Who Played This ICONIC Dance Bass Line From 1990???

#bass #basshistory #analysis #transcription #sampling #paulthompson
Digging into September 1990's #1 Billboard Dance hit "Groove Is In the Heart" by Deee-Lite (with Bootsy Collins and Q-Tip) and one of the most recognizable bass lines from the last 35 years. What makes it so memorable? If Bootsy didn't play it, WHO DID? What were the samples behind this hit song and why is "Golden Age" sampling just so darn good? Answering these questions and MORE!
Website: www.paulthompso...
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Twitter @pdbass74

[@Twobarpsi]

I remember when Groove is in the Heart came out. I had no idea it was made with such timeless samples until now!! Thank you so much for this video!

[@Me-qp8vz]

The smell is in my fart. Ahahaha.

[@byronspears9395]

Agreed

[@BradTheProducer]

Towa Tei, the member of Deee-Lite who handled sampling, is a master. His solo albums are impossibly catchy. Sunny is probably my favorite of them.

[@romulus_]

Towa Tei's "Techova", which highlights a Bebel Gilberto song, is another example of his mastery. And influence, since that song was sampled by A Tribe Called Quest on "Find A Way", which sorta completes the circle here.

[@Legionmint7091]

Reminds me a bit of one of my favorite “sample bands”: Pizzicato Five. Another underestimated “sample band” is Ruckos Roboticus. However, the undisputed overlords when it comes to sampling are The Prodigy in my book. Right after Fatboy Slim and Moby.

[@joshcarter-com]

@@Legionmint7091Fatboy Slim absolutely; in my book he was the first and remains the best. Even 25 years later his work sounds fresh and cool.

[@canastraroyal]

Yep! Along with Dimitri from Paris, Jamiroquai and not many more, these guys saved the 90s!

[@Me-qp8vz]

Saved, destroyed. It's all semantics@@canastraroyal

[@YourFitnessQuest]

I always thought Groove in in the Heart was just some new catchy dance tune. I had no idea they sampled so much music into it. Thanks for the backstory.

[@Fakename70]

“Groove Is In The Heart” definitely ticked all the boxes that year. One of the VERY select few cassingles I ever bought.

[@garycollard1981]

Wow, cassingles! There's a blast from the past.

[@Fakename70]

@@garycollard1981 I was hoping someone would get that reference.

[@garycollard1981]

@@Fakename70 since reading your comment I wondered if I still had any (I still have lots of cassettes). I prob only bought half a dozen originally but after some digging I found I still have 2 left. Deborah Harry & Iggy Pop "well, did you ever!" and Kylie "confide in me". I shall def keep them in memory of that short lived single format.

[@Andrew_M_Ward]

As usual Paul - you provide the coolest 5 minutes on KZbin

[@florkgagga]

I was pondering about how to say this in an elaborate way, but just... Every single word in this enlightening infopiece (please let me use such an ugly designation just once here) is spot on.

[@liamcashin2924]

agreed!

[@TheKnobCalledTone.]

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love Groove Is In The Heart, and those who love Groove Is In The Heart but won't admit to it.

[@Me-qp8vz]

You forgot the 3rd type. Those who smell their own farts. You know this song was originally called. "The Smell Is In My Fart"?

[@HailAnts]

I generally listen to hard rock (Def Leppard, Jethro Tull, Evanescence etc) but this song was definitely a guilty pleasure for me! Not enough for me to ever buy it or even download it from KZbin, but I couldn't help but love hearing and watching it on MTV!

[@impacking]

I admit that I loved it back in the day.

[@bp6837]

What is groove is in the heart?

[@medes5597]

I genuinely cannot stand it. I'm not too good for pop or dance music but I've never managed to get along with groove is in the heart. It's a brilliant made and composed song and I can appreciate it on those levels. But as a full song I do not like it.

[@TayWoode]

That tune always gets people up dancing at parties, so many samples, even the “I” part is the intro from the TV show Green acres

[@oneigniter]

Just blew my mind! After all these years of giving Bootsy credit. Congrats on picking out the other samples all obscure to me.

[@clutchmanly1147]

It's great to find out about the back story. I as many others, assumed it was Bootsy Collins on bass because he's in the video. Interesting to find out it was Ron Carter.

