The Race (Yello song)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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"The Race" is a song by Swiss electronic band Yello, released as the first single from their album Flag. The single was initially released on 11 April 1988 via the Fontana label.
Release history
In 1988 the single was released in 7", 12" and CD formats throughout the world, and additionally as a cassette single in some places. The limited edition single contained a remix by Paul Dakeyne. The following year, the track was remixed again by Carl Segal and released as a couple of promotional-only 12" singles, coupled with Emilio Pasquez's versions of "Blazing Saddles".
In 1992, "The Race" was released as a single a second time, to coincide with the greatest hits collection, Essential Yello.
"The Race" appeared in remix form again in 1999 for the Eccentrix Remixes compilation, following the release of their Pocket Universe album.
In 2003, the Tomcraft remixes of "The Race" appeared on the single for "Planet Dada", released from their album, The Eye.
Since its release, "The Race" has been very popular and played among marching bands across the United States.
In 2007, a new version of the track was created by the band in order to promote DHL and Formula 1 racing. Called "The Race II", the digital single was made available free for download, and released as a promo CD single.
In popular culture
The song was used to open It's Academic on WRC-TV in Washington, D.C. from about 1990 to June 2017 (it was replaced by a new theme starting with the 2017-18 season, which is used throughout the show). It was also the theme of Academic Challenge on WEWS-TV in Cleveland from 1996-99 (the last years of its original run), by which time it was also known as It's Academic.
The pan-European sports channel Eurosport commonly used the song in the early 90s.
The song was also used prominently in the 1990 comedy film Nuns on the Run, which starred Robbie Coltrane and Eric Idle and can also be heard in the 1991 religious documentary Deadly Currents.
It is also featured in the 1990 comedy film Opportunity Knocks starring Dana Carvey and Robert Loggia.
The song was used in the third episode of the fourth series of ITV sitcom Benidorm, during a Grand Prix race between Madge Harvey and Mr. Pink.
The song was used in the 1992 film The Cutting Edge as the ice skating pair's Olympic Short Program routine song.
The song was used in the 2006 film The Pink Panther.
Promotional video
A stock footage infused video was also created for the song, displaying an abstract race. It was directed by Dieter Meier. This video was released on the CD-Video format.
Yello has also been known to sponsor remixes of their work. For example, in 1989, RockAmerica created a video remix contest on behalf of Yello named "The Race (Video Remix Contest)" in which participants had to video mix the hit recording "The Race". The competition winners Jeff Consiglio and Vincent Zegna remixed the track and video, taking the main award and having the video released through RockAmerica.
