny" has the potential to be the novelty smash of the season. With lyrics that are ultra-self-explanatory, "Horny" will either bring a giddy smile or a look of disdain. While it has been wholly embraced by club pundits who tend to appreciate anything cheeky and suggestive, those at radio may find themselves more comfortable distancing themselves from it. Of course, carefree, adventurous types will see "Horny" as the best thing to come down the pike since Rice Krispies treats. Better yet, perhaps they will simply look to European radio—which treated this as a full-fledged pop record—and turn it into a major hit." Music & Media commented that "the music is tough and sexy with a tight disco beat, screeching horns and an appropriately smouldering vocal. The shadow of Gloria Gaynor looms very, very large over this tune but that's no bad thing..." They also noted the song as "a perfect dance/pop crossover". Dave Fawbert from ShortList wrote, "Completing 1998’s sexy one-two, this is the sound of Jumpin’ Jaks in Romford in the summer of 1998: the sound of carefree youth, shots for a pound, dancing on the tables and fights outside McDonald’s. Wonderful."
Hot 'n' Juicy
Hot 'n' Juicy were initially a duo of singers, Emma Lanford and Nadine Richardson. They appeared on the 1998 version of "Horny" and the 2006 mash up "Horny as a Dandy". They were residents of a tower block on the former Lee Bank estate in Birmingham. They became a trio in late 1998 when they were joined by Nikki Belle, who remained in the group until 1999. After the group split up, Belle went on to provide vocals on a version of Womack & Womack's "Teardrops" for "Whelan and Di Scala", an English EDM Dj.
''South Park'' version
The song was later included on the South Park soundtrack album . On Chef Aid, the song opens with a mock phone call between Sid Greenfield and South Park creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, talking about putting the song on the album. In the mock phone call Matt and Trey repeatedly voice their dislike for the song, and Sid Greenfield finally agrees not to include it.
In 2006, a mash-up between "Horny" and The Dandy Warhols' song "Bohemian Like You" was released as "Horny as a Dandy", featuring vocals from Hot 'n' Juicy. It peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, number 13 in Austria, and number 10 in Italy. Two versions of the song appear on the first CD single: the original mash-up version produced by Loo & Placido and a new version produced by Mousse T. featuring a re-recorded sample of "Bohemian Like You" with The Dandy Warhols providing the vocals and instrumentation.
Charts
Cover versions
In 2016, Australians Potbelleez and Zoë Badwi released a version as a single.