Rednex

Infobox musical artist
Name = Rednex

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Img_capt = Rednex in concert
Img_size = 260
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = flag|Sweden
Genre = Eurodance
Country music
Techno-Country Music
Years_active = 1994 — present
Label = Zomba Records
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.rednex.se www.rednex.se]
Current_members =
Past_members =

Rednex is a Swedish manufactured techno-country band. They had an international novelty hit with the song "Cotton Eye Joe" in 1994. Although extremelywhat popular in the Netherlands, Austria, and more specifically, Sweden--scoring such hits as "Old Pop in an Oak" and "Wish You Were Here,"--"Cotton Eye Joe" remains Rednex's sole hit in the United States.

History

Rednex was initially the brainchild of Swedish producers Janne Ericsson, Örjan "Öban" Öberg, and Pat Reiniz,Billboard.biz (2007-05-14). [http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003584990 "Rednex On Sale For $1.5 Million"] . Retrieved on 2007-06-16.] who decided to try mixing country music with eurodance. The name "Rednex" was chosen as a misspelling of the word "rednecks". They reworked the traditional folk song "Cotton-Eyed Joe" into a dance song and released it in 1994, to huge worldwide success. This started the Country House music fad which lasted for a few years afterward.

They recorded their songs with studio musicians and a group of redneck role players, to represent the group, were put together. Over the years, these performers have come and gone, and as of 2007 there have been 15 different role players. Though they were not involved in the actual music making in the beginning (except for the female vocalists, who have always sung on the records), they are responsible for the Rednex image and live shows as a whole, and thus are considered just as much part of the group as the actual musicians. An album titled "Sex & Violins" (the first album) followed the hit song, and Rednex went on to score other hits in Europe from that album (notably the up-tempo "Old Pop in an Oak" and the ballad "Wish You Were Here"). However, "Cotton Eye Joe" remains their only U.S. hit as of 2006 (#25 on the Billboard charts March 1995).

A follow up album entitled "Farm Out" was released in 2000 and found some success in Europe. Their single "The Spirit Of The Hawk" was the most successful, finding particular popularity in Germany.

In 2001, the single "The Chase" was released, charting in Germany, and Switzerland and a further top 30 position was earned in Austria, later with the release of "Cotton-Eye Joe 2002". In 2003, a greatest hits album was released entitled "The Best of the West". It contained a selection of the hits mentioned above (the original versions), plus new material co written and recorded by singer 'Scarlet'.

The first female vocalist was Mary Joe (aka Karin Annika Ljungberg, who sang vocals on "Sex & Violins"). The second was Whippy (singing on "Farm Out"). The third who joined in 2000 was Scarlet (aka JulieAnne Tulley who is singing on "Best of the West"). At the end of 2004, Scarlet left to pursue a solo career and has worked with top DJs, and Producers like Jan Wayne,Jekyll & Hyde, DJ Gollum, Paul Oakenfold, Robert de Fresnes (Narcotic thrust)amongst many others with great success in many dance charts especially Germany to the delight of her fans. So to kick off the 2005 season, Mary Joe returned. Old members, Crock, Dagger and Ace still remained with the group, until later being replaced or leaving, due to disagreements within the group.

The group launched something of a minor comeback when they entered the song "Mama Take Me Home" in Semifinal 4 of the Swedish Melodifestivalen on 11 March 2006 in Gothenburg. They qualified for the final via the Second Chance Round, finishing an overall sixth in the final. The song "Mama Take Me Home" was subsequently released as a single in a few select European countries.

Their comeback continued as they released the single "Fe Fi (The Old Man Died)" in November 2006, after having performed it at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. It was surprisingly successful, reaching #4 in the Swedish Charts.

They also sang at the 2005 IAAF World Championships in Athletics, in Helsinki.

In 2007 they were going to take part in the Romanian national final in the preselection for Eurovision, together with the Romanian band Ro-Mania. The song planned for the performance was Well-o-Wee. However, Rednex was disqualified since the judges deemed that several parts of the song had been published and performed as early as 2001.

In 2008 they entered the Romanian Eurovision selection once again, in another collaboration with the band Ro-Mania. The song "RailRoad, RailRoad" qualified for the semifinals, but failed to qualify for the final. After the withdrawal of another song however, it reentered the final contest to be held in Bucharest on February 23rd.

The new Song "Football is Our Religion" was an unofficial Song for the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship which took place in Austria and Switzerland June 2008.Susequently the song went to number 1 in the Swedish charts late summer of 2008! In 2007, Rednex AB was put on sale on eBay, starting at $1,500,000.

According to a Rednex press release rednexforsale.com (2008-09-26). [http://www.rednexforsale.com/rednexpressrelease20080926.html "Rednex exchanges the whole band!"] . Retrieved on 2008-09-27.] , all band members will be exchanged on January 1, 2009, bringing back former members Scarlet, Dagger and Ace. This would echo a previous exchange in 2001 which also brought in Scarlet and Dagger.

Discography

Albums

Compilations

* "The Best of the West" (2003)

Singles

References

External links

* [http://www.rednex.se/ Rednex official website]
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Rednex Rednex discography] at Discogs
* [http://www.myspace.com/therednex Rednex official MySpace page]