[@basswars7060]

My roommate played this song relentlessly in 1990. I was a big grunge fan but I have to admit that I liked it. It rises above its genre and is just plain awesome. Plus Bootsy. Even if he's just providing vocals, he's still Bootsy.

[@quintessenceSL]

Being a metalhead that mostly knows Bootsy through Praxis, it wouldn't have surprised me that Bootsy wrote such an infectious groove. Actually more surprised he didn't write it, and now I go looking for where those samples originated from.

[@irafair3015]

@@quintessenceSL I'm not trying to be funny or a jerk but I think they just told you where they originated.

[@quintessenceSL]

@@irafair3015 Knowing the albums isn't the same as listening to those albums and understanding their original contexts.

[@69shakti]

He played live with them…I caught the show in Denver…Epic

[@chadwicks_guitar]

This is such a fantastic bass line! I am both surprised and not surprised that this is from Herbie and Ron Carter are behind this masterpiece. 🔥🔥🔥

[@rogerringold616]

Makes me sick....thieves dont pay royalties

[@jackpijjin4088]

Golden Age Sampling is genuinely the best. So many different songs from different genres all mashed together into something totally unique. Then the media groups wanted "their share" and now we have songs that are just one sample with few changes because any more than that would be obscenely expensive to clear.

[@johncalhoun4806]

One of my favorite songs from the early 90s and never had an idea of all the unique samplings that came together to make it. Thanks for sharing this story in a well-done video!

[@kynn23]

Same here!

[@CharlesFVincent]

Agree with you about that era of layered samples. It was so much more than looping a well-known chorus and sticking a beat in between for the verse. I think sample clearances priced the nuanced layering of five songs out of the market. Saw a Deee-Lite show in Toronto.

[@fretless29]

I learned that bass line when it came out! Sitting in the band room at my high school. That entire Deee-Lite record was great fun!

[@room34]

Same here! I played bass in the pep band and would often spontaneously break into it at hockey games without anyone asking for it. (Of course, no one stopped me either.)

[@xxphactor]

We used to walk around saying, "Try me on...I'm very you!" as our pickup line!...LOL

[@brucemillar]

Thank you. My eyes have been opened to how a song that I have loved since back in the day was put together. Yes, I thought it was Bootsy all this time. 😊

[@justdolphy2814]

Obviously it's the amazing musicianship of the original records but the genius of "Groove is in the Heart" comes from the music masterminds of Towa Towa Tei, Dmitri and, of course the front woman with soooo much style, Lady Kier Kirby. This group was so INCREDIBLY ahead of it's time in 1990. This record still holds up and paved the way (on a mainstream level) for so many other artists and bands. And that's before we even get into the group's visual style and fashion forward dynamic. To put it shortly - it doesn't get better than Deee-lite. Thank you for breaking it down!!!

[@smashogre4766]

Mind blown! And just by the way, much respect and appreciation for the time and effort it had to take to make this 4:35 minute gem of a video!

[@KamauMau1]

This was a monster tune! Loved Deee-Lite! Fantastic layer with the samples.

[@joelvinson]

This blew my mind. I dont know whether to be shocked or embarrassed. This is amazing!

[@ReggieandMiloTheCat]

I’ve never liked sampling (Guess I’m old fashioned) , but this song is a masterpiece of creativity and groove instinct, and it just plain THUMPS! One of my favorites. Thanks for the breakdown.

[@CP-kb1du]

Do you like Led Zeppelin ? They ripped off Willie Dixon. Muddy Waters ...both Blues Legends .. Stop listening to Taylor Swift

[@dubthabreak]

The whole music industry is based on sampling

[@Kouros-t6d]

It's incredible how Disco-Funk is one of the most modern and inspiring form of Music nowadays ...it only miss a massive promotion in order o make it the pop music of today. I bet that 90% of disco-funk tracks of the 70's and 80's played by new bands but holding that type of sound would be successful .

[@scottkunghadrengsen2604]

Another fun and profoundly informative video. You reminded me of the discussion of sampling in Questloves book "Music is History". BTW I did get to see Bootsy play this line when he toured with De-lite.. So without you I wouldn't have known it's true origin.

[@richarde3378]

Great analysis! I love Groove Is In The Heart and I didn't know it sampled so many cool songs! Thanks!

