So why has this song, released over a decade ago, become the latest obsession? Let’s find out.
Why is The Chemical Brothers’ Go back in the Official Singles Chart?
Go is currently experiencing a significant streaming boost thanks to the new Netflix action-thriller film, Apex. With a star-studded cast including Taron Egerton and Charlize Theron, the film finds Theron’s character, an avid adventurist and adrenaline-junkie called Sasha, being hunted in the deepest depths of the Australian wilderness.
The trailer for Apex uses The Chemical Brothers’ 2015 hit, providing high energy suspense, adding to the film’s sense of ‘all or nothing’ stakes and the thin line between life and death.
It’s also used when Taron’s character Ben starts playing the song on his radio, telling Sasha she has until the end of the song to run before he hunts her. The intense scene in question has now gone viral on social media as a result.
Why is The Chemical Brothers’ Go included in Apex?
Interestingly, Taron Egerton is a huge fan of The Chemical Brothers, and asked the director to include the song in the Apex via a personal, handwritten letter to the duo.
In an interview [Decider] with the film’s director, Baltasar Kormákur, he stated: “Originally in the script, [the line was] “Ten minutes, and I’ll come after you.” We came up with this idea that he was going to put on a song, and when the song is over [he comes after her]. Then came all kinds of ideas of songs. I didn’t want a disco song or something like that.
“Taron brought this song by The Chemical Brothers, and I was like, “That’s perfect.” Not everyone was of that mind in the beginning. There was a lot of, “Oh no, no, no, it’s not the right song.” I said, we’re doing this, and then we can do another version if we feel like it’s that doesn’t work-try another song. Then Taron did [the scene] and the whole crew and everyone involved was like, “That’s it. It’s perfect.” They could see it like it worked.”
The film has been widely praised for its edge-of-your-seat grittiness, with the soundtrack, especially Go, receiving a flurry of attention.
Below you can find a compilation of viral videos using Go as its backing, including dance videos, covers of the track, comedic skits and more.
When was The Chemical Brothers Go released?
Go just celebrated its 11th anniversary, having originally been released on May 4 2015 as the second single to their eighth studio album, Born in the Echoes. It also features vocals from the American rapper Q-Tip and was nominated for Best Dance Recording at 58th annual Grammy Awards.
Where did The Chemical Brothers’ Go peak on the UK chart?
Originally, the song peaked just outside the Top 40, at Number 46 in August 2015. But, thanks to Apex, it entered the main standings for the first time last week, landing at Number 22 (May 6). Go is now threatening to elevate even higher, forecasted to finish inside the Top 10 in the most recent Official Singles Chart First Look, potentially their first since 2004’s Galvanize. Go has also seen a 245% uplift in streams; incredible numbers!
MORE: Where every Chemical Brothers song and album has charted in the UK
Where else has The Chemical Brothers’ Go been used?
Go has been used in multiple video games, including Need For Speed, DiRT 4, Crash Bandicoot 4 and more.
Overall, Go’s major moment identifies how an inspired film sync can reshape a track’s cultural momentum in the blink of an eye, while introducing The Chemical Brothers to a whole new generation of listeners; and long may it continue.
Can Go continue to climb? Find out where it lands this Friday May 15 on The Official Chart with Jack Saunders on BBC Radio 1, and see the Top 100 in full at OfficialCharts.com from 5.45pm.