Loaded (Primal Scream song)

"Loaded" is a song by the Scottish rock band Primal Scream, released as a single in February 1990. It is widely considered to be one of their signature songs and a defining track of the acid house and Madchester scenes of the early 1990s.

The song features a sample of Peter Fonda from the film The Wild Angels (1966) uttering the lines, "We want to be free to do what we want to do. And we want to get loaded. And we want to have a good time. That's what we are going to do." This sample is interwoven with a driving, hypnotic beat, jangly guitars, and Bobby Gillespie's detached vocals.

"Loaded" was not initially conceived as a song. Primal Scream had enlisted Andrew Weatherall to remix their track "I'm Losing More Than I'll Ever Have." Weatherall essentially discarded the original song and created "Loaded" from scratch, using elements of the original track, the Fonda sample, and other found sounds. The band was initially unsure about Weatherall's creation, but it proved to be a critical and commercial success, reaching number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.

The song's lyrics, beyond the Fonda sample, are minimal and repetitive, contributing to its hypnotic and trance-like effect. They largely revolve around the themes of hedonism, escapism, and the desire for freedom and enjoyment.

"Loaded" is significant for its fusion of rock instrumentation with electronic dance music elements, a sound that became increasingly popular in the 1990s. It helped to bridge the gap between the indie rock and dance music scenes and is considered a key track in the development of the Britpop genre. Its enduring popularity has cemented its place as a classic of British alternative music.