[@diamonddavemusic]

This channel is taking me to school. Thank you for the education. I've only viewed about 4 uploads but I've learned about so many talented musicians from the past that I would have never discovered. You make it all so interesting, too. Keep up the great work. ✌🎶❤

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

Theme from S'express is the best use of samples I can remember

[@JBrooksNYS]

I agree with you on the golden age of sampling. Im 40 years old and i look back on it fondly. It is the sound of my childhood.

[@peedrowchan-man102]

So illuminating! Never stopped lovin this track, now I understand why!

[@lanmarknetworking3034]

I also love the golden age of sampling. Pauls Boutique and 3 Feet High are just masterpieces on a whole other level!! (Vs what is possible today.)

[@Whos_That_Lady_Music_Show]

Talk about it👍🏽

[@lanmarknetworking3034]

@Whos_That_Lady_Music_Show You got it! After those 2 albums I would check out sample gems like: Public Enemy: It Takes A Nation N.W.A.: Straight Outa Compton Pharcyde: Bizarre Ride DJ Shadow: Entroducing Del: Deltron 3030

[@hustler3of4culture3]

​@@lanmarknetworking3034 bomb squad shout out 👍🌹💥

[@skeezix8156]

The Dust Brothers and Bomb Squad were the best at layering samples in the late 80’s but to put out a pop-funk-soul fused single like this during that era sure caught my ear. Thanks for the breakdown

[@gtizzle7606]

Bomb squad was just ridiculous with the freneticness of their samples.

[@TheTones10]

💯 Bomb Squad and The Dust Brothers were insane!!! Prince Paul was another great producer that was known for layering samples.

[@Njal55]

This is a great analysis. I never knew where all these samples came from.

[@1oolabob]

This video makes me happy. It's about some very happy music, and how that music is made. I do want to point out something about Golden Age sampling: by using a certain sample in a new song, the artists who do so are paying homage to the older song, and using that sample as an icon. They aren't trying to steal from the old song; the new song says "this is something evocative that you should recognize." Thank you for giving that recognition where it's due. Makes me really happy.

[@chrishansen-crowley3287]

I got a 5 string bass when my band started playing this song. It’s been true love ever since.

[@weasel210672]

One of the all time greatest tracks - happy happy times dancing to this

[@ValdemarDeMatos]

That song is a sampling masterpiece 🙌

[@RexBarca]

When I saw the headline, I immediately thought of that song. Was one of the first basslines I learnt, so cool!

[@utredutredson1686]

hello PDbass. A good group to look at 'Imagination' from the UK in the early to mid 80s. Vastly underated

[@jerryburdick8051]

I **always** look forward to your videos. Thank you! This one floored me. I had no idea of the origins. Shame on me - I play this line just about every sound check!

[@lynguy8824]

Man you are calling them out - giving the flowers to the musicians that should not be forgotten😊😊

[@joelemerou3487]

Man, we used to play this one on repeat when it came out. And the video clip was such fun. Agree with you that samples from this area was on another level.

[@terrywho22]

DAMN... dropping some serious knowledge on us. I always wondered if that bass line came from Bootsy as it has a Parliament vibe. Got me thinking of another geniusly simple intro from a popular song in the same era that didn't garner a lot of love from the bass community: Royston Langdon's (aka lead singer of Space Hog) "In the Meantime." Killer bass line!

[@syx9986]

I was thinking about that bass line the other day and wondered why that song isn't given more praise.

[@BaltimoreAndOhioRR]

That _was_ pretty cool! 🎼

[@rickytoddbotelho9555]

Fantastic job. Blow up in a nutshell is a masterpiece ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@0num4]

Amazing. I had no idea these were older tunes, sampled, and mashed together for a more modern pop groove--which is most certainly "in the heart." Paul, thanks for sharing!

[@CP-kb1du]

Stop listening to Taylor Swift

[@0num4]

@@CP-kb1du fuck off. I've seen just about all the great rock and metal bands live, in person.

[@insidejazzguitar8112]

Great video. Interesting and fun. Now I see what the Bootsy teaser was about🤣. But please, now a real video about Bootsy😊

[@ricobonifacio1095]

Wow what a great video! I learn so much from these, and also get hip to all these great musicians.

[@irwin-hirsh]

Wow! What an amazing lesson in both sampling and music history!!!!!

