"Think About the Way" is a song by British, Italian-based rapper Ice MC, released in March 1994 as the second single from his third album, Ice'n'Green (1994), on which it appears in four versions, and his tenth single overall. It was produced by Roberto Zanetti, also known as Robyx, and was written by Zanetti and Ice MC, though many releases credit Zanetti as the sole writer. The female vocals were performed by Italian singer Alexia, though she was also uncredited and doesn't appear in the music video for the song, directed by Giacomo de Simone. The song was very successful in Europe,[1] reaching the top 5 in Belgium and Italy, and the top 15 in Denmark, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands. In the UK and Ireland, it was released under the title "Think About the Way (Bom Digi Bom...)", which it refers to the first words of the first verse.

"Think About the Way"
Single by Ice MC
from the album Ice'n'Green
B-side"Remix"
Released18 March 1994
RecordedNovember 1993
GenreEurodance
Length4:16
Label
Songwriter(s)Roberto Zanetti
Producer(s)Robyx
Ice MC singles chronology
"Take Away the Colour"
(1994)
"Think About the Way"
(1994)
"It's a Rainy Day"
(1994)
Music video
"Think About the Way" on YouTube

After being featured in the soundtrack of the film Trainspotting,[2] the song was re-issued in the UK in September 1996, achieving greater success than its original release reaching number 38 in the UK Singles Chart, and number five in the Scottish Singles Chart. Remixes were released in 2002, in 2007 by Frisco vs Ice MC, and in 2009 by Gigi Barocco vs Ice MC.

Critical reception

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Pan-European magazine Music & Media concluded, "It was only a matter of time, but the cross between Euro dance and ragga is a fact now. Visualise the male character in Culture Beat as a Jamaican toaster instead of an ordinary rapper."[3] Music & Media editor, Maria Jimenez, declared it as a "nearly guaranteed" hit, noting Ice MC's "ragga raps over techno pop beats".[4] Brad Beatnik from Music Week's RM Dance Update wrote, "With a subtitle and chorus of 'bom digi digi bom', plenty of piano and synth, percussion crescendos and a ragga-style vocal, it's not surprising this is currently a huge European hit. It has all the ingredients for being a smash here too."[1] Another RM editor, James Hamilton, said, "UK born Ian Campbell's unstoppable cheesy Euro smash is an ultra commercial catchy cod 'ragga' rapped and plaintive Jasmine (from Germany) whined 133bpm galloper".[5]

Chart performance

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"Think About the Way" was a major hit on the charts on several continents and remains Ice MC's most successful song. In Europe, it entered the top 10 in Belgian Flanders (3), Denmark (9), Italy (4), Scotland (5), Spain (6) and Switzerland (10). Additionally, the single was a top-20 hit in Finland (18), France (14), Germany (14), Iceland (18), Ireland (20), the Netherlands (11) and Sweden (13), as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number 18 on August 6, 1994.[6] On the European Dance Radio Chart, it almost peaked atop, reaching number two, behind Cappella's "U & Me",[7] as well as on the European Dance Radio year-end chart and the French Top Dance chart.[8] In the United Kingdom, "Think About the Way" reached its highest position as number 38 in its second run on the UK Singles Chart, on September 8, 1996.[9] It had previously peaked at number 42 in 1994. On the UK Dance Chart, it was a bigger hit, reaching number six. Outside Europe, the single peaked at number four on the RPM Dance/Urban chart in Canada and was also successful in Israel, reaching number five there.

Music video

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The accompanying music video for "Think About the Way" was directed by Giacomo de Simone,[10] but it didn't feature Alexia, whose vocals are featured on the song. The video was filmed in Filanda Forno in Massa, Italy[11] and was A-listed on Germany's VIVA in June 1994.[12] The video was later made available on YouTube in 2014, and had generated almost 50 million views as of early 2024.[13] De Simone had previously directed the video for "Scream" in 1990, and would go on directing the video for Ice MC's two next singles, "It's a Rainy Day" and "Give Me the Light".

Adaptations

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Trance DJ and producer act Virtual Vault made a new version of the track featuring the original vocals from Alexia and Ice MC called "Think About The Way 2010". In 2011, the German dance band Groove Coverage made a revamped release also called "Think About the Way" featuring vocals from Rameez. Although the Groove Coverage song released on Suprime Records, Sony Music Entertainment on March 16, 2012 borrows the music and the main refrain of the Ice Mc song, it adds new lyrics in the rest of the song. The Groove Coverage version had been popular in dance venues and a minor hit in Germany reaching number 54 in the German Media Control AG charts.

In 2012, the Iranian-Swedish artist Arash released a musical adaptation of the song called "She Makes Me Go" that borrows widely from the original but with completely new lyrics. Released on initially on EMI Music Sweden and Extravaganza Records on September 17, 2012, it featured Jamaican dancehall singer Sean Paul and was co-written by Roberto Zanetti, Alex Arash Labaf and Sean Henriques (Sean Paul). Re-released on February 15, 2013 on Universal Music in Germany and other European countries, "She Makes Me Go" has charted in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Romania and Poland.

In 2013, Canadian DJ Anthony Simons produced a cover with Anna Berardi.

