Red Alert

"Red Alert" is a song by English electronic music duo Basement Jaxx. It was released on 19 April 1999 by record label XL as the first single from their debut album, Remedy (1999). The vocals from the track were provided by Blu James. It reached number five on the UK Singles Chart and became their first number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. As of September 2023, the single has sold and streamed 600,000 units in the United Kingdom, allowing it to receive a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Background and release "Red Alert" was written by Basement Jaxx members Felix Buxton and Simon Radcliffe. Craig Roseberry from Billboard cited Parliament and Funkadelic as inspirations for the track. Vocals on the track are sung by Blu James. In the United Kingdom, XL Recordings released the song on 19 April 1999 as two CD singles and a 12-inch single. In the United States, where Astralwerks served as the song's label, it was released on 13 July 1999 across two formats: a maxi-CD single and a 12-inch single. Critical response The song received critical acclaim from music critics. Robert Christgau and AllMusic's John Bush both chose it as one of their track picks from Remedy. Marc Savlov from The Austin Chronicle described it as a "club staple" with the "propulsive, feel-fucked-up joy." Joshua Klein from The A.V. Club stated, "For the BPM-minded, the retro single "Red Alert" has more than enough faux funk and chic camp to keep the masses moving, proving that Buxton and Ratcliffe know well enough to think with their feet as well as their heads." Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "zippy, ears-pricking pop/dance track", and noted further that it is loaded with "space-age lasers, bloopy bounce rhythms, an unexpected dollop of cello, and a beat meant to ignite the airwaves into a froth of summertime glory." He also added that it is "a gallon hat full of fun, with a female vocal that will force fingers to drum, toes to tap, and heads to nod with abandon. The message here: oh, never mind, it's just about dancing and letting the music raise your soul to the rafters." Daily Record noted that this is "classic disco with a heavy slice of feel-good 70s beats." Stevie Chick from NME commented, "A truly rockin' P-Funk groove in the classic Basement Jaxx style, 'Red Alert' is a smouldering funky track with dirty basslines, sirens, synths and a pure-sexy female vocal to boot.