| Cult of Snap | |
| Cover: | Cult of Snap - Snap.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Snap! |
| Album: | World Power |
| B-Side: | Blasé Blasé |
| Released: | [1] |
| Genre: | |
| Length: | 3:59 (radio edit) |
| Label: | Logic |
| Producer: |
|
| Prev Title: | Ooops Up |
| Prev Year: | 1990 |
| Next Title: | Mary Had a Little Boy |
| Next Year: | 1990 |
"Cult of Snap" is a song recorded by German Eurodance group Snap!. It was released in September 1990 as the third single from their debut studio album, World Power (1990). The song reached No. 1 in Spain for four weeks and it also peaked at No. 2 in Austria and Zimbabwe. Snap! performed the song on the British TV show Top of the Pops.
The song was re-recorded and included on their 2003 remix album The Cult of Snap! featuring Roy Malone.
"Cult of Snap" was a major hit on the charts on several continents. In Europe, it peaked at number-one in Spain for four weeks and was a top 10 hit also in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In the latter, the single reached number eight in its second week at the UK Singles Chart, on September 23, 1990.[2] Outside Europe, "Cult of Snap" peaked at number two in Zimbabwe, number 15 in New Zealand and number 27 in Australia.
AllMusic editor Andrew Hamilton remarked the "choppy rhythms" of "Cult of Snap" in his review of World Power.[3] American magazine Billboard described it as an "African-infused house jam".[4] Marisa Fox from Entertainment Weekly felt it is "a dark song, with African drumbeats and chanting."[5] Pan-European magazine Music & Media found that rapper Turbo B "raps like he's shouting orders over a monotone techno beat, spiced up with oriental and African samples."[6] David Giles from Music Week concluded, "The best record from this outfit yet. Snap tap into a slightly salsa-based groove that stands out a mile among all the Funky Drummers, and decorate it with rapping. Afro-harmonies, and oriental melodies. A huge hit."[7] NME noted its "tribal rhythms and chanting", "to stomp away the evenings to" on Ibiza.[8] A reviewer from Newcastle Evening Chronicle named it one of the best songs from the album.[9]
A tribal music video was released to promote the song. It sees the band members belly dancing and charming a snake. The video was directed by Liam Kan.[10] He also directed the music video for the group's previous single, "Ooops Up".
| Chart (1990) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] | 4 | |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] | 5 | |
| Greece (IFPI)[13] | 5 | |
| Ireland (IRMA)[14] | 8 | |
| Italy (Musica e dischi)[15] | 4 | |
| Portugal (AFP)[16] | 10 | |
| Spain (AFYVE)[17] | 1 | |
| Zimbabwe (ZIMA)[18] | 2 |
| Chart (1990) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19] | 68 | |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[20] | 67 | |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[21] | 53 | |
| Italy (FIMI)[22] | 37 | |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] | 77 | |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] | 56 |