Strike It Up

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title: "Strike It Up" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1990-songs", "1991-singles", "black-box-(band)-songs", "deconstruction-records-singles", "english-language-italian-songs", "polydor-records-singles", "rca-records-singles"] description: "1991 single by Black Box" topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_It_Up" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1991 single by Black Box ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

Field	Value
name	Strike It Up
cover	Strike it up.jpg
type	single
artist	Black Box
album	Dreamland
released
studio	The Record Classics (Italy)
* House{{cite web	first
* diva house<ref name	"RS Staff 2024"
* Eurodance{{ Discogs	url
label	Groove Groove Melody
producer	Groove Groove Melody
prev_title	The Total Mix
prev_year	1991
next_title	Open Your Eyes
next_year	1991
misc
header	Alternative cover
type	single
cover	Strike it up (megaremix).jpg
caption	CD maxi - Megaremix
::

| name = Strike It Up | cover = Strike it up.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Black Box | album = Dreamland | released = | recorded = | studio = The Record Classics (Italy) | genre =

• House
• diva house
• Eurodance | length =
• 3:22 (DJ Lelewel remix edit)
• 3:30 (original remix edit)
• 5:15 (album version) | label = Groove Groove Melody | writer =
• Daniele Davoli
• Mirko Limoni
• Valerio Semplici | producer = Groove Groove Melody | prev_title = The Total Mix | prev_year = 1991 | next_title = Open Your Eyes | next_year = 1991 | misc = | header = Alternative cover | type = single | cover = Strike it up (megaremix).jpg | border = | alt = | caption = CD maxi - Megaremix

"Strike It Up" is a song by Italian music group Black Box featuring songwriter and rapper Linton Bennett, a.k.a Lee 'Stepz' Bennett. It was the fifth single from their debut studio album, Dreamland (1990), and was released on 6 February 1991 by Polydor Records. The single was a success on many charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, where it peaked at number eight. It also topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in June 1991 for one week. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. "Strike It Up" also was a top-10 hit in Denmark, Greece, Ireland, and the Netherlands. And on the Eurochart Hot 100, the track reached number 38. The accompanying music video was directed by Neil Thompson.

In 2020, Slant Magazine ranked the song number 35 in its list of "The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time".

Background

The song features an uncredited Martha Wash on lead vocals. However, Wash was not featured in the music video or singles cover art as it was customary for Katrin Quinol, a French model, of Guadelope descent, to be used as the 'face' of the group, and it was her that was featured lipsynching the lyrics sung by Wash. In 1990, after suing over false advertising, Wash reached an out-of-court settlement with Black Box record label RCA, with financial compensation and a guarantee of proper credit in the future.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Not even the litigation alleging Martha Wash is the actual singer of group's hits can cool interest in this Italo-house act. Busy rave bears marks similar to previous hits, with a cute (and uncredited) rap adding a street vibe." The Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith wrote in his retrospective review of Dreamland, that "Strike It Up" and "Everybody Everybody" "are definitely the best of the album. These are gay disco anthems that still resonate today, even though the words aren't always easy to comprehend." Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report reported, "Back in the batter's box with a dynamic dance entry featuring the exceptional vocals of Martha Wash, they jump 24-15 at HOT 97 New York where APD/MD Kevin McCabe proclaims it, "one of our secret weapon records."

Andrew Smith from Melody Maker called it "a commendably rootsy house pumper". Alan Jones from Music Week named it Pick of the Week, stating that it has the "usual enrgetic vocal delivery from Martha Wash nicely counterpointed by Stepz's rap. Should strike deep into the Top 40." Davydd Chong from Record Mirror said, "Needless to say, this is hedonism-a-go-go, slapped onto a seven-inch lump of plastic by the Italian mob. Dead groovy, though not as smart as 'Everybody'. I like it lots." Marc Andrews from Smash Hits declared the song as "pure disco magic".

Impact and legacy

This song has been played during the final TV timeout in the third period at every New York Rangers home game since at least 1996. It is during this song that Rangers fan Larry Goodman, also known as "Dancing Larry," performs his signature dance, to energize the crowd. In 2010, Pitchfork included the song in their list of "Ten Actually Good 90s Jock Jams". In 2017, BuzzFeed ranked "Strike It Up" number 57 in its list of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s". In 2020, Slant Magazine ranked the song at number 35 in its list of "The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time". It added that "it can be guiltlessly admitted that 'Strike It Up' is a masterpiece, and it's hard to imagine anyone else's voice [than Martha Wash] rising above the song's battalion of piano house, synth stabs, and, yes, one gigantic 4/4 beat." In 2024, Billboard ranked "Strike It Up" number 29 in their "The 100 Greatest Jock Jams of All Time", naming it "an early-’90s diva-house classic with a fantastic Martha Wash vocal".

