The Chemical Brothers’ ‘Hey Boy Hey Girl’ turns 27, big beat at its most untouchable

‘Hey Boy Hey Girl’ has turned 27. The Chemical Brothers’ big beat anthem first dropped on May 26, 1999, as the lead single from their third album ‘Surrender’. The Chemical Brothers shared a celebratory note on social media, calling out the iconic video directed by frequent collaborators Dom & Nick.

The track became one of the defining big beat moments of the late 90s. Its instantly recognisable chant, propulsive break and tight under-three-minute structure made it a peak-time staple from the moment it landed. Then it climbed to number three on the UK Singles Chart in June 1999 and held the chart position for ten weeks.

The video added another layer. Dom & Nick directed a kinetic clip set inside a club night, with skeletons dancing alongside ravers, intercut with strobe lights and close-ups. Plus, the visual treatment turned the track into one of the most-streamed dance music videos on YouTube in the years that followed.

‘Hey Boy Hey Girl’ also marked a turning point for The Chemical Brothers. ‘Surrender’ shifted the duo from breakbeat-leaning experiments to wider, more direct anthems. The album packed in Bernard Sumner, Noel Gallagher and Mazzy Star, while keeping the soundsystem energy at its core.

Beyond the chart numbers, the song has soundtracked countless moments in dance music since. Sports stadiums, festival drops, club openings, film trailers, and recently a wave of TikTok reposts have kept the track in rotation. 27 years on, it still sounds fresh.

Now, with the anniversary marker landing, the original Dom & Nick video is back in the cultural spotlight. Find more from The Chemical Brothers via the official site.