Work It Out (Jurassic 5 song)
Encyclopedia
"Work It Out" is a song by hip hop
group Jurassic 5
released as the third single from their fourth studio album Feedback
. The track features Dave Matthews Band
and vocals by lead singer Dave Matthews
on the chorus. The song was later included on the soundtrack of basketball game NBA Live 07
.
. The clip begins with a number of government-issue black SUVs
screeching to a halt before Secret Service
agents secure the area. A character similar in appearance to President
George W. Bush
then exits one of the SUVs and goes jogging around the town, wearing a grey singlet top and blue boxer shorts. The video mocks Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina
as the character runs past a drinks stand marked "Disaster Relief," where he grabs a bottle of water and pours it all over himself. Rising fuel prices are also satirized, as the Bush character runs past a gas station, and sticks the number 10 over the original price of $3.07. The character then engages in an aerobics
session with two other suit-wearing characters similar in appearances to Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice
and Vice President
Dick Cheney
. The Cheney character is also depicted driving around the town on a segway
, chasing young people away from an unemployment office into a military recruitment
office, where a sign in the window reads "See Iraq!" Finally, Cheney's heart condition is mocked towards the end of the video when his character collapses and paramedic
s attempt to revive him using a defibrillator. Also parodied is NSA warrantless surveillance
; the George W. Bush character tugging on the cord of a payphone
, dragging an NSA
agent out of the bushes behind the phone.
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
released as the third single from their fourth studio album Feedback
Feedback (Jurassic 5 album)
Feedback is the fourth & final studio album from Los Angeles-based hip hop group Jurassic 5, released on July 25, 2006. It is the only album the band released as a quintet, in the wake of Cut Chemist's departure earlier that year....
. The track features Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
and vocals by lead singer Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews
David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
on the chorus. The song was later included on the soundtrack of basketball game NBA Live 07
NBA Live series
The NBA Elite is series of basketball video games, published by EA Sports. There has not been any entry in the series on a home console since 2009. In November 2010, development of the franchise was moved from EA Canada studio to Florida-based Tiburon studio...
.
Music video
The video for the song is a satirical parody of senior members of the U.S. governmentFederal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
. The clip begins with a number of government-issue black SUVs
Sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light-truck chassis. It is usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability, and with some pretension or ability to be used as an off-road vehicle. Not all four-wheel...
screeching to a halt before Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
agents secure the area. A character similar in appearance to President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
then exits one of the SUVs and goes jogging around the town, wearing a grey singlet top and blue boxer shorts. The video mocks Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina
Criticism of government response to Hurricane Katrina
The criticism of the government response to Hurricane Katrina consisted primarily of condemnations of mismanagement and lack of preparation in the relief effort in response to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Specifically, there was a delayed response to the flooding of New Orleans, Louisiana...
as the character runs past a drinks stand marked "Disaster Relief," where he grabs a bottle of water and pours it all over himself. Rising fuel prices are also satirized, as the Bush character runs past a gas station, and sticks the number 10 over the original price of $3.07. The character then engages in an aerobics
Aerobics
Aerobics is a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness...
session with two other suit-wearing characters similar in appearances to Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
and Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
. The Cheney character is also depicted driving around the town on a segway
Segway PT
The Segway PT is a two-wheeled, self-balancing transportation machine invented by Dean Kamen. It is produced by Segway Inc. of New Hampshire, USA. The name "Segway" is a homophone of "segue" while "PT" denotes personal transporter....
, chasing young people away from an unemployment office into a military recruitment
Military recruitment
Military recruitment is the act of requesting people, usually male adults, to join a military voluntarily. Involuntary military recruitment is known as conscription. Many countries that have abolished conscription use military recruiters to persuade people to join, often at an early age. To...
office, where a sign in the window reads "See Iraq!" Finally, Cheney's heart condition is mocked towards the end of the video when his character collapses and paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
s attempt to revive him using a defibrillator. Also parodied is NSA warrantless surveillance
NSA warrantless surveillance controversy
The NSA warrantless surveillance controversy concerns surveillance of persons within the United States during the collection of foreign intelligence by the U.S. National Security Agency as part of the war on terror...
; the George W. Bush character tugging on the cord of a payphone
Payphone
A payphone or pay phone is a public telephone, often located in a phone booth or a privacy hood, with pre-payment by inserting money , a credit or debit card, or a telephone card....
, dragging an NSA
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
agent out of the bushes behind the phone.
A-side
- "Work It Out" (DJ Saygın version)
- "Work It Out" (Instrumental)
- "Work It Out" (Acapella)
Chart performance
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
116 |