Where It's At (Beck Song) - Wikipedia

1996 single by Beck

"Where It's At"
Single by Beck
from the album Odelay
B-side	"Make Out City" "Bonus Beats"
Written	1995
Released	May 28, 1996 (1996-05-28)
Genre	Alternative hip hop[1] funk[2]
Length	3:42 (radio edit) 5:30 (album version)
Label	DGC Bong Load
Songwriters	Beck John King Michael Simpson
Producers	Beck The Dust Brothers
Beck singles chronology
"It's All in Your Mind" (1995) "Where It's At" (1996) "Devils Haircut" (1996)
Music video
"Where It's At" on YouTube

"Where It's At" is a song by American alternative rock musician Beck, released in May 1996 by DGC and Bong Load as the first single from his fifth album, Odelay (1996). Beck wrote the song in 1995 with its co-producers John King and Michael Simpson (known as the Dust Brothers), and premiered it at Lollapalooza the same year,[citation needed] in a version very similar to its incarnation on Odelay. He has performed the song often since 1995, frequently experimenting with the music and lyrics. Its music video was directed by Steve Hanft.

Production

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"Where It's At" has a number of spoken samples that Beck and the Dust Brothers incorporated into it. Many of these come from an obscure sex education album titled Sex for Teens: (Where It's At),[3] a subtitle Beck borrowed. Other vocal samples incorporated into "Where It's At" come from "Needle to the Groove" by old-school hip hop group Mantronix ("we've got two turntables and a microphone..."), as well as The Frogs ("that was a good drum break"). The song also references Gary Wilson, one of Beck's influences. In addition, just before the Frogs sample begins, the song incorporates a musical sample from the intro of noted go-go band E.U.'s song "Knock Him Out Sugar Ray".

Beck earned the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for the song. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 76 on its list of 150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years.[4]

Critical reception

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Justin Chadwick from Albumism said "Where It's At" is "the most memorable" song among the singles of the Odelay album. He added, "Propelled by a cacophony of distorted melodies, oddball vocal snippets, and the unforgettable chorus chant of “Where it’s at! I’ve got two turntables and a microphone”, with a robotic echo lifted from Mantronix’s 1985 single “Needle to the Groove”, Beck gives you little choice but to wholeheartedly accept his invitation to the “destination a little up the road”."[5] Paul Verna from Billboard noted that "he takes a more straightforward tack, floating stream-of-consciousness raps over sampled beats."[6] Daina Darzin from Cash Box named it Pick of the Week, noting that fans of "Loser" "should be equally happy with this". She wrote, "Jazzy, loopy keyboards, hip hop rhythms, psychedelic swirls of sixties-ish sound, and a happy, party-hearty groove make this a possible add for urban as well as modern rock stations."[7]

In 2012, Paste ranked the song number two on their list of the 20 greatest Beck songs,[8] and in 2020, The Guardian ranked the song number seven on their list of the 30 greatest Beck songs.[9]

Music video

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The accompanying music video for "Where It's At" was directed by Steve Hanft. It features Beck doing a variety of things, such as cleaning up a highway for community service as a convict, singing at a car dealership, dressed as the Candyman, and line dancing. In one moment, Beck pays homage to William Shatner's performance of "Rocket Man" at the 1977 Saturn Awards ceremony. "Where It's At" was the first music video to be broadcast on MTV2 on August 1, 1996. Beck also pays homage to Captain Beefheart by dressing as Captain Beefheart was dressed in the Trout Mask Replica album photo sessions at 1:27 in the video.[10] The video was awarded a MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video. The shorter version was used for this video instead of the album version.

Track listings

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US 12-inch "Where It's At" (edit) "Make Out City" "Where It's At" (remix by Mario C and Mickey P) "Where It's At" (remix by John King) "Bonus Beats" UK CD1 "Where It's At" (edit) "Where It's At" (remix by Mario C and Mickey P) "Bonus Beats" "Where It's At" (remix by U.N.K.L.E.)

UK CD2 and Australian CD "Where It's At" (edit) "Where It's At" (remix by Mario C and Mickey P) "Bonus Beats" Japan "Where It's At" (edit) "Where It's At" (remix by John King) "Lloyd Price Express" (remix by John King) "Dark and Lovely" (remix by the Dust Brothers) "American Wasteland" "Clock"

Personnel

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• Beck Hansen – vocals, electric piano, guitar, bass, organ, drum samples
• The Dust Brothers – turntables
• Mike Boito – trumpet, organ
• Money Mark – organ
• David Brown – saxophone
• Eddie Lopez – outro talking

Charts

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Weekly charts [edit] Chart (1996) Peakposition Australia (ARIA)[11] 71 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12] 50 Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[13] 3 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] 97 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[15] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 34 Scotland Singles (OCC)[17] 32 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 49 UK Singles (OCC)[19] 35 US Billboard Hot 100[20] 61 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[20] 5 US Cash Box Top 100[21] 54

Year-end charts [edit] Chart (1996) Position Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[22] 42 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[23] 22 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[24] 20

Release history

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Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	May 28, 1996	Modern rock college radio	DGC Bong Load	[25]
United States	August 6, 1996	Alternative rock radio	DGC Bong Load	[26]
United Kingdom	June 17, 1996	12-inch vinyl CD cassette	Geffen Bong Load	[27]
Japan	October 23, 1996	CD		[28]

