# U Got 2 Let the Music

"U Got 2 Let the Music" is a song by Italian Eurodance group Cappella, released in September 1993 by label Media as the fourth single from their second studio album, U Got 2 Know (1994). The track samples "Sounds Like a Melody" by German musical group Alphaville and charted in various countries around the world, including the UK, where it reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the 36th-best-selling single of 1993 in the UK. In Austria, Finland and Switzerland, it peaked at number one. Its accompanying music video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe in January 1994. "U Got 2 Let the Music" was re-released in 1998, 2004 and 2006, in remixed versions.

## Background

Cappella started as a studio project with Italian producer and manager Gianfranco Bortolotti and his record company Media Record's team of DJs and producers ganging together, striving for the perfect commercial dance formula. The band had some minor hits in the late 80s and early 90s with singles like "Bauhaus (Push the Beat)" (1987), "Helyom Halib" (1989) and "Take Me Away" (1992). After Cappella became progressively more commercial, and received sustained success Bortolotti chose British dancer Kelly Overett and American rapper Rodney Bishop as a regular public face of the band.
"U Got 2 Let the Music" would be the first release with Overett and Bishop. In a 1993 interview with Music & Media, Bortolotti said, "We have given Capella a new image with Anglo-Italian Kelly and American Rodney as the groups public image. Capella's sound is also less techno and more pop-oriented now." The track samples the 1984 Alphaville song "Sounds Like a Melody", but none of its songwriters were given writing credits on U Got 2 Know.

## Critical reception

John Bush from AllMusic described "U Got 2 Let the Music" as a "continent-wide Hi-NRG hit". The Stud Brothers of Melody Maker stated that following in the footsteps of "No Limit" and "Mr. Vain", "Cappella lob out another foul, insidious slice of Eurobeat masquerading as, techno (as in Techno! Techno! Techno!)" They concluded that "this has all the ingredients to go straight to Number One", noting its "soul samples", "lyric three words longer than the title", "a 1,000 mph Jean Michel Jarre melody", "and behind it all, a shady Continental entrepreneur". Melody Maker editor Peter Paphides said "it's basically a speeded-up Kraftwerk song with Kelly rasping all over it". Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Harold Faltermeyer meets the Italo house scene on a melody line not unlike "Let's All Chant" by the Michael Zager Band and ends up at the top of the UK dance chart." Dario Usuelli, PD at EHR Radio Deejay Network/Milan commented, "It is a fast danceable pop song without pretention and has a good strong dance rhythm for the clubs." James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update called it a "typical breezy synth buzzed chanting italo techno-pop scamperer". Another RM editor, Tim Jeffery, viewed it as a "typically big, bold and brash Euro stomper that's pretty much in the same vein as their last hit single", stating that "this is basically in-yer-face pop techno."

## Chart performance

In Europe, "U Got 2 Let the Music" peaked at number one in Austria (1 week), Finland (2 weeks), and Switzerland (2 weeks), as well as reaching number two in the United Kingdom. In Finland, the single went straight to number one, both debuting and peaking on 13 November 1993, and staying for two weeks on the top of the Finnish singles chart. In the United Kingdom, it peaked during its second week on the UK Singles Chart, on 24 October, behind "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" by Meat Loaf. "U Got 2 Let the Music" was the 36th-best-selling single of 1993 in the UK, and also peaked at number one on the Music Week Dance Singles chart and number six on the Record Mirror Club Chart. In other European countries, it entered the top 10 in Belgium (6), Denmark (8), Germany, Ireland (6), Italy (9), the Netherlands (9), and Norway (4). In Germany, it reached number three for three weeks, behind Meat Loaf and Ace of Base's "The Sign". It stayed within the German Singles Chart for a total of 25 weeks. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the single peaked at number four on 15 January 1994. It debuted at the chart at number 46 in October 1993, after charting in Ireland and the UK. On the European Dance Radio Chart by Music & Media, it peaked at number three in the same period. Additionally, "U Got 2 Let the Music" was a top-20 hit in France, Iceland and Sweden. Outside Europe, it charted in Australia, where the song peaked at number 169.
"U Got 2 Let the Music" earned a gold record in Austria (25,000), a silver record in the UK (200,000), and a platinum record in Germany (500,000).

## Airplay

"U Got 2 Let the Music" rolled out at number 17 when the first European airplay chart Border Breakers by Music & Media was compiled on 30 October 1993 due to crossover airplay in Central- and Northwest-Europe. It peaked at number three on 11 December. In the UK, the song reached number 22 on the Music Week Airplay chart in the beginning of November 1993.

## Certifications and sales

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Gold | 25,000$^*$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Platinum | 500,000$^^$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000$^^$ |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||