Headhunter (song)

"Headhunter" is a song by the Belgian EBM band Front 242. It was released in 1988 on the album "Front By Front", in two versions (Version 1.0 and Version 3.0), and as a single (which also included Version 2.0). With a music video by Anton Corbijn (which revolved around various eggs, according to Patrick Codenys because Corbijn accidentally heard that the song title was "Egg Hunter"), the song was a major hit in the electronic and industrial music scenes, propelling "Front By Front" to become the top selling album in the history of Wax Trax! Records.

After a long hiatus, Front 242 regrouped to re-record the song in late 1999, releasing it with multiple remixes on the dual-CD single "Headhunter 2000".

The song's lyrics are sung from the perspective of a bounty hunter, who is "looking for this man to sell him to other men." It describes the process and rewards of apprehending fugitives in exchange for money.

A character in the miniatures game Hordes is based on this song. Many of his abilities are drawn directly from the lyrics, including Bait the Line, Spread the Net and Lock the Target.

Headhunter Track Listing (1988)

# Headhunter (Version 1.0)
# Welcome to Paradise (Version 1.0)
# Headhunter (Version 2.0)

Headhunter 2000 Track listing (1999)

*Disc 1:
# Headhunter (Front Line Assembly mix) - 5:55
# Headhunter (Aqualite mix) - 5:20
# Headhunter (Haujobb mix) - 5:29
# Headhunter (Beefcake mix) - 5:09
# Headhunter (Xingu mix) - 4:18
# Headhunter (Talla 2XLC mix) - 8:54
# Headhunter (Doug Laurent mix) - 6:31
# Headhunter (Noisex mix) - 6:19
# Headhunter (Substanz T mix) - 4:59
*Disc 2:
#Headhunter (Apoptygma Berzerk mix) - 5:43
#Headhunter (Leæther Strip mix) - 5:39
#Headhunter (Funker Vogt mix) - 4:46
#Headhunter (Empirion mix) - 7:14
#Headhunter (Galan Pixs mix) - 6:33
#Headhunter (Resistance D mix) - 6:41
#Headhunter (Suspicious mix) - 8:29
#Headhunter (Space Frog mix) - 6:50

The above tracks for Headhunter 2000 were split across four discs in another version of the release. Other versions of the release are listed [http://www.freedb.org/freedb_search.php?words=headhunter+2000&allfields=NO&fields=title&allcats=YES&grouping=none here] at FreeDB and at [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Front+242 Discogs] . Some of them include additional remixes:
#Headhunter (Peak mix) - (3:36)
#Headhunter (Children Within mix) - (4:09)
#Headhunter (M.I.K.E. & B's Generator mix) - (7:43)
#Headhunter (Talla 2XLC Vocal Club Mix) - (8:50) (by Talla 2XLC and Vernon B.)

Other known covers and remixes

Hot Tracks and Razormaid! (also known as "Welcome to...Headhunter") released remixes of the song to DJs. In addition, Danny Tenaglia, Eskimos & Egypt, DBS and Icon of Coil made cover versions. Aghast View also did a remix, and ThouShaltNot produced a parody version in a relaxed jazz/lounge style (in contrast to the pounding industrial dance beat of the original).

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPpUFBVSyWs Headhunter Music Video]