Junior Senior
| Company type | Duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Denmark |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Junior Senior was a Danish pop duo composed of Jesper "Junior" Mortensen, who handled vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums, and percussion, alongside Jeppe "Senior" Laursen, responsible for vocals and programming. They achieved international fame with their 2002 hit single "Move Your Feet", which enjoyed considerable popularity in the United Kingdom and other countries.
Beginnings
The duo formed in 1998 following the breakup of their earlier band, Ludo-X, which had dissolved in 1995. They subsequently signed a recording contract with the Danish label Crunchy Frog Records.
D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat
Their first album, D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat (2002), included the successful track "Move Your Feet", which gained widespread radio play throughout Denmark and charted in more than thirteen nations, including the United States, Australia, France, and the UK. This song was featured across various media platforms such as the soundtrack for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, the PlayStation 2 title Dance Dance Revolution Extreme, and Ubisoft’s Wii game Just Dance 2. The music video’s unique pixel art style contributed significantly to its recognition and was showcased in VH1 advertisements as well as films like White Chicks, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, and How to Eat Fried Worms. Additionally, it was utilized in promotional campaigns for Google Chromebook (2013), Hyundai Tucson (2024), and Kohl's Active (2015).
The subsequent single "Rhythm Bandits" achieved chart placements in both the UK and Australia and was included on the soundtrack of FIFA Football 2004.
D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat received acclaim by appearing on multiple "Best Albums of 2003" lists from prominent outlets such as Rolling Stone, NME, and Entertainment Weekly. The enhanced CD version contained the "Move Your Feet" video created by design collective Shynola, along with behind-the-scenes footage.
Other songs like "Shake Your Coconuts" featured on the soundtrack for Looney Tunes: Back in Action, appeared in video games including Worms 3D, were part of movies such as Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, and appeared in TV series like Malcolm in the Middle. Notably, this track was performed by Phish during their 2017 residency at Madison Square Garden.
The song "White Trash" was utilized for UK promotional spots related to the music television program Popworld, underscoring Junior Senior’s impact on cross-media branding.
Hey Hey My My Yo Yo
Their sophomore album, Hey Hey My My Yo Yo, was initially released on 24 August 2005 in Japan, followed by a US release in 2007. The album’s lead single was "Itch U Can't Skratch". The track "Take My Time" featured guest vocals from Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson of the new wave group The B-52's, and it appeared within the PSP game Lumines II. Renowned Motown ensemble The Velvelettes contributed backing vocals on seven tracks throughout the album.
In early 2006, Junior Senior organized a fan contest offering participation in the music video for "Can I Get Get Get". This song was included in television series such as Ugly Betty and Castle, as well as in the film What Happens in Vegas. It also appeared on the Nordic version of Lips as an on-disc track and was made available globally as downloadable content. The music video premiered on 25 July 2006.
The song "Hip Hop a Lula" was featured prominently in a Sears back-to-school advertisement campaign during August 2007 and received extensive use in Network Ten Australia's promotional material throughout 2008.
Disbandment
On 26 September 2008, Mortensen and Laursen declared their decision to part ways in order to focus on individual careers. Mortensen issued a 12" single named "Trust Tissue" under the alias I Scream Ice Cream via Kitsune Records and established the band MAKE OUT in 2010. Meanwhile, Laursen pursued a solo debut, unveiling the Big Lucky EP in May 2009.
Studio albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart rankings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | JPN | UK | US | US Dance | ||
| D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat |
|
— | — | 29 | 94 | — |
| Hey Hey My My Yo Yo |
|
20 | 2 | — | — | 5 |
| "—" indicates albums that did not enter the charts. | ||||||
EPs
| Title | EP details | Peak chart position | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | ||||||
| Boy Meets Girl EP |
|
— | ||||
| Say Hello, Wave Goodbye EP |
|
5 | ||||
| "—" indicates releases that failed to chart. | ||||||
Singles
| Year | Title | Highest chart rankings | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN |
AUS |
FRA |
UK |
US Dance | |||
| 2002 | "Move Your Feet" | 4 | 20 | 11A | 3 | 45 | D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat |
| 2003 | "Rhythm Bandits" | — | 47 | — | 22 | — | |
| "Shake Your Coconuts" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005 | "Itch U Can't Skratch" | — | — | — | — | — | Hey Hey My My Yo Yo |
| "Can I Get Get Get" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
Footnotes
- British chart reference
- AInitially reached number 29 in France in 2003, later climbing to number 11 upon its reissue in 2013
Awards and nominations
| Year | Organization | Award Category | Work Recognized | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Dance | The group | Template:Nom |
| Best Nordic Act | Template:Nom | |||
| Web Award | www.juniorsenior.com | Template:Nom | ||
| Q Awards | Best Video | "Move Your Feet" | Template:Nom |