Exterminate! (song)

"Exterminate!" is a song by German Eurodance group Snap! featuring American singer Niki Haris, released in December 1992 by Logic Records as the third single from their second studio album, The Madman's Return (1992), and features vocals by the group's new front woman, Haris, who also is credited for co-writing it. Going for a more trance-like song than its predecessor, "Rhythm Is a Dancer", it is based on the track "Ex-Terminator" and was included in later editions of the album. Released first at the end of 1992, it was a hit in several countries, peaking at number-one in Finland and Spain, and number two in the United Kingdom, where it spent 15 weeks on the charts. The music video for "Exterminate!" was directed by Angel Gracia.

A popular version of the song, came from a duet recorded by F. Michael Sky and Farmer Murray in 2003. Critics acclaimed the track as it climbed to the top five songs in Switzerland.

Chart performance
"Exterminate!" was quite successful on the charts all over the world, peaking at number one in both Finland and Spain (1 week). The single entered the top five also in Belgium (Flanders), Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In Greece, Ireland, Switzerland and the UK, the song peaked at number two. In the UK, the song peaked in its second week on the UK Singles Chart on 10 January 1993, after debuting at number seven. It stayed for three weeks, being held off the top spot by Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You". In Germany, peaked at number five and spent a total of 23 weeks within the German singles chart. "Exterminate!" also was a top-10 hit in Austria (9), Norway (9) and Portugal (10). The single entered the Eurochart Hot 100 at number 70 on 9 January after charting in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands. It peaked on the chart at number two six weeks later, on 13 February, while on the European Dance Radio Chart by Music & Media, it reached number four in the beginning of March 1993.

Elsewhere, "Exterminate!" charted in North America, peaking at number two on the RPM Dance/Urban chart in Canada, and number 29 on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart. On the African continent, it peaked at number six in Zimbabwe. In Oceania, the song reached numbers 25 and 50 in New Zealand and Australia, respectively.

In Germany, the single was awarded with a gold record after 250,000 units were shipped.

Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Former Madonna backing singer steps into the spotlight as the German act's new (at least for the moment) front woman. Electronic hip hop beats are doused with ambient sound effects, while Haris offers an appropriately ominous and forceful vocal. Not as radio-friendly as the previous "Rhythm Is a Dancer", but a savvy club entry that should glide onto playlists." In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "Its chart success so far is somewhat of a surprise being, aside from the one vocal line, almost an instrumental and certainly with little of the quirky appeal of the earlier singles." Sharon O'Connell from Melody Maker felt it's "full of latent power but just sitting on the launch pad."

Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote that it "might not be as accessible on first hearing, but it's actually a killer dance song which chokes you with its chorus with built-in snappy piano riff." A reviewer from Music Week stated, "The trance-like tune builds and builds from a five note riff, while new vocalist Niki Harris manages to fill in some soulful wailing as well as the Dalek's catchphrase. The song hasn't got the same killer pop chorus as "Rhythm Is a Dancer", but its sheer simplicity will win the day." Barbara Ellen from NME commented, "After what seemed like an interminable long and shaky period post "The Power", Snap seem to have rediscovered their dancing feet recently, first with "Rhythm Is a Dancer" and now this upfront, arrestingly sterile disco diversion." Mark Sutherland from Smash Hits gave the song three out of five, noting that it didn't feature Turbo B.

Music video
The accompanying music video for "Exterminate!" was directed by Angel Gracia, who had previously directed the video for "Colour of Love". This was the first video that Durron Butler (Turbo B) does not appear. It received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.

Track listings

 * 7-inch single
 * 1) "Ex-terminator" (album version) – 5:21
 * 2) "Exterminate!" (Endzeit 7-inch mix) – 4:13


 * 12-inch single
 * 1) "Exterminate!" (Endzeit 12-inch) – 6:45
 * 2) "Exterminate!" (A.C.II 12-inch) – 7:44


 * CD single
 * 1) "Ex-terminator" (album version) – 5:21
 * 2) "Exterminate!" (Endzeit 7-inch mix) – 4:13


 * CD maxi
 * 1) "Exterminate!" (Endzeit 7-inch) – 4:13
 * 2) "Exterminate!" (A.C.II 12-inch) – 7:44
 * 3) "Ex-terminator" (album version) – 5:21