[@TheRealGLW]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤U go DEEP Sir!! Hella dive into the creation of the tune!

[@iREALmedia]

Remember the old sample song Deeper shade of soul-sample galore!

[@brentbryson215]

I’m glad I attended class at Groove School today. Now I can hear this song better, and understand why it’s so great. Thank you!

[@bawzbawz]

I NEVER heard the double-stops on the last bar. Now I cant stop hearing it. Thx professor :)

[@panatypical]

I like your analysis. Plus, what Deee-Lite came up with here is one of my favorite musical tracks.

[@dimetime333]

Leland Skhlar was another bassist that was everywhere on everything during the 80s

[@fiddlestix3025]

Yeah, THAT’s pretty cool, and so is this video 🔥 Super interesting and eye-opening, as always. Thanks 🙏

[@ronnieo9571]

Thank you. I have always loved this song and had no idea how heavily sample based it was. What a interesting history you have provided. One of the best I have seen.

[@LowKeyTired-q7d]

I love those old movie soundtracks from 60's and 70's like the one you cited, like lalo schifrin's dirty harry score and enter the dragon ...

[@jirky015]

Great history breakdown of this classic. I'm just learning this. Thanks. This is genius level sampling usage. Lots of brilliant use of sampling in the early to mid 90s.

[@santeebandit3246]

Love this channel. Thank you for your work. Opening minds to other genres, artists etc…❤ time to look up these artists, and listen to them. Have a great day!

[@ramsesstafford4640]

Being a big Herbie Hancock fan I knew where this baseline came from they just had a bunch of real Funkateers in that video like Maceo Parker and Bootsy Collins. I don't think a lot of people realize how great Herbie Hancock really is and people should give him his flowers while he still living. RIP Wayne Shorter 🙏🏽

[@billybigtime7749]

You are a genius! I really love how you figure this stuff out and break it down for us. Thanks! All this came together for an awesome song. I was still a teenager when this song came out. Loved it!

[@tymantis]

That's amazing! I did not know that about the bass line and any of the other samples that were used in that song

[@alangurneysmall3052]

Eyes opened there! And thank you 🙏

[@fcormier]

Wow, my mind in blown for today. Thank you for such insight!

[@MrDootDali]

Super educational! Gratitude for the info!!!

[@orendungan3455]

I had no idea it was a sample. I just always assumed that he played it even if he didn't write it. So Ron Carter gets the credit there. No matter, it is just moving the awesome around from one legend to another. We lose nothing by learning the facts. Great vid, and Groove is just one great song on a fantastic album that now I gotta go listen to again. Thanks.

[@mopar3502001]

I had absolutely no idea this was the case of that totally iconic song! This was so amazing to learn. This is why I love your channel so much! Thank you!

[@derekrice6971]

I always thought that this song was brilliant. Thank you for breaking it down. I’m old enough to remember the the sources of the samples including the Blow-Up soundtrack (one of my favorite movies).

[@lee399]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Pdbass! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@TheKeyboardChronicles]

New subscriber, loving the channel. You mention Groove is in the Heart being #1 in Australia. It was so dominant, a nightclub staple and I guarantee most of us had no idea Bootsy was involved. Thankfully that has changed!

[@UranusMcVitieFish-yd7oq]

Here in the UK Blow Up is probably Herbie's most loved (though not most spotted) LP. It just seemed to be everywhere during the 90s and most people held onto their copies. Cool video by the way. Interesting content and no filler. Subbed.

[@charlescdt6509]

Ah I miss the 90s. Have you done a break down of Silk Sonic since Bootsy named them and they have a TON of bass licks? Keep killing it sir.

[@Me-qp8vz]

90's music sucked. Groove is in the heart was written and recorded in 88/89. Not 90's music at all.

[@charlescdt6509]

@@Me-qp8vz That is your opinion. It's easy to be a D-Bag hiding behind a keyboard. The song hit the radio in 1990. Pound sand jerk.

[@peteywheatstraws4909]

Silk Sonic is the best R&B I've heard in the past 20 years. Only thing comes close is R Kel and Maxwell in the late 90's.

[@Josephshmosepf]

Might be one of the most informative videos I have seen in quite some time. Certainly so for the length.