Track listings

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  • 12" maxi, UK (1996)
  1. "Bom Digi Bom" (the Dyme Brothers mix) – 6:05
  2. "Bom Digi Bom" (original extended mix) – 7:12
  3. "Bom Digi Bom" (LuvDup 'Cliffy' vocal mix) – 7:09
  4. "Bom Digi Bom" (the Dyme Brothers dub)
  • 12" maxi, Belgium, Italy, France, Germany (1994)
  1. "Think About the Way" (extended mix) – 7:08
  2. "Think About the Way" (doop dibby dub mix) – 3:20
  3. "Think About the Way" (radio mix) – 4:16
  4. "Think About the Way" (acapella) – 4:16 (track not available for France and Germany)
  • CD single, France (1994)
  1. "Think About the Way" (radio mix) – 4:16
  2. "Think About the Way" (extended mix) – 7:08
  • CD single, UK (1994)
  1. "Think About the Way" (original radio edit) – 4:19
  2. "Think About the Way" (LuvDup "Cliffy" vocal mix) – 7:09
  3. "Think About the Way" (Jules & Skins pumped up club mix) – 5:55
  4. "Think About the Way" (original extended Italian mix) – 7:12
  5. "Think About the Way" (doop dibby dub) – 3:19
  6. "Think About the Way" (Jules & Skins dattman reggae jam) – 6:16
  • CD maxi, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Sweden (1994)
  1. "Think About the Way" (radio mix) – 4:16
  2. "Think About the Way" (extended mix) – 7:08
  3. "Think About the Way" (doop dibby dub mix) – 3:20
  4. "Think About the Way" (a cappella) – 4:16
  • CD maxi, UK (1994)
  1. "Think About the Way" (original radio edit) – 4:19
  2. "Think About the Way" (LuvDup "Cliffy" vocal mix) – 7:09
  3. "Think About the Way" (Jules & Skins pumped up club mix) – 5:55
  4. "Think About the Way" (original extended Italian mix) – 7:12
  5. "Think About the Way" (doop dibby dub) – 3:19
  6. "Think About the Way" (Jules & Skins dattman reggae jam) – 6:16
  • CD maxi, US / 12" maxi, Germany (1994)
  1. "Think About the Way" (noche de luna mix) – 6:22
  2. "Think About the Way" (dattman reggae jam) – 6:17
  3. "Think About the Way" (extended mix) – 7:12
  4. "Think About the Way" (pumped up club mix) – 5:54
  5. "Think About the Way" (LuvDup mix) – 7:09
  6. "Think About the Way" (pumped up with girl) – 3:58
  • CD maxi, Canada (1994)
  1. "Think About the Way" (radio mix) – 4:17
  2. "Think About the Way" (extended mix) – 7:10
  3. "Think About the Way" (noche de luna mix) – 6:22
  4. "Think About the Way" (dattman reggae jam) – 6:14
  5. "Think About the Way" (LuvDup dub) – 7:03
  6. "Think About the Way" (pumped up club mix) – 5:51
  7. "Think About the Way" (LuvDup remix) – 7:03
  8. "Think About the Way" (pumped up with girl) – 5:53
  • CD maxi, UK (1996)
  1. "Bom Digi Bom (Think About the Way)" (radio edit) – 3:48
  2. "Bom Digi Bom (Think About the Way)" (original extended mix) – 7:12
  3. "Bom Digi Bom (Think About the Way)" (the Dyme Brothers mix) – 6:05
  4. "Bom Digi Bom (Think About the Way)" (Jules & Skins pumped up club mix) – 5:55
  5. "Bom Digi Bom (Think About the Way)" (LuvDup 'Cliffy' vocal mix) – 7:09
  6. "Bom Digi Bom (Think About the Way)" (doop dibby dub) – 3:19
  • CD maxi - Remixes, Germany (1994)
  1. "Think About the Way" (noche de luna mix) – 6:22
  2. "Think About the Way" (dattman reggae) – 6:18
  3. "Think About the Way" (pumped up club mix) – 5:54
  • CD maxi - Remixes, Italy (1994)
  1. "Think About the Way" (radio mix) – 4:16
  2. "Think About the Way" (noche de luna mix) – 6:22
  3. "Think About the Way" (dattman reggae jam) – 6:18
  4. "Think About the Way" (LuvDup dub) – 7:10
  5. "Think About the Way" (pumped club mix) – 5:54
  6. "Think About the Way" (LuvDup remix) – 7:10
  7. "Think About the Way" (pumped up with girl) – 5:58

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ a b Beatnik, Brad (2 July 1994). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Ice'n'Green, review, by William Cooper". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  3. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 24. 11 June 1994. p. 9. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  4. ^ Jimenez, Maria (8 October 1994). "Short Grooves" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 41. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  5. ^ Hamilton, James (23 July 1994). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 32. 6 August 1994. p. 8. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  7. ^ a b "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 30. 23 July 1994. p. 17. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b "The N°1 French Dance Labels Are At Popkomm" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 34. 20 August 1994. p. 19. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
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  12. ^ "Station Reports > VIVA TV/Cologne" (PDF). Music & Media. 25 June 1994. p. 30. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Ice MC - Think about the way [Official Video]". YouTube. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Ice MC chart history, received from ARIA on 10 May 2022". Imgur.com. Retrieved 20 June 2024. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column indicates the release's peak on the national chart.
  15. ^ "Ice MC – Think About the Way" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
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  17. ^ "Canadian Dance peak". Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  18. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 38. 17 September 1994. p. 16. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  19. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
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