Here We Go (Stakka Bo song)

"Here We Go" is a song by Swedish artist and film/music video director Stakka Bo (real name Johan Renck), released in 1993 by Stockholm Records as the first single from Bo's debut album, Supermarket (1993). The song features vocals by Bo himself, alongside Swedish singers Nana Hedin, Monica Hultén, Katarina Wilczewski and Oscar Franzén, with flute by David Wilczewski. It was written by Stakka Bo and Jonas von der Burg, and produced by von der Burg. "Here We Go" was very successful in Europe, charting in several countries and peaking at number four in Sweden. The artist and song was compared by many music critics to English hip hop/electronic dance group Stereo MC's, and the accompanying music video was played frequently on music channels such as MTV Europe.

Background
While at university, Bo dated La Camilla of Swedish band Army of Lovers, who introduced him to the Swedish music business. He started out as one half of Eurodance duo E-Type + Stakka B, but went solo after two singles, continuing to release music as Stakka Bo.

Chart performance
"Here We Go" became a major hit in Europe and remains the most successful release by Stakka Bo. It entered the top 10 in Austria (6), Denmark (10), Iceland (5), Ireland (8), Norway (10), Sweden (4), and Switzerland (7). In Bo's native Sweden, it entered at number 25, before peaking four weeks later and staying for two weeks as number four. The song spent nine weeks within Sverigetopplistan. Additionally, it was a top-20 hit in Germany (15), the Netherlands (20), and the United Kingdom (13), as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100. In the UK, "Here We Go" entered the UK Singles Chart as number 19 and peaked the second week, on 26 September 1993. The single spent two weeks at that position and eight weeks within the UK Top 100. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the single debuted at number 76 on 26 June, after charting in Sweden. It peaked at number 17 on 16 October, 17 weeks later. In the US, "Here We Go" reached number 20 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart; while it reached number nine on the Bubbling Under The Hot 100 Singles chart, spending six weeks on that chart. [36 ]

Critical reception
AllMusic editor Ryan Randall Goble stated that "this upbeat and fun pop music [is] the clear offspring of early-'90s genre-bending in pop, hip-hop, and alternative". J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun mentioned "the cutting critique of consumerism that bubbles beneath the surface", and called it "irresistibly catchy". Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "high on energy and heavy on the accent, this well-crafted British rap attack invades the body, mind, and soul." He added, "Conga drums and fluttering flutes join a strong-piped female backing vocal to create this eccentric, lively track. With radio finally opening its mind to overseas rap, this Stereo MC's-like entry should fit right in at both top 40 and rhythm crossover." Swedish Expressen viewed it as "very funny". Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report felt that Stakka Bo "has a sound that's reminiscent of the Stereo MC's and one hot chorus that gets stronger every time it's played." In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "Just for a change we have MTV to thank for this one. So strong was this debut single from the Swedish group that the music video channel which normally gives dance a wide berth, leaped on it immediately." He concluded, "One of the more brilliant pop records in the charts at the moment."

Pan-European magazine Music & Media felt that he is "in the same league" with the Stereo MC's, and added that the tune is "very radio-friendly". Alan Jones from Music Week called it a "impressive debut" and "an easy-paced affair with a friendly rap, an oft-repeated femme voice intoning the title and some cool flute tootling, it's got to happen." Karen Holmes from The Network Forty noted its "ska music influences", declaring it as "a dance flavored pop single". Stuart Bailie from NME commented, "The Swedish Stereo MC's — how odd. Stakka Bo marshall a nippy flute solo, dress like undercover Drug Squad officers and get to say "correlation" in a Cockernee accent." James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update described it as "Stereo MC's meet Ace of Base style". Mike Soutar from Smash Hits gave it five out of five, naming it Best New Single. He felt that "this tune could get the most depressed person you know putting away their razor blades. Breezier than a string vest on Ben Nevis, "Here We Go" is like Stereo MC's without the right-on element, or the Shamen without technological paraphernalia. Except better."

Airplay
"Here We Go" was positioned at number three when the first European Music & Media airplay chart Border Breakers was compiled due to crossover airplay in western central, central north-west and southern Europe. It peaked at number two on the following week. On their European Dance Radio chart and Hit Radio chart, the song peaked at numbers 11 and 29 in October and November 1993. In the UK, it reached number 14 on the UK Airplay chart by Music Week in the middle of October same year.

Music video
The music video produced to promote the single was directed by Stakka Bo himself. The video is set in a splitscreen brown space with Stakka Bo and Oskar Franzén performing on each side, while model/dancer Alma Jansson-Eklund is intercut during the chorus, lipsyncing to Nana Hedin's vocals. Franzén also dances and lipsynchs to the chorus. The final part of the video shows a succession of luxury goods such as a fibre-optic lamp, a Newton's cradle and a wave motion machine, illustrating the "temple of consumption" mentioned in the song's chorus. MTV Europe played the video frequently. Katrine Ring from Danish Gaffa praised it as "charming". An image from the video is used on the cover for the single. "Here We Go" was later made available on Stakka Bo's official YouTube channel in 2016, and by early 2024, the video had generated almost eight million views.

Use in media
The song appeared in an episode of the animated television series Beavis and Butt-Head, in the films Prêt-à-Porter, Never Been Kissed, Alien Autopsy and in the video game UEFA Euro 2004.

Personnel
Source:
 * Bass guitar: Niclas von der Burg
 * Flute: David Wilczewski
 * Guitar: Martin Renck, Niclas von der Burg
 * Keyboards: Magnus Lindsten, Mats Karlsson
 * Vocals: Oscar Franzén, Stakka Bo
 * Background vocals: Katarina Wilczewski, Monica Hultén, Nana Hedin