[@JJJJJVVVVVLLLLL]

that Vernon Burch track is 🔥

[@scottieray]

Sampling is true art. To be able to pull these sounds together to build a new work of art amazes me. Just imagine this song with any other samples...One of my favorite artists is Madlib. In interviews he will be sitting there creating new songs on the fly. A master sampler.

[@CliftonGaines-yv9bm]

Wow, that was a really good one, PDBass. Thanks.

[@Funkybassplayer]

Thank you for this insightful video. 👏🏻 Ron Carter. YEAH💪🏻🙏🏻👍🏻

[@latonyahemingway3752]

Great history lesson and deep dive!! Your content is so educational.

[@Me-qp8vz]

lol, real history on youtube? seriously....

[@brendonmurley8276]

@@Me-qp8vzand yet here you are...

[@TayWoode]

@@brendonmurley8276 take no notice of him, he’s a nut job, have seen the other comments?

[@LouisL1963]

I always thought it was Bootsy, but the fact that it's the legendary Ron Carter makes it just as cool 😎 I saw "Blow Up" on TV years ago - typical British "Swinging 60's" film with a twist. Need to give it another watch for the soundtrack 😊

[@zmix]

What an incredible unweaving..! Thank you PD..!

[@BartFunkBass]

I love it! A few months ago I recorded bass covers of both Deee Lite's and Herbie's versions.

[@gregoryk7114]

I love that song, and did not know about these details. Thanks (again) for your video!

[@benshakespeare268]

Excellent review man! Great to know about everyone who contributed to this classic!

[@nightshiftgarage8824]

Thank you Paul. it is pretty cool to get knowledge and grooves at the same time. Another wonderful story. And none of us would have ever thought an differently! Ron Carter. 💯

[@The_JoeyGunz]

Superb breakdown! Thank you, once again☝🏾🖤👑

[@smc9108]

Absolutely love this song, I'm 10 years old again! Thank you for putting a new wrinkle in my brain, great video, concise, informative, intelligent! Cheers!🍻

[@pizzaface4079]

Thanks for the history lesson on Dee Lite, I learned that bassline last year.

[@EncounterCaneCorso]

You’re breakdowns & tutorials are always on point. Appreciate it!

[@lesliestevenson5261]

Great. When I got the herbie hancock cd it was a revelation.(also king bee using wiggle waggle from fat Albert rotunda)Discovering the real artists that golden age artists used has proved to be ultimately one of the most satisfying experiences of my life. I still love 90 to 92 hip hop, but the artists they sampled are what I ended up buying cds for for about 15 years ( blue note breakbeats and their other numerous comps and many more inc CTi catalog). And I will always find more in the future I'm sure.

[@davidreichert9392]

One of your best videos yet. I wasn't into that genre of music at the time , but I loved that tune.

[@bazza5699]

blimey, i had no idea about any of this.. and have loved that song since it came out.

[@john.e.kenney66]

Awesome story and love the song. So cool to learn all the facts. Love everyone involved. Thanks!

[@john.e.kenney66]

I just rented the movie and couldn't find the song. It may be on the soundtrack album or maybe passed quickly in one of the party scenes. Crazy art movie but cool in it's own way. Music was great of course.

[@TheGeordieTiger]

My favourite song of all time. I challenge anyone not to tap a foot and crack a smile when it plays.

[@mansell101]

Great video Paul. I don't know how I stumbled across your channel here (well, it's because I was watching bass stuff...) but I remember you giving me some lessons at Slippery Rock University during some summers in the 1990s. Glad you're still out there holding up the bottom end.

[@brendanthebdog]

Great analysis! It's a banger for sure, super fun lick to play.

[@z-e-r-o-]

テイトウワ！😊 Tei Towa is also one of the closest collaborators of Ryuichi Sakamoto

[@Valtrach]

Interesting and well made. Thank you for your time and work.

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I don't dance, so I didn't know this song. But I remember the film. Merci for the info.

[@dkirson609]

This was really interesting! I would have never known. Thank you!

[@paradiddle16]

Hi, I just saw an interview of bootsy on red bull music academy and he says that played over the sample and some vocals. It's around an hour 24 minutes in the interview. Cheers!

[@strauqq1]

Great stuff. Wow

[@ericfielding2540]

Very interesting to see the history behind the samples used in this song.