Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 18, 2026

Start the Commotion

"Start the Commotion" is a song by British electronic music duo The Wiseguys, from their second album The Antidote. It was released as a single in the UK in 1998, and peaked at #66 on the UK Singles Chart. A re-release the following year gave the song a higher chart placing, peaking at #47. It also peaked at #36 on the US dance charts in 2000. "Start the Commotion" has also been officially remixed by Eric Kupper and DJ Spinna.

Last revised
Jul 18, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
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Citations
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"Start the Commotion"
Single by The Wiseguys
from the album The Antidote
Released1998
GenreBig beat
Length5:57
LabelWall of Sound
Mammoth (United States/Canada)
SongwriterTheo Keating
ProducerTouché
The Wiseguys singles chronology
"Ooh La La"
(1998) 		"Start the Commotion"
(1998) 		"Dizzy Spell"
(2002)

"Start the Commotion" is a song by British electronic music duo The Wiseguys, from their second album The Antidote. It was released as a single in the UK in 1998,1 and peaked at #66 on the UK Singles Chart. A re-release the following year gave the song a higher chart placing, peaking at #47.2 It also peaked at #36 on the US dance charts in 2000.3 "Start the Commotion" has also been officially remixed by Eric Kupper and DJ Spinna.

Background

The song is built around a repeated sample from the 1966 song "Wild Child" by The Ventures.4

Track listing

UK CD single
  1. "Start the Commotion" (Radio edit)
  2. "Fatal Femme" (feat. Sense Live)
  3. "Start the Commotion" (Full length)

2001 re-release

After being used in a Mitsubishi Motors television commercial in the US in 2001, the song gained a second life and significant radio airplay, reaching the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and making it the Wiseguys' best-known song in the US. It appeared on Now That's What I Call Music! 8 released November 20, 2001.

Charts

Chart (1998–2001) Peak position
Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)5 15
UK Singles Chart 47
U.S. Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles6 36
US Billboard Hot 1007 31
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)8 14
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)9 11
  • It was featured in the 2001 comedy Zoolander, where it was used to promote the film.
  • It was also featured in the films Gun Shy (2000) and Kangaroo Jack (2003). It was also featured on the Lizzie McGuire soundtrack.
  • It was also featured in the 4,000th episode special of the syndicated game show Jeopardy!.
References

References

  1. Dangelo, Joe (August 31, 2001). "Commercial Causing a 'Commotion' for Wiseguys Song". MTV. MTV News. Archived from the original on June 8, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  2. "Start the Commotion - Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 282.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (18 July 2012). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 9th Edition: Complete Chart Information about America's Most Popular Songs and Artists, 1955-2009. Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed. p. 714. ISBN 978-0-307-98512-5. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  5. "Canadian Top 20 in 2001" (PDF). Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2005. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  6. "The Wiseguys Start the Commotion Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  7. "The Wiseguys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  8. "The Wiseguys Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  9. "The Wiseguys Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.