References

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1. ^ "Where Beck Was At".
2. ^ McLean, Craig (2016). "Beck - Odelay". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. London: Cassell Illustrated. p. 776.
3. ^ "Stanley Z Daniels MD - Sex For Teens (Where Its At) - Side 1". YouTube. April 23, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
4. ^ "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". NME. October 6, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
5. ^ Chadwick, Justin (June 13, 2021). "Beck's 'Odelay' Turns 25 — Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
6. ^ Verna, Paul (June 29, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Albums" (PDF). Billboard. p. 79. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
7. ^ Darzin, Daina (July 6, 1996). "Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
8. ^ Bort, Ryan (July 16, 2012). "The 20 Best Beck Songs". Paste. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
9. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (July 2, 2020). "Beck's greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
10. ^ "Beck Dressed as Captain Beefheart in the Where It's At Video". Retrieved September 24, 2010.
11. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 04 Aug 1996". ARIA. Retrieved April 16, 2020 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The HP column indicates the single's highest position.
12. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9529." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
13. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3046." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
14. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 27. July 6, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
15. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 184 Vikuna 24.8. – 30.8. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). August 24, 1996. p. 42. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
16. ^ "Beck – Where It's At". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
17. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
18. ^ "Beck – Where It's At". Singles Top 100. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
19. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
20. ^ a b "Beck Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
21. ^ "U.S. Cash Box Charts" (PDF). popmusichistory. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
22. ^ "RPM Year End Alternative Top 50". RPM. Retrieved June 14, 2021 – via Library and Archives Canada.
23. ^ "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1997. p. 25. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
24. ^ "This Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-78. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
25. ^ Rosen, Craig (June 8, 1996). "DGC's Beck Battles His 'Loser' Image on 'Odelay'". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 23. p. 117. ...began playing 'Where It's At,' the first single from 'Odelay,' May 28, the day the track was officially serviced to modern rock and college radio.
26. ^ "R&R - The Industry Newspaper" (PDF). August 2, 1996.[not specific enough to verify]
27. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. June 15, 1996. p. 31.
28. ^ "ホエア・イッツ・アット～スーパー・リミックス | Beck" [Where It's At ~ Super Remix | Beck] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 25, 2023.

v t e Beck
Studio albums	Golden Feelings Stereopathetic Soulmanure Mellow Gold One Foot in the Grave Odelay Mutations Midnite Vultures Sea Change Guero The Information Modern Guilt Morning Phase Colors Hyperspace
Remix albums	Guerolito
EPs	A Western Harvest Field by Moonlight Beck Paisley Park Sessions
Compilations	Stray Blues
Official singles	Album "Loser" "Pay No Mind (Snoozer)" "Beercan" "It's All in Your Mind" "Where It's At" "Devils Haircut" "The New Pollution" "Sissyneck" "Jack-Ass" "Tropicalia" "Cold Brains" "Nobody's Fault but My Own" "Sexx Laws" "Mixed Bizness" "Nicotine & Gravy" "Lost Cause" "Guess I'm Doing Fine" "E-Pro" "Girl" "Hell Yes" "Cellphone's Dead" "Nausea" "Think I'm in Love" "Chemtrails" "Gamma Ray" "Youthless" "Blue Moon" "Waking Light" "Say Goodbye" "Heart Is a Drum" "Dreams" "Wow" "Up All Night" "Saw Lightning" "Uneventful Days" "Dark Places" "Everlasting Nothing" Non-album "Deadweight" "Timebomb" "Looking for a Sign" "I Just Started Hating Some People Today" "Defriended" "Odyssey"
Other singles	Promotional "Orphans" "Wave" Featured "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?" "Heaven Can Wait" "The Valley of the Pagans"
Other notable songs	As performer "Fuckin with My Head (Mountain Dew Rock)" "Truckdrivin Neighbors Downstairs (Yellow Sweat)" "Steal My Body Home" "Broken Train" "Debra" "Diamond Dogs" "I'm So Glad" "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" As writer "Feel Good Time"
Other projects	Collaborations Record Club Song Reader Song Reader: The Musical Albums as producer Conquest EP Kissin Time IRM Mirror Traffic Demolished Thoughts Stage Whisper 3 Pears Wig Out at Jagbags
See also	Discography Awards and nominations "Bendin' in the Wind" Dust Brothers Nigel Godrich Danger Mouse Deconstructing Beck
Family	Marissa Ribisi (ex-wife) David Campbell (father) Bibbe Hansen (mother) Al Hansen (grandfather) Giovanni Ribisi (ex-brother-in-law)

v t e MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video

"China Girl" (1984) "I'm on Fire" (1985) "Addicted to Love" (1986) "Sledgehammer" (1987) "U Got the Look" (1988) "Veronica" (1989) "The End of the Innocence" (1990) "Wicked Game" (1991) "Tears in Heaven" (1992) "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (1993) "Mary Jane's Last Dance" (1994) "You Don't Know How It Feels" (1995) "Where It's At" (1996) "Devils Haircut" (1997) "Just the Two of Us" (1998) "Miami" (1999) "The Real Slim Shady" (2000) "South Side" (2001) "Without Me" (2002) "Cry Me a River" (2003) "Yeah!" (2004) "Jesus Walks" (2005) "You're Beautiful" (2006) "With You" (2008) "Live Your Life" (2009) "Not Afraid" (2010) "U Smile" (2011) "Turn Up the Music" (2012) "Locked Out of Heaven" (2013) "Sing" (2014) "Uptown Funk" (2015) "This Is What You Came For" (2016)