Tequila

"Tequila" is a song by English rock band Terrorvision, written by the band and Chuck Rio and produced by Scottish musician Edwyn Collins. The song originally appeared on the band's fourth studio album, Shaving Peaches (1998), and was released as the album's second single on 18 January 1999. For the single release, English music producer Mint Royale remixed the track. These remixes were heavily championed by BBC Radio 1 DJ Zoe Ball, allowing the song to reach number two on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Terrorvision's highest-charting song in the UK. In 1999, the song won the Kerrang! Award for Best Single. Release For its release as a single, Mint Royale remixed "Tequila", creating three mixes known as the "Mint Royale shot", "Mint Royale chaser", and "Mint Royale slammer" versions. These versions replace the original instrumentation with more shakers, whistles, and trumpets and adds a children-sung chorus. "Risk Worth Taking" was also included as a B-side on the second UK CD. The song was originally scheduled to be released a week earlier than planned, but the management team of Spice Girl Geri Halliwell convinced the band to delay the release for a week. According to lead vocalist Tony Wright: Shortly before EMI Records released "Tequila", they discussed dropping Terrorvision from the label. However, the Mint Royale mixes of the song soon earned heavy support from Zoe Ball, who at the time hosted BBC Radio 1's Breakfast show. Public demand eventually led to the single's release on 18 January 1999. Critical reception British columnist James Masterton wrote that the original version of the song was not a standout on the album but called the Mint Royale version "the most sublime party track you have heard since, well, Brimful of Asha". At the 1999 Kerrang! Awards, the song won the Award for Best Single. In 2011, Tequila-based website TasteTequila ranked the song at number three on their list of the "13 Obscure (Yet Awesome) Songs About Tequila". Conversely, Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian wrote that the song was a "fluke", going on to say that the only thing that distinguishes the song from anonymity is the refrain, comparing "Tequila" as a whole to a cover version of Five's "Keep On Movin'".