"Rok the Nation" is a song by Swedish electronic music duo Rob'n'Raz featuring rapper Leila K, released in March 1990 by BMG as the second single from their debut album, Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K (1990). It peaked at number three in both Sweden and Finland. Additionally, the song was a top-20 hit in the Netherlands and Switzerland, and a top-30 hit in Ireland and West Germany. In the UK, "Rok the Nation" reached number 41 on the UK Singles Chart.[1]

"Rok the Nation"
Single by Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K
from the album Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K
ReleasedMarch 1990
GenreHip hop
LabelBMG
Songwriter(s)Rob'n'Raz, Leila K, MC II Fresh
Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K singles chronology
"Got to Get"
(1989)
"Rok the Nation"
(1990)
"Open Sesame"
(1992)
Music video
"Rok the Nation" on YouTube

Critical reception edit

Mick Mercer from Melody Maker commented, "Ah, now here's something interesting. Leila K [...] has a nice voice that made "Got to Get" the little fun bundle that it was. This is more interesting, with some studiously sharp vocals and a chintzy keyboard carpet pattern for her to rub the dirt into. It's tougher than you'd expect with lovely trumpet touches and a successful plunge down to the rhythm near the end followed by some fast, oddly stippled vocal delivery."[2]

David Giles from Music Week wrote, "The team that sneaked a surprise hit with the recent "Got to Get" follow up with a track that is heavy enough to please clubbers but with enough hooks to succeed chartwise again. The drum machine break sounds suspiciously similar in Japan's "Vision Of China" though..."[3] Siân Pattenden from Smash Hits felt that "this is harder, dare I say funkier than 'Got to Get'".[4]

Versions edit

  • Rok The Dancefloor 6:52
  • Radio Edit 3:43
  • SweMix Club Version 5:20
  • Panik Mix 6:08
  • Funk-E-Drummer Mix 6:11
  • Like A Drum Mix 3:42

Charts edit

Chart (1990) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[5] 79
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6] 41
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[7] 3
Ireland (IRMA)[8] 21
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9] 16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 23
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] 13
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 41
West Germany (Official German Charts)[14] 21

References edit

  1. ^ Rob 'n' Raz featuring Leila K | Artist | Official Charts
  2. ^ Mercer, Mick (17 March 1990). "Singles". Melody Maker. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  3. ^ Giles, David (10 March 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  4. ^ Pattenden, Siân (21 March 1990). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. No. 295. p. 53. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  5. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 05 Aug 1990 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 30)". Imgur.com. Retrieved 2016-05-21. N.B. The HP column displays the highest position reached.
  6. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 28 April 1990. p. IV. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  7. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  8. ^ "Chart Track: Week 25, 1990". Irish Singles Chart.
  9. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  10. ^ "Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K – Rok the Nation" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  11. ^ "Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K – Rok the Nation". Singles Top 100.
  12. ^ "Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K – Rok the Nation". Swiss Singles Chart.
  13. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  14. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Rob'n'Raz feat. Leila K – Rok the Nation" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.

External links edit