Track listing and formats

• 7" single

1. "Strike It Up" (DJ Lelewel mix) – 5:05
2. "Strike It Up" (Sensitive Mix) – 3:35

• 12" maxi

1. "Strike It Up" (Original Mix) – 5:58
2. "Strike It Up" (DJ Lelewel Mix) – 5:05
3. "Strike It Up" (Hardcore Remix) – 3:20

• CD maxi

1. "Strike It Up" (Radio Edit) – 3:30
2. "Strike It Up" (Sensitive Mix) – 3:35
3. "Strike It Up" (Original Mix) – 5:58
4. "Strike It Up" (Hardcore Remix) – 3:20

• 12" maxi - Megaremix

1. "Strike It Up" (DJ Lelewel Mix) – 5:05
2. "Strike It Up" (Hardcore Remix) – 3:20
3. "Ride on Time" (The Bright On Mix) – 4:28
4. "Strike It Up" (Sensitive Mix) – 3:35

• CD maxi - Megaremix

1. "Strike It Up" (DJ Lelewel Mix) – 5:05
2. "Ride on Time" (The Bright On Mix) – 4:28
3. "Strike It Up" (Hardcore Remix) – 3:20
4. "Strike It Up" (Sensitive Mix) – 3:35

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (1991) | Peak position | Denmark (IFPI) | Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | Greece (IFPI) | Israel (Israeli Singles Chart) | UK Airplay (Music Week) | UK Dance (Music Week) | UK Club Chart (Record Mirror) | US Billboard Hot 100 | US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) | US Dance/Electronic Singles Sales (Billboard) | US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | US Cash Box Top 100 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 38 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table]

Chart (1991)	Position	Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)	Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	Netherlands (Single Top 100)	UK Club Chart (Record Mirror)	US Billboard Hot 100	US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)	US Dance Club Play (Billboard)
6
51
50
65
88
9
5
::

Release history

::data[format=table]

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.	Germany	United Kingdom	Australia
6 February 1991		Polydor
25 March 1991		Deconstruction
29 April 1991
::

References

References

1. Birchmeier, Jason. "Culture Beat – Artist Biography". [[AllMusic]].
2. Rolling Stone Staff. (February 8, 2024). "The 100 Greatest Jock Jams of All Time: Staff List".
3. {{ [[Discogs]]. link
4. "Strike It Up (1990) by Black Box".
5. Whitburn, Joel. (2009). "Top Pop Singles 1955-2008". Record Research Inc..
6. Pareles, Jon. (6 December 1990). "Lawsuits Seek Truth In Music Labeling". [[The New York Times]].
7. Flick, Larry. (2 March 1991). "Single Reviews > Dance".
8. Smith, Michael R.. (21 June 2009). "Black Box – Dreamland". Daily Vault.
9. Sholin, Dave. (29 March 1991). "Personal Picks > Singles".
10. Smith, Andrew. (21 April 1990). "Albums". [[Melody Maker]].
11. Jones, Alan. (30 March 1991). "Mainstream > Singles > Pick of the Week".
12. Chong, Davydd. (30 March 1991). "Singles".
13. Andrews, Marc. (20 March 1991). "Review: Singles".
14. Monti, Michael. (9 September 2016). "New York Rangers: The Story of Dancing Larry".
15. (2010). "A Feature About Nothing > The 1990s in Lists > Ten Actually Good 90s Jock Jams". [[Pitchfork Media.
16. (11 March 2017). "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s". [[BuzzFeed]].
17. (15 June 2020). "The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time".
18. Billboard Staff. (8 February 2024). "The 100 Greatest Jock Jams of All Time".
19. (11 May 1991). "Top 10 Sales in Europe".
20. (20 April 1991). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles".
21. Pennanen, Timo. (2021). "Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021". Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava.
22. (3 August 1991). "European Airplay Top 50".
23. [https://pizmonet.co.il/wiki/12.5.1991 Israeli Singles Chart. 12 May 1991.]
24. (20 April 1991). "Playlist Chart".
25. (6 April 1991). "Top 60 Dance Singles".
26. (6 April 1991). "The Record Mirror Club Chart".
27. "Black Box – Awards". [[AllMusic]].
28. (27 August 2012). "Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending June 29, 1991".
29. (21 December 1991). "RPM Dance Tracks of 1991".
30. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1991". [[Dutch Top 40]].
31. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1991". [[Single Top 100]]. Hung Medien.
32. (4 January 1992). "The Record Mirror Club Chart 1991".
33. "Top 100 Hits for 1991".
34. (21 December 1991). "The Year in Music 1991".
35. (23 March 1991). "New Releases: Singles".
36. (28 April 1991). "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 29/04/91: Singles".

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